The Nation Aug 13, 2013

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‘My encounters with eight African leaders’

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NEWS

Pages 4&5

AfDB used old data for assessment, says Fed Govt

P24 P2

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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Obasanjo, governors meet on PDP crisis

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From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

OVERNMENT yesterday hit back at the African Development Bank (AfDB), saying its statistics was at variance with the present realities in the coun-

try.

The AfDB, in its latest report, wrote off Nigerian economy, saying its statistical growth did not translate into job creation or poverty alleviation. It said unemployment Continued on page 2

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www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 8, NO. 2575 TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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APC to Jonathan: go to court Eagles ready to battle Bafana EFCC quizzes Saraki over SGBN

•Maku

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has joined in the search for peace in the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Last night, he met with the party’s governors in Abuja.

His intervention may have been prompted by a recent visit to him in his Abeokuta, Ogun State country home by

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

five of the governors.

It could not be ascertained if President Goodluck Jonathan attended the meeting.

Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) visited Obasanjo

•Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) recovered from suspected Boko Haram insurgents by security operatives in Sokoto…at the weekend

last month to seek his intervention in the PDP and Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) crises..

It was gathered that top on the agenda at the session was how to resolve the feud between the president and some of the governors, especially over the Rivers State crisis.

Continued on page 2

PHOTO: NAN

Boko Haram leader Shekau dares Obama in video 44 killed inside mosque Military seizes arms, ammunition from sect

D •Shekau

ESPITE being declared a global terrorist and a $7million reward placed on him by the United States (US), Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau is still talking tough.

Shekau, in a video yesterday, dared US President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

By Precious Igbonwelundu, Lagos and Adamu Sulaimon, Sokoto

to come for him, saying: “They are no match for me.”

He spoke amid reports that 44 people were killed on Sunday in a mosque while praying in Konduga, some 35 kilometres outside Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, which is the epicentre of the sect’s activities.

The bodies, according to Associated Press (AP), were counted yesterday “although the deadly attack by militants took place on Sunday morning.”

In the video obtained by Agence France Presse (AFP), Shekau, while claiming responsibility for the recent killings in some parts of the North, said: “I’m challenging Obama.”

Throwing similar challenges to Hol-

lande and Netanyahu, he said he was in “good health”, pointing out that there is nothing to fear from the military operation in some parts of the Northeast.

The military campaign began after the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states on May 14.

Continued on page 2

•PROPERTY P17 •SPORTS P24 •LAW P29 •ENERGY P47 •CITYBEATS P61

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NEWS Obasanjo, PDP governors meet Continued from page 1

It was also learnt that Obasanjo would use the session to reconcile the governors, some of who had indicated that they would not leave the party.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The meeting was at the instance of Obasanjo following issues raised by the five governors and the apparent spill over of the division among the governors on cohesion within PDP. “But this might just be the first step in the series of interventions being championed by Obasanjo.

“The former president is expected to meet with other

stakeholders in the PDP as a way of restoring true democracy in the party.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The crisis in Rivers State is a major issue to be addressed and the exPresident secured the assurance of Governor Rotimi Amaechi that he would attend the session.

“We are only hopeful that all the key actors will accept to work for peace not only in Rivers but in PDP.” A governor, who spoke in confidence before the meeting, which had not started at press time last night, said: “We are eager to put all these challenges behind us because 2015 is fast approaching.”

Failed bank: EFCC grills Saraki

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (second left) with (from left) Mr. Sunday Sowunmi, Mr. Tajudeen Olaotan Bello and Mr. Kunle Mudasiru during the inaugural meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State Chapter, in Abeokuta…yesterday.

AfDB used old data for assessment, says Fed Govt Continued from page 1

rose from 21 per cent in 2010 to 24 per cent in 2011.

But yesterday, Minister of Information Labaran Maku in a statement, said Nigeria remains the highest destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into Africa over and above South Africa and Egypt.

According to him, this is a direct result of the fundamental reforms being implemented under President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.

He said the AfDP based its report on 1996-2010 statistics which is behind time and does not reflect the real achievements/results of government’s tackling poverty and unemployment in Nigeria in the last three years.

The AfDB report, the minister added, presented poverty, inequality and unemployment in Nigeria without the appropriate and illuminating global context.

The minister added that

Nigeria was recently honoured for meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing people living in absolute hunger by half well ahead of the 2015 target set by the United Nations.

Maku said the report failed to capture all the holistic measures put in place to address the economy which include job creation, health reform, power reform and Poverty.

He said:”We are confident that these measures which were not covered by the AfDB report, have contributed significantly to reducing poverty and inequality in the country.”

“The AfDB report based on 1996-2010 statistics is therefore behind time and does not reflect the real achievements/ results of this administration in tackling poverty and unemployment in Nigeria in the last three years. “ He added: “This government has undertaken significant policy reforms targeted at addressing the challenges

identified in the report. These policy interventions have contributed positively to turning things around beyond the picture painted in the report.

“Poverty is a national challenge that transcends the whole country cutting across party divides. In reality, the responsibility of fighting poverty does not rest solely with the Federal Government.

States and Local Governments share in this responsibility too. State governments hold the key to fighting poverty in their states. Dealing with poverty as a partisan phenomenon would be trivialising the problem. All hands need to be on deck to fight poverty. Federal Government efforts are mainly at the policy level, while actual projects/programmes are carried out by the states. In spite of this, Federal interventions to reduce poverty have taken place in Agriculture; Health; Education; Housing; Communication Technology; Works; Transportation and other sec-

tors of the economy.

“The AfDB report presents poverty, inequality, and unemployment in Nigeria without the appropriate and illuminating global context. Yet, these three challenges have increasingly become global issues, which policymakers around the world are grappling with everyday. For example, South Africa’s unemployment rate and Gini Coefficient, which measures the dispersion in income and wealth among individuals, is 26% and 0.63, respectively, compared to Nigeria’s 24% and 0.45.”

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OR hours yesterday, former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki was a guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was grilled by the antigraft agency over the failure of family-owned Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN).

SGBN is believed to have transformed to Heritage Bank, which began operation a few months ago.

Saraki now represents Kwara Central in the Senate.

Investigation revealed that EFCC invited Saraki following six petitions by some aggrieved groups.

About eight cases were said to have arisen from the said petitions, some of which were rated as politically motivated.

This is the third time Saraki would be investigated by EFCC. He was probed in 2004, 2010 and last year by the EFCC and

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the police.

Saraki reportedly arrived at the commission about 10am and left at 6p.m.

A highly- placed source in the EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “Our job is to simply ask the former governor to respond to all allegations, no matter how frivolous.

“If there is no prima facie case against him, we will set the exgovernor free. We invited the governor before the Sallah break and he has decided to honour our summons”.

Responding to a question, the source added: “It is too early to go into the merits or demerits of the allegations against the former governor.”

EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Mr. Wilson Uwujaren confirmed that Saraki interacted with an EFCC team on sundry issues.

Amnesty alleges eviction of 9000 in Lagos

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ENS of thousands of Nigerians risk being made homeless as part of redevelopment plans in Lagos, Amnesty International said in a report.

The rights group said 9,000 people have already been forced from their homes during the first phase of the plans.

“The effects of February’s forced eviction have been devastating,” said Amnesty’s Oluwatosin Popoola.

A local official told the BBC that displaced residents would get priority when new houses became available.

Slums have sprung up all over Lagos as a result of people pouring into the over-

crowded city in search of work.

Amnesty has published satellite images showing what it said was “a densely populated area’’ that was razed to the ground in February.

The group said it took the images to disprove claims by government officials that the Continued on page 60

Boko Haram leader Shekau dares Obama in video Continued from page 1

“You have not killed Shekau,” he said in the video distributed through a local intermediary in a similar manner to previous Boko Haram messages.

Seated on a short stool with a kalashnikov resting on his right shoulder, Shekau said Boko Haram was “responsible” for several deadly raids over the past month.

These include attacks on the police and the military in Malam Fatori and Bama, which sparked clashes in which at least 35 people died, according to the military.

The video contained what Shekau claimed was a footage of Boko Haram gunmen opening fire on the military in Bama, using heavy weapons mounted on flat-bed trucks.

Shekau also referred to fighting in Baga and Gamboru Ngala near the border with Cameroon.

The Boko Haram insurgency is estimated to have claimed more than 3,600 lives since 2009, including killings by security forces.

On May 12, Shekau claimed

S

Insurgents kill 44 inside Borno mosque

USPECTED Islamic militants have killed 44 people who were praying in a mosque in Konduga, about 35 kilometres outside Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The Associated Press (AP) quoting security sources, said the bodies were counted yesterday, although the killing took place on Sunday morning.

The killing it said, was perpetrated by militants. Along the way from Maiduguri to Konduga, civilian activists encounresponsibility for attacks that left scores dead in Baga and Bama in a 12-minute video which also showed some women and children held hostage by the terror group.

Shekau, who spoke in Hausa in the video said: “We are the ones that carried out the Bama attack. We also carried out the attack in Baga”.

In another video after the declaration of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, the sect claimed to have recorded a few losses while forcing the military to retreat on many occasions.

“Since we started this ongoing war which they call state

tered ‘fierce resistance from heavily armed terrorists’, said Usman Musa of the civilian vigilance group.

Four people from the civilian group were also killed after responding to calls for help.

No one has taken responsibility for the incident. Police said they have not excluded the possibility that Islamist organisation Boko Haram was behind the attack.

Boko Haram has been fighting to create an Islamic state in the North. The

of emergency … in some instances soldiers who faced us turned and ran,” Shekau said.

He claimed that the military threw down their arms in flight, just as he urged likeminded Islamists in countries, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to support the sect’s war towards enthroning an Islamic state in Nigeria.

In January last year, after the Madalla bombing, Shekau in a 15-minute video, said the security agencies could not overcome his group.

Shekau rejected the government’s amnesty offer, saying the group could only hold talks with the government in

group, whose name means “Western education is a sin,” has turned on civilians in the area.

The group has been targeting Christians outside churches, as well as teachers, schoolchildren, and moderate Muslim clerics who have spoken out against extremism.

Government declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states on May 14, in a bid to tackle the insurgents.

accordance with Islamic teachings.

Yesterday at the Presidential Villa, President Goodluck Jonathan met with top security chiefs. Although no statement was issued after the meeting, it is believed that the activities of Boko Haram topped the agenda.

At the meeting were National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar and DirectorGeneral of the State Security Service (SSS) Ita Ekpenyong.

Others are Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade and Minister of State for Defence Erelu Olusola Obada.

Also yesterday, in Sokoto, the military announced the arrest of a Boko Haram suspect, Mubarak aka DanHajiya, after a raid on a hideout on Sunday.

Officers and men of the Brigade raided the hideout of some suspected terrorists on Sunday night which led to the arrest of Dan-Hajiya.

Spokesman of the Brigade Captain Yahaya Musa told re-

•Obama

porters that the operation was jointly conducted with SSS operatives.

According to him, the operation was in continuation of the Continued on page 60

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‘My encounters

•Senator Oluremi Tinubu during a condolence visit to Governor Babatunde Fashola( middle) on the death of his father, Alhaji Ademola Fashola in Lagos. With them is the governor’s wife Abimbola.

•Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) receiving Governor Abiola Ajimobi who paid a condolence visit to the Fasholas at the Government House Marina, Lagos Island on the death of Pa Ademola Fashola…

Zuriel Oduwole, 11, who lives in California in the United States last week made history as the youngest person to be interviewed by Forbes. Zuriel, who was invited to the African Union’s 50th anniversary, has interviewed leading African personalities, including eight African Presidents, the continent’s richest person, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and tennis super stars – Venus and Serena Williams. In this online interview with LEKAN OTUFODUNRIN, Zuriel gives an insight into her incredible feat and her Rebrand Africa project to make a case for the girl-child on the continent.

W

•Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo presenting a traditional Goron Sallah to Mai Kaltungo Saleh Mohammadu when he led emirs and chiefs to the Government House on Sallah homage.

•From left: Members of the Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, Dr. Jerry Agada, Prof. Ben Elugbe, Advisory Board Chairman Prof. Ayo Banjo, Nigeria NLNG Limited General Manager, External Relations Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, Chairman, Panel of Judges Prof. Romanus Egudu and a member of the Panel of Judges Dr. Andrew Abah at a news conference to announce the shortlist of 11 authors for the Nigeria Literature Prize 2013 in Lagos...yesterday.

HAT is the origin of your interest in media and communication, especially personality interviews?

The origin of me creating documentaries started with a school project. When I was nine, I entered a school competition called, “National History Day.” And I was the youngest student to enter the competition.

In that competition, I had to create a presentation, an exhibit, a performance, or a documentary.

So I chose to do a documentary, because I thought using media would be a better way to show something positive about Africa. If I did a performance or a presentation or an exhibit, no one, besides the judges, were allowed to come into the room while I was presenting it.

But with a documentary, whoever wanted to come in and watch it could. So if I did a documentary, more people would be able to see Africa in the way I see it.

And that documentary could lead on to positive and greater things for Africa. I like to show the rest of the world the positive things about Africa, through my documentaries. One of my documentaries won an award in the largest county in the United States. My documentary has also chronicled the impact of the OAU on Africa. Do you know I write my own scripts, I produce my own documentaries, I shoot my own scenes, I do my own voice over, I edit my own documentaries, and I co – direct my documentaries. I am an African Child – a Nigerian Girl Child.

How much of your Nigerian and African heritage has impacted on your life?

Oh I would say a lot. Since I want to show the world the positive side of Africa, my African heritage has helped me a lot. I know where my roots are from on the African continent because my dad’s family and my mum’s family are from two different parts of Africa, and I lived in Africa in both regions for periods of time.

•Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf greeting Zuriel

I have not always lived in California. So, when I watch the news, I always see bad things being said about Africa, like the wars and famine going on. And I don’t like seeing those things being said about my home country, even though it happens. It is how they say it that is unfair.

If I was American, I would still want to help Africa. But because I am African, I feel the need more to help Africa than I if I was just American. It is like helping your own people.

There are some problems, like the power going off. But do you know that there are times the power goes off in the United States as well. The only difference is they fix it very quickly, or bring it back very quickly. So, we all need to help.

I read in the papers that General Electric is now in Nigeria doing the power. That is very good, because the children need to study at night for school.

Why are you passionate about your Dream up, Speak up and Stand up for African renaissance campaign?

I think my programme, Dream up, Speak up, and Stand up will help the new African era, by helping the girl- child. It is the best way I can help. Other people do things as well like have foundations, or do charities and raise money, but for me, my best way is to work very hard, and be an example. So that means when I say Dream up, they can see I am living the dream and so can they, when I say Speak up, they can see me speaking to World leaders, and when I say Stand up, they can see me standing up for the African Girl child. Also, I am hoping that the parents of girls in Africa will see me as an example, and see that their girls have a lot of potential in life, and can achieve great things in life. Even though they might have very little as some of them do, they can still push harder to get their girls to school, or find more ways to get them educated.

When I launched the project in Nigeria in March this year, it was very good to have the support of the Lagos Business Schools communication’s department, the US Consulate in Lagos, Protea Ikeja Hotel and Federal Palace Hotel too.

They supported the project. So now, I am going to other regions of Africa to launch the project next.

What is your impression of the African leaders and others you have interviewed and what advice do you have for them?

First I have to say the whole experience was really cool. They were

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NEWS

with eight African Presidents, others’

•Former President Jerry Rawlings with Zuriel

all very kind and very warm and friendly to me. I think some of them were surprised by my questions, because only one of the Presidents I have met asked me to send the questions before I arrived for the interviews.

The other seven did not. For example, President Ellen Johnson of Liberia by the time when I asked her the third question said to me you are a tough interviewer, and everyone laughed.

Also, when I asked President Jonathan how much Goodluck his name has brought to Nigeria, he laughed as well, and then answered. President Fonseca of Cape Verde said he was one a University Professor and has seen many questions, but none like mine, and he invited me to come to his country

Online Video Zuriel Oduwole’s visit to Nigeria www.thenationonlineng.net to inspire the girls.

President Joyce Banda of Malawi was also surprised by my question.

She said when she was my age, she never dreamt of doing things like I was doing, but that she is inspired that I have the boldness to go and interview heads of states.

Some Presidents hugged me after the interviews, some called me their daughter, some kissed me on the head; they were all very kind. And when I saw some again at the AU last May, they were excited to see me again, like President Kikwete of Tanzania. He spent some time talking to me and kept his entourage

•From left: Obasanjo, Zuriel’s sister, Kufour and Zuriel

waiting. I saw people asking who that girl is. It was a special time for me.

President Kufuor was also happy to see me again at the AU because I had interviewed him last year in Kumasi, and he remembered me very well. He then introduced me to his friend, President Obasanjo, and then we took pictures together.

I don’t have any advice for them because they are older, but I like everyone to know that educating and fighting for the education of the Africa Girl Child, is an investment in Africa. I hope you think so too.

What is your reaction to being touted as the next Larry King?

I am just doing my best. Larry King has accomplished many great things in his life. He, like me, has also interviewed many people like

sports persons, leaders of countries, leaders in business and we all do it for many reasons. He has done many great things at his age, and that is Larry King.

I have also tried to accomplish some things but because I want to show what the Girl Child can do, if they are educated, and encouraged.

Just imagine all 5, or 8, or 10 or 12 year olds especially in Africa being given an opportunity to go to school and have real dreams.

It means Africa would be a more developed and have more qualified leaders 10 years from now or 15 years from now. Because it means we would be 20 years old or 25 years old or 30 years old then.

How supportive are your parents in your campaign My mum and dad have been very,

very supportive from the beginning.

They are always supportive of me and my young siblings. It doesn’t matter if its Basketball, Music class, Soccer, or Cheerleading, they are always supportive and drive us to all our classes and events.

Sometimes, I think it is a lot especially when me and one of my parents have to travel overseas for my interviews with Presidents because they have to make sacrifices like ask us to chose between something we wanted to do or me and my parent for the travel.

I had to learn the meaning of opportunity cost when I was eight years old. Dad said it means choosing between two things and which one has the more value than the other, or which one would have the more potential in the future.

Fight against Boko Haram sparks vigilante war N IGERIAN ironworker Ba Kaka initially felt sympathy for Boko Haram’s violent uprising against a state he and many others saw as corrupt, un-Islamic and kowtowing to Western ideology.

But as deaths mounted in the Islamist sect’s bloody campaign against state institutions, security services, Christians and even school children in northeast Nigeria, he began to see them as a threat to his life and livelihood.

“We thought they were doing God’s work at the beginning, but over time, we realized they were just a cult,” said Kaka, who was forced to close his shop in the northeast’s main city of Maiduguri after a spate of Boko Haram attacks in his area.

Kaka is part of a popular backlash against the Islamists - a member of one of a number of government-approved vigilante groups that have become a weapon in a military offensive that has dismantled Boko Haram networks and squeezed its fighters into a mountainous area by the Cameroon border.

Though the sect remains the gravest threat to Africa’s most populous country and top oil producer, it is weaker than it has been for years.

Yet the decision to give these gangs of largely unemployed youths the go ahead to hunt down militants risks dragging civilians further into the north’s conflict. Reprisals are already a problem, and security troubles could emerge further down the line, as has happened in the past with youth gangs.

Though the state is not giving them guns, a few have acquired them anyway. Kaka himself uses his ironworking skills to fashion bladed weapons like machetes for the militias.

“With all the death around us, we have gone beyond being afraid of them,” he said, gesturing to a dusty street in his area where a local politician was gunned down by the militants.

Since an uprising by Boko Haram was put down by the security forces in a 2009 offensive that killed 800 people, the group has enjoyed mixed support from a population caught between it and a military and police often accused of using indiscriminate force.

That support - or acquiescence appears to be waning.

“Unprecedented mass popular action against the group is the most serious setback to its armed campaign against the Nigerian state ... since the military crackdown in July 2009,” said Adam Higazi, an Oxford Analytica researched based in north Nigeria.

Boko Haram, who seek an Islamic state in religiously-mixed Nigeria and who rarely contact the media beyond Internet videos uploaded by leader Abubakar Shekau, could not be reached for comment.

“Killed sooner or later” In Maiduguri, a city of tall trees and mosques ringed by tin-roofed slums at the edge of a semi-desert, youths armed with sticks man checkpoints.

One group examines car boots and

bags for bombs.

The military has arrested hundreds of Boko Haram suspects since President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three states in northeast Nigeria in May, and it has praised local vigilante groups for helping identify and denounce them.

“If people had given us this type of cooperation earlier, we could have done better in tackling the insurgency,” northeast military spokesman Lieutenent-Colonel Sagir Musa says.

A number of vigilantes interviewed

by Reuters said they were fed up with being caught between the two sides.

“Unless something was done all of us would be killed sooner or later by either the Boko Haram or the security operatives who were suspicious of every youth,” said Ba-Lawan, 25, founder of a vigilante group in Maiduguri. “It was to save ourselves.”

Mohammed Kawa, 28, said he feared Boko Haram would “turn all of us into their slaves” if nothing was done to stop them.

Before May, Boko Haram had seemed close to setting up a de facto Islamic state in the lawless border areas around Lake Chad, where Nigeria meets Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

Local council officials had fled and police stations were empty, especially in Borno state, relic of an old Islamic caliphate.

The military crackdown has re-established sovereignty over these areas. Military officials say senior Boko Haram commanders have also been killed or arrested - though they de-

cline to name names - which could mean a secession crisis if Shekau is caught.

At a desk in the capital Abuja, surrounded by folders marked “confidential”, a top Nigerian security official, who declined to be named, watches recently-seized Boko Haram recruitment videos and scans satellite images of the Gwoza hills, next to Cameroon, where he says Shekau is suspected to be hiding.

Alongside videos of Boko Haram members demonstrating how to stitch a suicide vest - “here’s one I made earlier,” says one in the northern Hausa language, as if baking a cake for daytime TV - there is also one of “traitors” being executed.

Two suspected state informants are beheaded in a field by masked men wielding Ak-47s to creepy music praising jihad.

Risks Ahead Since the vigilantes rose up, Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates to “Western education is forbidden”, has turned on civilians. Fighters killed dozens of people in assaults on Western-style schools, which Islamists suspect harbor youths who are informants.

“Boko Haram can intimidate the (vigilantes) by targeting their family members and villages where they are strong,” said Jacob Zenn of the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation.

This will in turn lead to paranoia and over-reaction by the vigilantes when they hunt homes for militants, he said.

Shehu Sani, president of Nigeria’s

Civil Rights Congress, says there have been cases of summary executions and burning down the houses of suspects by the vigilantes - the sort of abuses Nigeria’s military had been accused of in the past.

“The army is starting to use them to perpetrate things they don’t want to be seen to be doing themselves,” he said.

Nigeria’s history is riddled with examples of angry, destitute youths who formed groups backed by politicians for a particular purpose, which then grew out of control.

Indeed, many describe Boko Haram itself as one such group - author Wole Soyinka last year said some northern politicians had “conjured up a Frankenstein” with their initial backing for it.

Militants who besieged the oil industry in the southern Niger Delta last decade were politically sponsored at first.

And the underlying drivers of violence and instability in Nigeria - corruption, extremes of wealth and poverty, lack of economic opportunities for the young - remain in place.

Underscoring the risks, rival vigilante groups have clashed in recent days over control of the town of Biu in Borno. Five people died in clashes on Sunday.

That presents the military with a dilemma: back off from supporting the vigilantes and leave them to be killed by Boko Haram, or sustain a movement that could later turn against the state.

•Culled from Reuters

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NEWS Jonathan inspects skill acquisition centre From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

AHEAD of the inauguration of a skill acquisition centre in his Otuoke home town in Bayelsa State, President Goodluck Jonathan, at the weekend, inspected the centre.

The Otuoke centre is among the nine skills centres being built in the nine states of the Niger Delta by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

Its mandate is to train youths in specialised trades, such as oil and gas, maritime and entertainment industries.

The President, according to a statement by Mrs. Boloko Mohammed, the Director (Press) in the ministry, expressed satisfaction with the level of work the ministry has done at the centre.

He restated his administration’s commitment to transforming every nook and cranny of the country through infrastructural and institutional development.

Power can’t shift to North now, says Ebute

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ORMER Senate President Ameh Ebute yesterday faulted the agitation for power shift to the North.

He said the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi, lacked the mandate to speak for the three zones in the region.

The lawyer and politician noted that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the NEF were insensitive to the mounting support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition in the North, especially in the North Central and Northeast.

He urged the region to be patient.

Ebute said: “The North has ruled for an uninterrupted 16 years between 1979 and 1999.

It produced five Heads of State - Alhaji Shehu Shagari,

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Sani Abacha and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar - and nobody organised Boko Haram during that long period.”

The former Senate President, who described himself as a “Middle Belt elder” and not a Northern elder, praised Jonathan for his “unlimited tolerance”.

According to him, the President has endured insults and attacks by party chieftains in an atmosphere of party indiscipline.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, who is also the leader of the “Congress for Equality and Change” and member of the

“National Unity Group”, blamed the five PDP governors currently on nationwide consultation with eminent Nigerians for allegedly creating a crisis in the ruling party.

He dismissed the conditions for a truce between them and the President, adding that their demands were against the 1999 Constitution, the PDP Constitution and the Electoral Law. Ebute addressed reporters in Lagos on the Jonathan administration, the Rivers State crisis, the PDP crisis and power shift to the North.

He said the agitation for power shift to the North lacked merit, because Jonathan has millions of supporters in the North rooting for his second term ambition and because he has also performed well.

The former Senate President

said it was wrong to insinuate that the entire North was clamouring for power shift.

He said: “The Middle Belt and North Central do not fall into the definition of the North they are talking about...”

Ebute regretted that some politicians were twisting the meaning and interpretation of zoning, which he said has no clear definition in the PDP constitution.

He said: “There is this unclear definition of zoning.

We have six geo-political zones. Once the Presidency goes to a zone, the formula is being implemented. The South South has not produced the President before.

It is fair and just that it should go to the South South, according to the PDP constitution.”

Reps express reservation on ICC probe of Boko Haram From Dele Anofi, Abuja

THE House of Representatives has expressed reservation on the planned investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of Boko Haram leaders for alleged crime against humanity, it has been learnt.

The lawmakers’ concern followed the seeming double standard of the international court which recognises the competence of individual country’s judicial system.

The Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Ukeje, told reporters at the weekend in Abuja that Nigeria’s Judiciary has displayed excellent competence in handling of the sect’s matters.

World Youth Day: Fed Govt begins Sign 4 Peace project From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

AS Nigeria joined the rest of the world in celebrating the World Youth Day yesterday, the Federal Government has inaugurated some youths for peace campaign.

At the event, which was held at the SGF Hall of the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan, through his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Students Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, said the gesture was to restore peace in Nigeria.

He said the project, with the theme: I Sign 4 Peace, was in response to the needed action to restore peace and unity in Nigeria.

Jonathan said the project was the first of its kind in the country to practically mobilise and re-orientate Nigerian youths towards the restoration and sustainability of peace.

Terrorism: Army urges soldiers to be on alert From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

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HE Brigade Commander of the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Gen. Fattai Oladipo Alli, has urged military personnel of the brigade to be on alert at all times.

Alli spoke in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, during the decoration of six Lieutenants to the rank of Captains and three Second Lieutenants to full Lieutenants.

He said the soldiers in the command should be alert in these times of terrorism.

The general told the newly promoted officers that there was need for them to know the nitty-gritty of their profession.

According to him, the officers must never assume but strive to know every detail of information.

Alli said Nigeria is facing critical security challenges, adding that officers from the ranks of lieutenant and captain should remain on alert to curb terrorism from the land.

Navy trains personnel on violence prevention

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By Precious Igbonwelundu

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•Mr Wale Edun, a one-timeLagos State Commissioner and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) (arrowed) with other party leaders rejoicing during the reception for Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) members in Ikoyi-Obalende, PHOTO:NIYI ADENIRAN Lagos...at the weekend

Southwest PDP: we’re confident in Obasanjo

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THE Southwest Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a vote of confidence in former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

It said the former President is a strong pillar of the party in the country.

The PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman in the zone, Chief Ishola Filani, spoke at the party’s rally in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.

Also, the PDP Zonal Secretary, Chief Pegba

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Otemolu, has denied the alleged exclusion of the exPresident in the affairs of the party.

At the rally, some members of opposition parties defected into the PDP. Present at the event were the Osun PDP Chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa; his Oyo State counterpart, Yinka Taiwo; Ogun PDP Chairman, Adebayo Dayo and Prince Buruji Kashamu.

Others include Kayode Amusan, Elder Yemi

Akinwonmi, Otunba Leke Adekoya, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye and Alhaji Agboola Alausa.

Filani said the Southwest PDP leadership and state chapters in the zone had implicit confidence in Obasanjo, who, according to him, has made the people in Yorubaland proud with his achievements both as a former military and civilian leader.

He said: “Obasanjo is the only person who was head of

state under the military, who was twice president as civilian president and who has continued all over the world to look for peace and ensure that governments internationally are in order.

“I, on behalf of the six states in the Southwest PDP, tell the whole world that the PDP in the Southwest pass vote of confidence on him. We have implicit confidence in Baba Obasanjo as our father and leader.”

Consultation: Tukur urges Wamakko, Lamido, the media have been awash HE National Chairothers to brief PDP with accusations and counterman of the Peoples accusations from some of our

Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has urged the five northern governors currently consulting with former Nigerian leaders on the state of the nation to brief the leadership of the party at the end of their consultations.

Addressing reporters at the party’s national secretariat yesterday in Abuja, Tukur said the PDP was waiting for the governors to conclude their consultations, adding that they would be expected to brief the party.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Apparently worried by the divisions in the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the political crisis in Rivers State, Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) have been consulting former leaders for solutions.

Some of the former leaders consulted by the gover-

nors include Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. They have also held talks with former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.

Restating efforts by the PDP leadership to reconcile aggrieved members across the country, Tukur advised aggrieved members to comply with the party’s guidelines in their approach to conflict resolution.

He said: “In the recent past,

party members. As much as we as a party respect the constitutional right of individuals to public opinions, movement and association, such exercise should be done with some element of civility and in keeping with the norms of the society, the party’s constitution and guidelines.

“It is advisable that party faithful, who are aggrieved, should use the party’s internal resolution platform. That is, the party’s reconciliation committee or the leadership of the party.”

IXTY naval personnel, including ratings, were yesterday trained on prevention and response to conflict-related violence.

The training also included aspects of sexual abuse.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Levi Ajuonu, who opened the training in Lagos, said it would address civilian protection and ensure professionalism in all aspects of naval duties.

He said participants were drawn from various naval formations, adding that the training would expose officers and ratings to the United Nations (UN) standards on best practices.

The FOC said participants will be trained on protection of civilians in peace support operations in internal security as well as international legal dimension.

Ajuonu noted that the Nigerian Navy would no longer work in isolation in the creeks, adding that it was involved in operation built-up areas, such as Plateau, Borno and Bauchi states.

He said: “It is noteworthy that from the inception of your sojourn in the Navy, you have undergone several training programmes aimed at imparting and sharpening your skills to efficiently discharge your responsibilities.

“However, this one is unique in the sense that the skills you will acquire are for your individual benefit to facilitate your meritorious service to your fatherland.”

He explained that at the end of the training, participants would be expected to analyse the challenges on planning and implementation of protecting civilians during operations.

He said: “This training will go a long way in determining how professional our men operate in the field. The entire nation is looking up to them to apply best judgment and outcome in future operations.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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NEWS

APC to Jonathan: go to court if you feel libelled T HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to go to court if he feels libelled by its claim that he runs a “kindergarten presidency”.

APC Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, last weekend, said only a thinking leader could take the country to the promised land because “the presidency is not for kindergarten”.

In a statement in Accra, Ghana, yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said Akande merely told the truth by his characterisation of the Jonathan presidency, adding: “Isn’t truth a defence to libel?”

It also said there was nothing strange or wrong in criticising a democratically-elected President. “After all, he is neither an imperial president, a monarchy nor an emperor.”

APC said nothing confirmed Chief Akande’s assertion that Jonathan is running a kindergarten presidency

than the crude manner it (presidency) responded to the frank but constructive criticism by the APC National Chairman.

“In the true character of this presidency, its irreverent and undignified spokesman failed to respond to the issues raised

by Chief Akande. Instead, he chose to haul abuses at a man who is old enough to be his father. Such irresponsible act does no credit to the spokesman or the president he is serving, and Nigerians will not forget such crudity in a hurry.

“Where is the presidency’s response to Chief Akande’s assertion that he has written two letters to the President on the serious challenges facing the country, without getting a response? Where is the presidency’s response to Chief Akande’s assertion that President Jonathan is victimising political opponents? These are

the issues Nigerians are interested in, not how many hours the President sleeps at night because he is supposedly working tirelessly.

“If indeed this President is working tirelessly, we need to ask who he is working for because Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of his administration. They are also not interested that the president once served as a deputy governor, governor and vice-president, because the experience he supposedly garnered from doing so has not impacted positively on his duty as a president.

That’s not a surprise, considering that the President owes his meteoric rise in politics to luck and destiny. Nothing else!” the party said.

It described the presidency as an under-achieving one, always eager to celebrate tokenism, using questionable statistics.

“As the presidency was

composing its empty response to the serious issues raised by our highly-respected Chairman, the African Development Bank was saying in its annual report (African Economic Outlook), quoted by the local media on Sunday, that the proportion of people (Nigerians) living below the national poverty line has worsened from 65.5 per cent in 1996 to 69.0 per cent in 2010, most of those years under the PDP and the last four under President Jonathan.

“What therefore is there to celebrate in a presidency under which power generation has fallen to 2,500MW? What is there to celebrate in a presidency that has only given Nigerians widespread insecurity, unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure, oil theft and unbridled corruption. Of what use is the touted six per cent increase in the GDP when over 40 per cent of our youths are unemployed?” APC queried.

The party described as a figment of the presidency’s imagination the claim of a feud

NOA seeks adaptation to climate change

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•Mohammed between its leaders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, saying the PDP and the presidency have been peddling lies over a phantom feud because they could not fathom how the leadership of the APC could put national interest above personal considerations.

“Mr. President, don’t let your lick-spittle aides deceive you. There is no feud between the two leaders. Waiting for such a feud is like ‘Waiting for Godot’”, it said.

Army, SSS arrest suspected terrorist From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

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HE 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, yesterday confirmed the arrest of a suspect, Mubarak, aka DanHajiya, in the raid carried out on Sunday.

Officers and men of the brigade raided the hideouts of suspected terrorists on Sunday night, resulting in the arrest of Dan-Hajiya.

Spokesman for the brigade, Cpt. Yahaya Musa, who confirmed the arrest at a news briefing in Sokoto, said the operation was jointly organised with operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

He said the operation was in continuation of the raids carried out by the security agencies to rid Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states of the fleeing insurgents from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Cpt Musa said: “Troops of the brigade have in the past few days, intensified raids on the hideouts of suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

“We have also arrested people. Investigations are ongoing.

This is the only thing we can confirm now.

“However, I can confirm that no deaths were recorded either on the side of the insurgents or on the military and SSS side.”

Leaders urged to re-awaken youths’ hope

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•Nigerian students jubilating after winning the 2013 Students for advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) World Cup in Abuja.

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‘Rise in vigilante justice worrisome’

NON-government organisation, the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has raised concern about what it calls the phenomenal rise in the use of jungle justice to settle scores.

It urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) to stop the trend and save the country from anarchy and impunity.

In a statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Director, Miss.

Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA blamed the slow justice delivery mechanism for the rise in ‘vigilante justice’, which is uncon-

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on another strike against what it termed the outrageous annual basic salary of the lawmakers.

It described the basic salary as injurious to the economy.

NLC said the legislators’

stitutional.

It said measures to remedy the anomaly must be found and enforced by the government “if democracy is to flourish in our clime.”

HURIWA supports the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands, to indict armed Islamic terrorists in the North, who are wreaking havoc and unleashing violence, for crimes against humanity. According to the rights’ group, the court system is either too weak to deliver justice to arrested terrorists, or they are too corrupt to ensure that mass killers don’t get away with acts of genocide and violence, which has resulted in the death of over 5,000 persons since 2009.

S the world celebrates the youth today, the Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment Organisation has urged leaders to re-awaken the hope of the youth by addressing their challenges and availing them of their potential and opportunities.

The President of the organisation, Mrs. Bimpe Gbamgbose-Martins, said this at the 2013 International Youth Day, organised by SMILE, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC). Its theme is: “Youth Migration, Moving Development Forward’’. It was held at Ogudu GRA Recreation Centre, Lagos.

She said evidence of the neglect of the youth could be felt, stressing that if not curbed, “the future of this country will be in a shambles.”

Mrs. Gbamgbose-Martins added: “For any nation to drive meaningful progress and change, it must keep its focus on the youth.”

Lawmakers’ pay: NLC may embark on strike From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

•Aremu

HE Director-General (DG) of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mr. Mike Omeri, has called for increased awareness on the issues surrounding changes in climate, which have led to a new cycle of nature around the world.

The DG spoke when he hosted the National Stakeholders Advisory Board of the Climate Change Network Nigeria, led by its Chairman and African Union Advisor on Climate Change, Dr. Victor Fodeke.

The board is an advocacy group seeking the adaptation of the fourth Assessment Report of the inter-governmental panel on climate change, which will turn the predictions of adversity into opportunity for the development of the environment.

According to the DG, who was represented by the Director of Political and Civic Education in the agency, Afam Anene, the drive towards adaptation to climate change must evolve as a mass action by members of the population.

He identified this strategy as informing the agency’s campaign for clean environment and the planting of trees.

basic salary per annum is unfair, insensitive and unsustainable.

The Vice-President of the NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu, spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at a National Women Workshop, organised by the National Union of Textiles, Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN).

Its theme is: “Leadership skills development for women members of NUTGTWN.” More than 80 participants came from over 30 states.

Aremu, who is also the General- Secretary of NUTGTWN, urged the lawmakers to demonstrate statesmanship by re-

viewing downwards their annual emoluments.

Said he: “Their salary is not even linked to their productivity. If they refuse, we must call them to order. Their constituents should call them to order.

They can’t be holier than the Pope.

“If they refuse to reduce their salary, we will take the battle to their constituencies. Anything short of this will make us take to the streets and NLC is ready to lead the way.

“How can a legislator earn about $189,000 (N30.24 million) as basic salary per annum? Our lawmakers are the second highest paid in the world next to those in Australia.”

Comrade Aremu said it would take a worker earning

the monthly minimum wage of N18,000 about 140 years to save N30.24 million “if the worker saves his whole salary.”

NLC said it would take an average worker 667 years to be at the same salary level with a lawmaker, whose total emolument per annum is put at about N46 million.

These disparities, according to the NLC, could not be divorced from the present widening gap between the ruling class and the masses.

It urged a review of the system to save the nation from collapse.

Aremu said a strike could be the most potent weapon to be employed if the lawmakers failed to heed their advice.

“This is a persuasive ap-

proach now, but if they refuse, we will march on their constituencies and if they still pauperise Nigerians, we will take to the streets to show them the power of the electorate over the elected. How can a Nigerian legislator be earning more than the American President?”

The NLC leader described as paradoxical, the condition of Nigerians whose country is ranked 12th in the hierarchy of oil producing nations, but they could seldom afford daily meals.

He said: “Our leaders should stop their mantras on the deportation of the destitute. Rather, they should be worried on how to curb destitution. The basic key to eradicate destitution is provision of employ-

ment. The surest way to provide employment is by resuscitating our moribund industries.

“Those using motorcycles for commercial purposes are not in employment, because soon they will no longer enjoy patronage as everybody you see now uses motorcycles for commercial reasons. In any case, why should diploma holders be using motorcycles as a means of livelihood? We, at labour, are seeing this joblessness of the youth at the face of the nation’s affluence as a class war against the less privileged. We will not allow it because if we do, someone may one day order the deportation of sacked workers to their states of origin.”

THE NATION TUESDAY AUGUST 13, 2013

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NEWS 2015:‘Lanlehin’s antics’ll fail’

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SOCIO-political group in Oyo State, the Asiwaju Grassroots Foundation (AGF), has warned Senator Femi Lanlehin (Oyo South District) to stop antagonising Governor Abiola Ajimobi over his second term endorsement.

It said the senator’s antics would fail in 2015.

In a statement by one of its National leaders, Alhaji Folawiyo Bello, AGF warned Lanlehin against causing disunity in the APC. Bello said: “This is the first time since the return of democracy in 1999 that registered parties voluntarily gave up their individual identities and merged into a virile party.

“The journey through the registration process was arduous, so the controversial statement credited to Lanlehin by the press, where he said the governor should not expect a second term was uncalled for.”

He said Oyo has improved since Ajimobi assumed of-

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

fice, adding that the governor deserves a second term to sustain the present development for generations to come.

Bello said: “We believe you are a lover of development and it will be our utmost happiness if you can genuinely support our rare gem and God-given governor till 2019. Please, do not heat up the polity.

“The AGF stands behind the people’s governor, who has redefined and re-structured the state. His initiatives have given Oyo a face lift. His charismatic traits and leadership style have brought solace and development to the people and the society at large.

“The AGF urges Lanlehin to stop parading himself as an agent of peaceful destruction and support Ajimobi beyond 2015 to build a modern Oyo State, which would be a clear departure from the one bequeathed to him by past administrations.”

Growth imminent with APC, says Amosun

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has said the coming of the All Progressives Congress (APC) marks a new dawn in Nigeria’s politics.

He said the country would grow as soon as the APC takes over governance at the centre.

Amosun spoke in Abeokuta, the state capital, during a valedictory meeting with leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ogun chapter.

He said: “Nigeria has no business with poverty, given the quantum of its resources.

It is unfortunate that it has been mismanaged and APC will address this. I am sure that if APC is at the helm of affairs, this country will progress within a short time.

“This is the change we have been waiting for. It will transform the country.”

The governor said the APC would soon be inaugurated in

•’Defectors to PDP not our members’

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the state.

At the meeting were Senators Olabiyi Durojaiye, Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central), Akin Odunsi (Ogun West) and some House of Representatives’ members.

Also yesterday the APC said the purported defectors to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ijebu-Igbo were not registered APC members.

Ijebu North Local Government Secretary Adebayo Adekoya said the PDP’s claim that some APC members defected was spurious and a cheap propaganda to deceive the public.

Adekoya said a former PDP State Secretary, Chief Otemolu Pegba, who announced at a political gathering in Ijebu-Igbo on Sunday that he has dumped APC for PDP, is not an APC mem-

‘...the congregation at Prince Buruji Kashamu’s IjebuIgbo home, where the event was held, including security men and onlookers, according to reports, were not up to 2,000’ ber but a member of the Imole Group, which is involved in the Labour Party’s (LP’s) activities.

He said: “How can a splinter group with scanty membership strength, which has been actively involved in LP activities, be referred to as APC faithful?

“One wonders why the PDP has to resort to sensational and blatant lies to gain cheap

political points that would serve no purpose.

“They claimed that over 5,000 people defected from various parties to the PDP. In as much as I would not want to speak for other parties involved, I clearly state that the congregation at Prince Buruji Kashamu’s Ijebu-Igbo home, where the event was held, including security men and onlookers, according to reports, were not up to 2,000. How did they arrive at 5,000 defectors?

“They can only sell such lies to dummies. I am doing this to set the records straight that the few people they claimed left for their party are mere political liabilities, who will add more to the internal wrangling in the PDP. “PDP is smarting from the crisis rocking it and has become desperate to the degree of recruiting undertakers to escort it to its final resting place - the archives of defunct Nigerian parties.”

UNICEF official clarifies position

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N Education Officer with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Mrs. Valentina Solarin, has clarified her position with the agency.

Mrs. Solarin said she is not the UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria as she was erroneously referred to during her recent visit to Ekiti State.

According to her, she is an education specialist in the organisation’s Abuja office.

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Cocoa Mall targets made-in-Nigeria goods

HE Cocoa Mall in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, will boost the sale of made-in-Nigeria goods, its management has said.

The 3,600-square metre mall, with about 14,000sqm lettable space, will open for business in October.

The mall will parade Shoprite, Pep, Medplus, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Mr. Price, Cash N Carry, Bussen, Healthplus and a cinema as tenants.

Its promoter and developer, Chief Tokunbo Omisore, said: “Cocoa Mall is of international standard in terms of structure and pricing. It is the first in Oyo State.

“Pricing, not just of space

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

acquisition, but also of goods and services rendered by occupants, will be affordable. Though the mall is a huge investment, we have set a reasonable time for returns on investment.

“The mall is 80 per cent allotted and paid for by prospective shop operators of repute in the growing retail industry. Our tenants are multinationals and local businesses, which are set to project made-in-Nigeria goods.

“The mall will create employment and bring back the good memories of the days of Kingsway Stores, Leventis and UTC.”

Mimiko: no plan to impeach my deputy

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•From left: Prof.

Adelabu, Fashola and the governor’s younger brother, Ademola ...at the weekend.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday debunked a report that there were plans to impeach his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, for alleged ineffectiveness.

Speaking with reporters in his office in Akure, the state capital, Mimiko urged the public to disregard the story.

He denied directing the House of Assembly to begin the impeachment process, adding that there was no plan to replace his deputy.

According to a report published by some national newspapers (not The Nation), the Assembly has set a machinery in motion to impeach Olanusi for alleged non-performance owing to his ill health.

The report said the governor was concerned about his deputy’s health and had told Olanusi to produce the person that would replace him.

The Septuagenarian was said to have nominated his son, a development the governor was allegedly opposed to.

Mimiko, who just arrived from Abuja, said: “I have been receiving messages, calls and heard the report on BBC Hausa Radio Station that we are planning to replace the deputy governor. There is no such plan.

“Nobody is planning to impeach my deputy. He is part of this administration and is very active. He still has a lot to offer the present administration and the people. I urge the public to disregard the report.”

Olanusi, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairman, has been Mimiko’s deputy since the administration began its first term on February 24, 2009.

Ekiti deputy governor condoles with Fashola

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KITI State Deputy Governor Prof.

Modupe Adelabu has commiserated with Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on the death of his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.

During her visit to the governor at the Lagos State Government House in Marina, Lagos Island, at the weekend, Prof. Adelabu described the deceased as a legend, whose death should be celebrated, rather than mourned.

She said he lived a fulfilled life and left indelible imprints in the society.

Prof. Adelabu hailed Fashola for making Lagos a

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Jonathan hailed on condolence visit

ORMER Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Dr. Chris Ekpenyong has hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for visiting Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to condole with him on the death of his father, Pa Ademola Fashola.

Ekpenyong said in a country such as Nigeria where everybody is getting too parti-

model state and urged him to keep up the tempo.

She said: “Pa Fashola lived a fulfilled life and immortalised himself, not only by giving birth to, but by donating Governor Fashola, who is one of the best governors in the country, to sustain his legacies.”

san along religious and political lines, it is heartwarming to see the “father of the nation” toe a line that promotes the essence of humanity, unity, love and peace.

Speaking in Uyo, the state capital, Ekpenyong said the President’s visit showed that he is the President of all Nigerians, not just of one party or one section of the country.

Prof. Adelabu, who noted that her principal, Governor Kayode Fayemi, had earlier visited Fashola, said her visit was to further demonstrate the love of Ekiti people for Fashola.

She prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Fashola thanked Prof.

Adelabu and Ekiti people for sharing his grief.

He said although his father lived a fulfilled life, the family misses him and his memories would linger for life.

Fashola lauded the cordial relationship between Lagos and Ekiti states.

under prosecution at Magistrate Court 2 in Otta, with nine suspects arraigned before the magistrate.

“The suspects were arrested as a follow-up to ongoing investigation into the robberies carried out by the syndicate.

“The investigation is being carried out by a special team of policemen, led by the Divisional Police Officer in Ifo Division, Gbenga Megbope, a chief superintendent.

“The suspects have confessed to the crimes. Items

recovered from them include one locally-made double barrel gun, one locally-made single barrel gun, 20 live cartridges, 10 hand sets, jewellery and three new unregistered Bajaj motorcycles, in addition to the five guns earlier recovered from the nine gang members arrested earlier.

“Police Commissioner Ikemefuna Okoye has put all officers and men in the command on their toes to make the state hot for criminals.”

Police arrest robbery suspects in Ogun

HREE robbery suspects were yesterday arrested by the police in Ifo, Ogun State.

They were said to be part of the 11 suspects arrested on Saturday in another part of the state.

The gang is said to be responsible for various robberies in Ogun and Oyo states.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said shot guns, ammunition and other items were recovered from them.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Adejobi said: “Barely a day after the arrest of 11 suspected armed robbers in Abeokuta, the command arrested three confessed armed robbers, who operate in Ogun and Oyo states, at Obada Oko and Papalanto in Ifo Local Government Area on Sunday at about 0500hrs.

“Abiola Akanni, Eniola Fajobi and Peter Hammed are members of a robbery syndicate that was burst in Ifo recently, whose case is

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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NEWS

APC different from PDP, says Fayemi

•2014: ‘Governor is our candidate’

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday refuted claims by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that there was no difference between PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fayemi said the APC was created to bring succour, progress, freedom, justice and development to Nigerians.

He said: "If we are the same, why are they scared? Why were they trying to block the emergence of the APC? Why the hand of Esau, the voice of Jacob?

"The people they were using to block our party's emergence issued statements from the PDP secretariat. We know those who paid their lawyers to file cases against the emergence of our party.

"There is a difference between the wheat and the chaff and you cannot plant an orange tree and expect to reap pears."

The governor spoke in AdoEkiti, the state capital, at the inauguration of the APC. A crowd cheered as Fayemi lowered the flag of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and hoisted the APC’s flag at the Governor's Office and the headquarters of his campaign office.

The governor; his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin; top government officials and party chieftains, in

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

a procession, moved to the APC secretariat at Ajilosun, where the party's State Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, performed the same ritual.

Fayemi urged Nigerians to embrace the APC, which he said was established to rescue them from bad governance, brigandage and the systemic failure "the ruling PDP represents".

The inauguration was turned into a carnival as party members and supporters danced on major streets in the state capital, waving brooms (the party's symbol) in the air.

Taxi, commercial motorcycle and tricycle drivers decorated their vehicles, tricycle and bikes with glossy APC posters.

They sang praises of Dr. Fayemi, describing him as "a performer and the transformer of Ekiti".

They said he has made Ekiti an enviable state, despite its limited resources.

Fayemi described the birth of the APC as historic, saying "history always starts in small bits and never comes in a big bang".

He traced the origin of the APC to the political activities of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who spread the gospel of progressivism across the country.

The governor said the PDP has disappointed Nigerians

From Yomi Odunuga, Abuja

•Fayemi addressing the people...yesterday. With him are Omirin (left); Prof. Adelabu (second left) and others.

and failed to justify its 14-year hold on power at the centre.

He said the PDP has failed to provide electricity and has superintended over the collapse of public infrastructure.

Fayemi expressed dismay that under the PDP's watch, public funds are being diverted into private pockets and "official corruption" is on the increase.

He said the PDP does not believe in probity, accountability and transparency and assured Nigerians that APC would effect positive changes in the country.

The governor said the PDP is afraid of change, hence "its employment of various tricks to prevent the APC's

registration".

He said only states under the APC's control are enjoying good governance and the dividends of democracy, such as free education, free health services, solid infrastructure and transparency in governance, among others.

Urging Ekiti people to reject the PDP, Fayemi said the recent violence unleashed by members of the party over the selection of its governorship candidate has shown that the PDP has nothing to offer the people.

He said the alleged resort to the use of machetes and other weapons by the PDP's governorship aspirants and their supporters showed that the party does not believe in

democracy.

The governor urged APC members to go back home and propagate the ideals and manifesto of the party to win more members at the grassroots.

He said: "I urge members to go back home and work hard to win more members into our party. This is Awolowo's party, Afenifere's party and the party of the progressives.

"This party belongs to everyone. There is no senior or junior member. Everybody is equal. What will earn you leadership is the number of members you bring to the party and we must ensure that this party is rooted in our communities.

"We are not going to

discriminate against anybody, including those in the party of the locust, who have realised that they are on the road to perdition. We will welcome them into this new party, which is on the road that leads to salvation.

"Those left in the party of the greedy are invited into our party because we are going to reform them and make them embrace progressive ideals."

Awe said APC will take the people to the Promise Land.

Noting that the Southwest has always embraced progressive ideals, he said the APC offers the vehicle to spread the ideals to other parts of the country, which are still under the "jackboot" of the PDP.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

BUSINESS

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘Encourage local production of meters’

By Ambrose Nnaji

T

HE Centre for Democratic Govern ance in Africa (CDGA) has urged the Federal Government to encourage the growth of meter manufacturing firms.

This, it said, would boost its socio-economic growth.

The group’s Director-General, Dafe Akpocha gave the advice during the conferment of Gold Service Merit Award to the chairman of MOMAS Meter Manufacturing Company, Kola Balogun.

He said the only way to promote local content development in the country, is when government discouraged importation of items that could be manufactured locally.

He said when importation of meters is banned, Nigerians will be forced to buy indigenous meters.

“There is no way we can stop importation, but it can be reduced. There are some locally manufactured products that can match with the international best practices,” he said.

He said indigenous manufacturers can improve and project the economy in a positive manner, if both government and banks assist indigenous companies.

He said that the centre was encouraged by the selfless services demonstrated by the recipient whom he described as “a silent achiever and good ambassador of Nigeria and indeed, Africa”.

The director, who expressed satisfaction with the level of ongoingwork, assured that he would do everything possible to further develop the company, adding that banks should encourage indigenous companies through grant of loan facilities.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa-$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N12.1 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8.4% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending -22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $46.9b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

11 We want a SONCAP programme that would serve its purpose; a programme that would be dynamic, where all the identified loopholes would be effectively plugged thereby making it difficult for the plaque of substandard products to continue to dominate the Nigerian business space.

-Dr Joseph Odumodu, DG, SON

Agip loses 20,000bpd to oil theft T HE last has yet to be heard of oil theft in the Niger Delta as Nigerian Agip Oil Company yesterday raised the alarm that it loses 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) to oil theft.

The firm’s Manager, Security, Albert Ijuwe, said the menace forced the oil giant to shut production early this year.

“We are losing about 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day due to oil theft, and we even had to shut down production early this year to enable the company effect repairs on 162 theft points,” he said, adding that the 162 points were holes drilled on the company’s pipelines by oil thieves to siphone the products.

Ijuwe spoke at a meeting organised by the Bayelsa State Government in Yenagoa to map out strategies of dealing with the menace.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

He thanked the government for initiating the discussions on the best way to tackle the scourge.

The meeting held at the Banquet Hall had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), representatives of NAOC and surveillance contractors.

The contractors who atttended the meeting were engaged by the company to monitor its pipelines.

In his remarks, Jonah lamented that the development had led to loss of revenue in the region. He said oil theft had impacted negatively on the economy which depends largely on oil.

Worried by the development, he said the government, at all levels, were making efforts to check ac-

tivities of the oil thieves, saying that oil thieves and the activities of international oil companies had done a lot of damage to the environemnt.

“The Federal Government had already constituted a committee headed by the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and the others from the South-south, to deal with the issue of crude oil theft in the region,” he said.

In his address, the Commissioner for Energy, Francis Ikio, said: “The mechanism of crude oil theft is very technical which can only be carried out by persons that have professional knowledge to do so,” adding that “International Oil Companies should check their internal systems as there is the possibility of insider abuse.”

One of the surveillance contractors, Chief Nengi James, described the meeting as a welcome development, not-

CPC, NERC partner to protect electricity consumers From Franca Ochigbo,

T • Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke

ing that the activites of oil theives had assumed a worrisome dimension.

“Apart from the adverse effects on the national economy, occasioned by oil theft, the ecosystem in the Niger Delta has been damaged due to oil exploration activities,” he added.

Abuja

HE Consumer Protec tion Council (CPC) is partnering with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to protect electricity consumers.

CPC Director-General Mrs. Catherine Atoki, and NERC Chairman Dr. Sam Amadi, during a briefing, assured electricity consumers of redress and enforcement of regulations.

She said: “The policy thrust of this administration is to synergise with such agencies with a view to entrenching consumer protection in all sectors of the economy. NERC is one critical stakeholder that I have to visit in order to properly situate the council’s mandate.

“The Council must be fully integrated into various sector regulators’ consumer protection mechanisms in the country to ensure consumers interests are adequately protected in accordance with the law.”

She stressed the need for strict enforcement of regulations and guidelines relating to consumer complaint handling standards and procedures, like the distribution companies are sanctioned for failure to meet up with the prescribed standards.

Niger hosts deregulation confab

• From left: Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr Abraham Nwankwo; Manager, African Development Bank Institute, Prof. Temilade Abimbola and Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Gambia, Mrs Oumie Samba, at the regional workshop on Islamic Bonds for Infrastructure Development in Abuja...yesterday.

A

Pipeline vandalism reduces power output by 1600MW

BOUT 1,600 Mega Watts (MWs) of elec tricity have been lost to gas pipeline vandalism, the Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, has said.

Nebo, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, with Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, at the end of the joint meeting of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) and the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) adduced political motives as some of the reasons behind gas pipelines’ vandalism.

Out of the 1,600 MWs drop in power, he said, about 460 MWs reduction was caused by low level of water in Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba dams.

He said: “It is important to note that with regards to the busting of gas pipelines and vandalism of the pipelines that bring

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

gas, there isn’t any significant commercial value behind the action.

It is sheer madness, or may be essentially politically motivated, just to cause damage to the entire country and to Nigerians.

“What these young men steal from the transformers are copper. When you put the total sum of the most recent one that they vandalised, all the copper they collected that they will sell as scrap is not worth up to N10,000, but in the interim, they have knocked off one million people from power supply, and also of course it caused the DISCO N27 million to fix the dam-

age.”

Nebo appealed to Nigerians to lend their support and help protect the equipment from these vandals.

“I think it is instructive for the entire populace to know what has been happening recently. A couple of months ago, the western axis of the gas pipeline leading to the power plants in the west were cannibalised, resulting in very severe damages that caused a sharp drop in power supply. That has since been addressed and the damages are been repaired,” he said.

Nebo explained that a couple of weeks ago, the Akoloma Plant in the Eastern axis was also vandalised, saying the damages were quite extensive.

However, he said a team

of experts went to work a nd r est or ed i t , a d d i ng that this led to the restoration of power to the Afam plant eventually.

The minister lamented that when people were rejoicing in some parts of the country where power supply was stabilising, another sabotage was discovered a few days ago at Akoloma, which he confirmed was receiving attention.

He assured that in the next six weeks, the western axis would be fixed, and that a portion of the 1,600MW already lost, would be recovered.

“We are appealing for understanding that the load shedding we are encountering needs the support of everybody in educating these vandals to stop sabotaging government’s efforts...”

A

CONFERENCE with the theme Deregulaiton of the downstream sector and development enters its second day today.

Organised by the National Council on Finance and Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance, the conference brings together stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, public service and academic in Minna, Niger State capital.

According to the organisers, the forum will deliberate on issues bordering on deregulation and its impacts on the nation’s revenue generation, and utilisation capacity.

Others issues slated for discussions, include fiscal implications of the deregulation of the downstrem sector, and assesment of the scheme vis-a-vis its ability to drive economic growth.

The statement reads: ‘The conference partcipants would be espoused to the ideals of the deregulations and policies relating to the removal or reduction of excessive controls, rules and regulations of the oil and gas industry.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

PROPERTY

Tuesday, AUGUST 13, 2013

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

17

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

•Prototype of a four-bedroom detached duplex.

After living so long in rented apartments, their dream is to become house owners. In a bid to actualise their dreams, many have fallen victims to predatory developers. They part with money without getting their dream homes, SEYI ODEWALE reports.

Prospective landlords’ agony, developers’ joy T

HEY take up advert spaces in the dailies, national and local. The wordings of their adverts are appealing to prospective landlords and tenants. “Pay a certain deposit, balance years later and be a landlord or a home owner,” is usually their catch phrase.

The offers are ridiculous; choice areas are often not left out of the promos. From the outskirts of Lagos to areas exclusively reserved for the noveau riche in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ajah and Lekki, are housing schemes operated by private real estate firms. A critical look at most of them shows that they are out to exploit the gap created by the government in not providing adequate housing.

For instance, a Lagos firm in 1999, flooded the newspapers with advertisements for prospective house owners to make 25 per cent deposits for its housing scheme to be built at Isheri-Olofin, Idimu, a Lagos suburb. Fourteen years after, subscribers are yet to see the houses they paid for.

“This is a classical case of fraud and it is made possible because various levels of government have not lived up to what the populace expected of them. Look at the story carried by your paper on Sunday, August 4, where a certain firm promised to build houses for those who subscribed and, 14 years after, they are yet to deliver on their promise. What do you make out of this? Is this not outright fraud?” Bolatito Adesanmi, a Lagos-based es-

tate manager asked.

Quoting copiously from the story, an angry Adesanmi said: “The firm, ‘published in one of the dailies that three types of houses were available: a two-bedroom in a row of four housing units; a three-bedroom in a twin bungalow and a three-bedroom detached house’.

But, unfortunately, the firm, as I read in the story, defaulted and has failed to either deliver the about 170 units promised its subscribers who had fulfilled their own side of the bargain or abide by the details of the agreement to hand over the title deeds of the properties. And, despite interventions at different levels, nothing seemed to have worked.

This is not a good sign as it portends a state of hopelessness for the people and others who

are trying to get houses of their own.”

The likes of the firm, he said, were the ones giving real estate operators credibility problems, as prospective land or house owners are wary of whom they deal with.

“Yes, everyone wishes to have shelter as one of the principal needs of life, but when such situation becomes an avenue for exploitation, it is then assuming a dangerous dimension,” he said.

At the Real Estate Riches managed by Kelly Nwogu at Idimu, Lagos, hand bills being distributed by the firm stated people could own land and house. They included owning a property in Ajah with less than •Continued on page 18

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

‘Why buildings collapse’ A group, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, has emerged to tackle building collapse. In this interview with SEYI ODEWALE, its President, Kunle Awobodu, a chartered builder, speaks on how to tackle the menace.

W

HAT is your impression on the building that collapsed in Lagos?

For some years, Ebute-Metta, Lagos has been identified as a citadel for potential buildings that would likely collapse; a place for weak buildings because it has always accommodated substandard constructions, especially through developers.

Developers from Lagos Island that have constructed substandard buildings on Lagos Island have moved to Ebute-Metta because of its proximity. So, Ebute-Metta has also become a sensitive location; an area we have identified as susceptible to building collapse.

Having observed the challenges of building collapse for some years and studied the trend, the bottom line is that the government does not have the capacity to address the causes of building collapse.

Have there been identifiable causes for such?

There are many, for instance, some of the buildings constructed on Lagos Island and Ebute-Metta were not based on sub-soil investigation, which is soil test. There were no geo-chemical reports. It was just based on gambling as it were, using raft foundations in some cases and at times path foundations.

And the nature of plots of land is different; very erratic. They could not expend little funds to conduct sub-soil investigation before embarking on construction. That is one.

Number two is the issue of design. Those who design for them are probably quacks.

Both their architectural and structural designs are questionable, but the most critical one is the structural design, which has to be determined by data. When you are talking of the foundation now, the structural design must be based on empirical data obtained through sub-soil investigation. So, that is a serious missing link. In essence, the design might be faulty.

In most cases, these people copy and repeat designs. A particular design they used at a site some two years back May be repeated at another site not considering the variation, the gradation and the suitability of that design to that environment.

Another issue is that at the time of construction professionals are not engaged.

They used quacks to save costs.

Do you mean quacks as artisans or work men?

Some people because they had witnessed building construction in some areas may think that the same experience is applicable in other locations. Those ones are quacks; they have no prerequisite qualification to execute such jobs. So, we go ahead to identify substandard and inferior materials. In most cases when a developer knows that if a building is temporarily owned by him, he will want to try and maximise profit as long as he has the property in his care. He would not want to

commit too much funds into it since he knows that it will not be his own for life. He may even use sub-standard materials to maximise profit.

Poor workmanship is another serious factor.

This is because they are trying to save cost.

They will hire those they will pay peanuts to, not well-trained artisans to do the work for them.Then there is the problem of poor supervision or none supervision of the work.

At the same time, there is also the problem of change of use after the construction of the building. The building, initially, might have been designed for residential use only to turn it to commercial use after completion. In the plan it will not be stated that it will be used for commercial purpose because commercial buildings are very expensive. So, their drawings will never state it and it will not be taken into consideration in respect of axial load or any type of load the building may eventually carry.

Maintenance is another serious issue, which they don’t pay attention to after construction.

I’m sure the Ebute-Metta building that collapsed must have exhibited certain cracks.

If proper maintenance was done on the building, it would not have collapsed it way it did.

The government, on its part, has not been monitoring construction of buildings. They just give approvals. They don’t do monitoring.

But the government cannot be everywhere?

The bottom line is that the government should ensure that construction professionals are employed to supervise construction works. The process of construction production must be ascertained to comply with what we have in the regulation. Our concern over the years is that while we are lamenting over the collapse of a building in an area, the irony is that similar buildings that will likely collapse in future are being constructed unmonitored everywhere. So, why do we cry over spilled milk? We foresaw these challenges.

Was there not any alarm system to alert the government and the people, especially the one that came down recently in Lagos? One would have expected those in the construction industry to have noticed such a building and raised the alarm?

Your question is very fundamental. That is the essence of establishing a body like the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) to use our professional and numerical strength to assist the government in identifying weak buildings and alert them. And that is what we have been doing. For instance in Lagos State, BCPG has divided itself into cells along the 57 local councils and local development areas where we have our members. What we do is to go out after their meetings and identify buildings that are not suitable for human habitation. We will take photographs of such

•Awobodu

buildings and send them to Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, but the rate of responses has been low. This is because the ministry is grossly understaffed.

In that ministry they have only 20 engineers and 15 builders. How many areas are they going to cover in a vast area like Lagos?

So, the government is not committing enough resources to that. In developed countries, where they have building control agencies, such agencies do generate income for their government. Such agencies can sustain themselves, because from all the charges of plan approval and monitoring certain amount would be allocated to monitoring of projects. The ministry, I understand, needs to recruit more staff, but we all know the challenges of government.

There is an embargo on employment; and sometime ago when 200 site inspectors were recruited, how many of them were construction professionals?

Their employment was based on favouritism, political affiliation and patronage. The problem is not being properly addressed.

BCPG’s establishment is to form a platform where all these recommendations we have offered government can be pushed in a pressure group.

We have also recognised a fact that a lot of noise is made when a building collapses, but after about two weeks nobody says anything again. So we should start raising alarm.

Wasting energy on rescue mission, filtering away resources towards rescuing people should not be our priority. What we are saying in essence is that we should be more proactive.

One would have expected your cell in Mainland to have noticed the building that collapsed. Was there any report made about the building?

For long, the government has identified over 100 buildings with such serious conditions in Ebute-Metta that are yet to be brought down. Mind you, it is expensive to demolish a structure and there is the problem of accommodation in the area. Before you move out of a room, many people are already on queue to take over that room. I remember not long ago, when we had a project around

that Otto area, it was so difficult to get accommodation for our people.

The Mainland cell of BCPG under the leadership of Mrs Nike Lanre-Ladelegan, was at the site of the collapsed building where she seized the opportunity to take Lagos State Building Control Agency to a site we have complained about, which the owner has kept on patching. The agency saw the building and stopped work on. And that would not be the first time. Not long ago, the government stopped work on a project on Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta. We have noticed a lot of such buildings in the area that the government needs to work on. Let me ask you this question, where do we start from? We were coming from the Island and passed through so many buildings that are not fit and they were erected by developers. It is glaring to everyone that the buildings cannot stand the test of time and people are still living in them. In my opinion, Lagos Island and Mainland should be declared disaster zone. Most of our members have reported times without number and nothing is being done. The Lagos State government is supposed to declare an emergency in those areas, because more buildings are still going to collapse. There are other areas like Mushin.

Don’t you think that age must have taken a toll on those buildings?

That is not true. There are buildings built over 200 years that are still standing. In developed countries they have building constructed over 800 years ago. On Lagos Island buildings constructed by Brazilian Emancipados are still standing as nothing is happening to them. The truth is that we took things for granted. There was a free reign of malpractices in the industry. Quacks took over. BCPG is now poised to push out quacks from the industry.

What allowed for quacks? Were the professionals sleeping when the quacks came?

The fact that everyone aspires to own a house because shelter is one of the primordial needs of man. But ignorance has formed one of the major factors of building collapse. This is on the part of owners of the buildings who choose not to engage professionals to do the job for them.

Looking at the cumbersome nature of seeking approvals for buildings and the involvement of professionals, building owners would rather prefer a faster and less rigorous means of erecting their buildings.

Hence, patronising those who would not make the process difficult for them and there is the possibility of compromise by those to execute the project even when a building owner is ready to follow the normal process...

That is the reason behind our effort in advocacy. Our slogan is ‘Hammer on the important’. Engaging somebody who will be held responsible if something goes awry during construction is the essence of our advocacy. So, when you have the professional who will append their signatures on the project they are handling, this then requires them to be very cautious. You don’t take a job and go to sleep or take a job and put a fledging professional on it. Then if problem comes your certificate would be seized. Professionals have become more careful. It is not good for one to embark on a building project without having someone to be held responsible. No professional in the construction industry would like a client to bring his case before his colleagues who are members of the same professional body. Professionals must be careful not to embark on projects that may dent their image.

Prospective landlords’ desperation, developers’ joy •Continued from page 17

N8 million as against several millions of naira people are paying to get a place in that area. And with the payment of a certain percentage, the house would be constructed by the firm and when the final instalments are paid, the client assumes the ownership of the building.

Curious, our reporter presented himself as a client. He first called one of the numbers on the hand bill to speak with the man behind the scheme. He was asked to come to the firm’s office on Idimu Road. He was also given the impression of trying to meet a busy man who does not often stay in the office because of other engagements.

On the appointed date, the reporter requested to speak with the

facilitator, but he was told that the man was not in the front desk officer could not say when he would be back. She, however, requested to know the reporter’s mission.

When she was told, she took time to explain how the scheme operates.

“You will have to register with us to show that you are interested. This means you will pay N15,000, after which you will deposit a specified percentage of the amount the house is going for,” she explained.

When asked if the client could be taken to the site to see the location, she said: “Of course, you can be taken there to see the location and that is the purpose the N15,000 is meant to serve. It is for transportation to site for you to see the place and if you are interested, you can now pay the initial deposit and other payments required.”

But if a client chose to go in his

car, would he still pay the fare, she was asked? Her countenance, indicated that, that was not a favourable option. Subsequent calls made to her boss were neither picked nor answered.

“Instances of these abound in areas that are just developing,” said Daniel Okechukwu, a young man from Delta State, who claimed to have fallen victim of such practice.

“There was a similar scheme close to Mowe, Ogun State. It was introduced to me by a friend and at the end of it, I came out bruised; my money almost got trapped. Although I got some of it, other expenses I could not account for could not be recovered,” Okechukwu said.

Okechukwu, who resides in Ikorodu, on the outskirt of Lagos, said he had to go to Omo-Onile to get a place to build his house. “I felt assured approaching the Omo-Onile

and they gave me what I needed.

They, at times, could be nasty, but would not promise what they could not deliver. This is because they also live within the community and their relatives are known. But these socalled private developers, not many people know them or their relatives in case they default. Worse thing, they are also well-connected. So, when you have issues with them, who then would you report them to?” he asked.

Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, acknowledged this development, saying some estates are springing up in various parts of the state without government’s approval. This, they said, is giving the state a headache.

“It is not as if those who fall victims of such practice are gullible or stupid, it is just that they were driven by their various experi-

ences from either their landlords or their desires to have a house in the state,” a ministry official who pleaded anonymity said.

He continued: “Go to places like Ajah, cases like this are many, but that does not mean there are no credible ones. We know those whose housing schemes are real and are delivering on their promises. The point, however, must be made. People should know when to discern fraudulent claims from the real ones. Granted, about N5million can get you a moderate bungalow on the outskirt of Lagos, but don’t forget the cost of land has not been added.

So, if someone comes and says less than N10million can get you a three-bedroom bungalow in Ajah with land inclusive, then you should know that he is out to fleece you.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

A clean-car boom

Road rage

A

•Time for FRSC to reappraise its mandate in road safety

LTHOUGH quite typically short on finer details, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)’s 10year observed trend (2001-2010) of road accident fatalities is revealing in a number of ways. Aside posting an alarming average of 11 deaths per day over a 10-year period, the first indication is that road accidents, despite the hue and cry about efforts to stem the carnage, have remained a potent source of avoidable deaths in the country.

The short take is that a record 64,000 Nigerians died through road accidents within the 10-year period. In 2001, the dead numbered 9,946; in the following year, it came down to 7,407 and even further down to 6,452 in 2003. Although, the number of deaths rose marginally to 6,661 in 2008, it fell to 5,693 and 4,065 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The following year, that is 2011, the number of deaths was given as 4,372.

What the figures suggest is that rate of fatalities have declined, albeit,

‘Of great concern is the state of our highways as a major cause of the fatalities. To describe some of our federal highways as gateways to hell is certainly no exaggeration. When vehicles are not falling into giant craters with attendant loss of lives, motorists are left at the mercy of the men of the underworld known to choose dangerous spots to strike’

marginally, during the 10-year period.

Much as we have no basis to deny that the trend may have declined somewhat in the years as reported, to the extent that the figures represent only those captured by the commission, that is, those officially reported to it, there are good grounds to suggest that the fatality figures may have been grossly understated.

Even at that, the situation is just as worrisome. Worrisome because most of these fatalities are not only avoidable, they are actually preventable. If the development offers any indication, it is of the fact that the awareness created, not to talk of the resources poured into road safety management over the years, has not delivered much in terms of enthroning a safe driving culture.

Of great concern is the state of our highways as a major cause of the fatalities.

To describe some of our federal highways as gateways to hell is certainly no exaggeration. When vehicles are not falling into giant craters with attendant loss of lives, motorists are left at the mercy of the men of the underworld known to choose dangerous spots to strike. Two separate incidents come to mind here – the one along the Benin-Sagamu expressway and the other along the ever busy Lokoja-Abuja highway where the men of the underworld struck, leaving scores dead in either case.

Be that as it may, one component of the road safety management issue often overlooked or understated is the moral hazard on the part of motorists. The hazard could range from drunkenness, over-speeding and other forms of antisocial behaviours by motorists. Of

particular interest are the commercial drivers who increasingly see the niceties of road culture and the attendant regulations not just as something they can trifle with, but also scoff at.

A way forward is for the nation to consciously evolve a road safety culture.

In this regard, the federal and state governments may have to take another look at the current structure and institutions of road safety management.

The states in particular need to revamp their Vehicle Inspection Offices as part of overall efforts to enforce traffic regulations as well as other road safety standards.

One of the core questions we need to address is how the FRSC has over the years veered from its core mandate of ensuring road safety to becoming a Jack of all trades and master of none. It is bad enough that it claims proprietary rights over issuance of driver’s licence under a federal set-up, it has also monopolised number plates production – functions that states licensing offices are better placed to execute. The problem here is that this disproportionate attention by FRSC to issues of driver’s license and number plates is what appears to have hobbled its capacity to discharge its road safety functions efficiently. It is partly responsible for why the commission has not been able to invest in the sorely needed road safety infrastructure on the highways. It’s about time the FRSC returned to the highways where it is more needed as against its men’s ubiquitous presence in the cities doing routine traffic control.

Terror alert •US’ terror alert shows how unsafe the world is. A permanent solution to the problem is imperative

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HE United States, on August 4, ordered the closure of over 20 of its diplomatic missions across the Islamic world, stating intelligence reports had warned of possible terror attacks on US facilities on that day.

The alert followed a high-level meeting on terrorism at the White House, which revealed Al-Qaeda was about to strike at US missions across the Arab world, though it named no particular country or countries. The intelligence issued from the escape of hundreds of Al-Qaeda cells via jail breaks in July. The jail breaks happened in no less than nine countries, including Iraq, Libya and Pakistan.

Embassies in Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan and Yemen were among countries affected, with the Yemeni capital of Sanaa appearing to endure particular attention. Britain, France and Germany also closed their embassies there.

That escaped Al-Qeada cells will sneeze and the United States would catch a cold shows how progressively unsafe the world has become. Even more importantly, it shows that raw power alone cannot solve the terror problem.

Incidentally, the terror alert has been relaxed, with most of the closed missions now open.

Two morals come from the US’ action.

The first is sound intelligence. Since terror is surprise attack from a hostile underdog, its prevention is the best antidote, since victims, mostly innocent souls that have no problem with the attacker, are often sitting ducks. Sound intelligence is therefore needed to avert such attacks.

Sound intelligence prompted the US alert, and the Nigerian government would do well to put in place and maximise the result of sound intelligence, while it confronts the Boko Haram threat. But that would do only in the short run.

In the long run, what is needed is uprooting the cause of the violent campaign. Globally, the surface cause would appear an overwhelming Western cultural imperialism, perpetrated so completely that some religious opportunists seize the situation to unleash mayhem on innocent souls, under the guise of maintaining the purity of Islam.

If somewhat the West can give Islam and other non-Western cultural practices their due, the bottom would be taken off the campaign of these anarchists; and pretenders to dubious causes. That is why it was heart-warming that even President Barack Obama hosted American Muslims to the Iftar, the breaking of the Ramadan fast during this last Ramadan.

Such gestures were also replicated in American missions across the globe. More of those would project that America does not hate Muslims and, with time, drive the violent fundamentalist agitators out of work.

But cultural imperialism aside, global poverty must also be addressed, such that the ranks of the hopeless and easily indoctrinated are acutely reduced.

Increased prosperity across the board will, other things being equal, rid the face of the earth of that hate-filled army, ready to blow up fellow humans with themselves at the virtual snap of a finger.

For Nigeria, this is even a more durable lesson to learn. Though there is information that Boko Haram trains drugspiked cells for its mass murder missions, a good number of those cells – if not most of them – other things being equal, are poor and uneducated.

To uproot the threat therefore, the Nigerian government should declare economic and educational emergency in the North East, the main vortex of Boko Haram, to rid the country of the dirt poor that fall victim to the sect’s end-time campaigns.

The August 4 global terror alert is a grim reminder of how unsafe the world has come to be. But it must be turned into an opportunity to solve the problem, perhaps once and for all.

‘Sound intelligence prompted the US alert, and the Nigerian government would do well to put in place and maximise the result of sound intelligence, while it confronts the Boko Haram threat. But that would do only in the short run. In the long run, what is needed is uprooting the cause of the violent campaign’

I

N a welcome development for the planet, the cars on American streets are becoming much more climatefriendly much sooner than many had expected. Consumers are increasingly buying fuel-efficient hybrid and electric vehicles thanks to breakthrough innovations and supportive government policies.

The transportation sector accounts for 28 percent of American greenhouse gas emissions, the most after power plants.

Reducing those emissions will require many changes, including greater use of public transit. More efficient cars will almost certainly play a critical role, too; increased fuel efficiency helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions from passengers cars by 16 percent from 2005 to 2012.

Automakers sold more than 350,000 hybrid and electric cars in the first seven months of this year, up 30 percent from the same period in 2012. While these vehicles make up less than 4 percent of light vehicle sales, hybrids, which use electric motors and conventional engines, are now so mainstream that there are more than 40 models available. The most popular one, the Toyota Prius, is among the 10 best-selling passenger cars in the country.

Fully electric cars are still a niche product bought mostly by affluent drivers. But sales of even these vehicles have been growing fast, thanks in part to federal and state tax rebates. Among the best selling of these cars is the luxurious Model S produced by Tesla Motors, which has been so successful that companies like BMW and Cadillac are also rushing to bring out high-end electric cars.

Federal policy has been an important driver. The 2010 mandate requiring a doubling of new-car average fuel economy by 2025 has pushed industry to accelerate the development of more efficient cars. So has the Obama administration’s program, much maligned by Republicans, of loan guarantees to renewable energy and electric-car companies. Despite a few regrettable failures, the government’s $36 billion loan portfolio has suffered losses of just 2 percent; in May, Tesla paid off its $465 million loan nine years ahead of schedule.

Hybrid and electric cars still have a long way to go. That they have come this far shows that timely regulation, targeted assistance and government-private sector cooperation can pay big dividends for industry and the environment.

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

• Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •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 •Dep. 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, AUGUST 13,, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Few weeks ago, the UK authorities announced a new visa policy which makes it mandatory for new visitors to the country to pay a sum of £3,000 visa bond in addition to other customary visa processing fees. As usual, many Nigerians went wild with anger with the dominant elites invading newspaper pages to condemn the measure and accuse Britain of neo-racist inclination.

Quite unfortunately, rather than re-think the decision following this widespread outrage, authorities in the UK have only gone ahead to confirm their stance by fixing November this year for the commencement of the new policy. Admittedly, while the move may appear to have dealt a fatal blow to ongoing efforts by the Commonwealth of Nations to promote free movement among member states, it is nevertheless pertinent to note that the British government has come out to insist that the policy is a pilot scheme and is predominantly person-specific. It is targeted at high-risk immigrants with phase one covering selected countries in Asia and Africa

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

Much ado about visa bond noted for their high immigrant burden in the UK. Indeed, having made these clarifications, it becomes needles to saddle the government with further explanations again on the real reasons behind the new visa regime until it becomes fully operational during which opportunity will be presented to do a

S

IR: When the above mentioned anti crime squad was established by Oyo State government few years ago, many rejoiced that end has come to the criminals in Oyo State. In fairness to the squad, it has lived up to expectation thus far, at least in Ibadan where its operation began. One thinks that it was as a

clear-headed assessment of implementation process and identify possible area(s) of diplomatic mischief.

As a matter of fact, if Nigeria is admissible to all forms of dangerous ‘immigrants’ turned sectarian terrorists, we cannot expect other countries to be similarly lax in the area of imagina-

tive response to national security challenges. Britain has maintained that her doors remain open to the best and brightest minds irrespective of climes.

The simple statement inherent in the new policy is that the country will no longer welcome clueless artisans, glorified ragamuffins and itinerant

result of its success in Ibadan that the state government extended its operation to other zones in the state.

However, the function of operation burst in Ogbomoso Township needs to be defined. From the feelers from some town’s people and some victims, the outfit has turned itself to a tin god, dabbling

into land matter, forestry matter, this is because they used to chase timber lorries. It has equally assumed the function of traffic warden and use to operate at strategic junction, extorting money through subterfuge. They even went to the extent of visiting hotels and beer joints to arrest people in a bid to extort money. Equally, they used

Softly, Operation Burst

The girl child at Big Brother Africa

IR: A few of us tried to rescue the girl child from the Yerimas of this world but see what she is doing at Big Brother Africa. she can not draw the clear distinction between dignity and immorality. She traded away the temple of God in the name of game. It’s ‘un-african’ for the girl child to live without virtue. Those of us who thought that only the

Yerimas of this world pose a great danger to the girl child need to think twice because the girls have proved that she is not only a danger to her self but to the world.

Some call it a game but I can not see the game that is geared toward the destruction of our values. Parents must hencefourth begin to structure the up-bring of

their wards along african-philosophical creed. I do not believe one needs to toe the path of moral negativity in the quest for fame, wealth, etc.

Please the girl child owe us a duty to act right whenever she is in public especially on international media. Come to think of it, how will her unborn child feels if she see’s her mum wasting away with an-

other man in the pool of nudity.

Can somebody tell her to stand up for what is right? We are africans and we must cherish our value. Its our pride and heritage.

She may not understand in-view of the prize tag. But I pray she will one day understand that money is not every thing.

• Godfrey Ogbaisi.

Benin City

killers masquerading as asylum seekers and re-defining her society along the path of violent cultural and religious intolerance.

Happy enough, Britain has also made provisions to reimburse visitors who do not violate the visa terms. Therefore, instead of the present energysapping broadside, why not, on our own part, begin to look at more innovative ways to secure our various homelands in Nigeria just as Britain has done and may yet do more.

• Dr Omotajo O.R. Oke’Badan Estate, Ibadan.

to accost girls for indecent dressing, punishing them by ordering Okada rider to play with the victim’s breast. In short, they are becoming a terror in the land.

Soon, if care is not taken, they would take over the function of the judiciary. Why this piece is written is that Ogbomoso people are the most accommodating, hospitable, respecters of law but they are haters of oppression and cheating.

History is full of instances of their revolt against injustice and oppression in the pre and post colonial periods. This is well documented.

Oyo State government should call the squad to order to ward off people’s revolt against it.

Ogbomoso is entirely crime free as the regular police in the town is capable of providing security in the town.

• Jimoh Abiodun Ogbomoso

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

COMMENTS

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R

“When your enemies sit in the assembly the suspect bail, thus averting for the impeachment of your blessing, the the crisis of two courts of Lord will appear like Chidi Lloyd with a mace coordinate jurisdiction giving and beat them to a coma” – social media contrary rulings on a single joke that went viral. case boasting similar facts, almost in every material N Rivers, it is a tale of two particular. scapegoats: one nestling in a Mr. Obua did just fine as foreign hospital bed fighting for advocate of judicial sanity his life; the other (at least until August until he blundered on the Olakunle 5) in a local prison, fighting for his sentence: “Why run to far freedom. lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola away Ahoada, when the Enter then Michael Chinda, of offence for which Hon. Lloyd the G-5 failed impeachment bid, and was arrested, was committed deeply scarred soul from the July 9 in Port Harcourt?” That messy parliamentary coup attempt; and manifestly established Obua’s Chidi Lloyd, no-nonsense fiery cant. avenging angel of the G-27 fame; but again, except as ruins in the commodious brain of history.

Ahaoada is “far away” from Port Harcourt, uh? And Abuja: now chartered devil in the books of a baleful establishment.

But as that particular Pope, Pius XII (with his famous riposte: it is closer to Port Harcourt? On what basis is Obua parading But aside from the main tragic drama, the stage fizzes “Tell my son Joseph that he will meet my divisions in heaven!) himself as Rivers PDP chair – on the basis of a court sitting in with comic strips that would have been so hilarious, were had died, the Papacy (which commands a moral armada, a lot Abuja or one sitting in Port Harcourt? Or has Rivers PDP they not so tragic. more formidable than physical tanks) is alive and well. That headquarters suddenly shifted from Port Harcourt to Abuja?

Take the case of model cop, Mbu Joseph Mbu. Only a means there is more to life than brazen power play.

Which is nearer to Port Harcourt: Abuja or Ahoada? few days ago, he smugly self-declared his box office Of course, there is also the festival of cant by Felix The Rivers PDP case is sub-judice; and the court will in the “popularity” with the country’s media, for his exploits in the Obua, factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party fullness of time dispose of it. But Mr. Obua’s outburst exposes Rivers carnival of anarchy. But many paused and wondered: (PDP) in Rivers and by the Chinda clan – understandably on the jaundiced mindset of political power players: when it did the all-mighty cop know the difference between the current health of their son, main victim of the aborted suits them, it is fine. When exactly the same condition suits popularity and notoriety? parliamentary coup of July 9, now hospitalised abroad. an opponent, it is not. That is why rigging, political or But before anyone could decide on anything, his “Oga Whatever the pros and cons of Mr. Chinda’s case, every judicial, is their stock in trade! at the top”, Mohammed Abubakar, the Inspector-General of well meaning Nigerian should wish him speedy healing from For the Chindas, it is cant coming from blood being thicker Police (IGP) himself, weighed in on Mbu’s side. Mbu remains the injuries he sustained from that messy parliamentary coup than water, even if they are humanly entitled to their passion Rivers police chief – at least that was how The Nation of August attempt.

On this, peace-loving Nigerians must be one with for a son.

9 coined it – affirming Mr. Mbu’s sound professionalism; and the Chinda family, sharing their angst and giving them hope.

But let’s assume Michael Chinda’s alleged batter has been confirming his popularity, and not notoriety, as some deluded Still, as life is not run on sentiments alone, the issues call docked. What is stopping the state to dock Chinda (whenever subversive minds were already thinking! for clinical examination and analysis, lest unsuspecting he is well and strong enough for trial) and his fellow G-5 for Ride on then, cop of example! Go pacify Rivers of members of the public be led astray. alleged battering of the Nigerian Constitution as regard Amaechi and allied pollutants! The whole nation is solidly First, “Chairman” Obua.

On the issue of Chidi Lloyd, he impeachment quorums? behind you! And should any irritant wave the 1999 had issued a shrill protest, alleging foul play and inviting the Or, in the eyes of the family, is a batter of an individual Constitution in your nose, tell them exactly what Stalin, of attention of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to the more dangerous than a batter of the Law on which the whole the defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) told of “improper” bail allegedly granted the Leader of the Rivers society is erected, and could well come crashing down because the Pope: The Pope – sorry, the Constitution? How many Assembly, now in the dock, in connection with the affray of of such assault and battery? divisions does he – sorry, it! – have?!

July 9.

Is the family, beyond the passion for a son, proud of that But as you canter from victory to victory, you must Indeed, there would appear, on the face of it, some merit in son for engaging in the G-5 legislative banditry, even if he know these severe facts. the case; though it would take lawyers to establish the more has ended up as the most grievous scapegoat of that rascality?

Joseph Stalin is dead, though his power notoriety remains. fundamental basis for granting bail in the Lloyd matter. The Let the law prosecute whoever is alleged to have committed More importantly, the haughty pedestal on which he made Ahoada court apparently ruled on the basis of “fundamental a crime. If Lloyd is in the dock for allegedly battering Chinda, that arrogant papal challenge has crumbled, never to rise human rights”; Lloyd, according to his counsel’s pleas, Chinda too must be docked for allegedly battering the “having been detained for about two weeks now” and Constitution. You cannot have one without the other.

“If Lloyd is in the dock for allegedly following reported certified medical report about his dipping If you do, the result is the joke that opened this piece: “When health. your enemies sit in the assembly...” It is a grim endorsement of battering Chinda, Chinda too must Still, even with the medical alert, should the Ahoada court just desert, even if the physical result is ugly! have shut its eyes to the fact that Lloyd was being docked for be docked for allegedly battering alleged offences in a Port Harcourt court of coordinate Let those in temporary power govern fairly and justly, lest become the butt of jokes of society which outlives every the Constitution. You cannot have jurisdiction, in granting him bail and ordering the Police not they government. to re-arrest him? Only legal experts can navigate that mire.

That is the grim moral from the tale of two scapegoats in one without the other.”

Fortunately however, the Port Harcourt court also granted Rivers!

I

epublican ipples

Tale of two scapegoats

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HE latest circus of muscle-flexing over local government autonomy hardly comes as a surprise. If it seems an indication of how muddled our federalism has come to be in the hand of our slow-learning operators, it partly reflects the desperation in some quarters to perpetrate their retrogressive reign and anti-development agenda on the polity.

I don’t want to go into the matter of how our federal lawmakers came to read their manual on federalism upside down. That is not important; at least not now. Rather, of great interest to me is that the two chambers of the National Assembly have taken their positions on the raging debate of local government autonomy: one for, the other against.

The House of Representatives, persuaded that autonomy is the way to go, voted –according to the reports – overwhelmingly to give “full financial, administrative, executive and legislative autonomy to local government councils in Nigeria”.

In the Senate, a determined group of minority senators – 34 in number – used the filibuster to deny the pro- autonomy senators the needed 73 votes! And that on an issue that have the potentials of altering the terrain of our federal practice!

Should anyone therefore feign surprise that the division came that close? I don’t think anyone should. At least, not while everyone remains hung on the Niger Delta freebies and the rentier economy it promotes, and not when power is seen as an end an itself rather as an opportunity for service.

I think I understand the Lower House’ love for the fancy word “autonomy” a phrase increasingly used exclusively for the councils. It starts from their opinion of the 36 governors as the bad boys who need to be stopped forthwith from dipping itchy fingers into the councils’ tills. Where the idea came from, I do not know but suffice to say that

‘How does the quest for “autonomy” cure what is fundamentally a structural problem? How does a monthly excursion to Abuja promote development or even lift the status of the local council? Will the craving to share in the wealth they did not help to create encourage responsible fiscal practice?’

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

All roads lead to Abuja? the attitudes of some of the governors, who, often times carry on like the Lords of the Manor have simply not helped matters.

What could be wrong with councils insisting on taking control of their funds? I think there is a world of difference between being allowed to take charge of their affairs and the clamour to have council officials sit at table with their federal and states counterparts to share revenue from a common pool. How about blending the confounding three-tier federal arithmetic with the monthly conclave of 774+ 36+1 officials to share oil money in the name of autonomy? How does that square to the imperative to devolve more powers to the states?

And to what effect? More funds for council officials to buy those fancy toys that make them objects of adoration in those far flung communities after leaving just enough left to pay the bills of their bored staff?

What are the problems with our councils? I can number them in dozens. In the first place, I believe that the capabilities of our local councils are overstated. Majority are simply nowhere there yet, at least not as far as being agents of change and development is concerned. Take a trip to any of the rural local governments and you will be amazed at the number of absentee officials – officials on AWOL – men and women who only show up either when their wage is due or when there is something to share!

No doubt, there are few exceptions in notably, urban local government areas which for obvious reasons, have very little choice than to perform even if minimally. The truth is that the records of our local councils overall, have been dismal. That explains why nothing of development is going on, and why basic social services are not pro-

vided at that level. Fact is; majority are no more than mere outposts for sharing the federal freebie.

So how does the quest for “autonomy” cure what is fundamentally a structural problem? How does a monthly excursion to Abuja promote development or even lift the status of the local council? Will the craving to share in the wealth they did not help to create encourage responsible fiscal practice? Would it not produce alternate governors – officials who will consider themselves answerable to no one in the long run?

This is where I believe that those pushing the autonomy miss the argument. It starts with their inability or unwillingness to isolate the problem. Left to me, we should rather be discussing whether indeed the current local government structure has not outlived its usefulness. Imagine the chairman of a local government whose internally generated revenue would not even suffice to purchase the diesel needed to run its generators making a case for autonomy. What he means is that he needs a licence to live off the wealth created by others. True autonomy means living off your sweat. Has anyone ever queried any chairman for spending their internal revenues the way they deem fit?

I need to make one important point. I do not wish to suggest that the governors are entirely blameless in the mismanagement of our councils. Indeed, one of the problems is the absence of democracy at that level. The obverse side is that claims of meddlesomeness by the governors are often times exaggerated. The problems of the local governments are largely endogenous, hence my position that the prescription of autonomy is a wrong therapy to consider.

While fiscal federalism is yet a long way yet in practice, let the local governments make do with what they have.

Yes, we need democracy at the grass roots; we also need development. Autonomy in the circumstance cannot be the end. The councils surely have a long way to prove that they are worthy of our trust. They are a long way from there.

‘We need democracy at the grass roots; we also need development.

Autonomy in the circumstance cannot be the end. The councils surely have a long way to prove that they are worthy of our trust. They are a long way from there.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

22

COMMENTS

A

FRIEND sometime ago narrated this story to me. It was a personal experience. It happened a long time ago when he was still a bachelor.

He had a girl friend who loved to party a lot which was in sharp contrast to his own quiet social life and this often strained their relationship. At one of such parties which as usual he was opposed to, she ran into a problem with a group of hoodlums who attempted to rape her. The matter eventually ended up at Oko Oba police station in Lagos.

Her friend who attended the same party with her ran home to inform him of what had just happened and together they headed to the police station. He introduced himself to the desk officer as the lady’s lover and demanded to know what actually happened.

The officer told him she was arrested and brought to the station for disturbing public peace (fighting) and causing destruction to property at the venue of the party. The owner of the event centre where the party took place had lodged the complaint against her that necessitated her arrest.

My friend said he was confused as to what to do, but he sought the assistance of the officer to secure a bail for the lady. The officer not only obliged to help him, albeit at a fee, but handed over the statement of the original complainant in the case to him to go through and use the information to write his own statement accusing the first complainant of assault and such other similar offence(s) that some policemen have the capacity to cook up in an attempt to nail somebody.

Upon payment of the agreed fee, the statement of the original complainant was destroyed and my friend’s statement admitted as a complaint against the owners of the damaged property. So, the complainant suddenly became the accused and the lady was released. The rest is history.

I am sure this kind of story is not new in the Nigeria Police and not a few Nigerians will have similar stories to tell in their previous encounters with officers and men of the Nigeria Police. I am not saying this is the norm in the police but the recent case of one Sergeant Chris Omoleze who was caught on camera demanding a bribe of N25, 000 from a motorist over an alleged traffic offence has once again raised to the fore the issue of corruption and other vices in the

P

ROF Jide Osuntokun’s admonition to Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, governor of Ondo State to eschew from the politics of the South-west Regional Economic Integration (SREI) and join his colleagues in jointly developing the region’s economy through SREI in his Thursday, August 1, column shows how concerned the respected educationist must be about the well-being of this great idea. In the column titled “Appeal to Mimiko on S/West Economic Integration” the former ambassador, who is a repository of the nation’s history, told the governor, in case he was not aware, and those of us who have no idea, that the South-west regional economic integration has a long history.

Professor Osuntokun said that “…stretching from Ilupeju, Mushin to some parts of Bayelsa, and including the present five states controlled by the ACN, Ondo State…Edo state…and Delta…, it enjoyed planned development arising from the tremendous agricultural resources and the vibrancy of its people…,” among other things.

Professor Osuntokun was apparently worried, and rightly so, and as any discerning person of Yoruba extraction should be, that the South-west regional economic integration is being threatened by what appears to be a deliberate exclusion of Ondo State by its chief of state. The regional economic integration is probably the single most important, most effective economic initiative capable of rapidly transforming the socio-economic wel-lbeing of the people and leap frog the region into modernity as we

‘The only way Ondo can participate in this initiative is for the progressives to gain political control of the state, otherwise, sitting around and waiting for Mimiko to do the needful for posterity by embracing this agenda would be like Waiting for Godot’

The other Omelezes in the Nigeria Police Nigeria Police.

With the video of the event released to the public via YouTube, the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar acted swiftly by ordering the Lagos State Police Command to put the Sergeant on Orderly Room trial, which the Commissioner Umar Manko did, and within an hour or so, it was over.

Sergeant Omoleze was dismissed and thus ended his 21 years in service, in disgrace. He also stands to be prosecuted for the offence by the police.

Good. It was about time the Police high command began to act and decisively too on some of its officers and men who have brought shame to the force as well as the nation. The IGP has promised that there would no longer be room for corruption and such vices in the police again. Bad behaviours he said would no longer be tolerated. Good also. But does he have the will to see through any house cleansing exercise that this his promise could entail? Yes, he does and can, according to those who know him well.

Ummmm, that’s good. May be he should go the whole hog and kick out the other Sergeant Omolezes still left in the police. And he could do this by beaming his searchlight on not just those at the lower rung of the ladder, but also on some of his commanders who are more than an embarrassment to the Nigeria Police. One of such is Mbu Joseph Mbu, the incumbent commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police command.

The story of Mbu Joseph Mbu we all know.

But perhaps what is still baffling is why the man is still at the saddle in Port Harcourt as CP of the state police command, in spite of overwhelming public call for his removal.

Not even the Senate or the House of Representatives is left in doubt about the need to relieve him of his appointment as Rivers state police boss. Yet the powers that be at the top are saying no, including the IGP. No matter the professional competence of Mbu Joseph Mbu as a police officer as his friends would want us to believe, his integrity as a public officer has been called to question and in the public interest and for the sake of peace he should be removed as CP Rivers state.

I understand this was to be the case recently, but the ‘madam at the top’, who allegedly masterminded his posting to Rivers state command from Oyo State command in would have none of this. CP Mbu, sources say was to be redeployed on the orders of the President and Commander-In-Chief. In fact, he was billed to be redeployed to neighbouring Imo state as the Police boss while the man in Owerri was to cross the border to Port Harcourt and take over as CP. The ‘Oga patapata’ at the top was said to have given his orders to the IGP to do this and the man in Imo had been briefed. But somehow, the Imo state governor got wind of this and he allegedly protested.

As CP Mbu had seemingly turned toxic, no state governor wanted him in his domain

Mimiko and South-west economic integration

By Femi Odere know it. It is an initiative whose time is well overdue especially in light of the current global economic trend in which the much bandied mantra of the world as one global village is only in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and not much on trade.

As ICT is forcefully opening and expanding the business space among nations, these nations, especially the developed ones, paradoxically, are also ganging up and closing their markets against those they consider outsiders for more competitive advantage. And this is why we have clusters of nations in relative close proximity with each other with such names as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the European Union (EU); BRICS comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) even though the latter do more talking than trading as there’s hardly anything to trade with among these underdeveloped countries.

Although Mimiko said on several occasions in the run up to his re-election that he doesn’t have to be in the same political party with his brother governors to embrace the region’s economic integration, which in theory, may be right. The opposition political parties even sort of agreed with him then. But I disagree.

Aside from the fierce and bitter electoral battle which may have dampened his enthusiasm for the regional economic integration agenda, as a brutally calculating, Machiavellian political operative, the personal political road Mimiko has chosen to travel and his intended political destination makes it counter-intuitive, if not counterproductive for him to embrace the economic integration agenda. Mimiko’s political rivals in the region will be better served if they listen to what he is NOT saying rather than what he says.

Mimiko’s political predilection has no room for regional economic integration agenda, it seems to me. He cares nothing about the progressive political party, even though “progressivism” is his self-described political ideology. Neither does he care that much for the conservative political philosophy that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) represents. The real political interest of the Ondo chief of state is to grow and nurture his Labour Party to where it can have some traction in some states in the federation, most especially in the South-west, where this party can be leveraged with whoever happens to be in control at the centre in order to advance his personal political relevance and opportunity. The other leg of this midto long-term goal is for his Labour Party to act as a bulwark against the progressives in the South-west, which ultimately will lead to the first end goal of gaining more political relevance and opportunity, and for his party to be seen, at least in the South-west as the alternative ‘progressive’ party just in case the progressives drop the ball. In an environment where political parties are built around personality and/or a handful of people because the country’s politicians are still largely at the very rudimentary stage of political, if not human evolution, it should be clear why Mimiko should prevaricate on the economic integration agenda.

Mimiko must also dilly-dally on this allimportant regional economic initiative because a coterie of his current political associates and bedfellows would be absolutely hell-bent against this idea, not because it lacks merit, but because of the collective political vendetta they have against a former National Leader of the party that controls the South-west except Ondo, who, they believe, will take the credit for the success of the economic integration when they’re currently too busy trying to cut him down to size. He cannot afford to invite the ire of these people and that of Jonathan

and Governor Okorocha allegedly made his move to stop Mbu from coming to Owerri.

The embattled CP got wind of his transfer as well and ran to Madam at the top in Abuja seeking cover. But since the order for the move seemingly came from above, the story had it that Mbu was to be taken to a lucrative beat as a form of soft landing and the Port Police Command was to be his next port of call.

The police hierarchy sources said kicked against this, the argument being that if Mbu is to be removed, those who sent him to Port Harcourt should remove him and once he is removed, he should be kicked out of the police and not redeployed.

But who sent him to Port Harcourt you might want to ask? It is a long story. As I heard, our First Lady had a hand in it. She felt strongly that the former CP was working for the state Governor Rotimi Amaechi and she wanted her own person as CP in her home state, so Mbu who had barely spent three months as CP in Oyo state was found ‘suitable’ for the task, and you’ll agree with me he has been doing a ‘good’ for Madam at the top. You know the rest of the story.

If this is exactly what is happening then IGP Abubakar must stand up and act truly as the Inspector General of Police. The rot, mess, corruption and all the other bad things happening in the Nigeria Police cannot and will not end until all the Sergeant Omolezes in the police including the likes of CP Mbu and other politicians in uniform are booted out. Not a few Nigerians have faith in IGP Abubakar; he should not disappoint the nation.

‘The rot, mess, corruption and all the other bad things happening in the Nigeria Police cannot and will not end until all the Sergeant Omolezes in the police including the likes of CP Mbu and other politicians in uniform are booted out’ Gullible whose bidding in the South-west he now must do.

There is no doubt that the road to the regional economic integration destination would be bumpier and therefore more strenuous if any of the component part of the South-west region is not on board the integration boat, most particularly Ondo State because of its unique place in this integration matrix. Ondo is relatively more strategically positioned because of its contiguity to all the South-west states except Oyo. It shares boundaries with Edo and Kogi states to the east and north respectively. Its coastline is almost a stone throw to Lagos, the economic nerve centre of the nation, a coastline that also extends to the South-south geo-political region. More importantly, the state is the second richest after Lagos in the South-west.

Its financial wherewithal can be brought to bear and effectively utilized in bankrolling some projects that are very critical to the economic integration agenda, which must of necessity, be situated in the state for the overall benefit of the South-west region and its people.

Rather than the South-west governors and Dipo Famakinwa’s commission, which is saddled with actualizing the regional economic integration agenda waiting for the Ondo State governor to change his mind and embrace this important initiative, they should just march on and set aside the state’s own piece of the puzzle for now until, hopefully, the Supreme Court decides in their favour in the on-going electoral litigation to reclaim Akeredolu’s mandate. What is even more important is for the progressives to keep the South-west under their political control into the foreseeable future. An initiative of this magnitude would need about a couple of decades of uninterrupted political control to grow into full maturity otherwise it would be quickly jettisoned if another party takes control of the region. The only way Ondo can participate in this initiative is for the progressives to gain political control of the state, otherwise, sitting around and waiting for Mimiko to do the needful for posterity by embracing this agenda would be like Waiting for Godot.

• Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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INSIDE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 25

‘Mediocrity has ruined Nigeria’ - Page 26

NEMA trains emergency volunteers

Demolition victims battle over N100m compensation

- Page 27

H

FCTA to step up primary healthcare

- Page 28

OW was the money spent?

Was it unduly shared among certain individuals? If so, who are those individuals?

These are some of the questions the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is asking as some aggrieved ex-residents stormed the Commission entertaining complaints on the matter.

Some victims of the demolition of Gosa village, Abuja have also been asking those questions since a High Court awarded them N100m compensation after their community was pulled down.

Rather than providing relief for all concerned, the sharing of the N100m has generated controversy.

The court had awarded the judgment against the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for demolishing the houses of the non-indigenes residing in Gosa village along Airport Road, in 2009.

Since the judgment, there have been allegations and counter-allegations between the persons

From Augustine Ehikioya

handling the sharing and the aggrieved non-indigenes.

The aggrieved members, who claimed they were not given any money from the compensation sum, took the case to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), threatening to exploit all legal options available to them in order to get justice.

They said executive committee they appointed in 2009 to lead the group has abandoned them and diverted a substantial sum of the compensation money for their selfish and financial gains to the detriment of some members.

Leading the aggrieved members to NHRC, Mr. Michael Anene said: “My three-bedroom flat bungalow was demolished and I was only paid N30,000 while so many residents having lesser number of

Let them come out and show to the whole world how the N100 million they got from the government was shared. It is only then that we will know if they paid money to ghosts.

We will not rest until we get justice

rooms got as much as N1.5 million and above.”

“Many of us here have not even been paid a kobo while there are cases of some residents who were not affected by the demolition getting as much as N1.5 million each.”

“We were also told that N25 million out of the money was given to FCTA officials. This is a great injustice. We took part in all the contributions to hire the barrister that won the case and now the barrister, whose account the N100 million was paid into, is now conniving with the executives to cheat us. We got information that N40 million is still remaining in his bank account.”

“Let them come out and show to the whole world how the N100 million they got from the government was shared. It is only then that we will know if they paid money to ghosts.

We will not rest until we get justice. All of them are now •Continued on page 26

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

26

ABUJA REVIEW

M

R. Akindeji Falaki of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has said that Nigeria has failed to reach its potential because it compromises excellence.

Mr. Falaki stated this while presenting his lecture entitled “Academic Excellence; a Panacea for National Development,” at the 12th Annual Graduation ceremony of the Unity Group of Schools in Kubwa.

However, the Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Olufemi Akanni has debunked the notion that teaching is for the jobless, even as she said that it is a profession.

Mr. Falaki said: “It is an undisputable fact that Nigeria has failed to reach its potential because we, as a people, have compromised on excellence and have, at best, celebrated averages and many times preferred mediocrity and half measures, putting square pegs in round holes.

“We have not only elevated mediocrity but also punished excellence to the background.”

He further explained that education is the vehicle for attaining national growth and development in a peaceful atmosphere.

Mr. Falaki, who said the country’s developmental goals revolve around security of lives and property, good healthcare and quality education for the citizens, opportunities for the youth to fulfill their dreams, stable electricity and sustained democracy, expressed his dissatisfaction that Nigerians have been denied all these necessities of life.

He advised the school management not only to base the award of academic excellence on the best student but also on the most improved student.

“The most inspiring academic excellence stories are not those where a student tops the class all through, but that when an initially not-so-good students ends up be•Continued from Page 26 cruising around with the latest ‘Sienna’ space bus. They have also diverted our money into their various businesses. We are going to exploit all available legal actions on this matter until we get justice and these people are brought to book.”

But the Secretary of the exco that shared the money, Prince Ajah Felix maintained that many of the aggrieved members opted out of the group when the first court case was lost at High Court in Lugbe in 2009.

He said: “When we had this problem, we went to court through our lawyer. When we were contributing money, I know all of them. They are members of Gosa Residents Association. That is the name that we went to court

•Some of the graduating JSS 3 students

‘Mediocrity has ruined Nigeria’ From Faith Yahaya

ing the best,” he said.

He, however, advised the graduating students to strive to be honest in all aspects of their lives, adding that they should work to achieve their highest academic potential without resorting to dishonest means.

“Cheating is a formed habit which can be carried over to your professional and personal life. It will make your degree less valu-

able and diminish your self- respect,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Akanni advised the teachers to be committed to their duties.

“Teaching is a profession and not for people who cannot get employment. Teachers are greatly celebrated. Celebrate yourself also. Be up to date and carry yourself with great esteem,” she said.

She urged the graduating students to associate with old students through social media, saying that

in near future, they will need one another’s help and services. “If you don’t believe me, ask the politicians,” she said.

The 59 graduating students from both junior and senior classes were advised to shun all forms of social vices.

“You are going far away from home. Please, don’t join bad gangs; be careful who your friend is. Set a high standard for yourselves and stay focused on your life ambitions.

Avoid destiny destroyers,” she

added.

Lamenting over the kind of care given to children by their parents, she said: “It is amazing to say the least that high school students come with tattered uniforms to school.

Yet, they come with blackberry, Samsung and android kinds of sophisticated phones. I implore parents to be a little more careful in pampering our children. Give them what they need and not what will distract and eventually destroy them.

“Children’s needs at this stage, is good food, good clothing and good education, among other things.

Demolition victims battle over N100m compensation with. So when we went to court, we lost the case at Lugbe High Court on the 25th of May, 2009.”

“Then we went back and called for meeting on the 27th, and many people were aggrieved that we lost the case. Very few people came.

We then decided that since we lost the case, we were not going to fold our hands, but try again.”

“We approached our lawyer and told him we wanted to go further.

Then on the 29th of May, we agreed to go to court with another name, Gosa Non-Indigenous Group. We were about eight that started it.

Later on, other persons joined us.

These people are among the people that refused to join the new group. When we got judgment,

•Security check during the Eid-El-Fitr prayers

they now resurfaced.”

Confirming the position of the Secretary on the matter, the lawyer that won the N100 million compensation, Barrister Godwin Ogboji, said: “The first time we went to court, the case was lost. It was the second case that was won and the compensation awarded.

But many of those non-indigenes who took part in the first case lost interest and did not take part in the second case.”

But an official of NHRC mediating in the matter, who does not want her name in print, was angry that the Secretary of the exco, Prince Ajah came to the meeting without any document or record to show how members have contributed to the course of the

group.

She said the procedure she wanted to adopt is to first establish those who are really entitled to the money before finding out the criteria used in sharing it.

She said: “The aggrieved party said they were members of the group and their houses were also damaged and that they don’t understand the criteria for sharing the money as some people who took part in the sharing of the money were not affected by the demolition exercise.”

“First of all, we want to know those who are entitled to that money, then the criteria used for the sharing. We need to see the records of payment that will show the payments made by members because you cannot say somebody who has been contributing money opted out of the group. It cannot continue to be argument, argument and hearsay, we need records.”

She continued, pointing at the Secretary: “The reason why we said a member of the executive should come is because we wanted documents and record so that we can be talking with facts. So coming here without any document is not right. You think we are playing here. Whatever we are saying now is sentiments. We want to see the records for us to proceed.”

Ordering for the details of the home and office addresses of the Secretary to be obtained by her staff, she said: “We have compelling powers, we can arrest, and we have other powers we can exercise at any time. I demand that you give me copies of these transactions by 22nd of August 2013, whether your chairman is in Sokoto or Maiduguri.”

She also faulted the Secretary’s remark that the first case was taking to court by Gosa Residents Association and not by Gosa NonIndigenous Legitimate Landlords.

She maintained that the documents submitted to her earlier by the lawyer who won the judgment showed that the name of the first group that went to court was representing Gosa Non-Indigenous Legitimate Landlords and not the Gosa Residents Association being claimed by the exco that shared the money.

“So your story is not true.” She stated concerning the change of name, while holding out the document.

Another NHRC staff queried: “If they say these people opted out, how come some of them were paid some money when they got the judgment sum? Some were given N30,000 compensation.”

Reacting to the fears by some aggrieved members that the Secretary to the exco that shared the money may tamper with the documents in his possession before producing it at the NHRC, the lawyer of the aggrieved members, Barrister Emmanuel Okpanku said: “It is important for us to warn ourselves here that forgery is a crime. When you forge documents, you will go to Kuje prison.”

While the two sides have been directed to appear for another meeting on the 22nd of this month, it is hoped that everybody will get justice and fairness at the end of the day.

Since those seeking to benefit from equity must come with clean hands, it is very paramount for the true financial members of the group to be established because one cannot reap where he did not sow.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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ABUJA REVIEW

Group condoles Abuja NUJ

T

HE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has been called upon to maintain the ideals Adolphus Okonkwo, Kafayet Odunsi and Tunde Ojenike left behind.

A coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP) led by Mr. Emmanuel Nwosu said this during a condolence visit to the council.

The group noted that Okonkwo, Odunsi and Ojenike who died in a ghastly motor accident last week while returning to their bases after attending the NEC meeting in Abuja, represented the struggle for better Nigeria.

Condoling with the FCT chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Chuks Ehirim, Mr Nwosu said the NUJ should continue with the struggle in which the three died so that their death will not be in vain.

He said the coalition shares in the union’s loss as the journalists were activists too who sought a better society, stressing the need to keep the struggle on.

Nwosu said: “Pursue the same ideal they died for. We should ensure that the lofty ideal they represented must be pursued. That is the only way their death will not be in vain.”

He said that journalists and the civil society have a lot in common, among which is the pursuit of good governance and national development.

He said the coalition shares in the

From Gbenga Omokhunu

union’s loss as the journalists are activists too who seek a better society.

He maintained that the society had condoned the assault, illegal arrests, detention and even killing of journalists in the country.

Nwosu said members of the public should begin to stand in defence of journalists who go about their legitimate duties of sourcing and disseminating information to members of the public.

He urged the union strengthen its synergy with the civil society to address all such maltreatments against Nigerian journalists for the good of all.

While thanking the coalition for holding the three journalists in high esteem, Comrade Ehirim said the Union welcomes their call for synergy.

He said the President of the Nigeria

Union of Journalists, Comrade Garba Mohammed would be elated to know of their visit to the council to condole the Union on the death of their colleagues.

Ehirim noted that there was a great need for synergy the group canvassed.

“I know it was this kind of synergy that earned us this democracy. After that, we all went our separate ways.

“There is no distinction between the civil society person and the journalist as a thoroughbred journalist is an activist.

“He fought for independence, democracy, good governance and now we are fighting for democratic process to be upheld,” Ehirim stated.

The civil society groups comprised Advocacy for Change Initiative, (ACI), Save Nigeria Integrity Legacy Network (SNILN) and Transformation Movement Nigeria (TMN), among others.

There is no distinction between the civil society person and the journalist as a thoroughbred journalist is an activist… He fought for independence, democracy, good governance and now we are fighting for democratic process to be upheld

T

HE chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi, has called for adequate funding of the education sector in the FCT, a sector which he described as critical.

He also revealed that the enabling law for the college has now been passed by the National Assembly.

The Senator made these remarks during the committee’s oversight visit to the FCT College of Education, Zuba as part of its visit to the FCT Education Secretariat.

He also commended the Secretary for Education for improving the academic standard in FCT schools.

The committee visited the permanent site of the College of Education Zuba where ongoing structures where inspected. They included the School of Vocational and Technical Education, the library complex and the School of Education.

While pledging to appropriate more funds in the 2014 budget to enable the completion of the projects, he called for the use of better building designs for future structures in the college to reflect its status as a tertiary institution in the FCT. Continuing, he said that future structures in the Abuja should be of world-class standard to reflect the status of FCT as the nation’s capital.

On the passage of the enabling law

Senator seeks more funds for FCT schools From Gbenga Omokhunu and Bukola Amusan

for the College of Education Zuba, Senator Adeyemi commended the efforts of the Provost of the College and the Education Secretariat for all their efforts in ensuring its passage.

Speaking while receiving the Senate Committee on the FCT, the Provost of the FCT College of Education, Professor Tijanni Ismail revealed that the institution has had all its courses accredited by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and that the College management has a cordial relationship with all the students and academic unions.

He expressed his joy at the passage of the enabling law of the college by the National Assembly, even as he said that the college will now be able to carry out all its statutory responsibilities which hitherto had been hampered by lack of enabling law.

Muslim women donate to orphans

T

HE head of Kwali Area Council branch of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Aishatu Bukar, has distributed clothes to 100 orphans in the area.

While distributing the clothes Bukar said that the gesture was to assist the orphans that are from Kwali Ward, Kilankwa 1, Kilankwa II, Sukuku, Piri, Rugan Galadima, Dafa, Gada-Biyu, Yangoji, Dangara and Dabi communities of the council.

She stated that the goals of the association was to educate married women through daily lectures in Qur’anic recitation, fiqh, tauhid at the school, adding that the association also carries out weekly preaching and lectures every Saturday.

She thanked the national body of the association under the leadership of Hajiya Maryam Uthman, for its effort in uplifting the status of Kwali Muslim women.

Also speaking, the National Ameera of FOMWAN, Hajiya Maryam Uthman, commended the Kwali branch of the association for its efforts in propagating Islam especially among rural women, saying the national body will try to acquire a plot of land to build an orphanage home in the area.

•Trained volunteers can better handle flood disasters

The goals of the association was to educate married women through daily lectures in Qur’anic recitation, fiqh, tauhid at the school, adding that the association also carries out weekly preaching and lectures every Saturday

T

NEMA trains emergency volunteers

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has organised a training programme on mitigating flood disasters.

About 40 volunteers drawn from Gwagwalada and Bwari area councils participated in the one-day training and awareness campaign held at Kubwa in Bwari Area Council.

Speaking at the event, the coordinator, Abuja Operations Office of the agency, Mr. Ishaya Isah Chonoko, noted that the disaster management implication of the NIMET’s prediction requires con-

Stories from Bukola Amusan

certed and proactive efforts in curbing the menace.

According to him, volunteerism is an integral part of disaster management globally, even as he said that frequent training/capacity building is a sure way of equipping the volunteers in carrying out the enormous task of saving lives.

“This forum cannot come at a time better than now when all efforts are geared towards ensur-

ing that the scale of destruction is reduced to barest minimum so that the energy and resources saved can be channelled towards other areas of human endeavours,’’ Chonoko said.

According to Chonoko, the volunteers are being exposed to general overview on disaster management, search and rescue/ evaluation of flooded communities, camp management and coordination and first aid for drowning victims.

Representative of the DirectorGeneral, FCT Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Nnena

Sam Ochea, said the agency has been doing a lot of grassroots campaign on the need to checkmate factors that aid flood disaster.

Eben Kolawole from FCT National Orientation Agency commended NEMA for its efforts towards disaster management.

He promised that his office is ready to partner with the agency.

Officials of the Red Cross Organisation, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police and officials from other related government agencies were present at the event.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

ABUJA REVIEW

I

FCTA to step up primary healthcare

N order to promote its community health insurance scheme, introduced sometime back in area councils of the FCT, the administration has realised it must rejuvenate its primary healthcare system.

The administration set up a ministerial committee on synergy and responsibility to embark on a facility audit of the health facilities in all the area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Dec. 2012 and saddled with the mandate of undertaking a detailed evaluation of the functionality of the Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in the FCT. It was concerned that in spite of the huge expenditures on PHC infrastructure and personnel, the sub sector still appears moribund and required that the committee provide recommendations for the declining standard of services at the various health facilities in the area councils.

The report submitted showed that there are 215 primary health care (PHC) facilities in the FCT,

A

BIA State indigenes in Abuja, includinghave honoured one of their illustrious sons, Mr. Benson Ezem for his hard work and contributions to the development of the state.

The occasion was the opening and inauguration of Jades Hotel in Abuja. The event attracted dignitaries from the state and outside the state.

Governor Orji, who attended the occasion after his state visit to China, commended Ezem for building such a magnificent hotel, even as he encouraged other indigenes of Abia State to endeavour to make the state proud wherever they are.

Governor Orji stated that “Abians are not only making the state proud but also the entire

T

HE Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi has called for adequate funding of the education in the FCT, a sector which he described as critical.

He also revealed that the enabling law for the college has now been passed by the National As-

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

built by the FCT administration and other agencies in the health care development system.

Of the number, only 202 PHC are staffed with skeletal health care services, while the remaining 13 are without staff. Of the number, only 27 have facilities to provide minimum ward care package.

Also, of the number with health personnel, only 27 can provide the minimum ward health care package of services while 146 of the facilities are in need of various lev-

els of rehabilitation work. Power, portable water supply, essential drugs and toilets are also in short supply.

It is well known that, there can be no economic growth, when the higher part of the population is unhealthy. The health care system in itself is divided into 3 sectors, the primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities.

Where the primary health care centres which is the foundation for health care system is found in communities and closer to the people, the secondary comprises of the general hospitals and the tertiary’s

Of the 215 primary health care facilities in the FCT, only 202 are staffed with skeletal health care services, and of the number, only 27 have facilities to provide the minimum ward care package

are the teaching hospitals.

Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide insisted that, as much as the administration is trying to sell the idea of the health insurance scheme, people will not buy into the idea until they are sure that there are health facilities near them that can deliver the services.

The Minister on August 6th, 2013, inaugurated a 17 man committee and gave them the mandate to study the report on the public health care infrastructure inventory and human resource audit in the 6 area councils of the FCT and make recommendations.

It also included, identifying all public PHC facilities that require minor and major repairs, identify sources of funding and authority responsible for such repairs and bring about recommendation that will revitalise the primary health centre.

The chairman of the committee Demola Onakomaiya, the secretary, health and human service secretariat FCT explained that, if the

Honour for industrialist in Abuja From Grace Obike

country. He cited an example of an Abian who had set up an industry in Wanzai, a county of Yichun in the Chinese Province of Jiangxi.

He insisted that his administration has been able to bring peace and unity to Abia, thereby giving Abians the room to concentrate on their work.

“The serenity that I have accomplished in Abia State now attracts investors who feel safe because of the security that exists. I am the type of governor that enjoys encouraging my people,

which is why I came to grace this occasion after my visit from China where I met other Abians

that are doing the state proud.”

The occasion which was chaired by Prof. Jerry Gana, also

Governor Orji, who attended the occasion after his state visit to China, commended Ezem for building such a magnificent hotel, even as he encouraged other indigenes of Abia State to endeavour to make the state proud wherever they are

•Oloye Akinjide primary health centres can provide for its host community, cases like child delivery, malaria, hypertension etc. Will not have to go to secondary and tertiary centres, thereby reducing the amount of patients they will have to attend to and minimise the pressure on such centres.

had in attendance, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Vincent Ogbulafor and former chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission Chief Onyema Ugochukwu.

Also in attendance was Senator Nkechi Nwogu, several royal fathers and men of God. Benson Ezem. CEO COSMO Base Group and owner of Jades Hotel said that the journey to build a hotel that can compete with any 5-star hotel in the world began about 13years ago.

Ezem explained that the COSMO Base Group had come together to make the dream a reality without any financial assistance from anyone.

Senator seeks more funds for FCT schools From Gbenga Omokhunu and Bukola Amusan

sembly.

The Senator made these remarks during the committee’s

oversight visit to the FCT College of Education, Zuba as part of its visit to the FCT Education Secretariat.

He also commended the Secretary for Education for improving

•From left: Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga; Minister of State (Finance) Dr. Yerima Ngama and Minister of Steel Development Alhaji Mohammed Sada, during the Special Federal Executive Council Meeting on the 2014 Budget at the State House, Abuja.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

the academic standard in FCT schools.

The Committee visited the permanent site of the College of Education Zuba where on-going structures where inspected. They include the school of Vocational and Technical Education, the library complex and the School of Education.

While pledging to appropriate more funds in the 2014 budget to enable the completion of the projects, he called for the use of better building designs for future structures in the College to reflect its status as a tertiary institution in the FCT. He continued that future structures in the Abuja should be of world class standard to reflect the status of FCT as the capital of Nigeria.

On the passage of the enabling law for the College, of Education,

Zuba Senator Adeyemi commended the efforts of the Provost of the College and the Education Secretariat for all their efforts in ensuring its passage.

Speaking earlier while receiving the Senate Committee on the FCT, the Provost of the FCT College of Education, Professor Tijanni Ismail revealed that the institution has had all its courses accredited by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and that the College management has a cordial relationship with all the students, and academic unions.

He expressed joy at the passage of the enabling law of the College by the National Assembly and said that the College will now be able to carry out all its statutory responsibilities which hitherto had been hampered by the lack of the enabling law.

While pledging to appropriate more funds in the 2014 budget to enable the completion of the projects, he called for the use of better building designs for future structures in the College to reflect its status as a tertiary institution in the FCT

29

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

‘Informing my resolve in this regard was the need to elevate

Nigeria’s customary jurisprudence to its rightful position in our nation’s legal system See page 33

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

INSIDE: House, Legal Studies Institute to collaborate

-Page 33

‘How a defective justice system freed al-Mustapha’

Despite waving the olive branch to Boko Haram, the Federal Government is not averse to the sect being tried for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The worry of pundits is how ICC can be assisted to succeed, writes ADEBISI ONANUGA

Will ICC get Boko Haram The issue HE administration of President Goodluck Jonathan took a major decision last week. It opted to support the probe of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

The ICC observed that the sect, in the last three years, has been committing crimes against humanity for which its identified leaders are expected to stand trial.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said information at the court’s disposal showed that there were reasonable grounds to believe that since July 2009, the sect has launched coordinated attacks against undefended and innocent Nigerians in the North. It is believed that if the ICC succeeds in its plan, any identified leaders of the sect will receive summons and if arrested, will face trial before the court at The Hague.

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Essays on legal issues

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Media reports quoted Presidency sources as saying that the decision to accept a probe of Boko Haram activities is without prejudice to the ongoing dialogue with the sect. Last April, the government inaugurated a committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North to engage key leaders of the group in a dialogue. The committee is chaired by the Minister of Special Duties, Mr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN). Others on the committee are Sheik Ahmed Lemu, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Col. Musa (rtd.), Sheik Abubakar Tureta, Dr Datti Ahmed, Senator Sodangi Abubakar, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Hon. Moham• Continued on page 30

• Fatou Bensouda

Johnson Esezoobo, a 1979 graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, was called to the Bar in 1980. After his National Youth Service in Jos, the Plateau State capital, in 1981, he joined public service. In this interview, he speaks on Bar-Bench relationship and his activities as an activist-lawyer. Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU met him.

Democracy and socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria: The role of law

‘How Supreme Court’s ‘right’ destroyed judicial process’

C -Page 36

‘Nigeria’s obligation under the Rome Statute’ -Page 37

‘Courts have power to formulate issues for parties where justice demands’ -Page 38

• Esezoobo

AN you give us an insight into your activities at the Bar since 1980?

My activities at the Bar since my call are numerous. I started as a civil servant when I joined the defunct National Provident Fund (NPF) and I saw myself as a civil servant with a difference.

Why? I never believed that as a professional, I should be directed anyhow, particularly when it concerned issues of law. That attitude set me against the authorities because I couldn’t be directed to do anything that I did not advise or could not have advised given the chance. Civil servants are given to doing wrong; most times, they do it deliberately and when problems arise, they call the lawyer to defend it as most attorneys- general do, Nobody could do that with me, so, I did not last in the public service. I got forced out in 1990?

Tell us some major achoevements while in service?

The major things I did were writing the authorities to correct irregularities. Besides, I decided to be going to court to challenge some

actions of government. I am still into writing the authorities to correct ills in the society.

What was your first day in court like?

It was quite interesting because the judges of those days seemed to be more mature and understanding. So, I would say there was no problem with the judges, in terms of appearing and arguing cases before them, but with lawyers who would always like to take advantage.

What do you mean ?

Imagine when you told a senior colleague you were not ready in court and he agreed with you on a course to take. But when the case got called up, he would say something else to your embarrassment.

I had a similar experience that day and it was not sweet at all.

Why was it like that?

Now, the second coming of the military into the Nigerian political scene posed a lot of challenges. We lawyers and judges did not live up to the challenges at all. Rather, we • Continued on page 31

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LAW COVER CONT’D

Will ICC get Boko Haram?

•Continued frompage 29 med Bello Matawalle, Ambassador Z Ibrahim, Comrade Shehu Sani, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, Malam Adamu S. Ladan, Dr. Joseph Golwa, Air Vice Marshal A. I. Shehu, Mr. R. I. Nkemdirim, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Philemon Leha, Prof. Nur Alkali, Malam Salihu Abubakar, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Lugga, Mr Ibrahim Tahir, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, Group Capt. Bilal Bulama (rtd), Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, and a representative of the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation who will serve as secretary.

The committee was charged to: “develop a framework for the granting of amnesty; setting up of a framework through which disarmament could take place within a 60day time frame; the development of a comprehensive victims’ support programme, and the development of mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences”.

Special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Dr Reuben Abati had said the setting up of the committee was sequel to the recommendation of a committee within the National Security Council set up by the president on April 4, 2013, when he held a meeting with security chiefs.

Though the 60-day time frame given the committee to secure a ceasefire has since elapsed, there is nothing to indicate that a truce is in the offing or will be signed.

Neither is there anything to indicate that all the factions of the Boko Haram sect have agreed to amnesty, or that amnesty will lead to ceasefire.

While the government of Nigeria is bogged down with how to find a lasting solution to the insurgence, the ICC on its part, has since 2012 opened preliminary investigations into the activities of Boko Haram, having found out that there was a “reasonable basis” to believe that the sect had committed crimes against humanity.

The ICC cited the killings of over 1,200 Christian and Muslim civilians and attacks on churches, the cold murder of civilians and suicide bombings carried out against security forces, newspapers, a UN office, markets and schools in Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe and Kano states in the north as well as Abuja, Kaduna and Plateau states in central Nigeria to justify why a probe has become inevitable if an end must be found to the activities of the sect in the country.

Though, Nigeria in the past, has had to contend with security challenges, the activities of the Islamist sect has remain a source of worry to the government. The sect had claimed responsibility for several bombings and other activities in the northern Nigeria and this appeared to be setting the country on the path of disintegration, without the government exhibiting any capacity to tame the monster that is called Boko Haram nor determine the actual causes of the Boko Haram.

There is no disputing the fact that for Nigeria to build a decent society with decent human beings, everybody must support the need to maintain law and order. There is therefore a compelling reason for government to bring the insurgence under control as no government would fold its hands and allow such nefarious acts to turn the country upside down. This is why most Nigerians supported the decision of the government deploying troops to Maiduguri and other known towns where the activities of the sect is prevalent to quell the activities of the sect. It also explained why the decision of the ICC to probe the activities of the sect is a welcome relief to many Nigerians, particularly the civil societies that have been calling for the court’s intervention in the situation in the country.

About the ICC The ICC is an international court established under the Roman Statute that was adopted on July, 17, 1998. Nigeria became a State Party to the Rome Statute of ICC when it ratified the Treaty on 27 September, 2001. The treaty finally came into force on July 1, 2002, with powers to exercise its jurisdiction over persons for the “most serious crimes of international concern”. Nigeria is a signatory to the Roman statute which established the court.

The court operates on the principle of complementarity and as court of last resort; it carries out investigation and pros-

• Eze

• Fagbohungbe

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The jurisdiction of ICC

HE Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) the Rome Statute, was adopted on July, 17, 1998. Article 1 of the Statute provides inter alia “ An International Criminal Court herein referred to as “the Court” was established with powers to exercise its jurisdiction over persons for the “most serious crimes of international concern” as referred to in the Statute. The Court shall be complimentary to national criminal jurisdictions.

The Statute provides that the court shall have legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfilment of its purposes. And it may exercise its functions and powers as provided in the Statute on the territory of any state party and by special agreement, on the territory of any other State.

By Article 5(1) of the Rome Statute, the jurisdiction of the I.C.C. shall be limited to the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole The court has jurisdiction with respect to the following crimes: The crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crimes of aggression.

Article 5 (2) provides that the court shall exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression once a provision is adopted in accordance with Article 121 and 123 of the Statute defining the crime and setting out the conditions under which the court shall exercise jurisdiction with respect to the crime and that such a provision shall be consistent with the relevant Charters of the

ecution only where national courts have failed. Article 17 of the Statute provides for situations when a case will become inadmissible and these include where the case is being investigated by a State which has jurisdiction over it, unless the State is unwilling or unable to carry out investigation or prosecution; or that the case has been investigated by a State which has jurisdiction over it and the State decided not to prosecute the person concerned, unless the decision resulted from the unwillingness or inability of the State genuinely to prosecute.

Article 5(1) of the Rome Statute, provides that the jurisdiction of the I.C.C. shall be limited to the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole The court has jurisdiction with respect to the following crimes: The crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crimes of aggression.

Article 5 (2) provides that the court shall exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression once a provision is adopted in accordance with Article 121 and 123 of the Statute defining the crime and setting out the conditions under which the court shall exercise jurisdiction with respect to the crime and that such a provision shall be consistent with the relevant Charters of the United Nations.

Article 7 (1) of the Statute of the I.C.C states that: “crime against humanity” means any of the following acts when committed as part of a wide spread or

By John Austin Unachukwu

United Nations.

Article 7 (1) of the Statute of the I.C.C states that: “crime against humanity” means any of the following acts when committed as part of a wide spread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation or forcible transfer of population Other forms of crimes against humanity include: imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilisation or any other form of sexual violence, of comparable gravity Others are persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender as defined in paragraph 3, or other grounds that are universally recognised as impermissible under international law, in connection with any act referred to in this paragraph or any crime within the jurisdiction of the court Other crimes against humanity under the Statute include: enforced disappearance of persons, the crime of apartheid, other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing a great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health” systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation or forcible transfer of population.

ICC in other climes

There are a lot of people and former presidents of countries that the ICC has investigated and successfully tried and the list is legendary. To date, the Prosecutor has opened investigations into eight situations in Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Uganda; the Central African Republic; Dafur, Sudan; the Republic of Kenya; the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. Of these eight, four were referred to the Court by the concerned states parties themselves (Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Mali), two were referred by the United Nations Security Council (Darfur and Libya) and two were begun proprio motu by the Prosecutor (Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire). Additionally,

by Power of Attorney from the Union of Comoros; a law firm referred the situation on the Comorian-flagged MV Mavi Marmara vessel to the Court, prompting the Prosecutor to initiate a preliminary examination.

In addition, the ICC has publicly ind i c t e d 30 p e o p le, w hi l e pr oc eed i ng s against 23 are ongoing. The ICC has is-

sued arrest warrants for 21 individuals and summonses to nine others. Five individuals are in custody; one of them has been found guilty and sentenced (with an appeal lodged), three are being tried and one’s confirmation of charges hearing has yet to begin. One individual has been acquitted and released (with an appeal lodged). Nine individuals remain at large as fugitives (although one is reported to have died). Additionally, three individuals have been arrested by national authorities, but have not yet been transferred to the Court. Proceedings against seven individuals have finished following the death of two, the dismissal of charges against another four and the withdrawal of charges against one.

Notable among those tried and convicted by the court for war crimes and for crime against humanity is the former war lord and president of Liberia, Mr. Charles Taylor. The former Liberian president Charles Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison for aiding and abetting war crimes in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

The most prominent figure being tried at the moment by the court is former Coate de Voir President, Laurent Gbagbo on four counts of crimes against humanity.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant against another head of state, Omar alBashir, the president of Sudan. He is accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur. There is also a warrant for the arrest of Saif al-Islam, son of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, for alleged crimes against humanity. In 2005, a warrant was issued for Joseph Kony, head of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. He is accused of a pattern of “brutalization against civilians” among others.

What lawyers are saying Lawyers who spoke on the probe of Boko Haram activities by the ICC include, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), Chukwuemeka Eze and Ikechukwu Ikeji, all Lagos-based legal practitioners. They all offered insights into the operations of the ICC agreed that the court has jurisdiction to intervene in the ongoing onslaught by boko haram on innocent Nigerian citizens going by the provisions of Articles 5, 6, and 7 of the Rome Statute of 1998.

Chief Fagbohungbe said that since Nigeria is a signatory to the Roman statute, there is nothing wrong or illegal with the decision of the ICC coming to probe the activities of Boko Haram. “I think they should be given unhindered access to go about their investigation successfully. They are not going to be meeting with individuals other than security agencies and the civil societies and collate their report from information obtained from them. He however advised that nothing should be done to hinder their operations”, he said.

Chukwuemeka Eze observed that from the statement issued by the Prosecutor, it is evident that the Prosecutor has collected sufficient evidence in the trouble spots of Northern Nigeria before coming to a conclusion that crimes against humanity have been committed. What remains for the Prosecutor to •Continued on page 32

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LAW & SOCIETY

‘How Supreme Court’s ‘right’ destroyed judicial process’ •Continued frompage 29 turned ourselves to instruments in the hands of the military junta to decapitate the values of our society. Everyone was after money and could easily be deceived by whatever position of authority given to him to make money and either shut his eyes to irregularities of the moment or aid the perpetration of the irregularities.

Can you give us specific examples?

General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) was aided by lawyers and he became an absolute despot, Professor Ben Nwabueze, a highly respected all-round lawyer, has since come out to say that all military regimes were a fraud.

So, if all military regimes were a fraud, then, that we did not discover it from Babangida’s coming in 1985 to Abdusallami’s exit in 1999 is an indictment of lawyers and Judges.

Was that why you went to court?

A few major events threw up more challenges that made me take some steps toward effecting the law. Late General Mamman Vatsa was arrested for alleged coup plot in 1986. Like it happened ten years earlier in 1976, when a Decree was passed after the alleged event, making the punishment of death by firing squad retrospective. The 1976 situation may not have agitated the mind, but because of the assassination of General Muritala Mohammed and Col. Ibrahim Taiwo. We all got carried away by that condemnable event.

But the situation was different in 1986 where the allegation was a mere plot, no attempt, no death. Yet secret trials and executions were introduced, obviously to cover up some immorality and crimes in high places. General Domkat Bali was to come up shamelessly, 20 years later in 2006 to say that there was really no evidence against General Vatsa and that he was killed in error. I wrote a letter to president Olusegun Obasanjo and the then Attorney General of the Federation to arrest and prosecute Babangida and Bali for that offence. I do hope that with the benefit of still being alive, those two will repent and pray to God for forgiveness, otherwise they have their judgment of God. Why then did you sue Gen. Sanni Abacha?

It was the foregoing circumstances, coupled with some personal experiences with the authorities that I decided to challenge certain actions of government in court. So, I sued the late Abacha and sought to stop the killing of the 1995 alleged coup plotters including General, Olusegun Obasanjo and Col. Gwadabe. In the course of the argument in court, the late Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Babatunde Belgore, called us to chambers. He said, ‘Johnson what exactly are you saying?’ So, we looked at the Decree together,he saw the point and said “Really, there is error in the law. I am seeing this for the first time in 19 years. I was a party to the drafting of the Decree in 1976 when I was the Attorney-General of Kwara State, I never saw that error, don’t worry, he (Abacha) will not kill them”.

When the matter of General Oladipo Diya and others arose in 1997, I rushed back to the late Chief Judge in chambers to say ‘My lord, if you had made the order I sought that time, this would not arise again’. There was also the Failed Banks saga where the Decree was used to perpetrate evil through many Judges.

So, what did the late CJ of Federal High Court do after your discussion?

The late Chief Judge said he compiled my submissions in the cases I was doing then into a memo to late General Abacha with a note saying, “Don’t kill them, there is error in the law”. He said: “ Abacha has not said that he would release political detainees but don’t worry, he will not kill them” So, if lawyers had been vigilant and had not turned law into a mere recitation, we might have saved the several lives that Nigeria wasted through phantom coup plot allegations. May God save us, because if we are to be judged by the evils we have executed and are still executing in Nigeria under the law, Nigeria will be a bye-word.

Is the situation normal now?

As to whether the situation is normal today, I will say, no. Indeed the situation is worse today. The level of impunity is so overwhelming today that you cannot easily pin-point which one to challenge. Everybody is involved perhaps, with just very few exceptions. How many people can boast of doing anything in Nigeria today with the fear of God? We go to Church on Sundays and do other things from Mondays to Saturdays.

• Esezoobo

Notwithstanding all these, we are looking into some areas and are challenged.

Are you saying that you are going to challenge the president?

It is not just the president alone that should be challenged. The search light should be turned on other sectors, when other sectors are put right, they will help to put the president right. We cannot blame the leaders alone, just as a bad leader will breed a bad followership, so also will a bad followership breed bad leadership For example, Judges who collect penalty for late filing of court processes should be challenged. Judges who sit when they like and do their cases as they like should also be challenged. Judges who engage in brief rigging and take away the lawyer’s clients should be challenged. Lawyers who engage in sharp practices should be challenged. The Supreme Court that will not bring forth a case for hearing until after six years without a consideration of “fair hearing within a reasonable time” of S. 36 (1) of the Constitution e.t.c. need also to be challenged.

You had an encounter at the Supreme Court recently, what actually happened in that case?

The case was EKUNOLA v CBN, that judgment shocked me. The reliefs sought were that the Director of Personnel, rather than the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) dismissed the man and so, we asked that he be reinstated. Ordinarily, that case ought not to go beyond the High Court, but mysteriously, we lost from the High Court through the Court of Appeal to the apex court.

The Supreme Court aptly held that when a case is bad, an allegation of denial of fair hearing cannot save it. But the court did not say when a case is bad and what makes it so.

A case is determined from the strength of the pleadings and the evidence. Was it the pleading that was bad in this case or the evidence?

At the High Court, only God can say what water passed under the bridge. I can only say from what happened in court and thereafter, that we should continue to pray to God for mercy.

What really happened in court?

On the Day of Judgment, the presiding judge said that the judgment was not ready and that he had a point he would like the parties to address him on. When urged to identify the point, the judge said he would indicate it in the invitation he was going to send to us shortly. He did not send any invitation to us until the adjourned date and he delivered the judgment. He held that the Director of Personnel acted on behalf of the CBN. It is time for our Judges to think of what the members of the public will say about them and their judgments. Before the matter was decided at the Court of Appeal, somebody came to me to and said “that

Judge is a useless Judge”.

Why did he say that?

He said a few things I should rather keep to myself for the integrity of the Bar and the Bench. Let’s leave the Judge to his conscience.

What happened at the Court of Appeal?

At the Court of Appeal, Justice K. B. Akaahs (JCA) as he then was refused to follow his earlier decision in IGWILO v CBN which seemed to be on all fours with Ekunola’s case. In that case the court aptly held that a query, suspension or dismissal letter signed “For Director of Personnel” is instructed by Director of Personnel and unless the said Director of Personnel can show with minutes or other means that he was instructed to carry out the action, he is the person acting.

But in Ekunola’s case, the query, suspension and dismissal letters were all signed by an unnamed Deputy Director or Assistant Director, “For: Director of Personnel”, who was also unmanned. So, seriously speaking there was more to agitate in the Ekunola case than the Igwilo case where a named person signed for an unnamed Director of personnel. The authorities posit that any document signed by an unnamed person or by such unnamed person for another unnamed person is unacceptable.

Thus, how can an unnamed Director of Personnel act on behalf of the CBN? Now, at the Supreme Court in a preliminary objection was raised to ground 16 of the 17 grounds of appeal. The appellant then amended the Notice of Appeal and reduced the number to 11 grounds. Again, the authorities posit that when a process is amended the old process ceases to exist before the Court. But if you look at that judgment, it was based essentially on the old Notice of Appeal of 17 grounds.

So what is happening to our case law and judicial precedent with all these inconsistencies?

We have a problem we do not appreciate, the Supreme Court seems ‘too quick’ as Lord Denning once said of Lord Goddard in reaching certain decisions. This seems to be on its erroneous decision that it has a right to be wrong’. This is a very bad statement which has destroyed the judicial process. Nobody has a right to be wrong but he must strive to be right. It is this notion of a “right to be wrong” that made somebody who did not contest election to be a Governor in modern Nigeria? That decision in Amaechi v INEC is, for ever a bad law which a modern Nigeria with high learning cannot be proud of before the comity of nations. Remember that after the execution of the Ogoni 8, Nelson Mandela’s South Africa called us ‘irresponsible’ while John Major of Britain spoke of ‘Judicial murder’. We should be careful what we do.

That nobody is challenging us internally

does not mean the world is not looking at us too.

The right to be wrong has not allowed many of the Judges to look at the law. That is why the Supreme Court delivered an empty judgment in the seizure of the Lagos Local Government fund during Obasanjo’s regime. I recall writing a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) then to look at that judgment whether it was not a nullity for lack of jurisdiction. I went further by filing a motion to set aside the judgment.

But the motion was suppressed.

From the authorities, one can simply conclude that there is a total disconnect between the sense of justice of the Supreme Court and the people’s sense of justice. For example, how does the man who has briefed a lawyer to plead his cause bear the error of the lawyer signing the processes as “& Co?” Can’t a test be evolved and developed to attend to such a situation rather than throwing out a case after keeping it in court for over 6 years? What manner of justice is that?

Why don’t you challenge this in court?

That was one of the points I sought to impress in EKUNOLA V CBN. But the apex court said to me “You want to change the law, you cannot change the law”. And injustice gets perpetrated through such an attitude and irony of a sort. So, the Supreme Court needs to check itself. One of the last remarks of late Chief Gani Fawenhimi (SAN) before he died was that the apex court should be “restructured”. I think that is true.

As a pastor, how do you combine pastoral duties with legal practice considering that both are highly demanding?

The work of a pastor is all involving, it is demanding. It also requires a high degree of integrity. However, I am not a full-time pastor, that is what gives me some leeway.

I am under authority and I take the pulpit as my supervisory pastor assigns.

My pastoral involvement is not restricted to the pulpit or preaching in the Church only. I do some preaching through writing to the authorities including Judges. So, I would say that my pastoral status has helped me more in conducting my life, more importantly, my legal practice, where one is faced with temptation every day, particularly where money is involved than it has in full-time spiritual counselling. I was proud when in response to my private letter to him over his comments on General Diya before the Oputa panel, General Victor Malu as Chief of Army Staff (CAS) wrote to commend my moral rectitude.

You were recently honoured by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), how do you feel?

I was honoured by the branch for my contribution to the programme on continuing legal education. I delivered a lecture at the programme and I got some recognition.

Once more I thank the organizers, I thank the NBA. What is your appraisal of the relationship between the Bar and the Bench?

The existing relationship between the Bar and the Bench is not conducive to a good administration of justice. One seems to assume a position of superiority while the Bar is seen as inferior. This is wrong and is not good enough, both should be seen as equal partners in the administration of justice.

Something happened recently, a Judge in Lagos High Court treated the Bar with utter contempt when he kept us in court from 9a.m to 12:15noon. We then sent for him in chambers where we knew he was doing nothing but conversing in chambers with a visitor during office hours. He said he was coming, that we should wait. We waited for over 30 minutes after and he did noe show face in the court, so I called the other lawyers and led them out of the Bar. I commend those lawyers who co-operated in this as a demonstration of our common disapproval of that sort of attitude to the Bar. They followed me out of the Bar. What happened after that?

The information we received later was that when the judge eventually came out, he found an empty Court and so, could not function. Thinking that we just went down for some break, the Judge told the Registrar to call him on our return but we didn’t return back. This experience tells me that the Bar and the Bench are really equal partners in the administration of justice, one cannot function without the other. Therefore let there be mutual respect, even for the sake of the judicial process which is the fulcrum of our respect in society.

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Will ICC get Boko Haram?

• Continued from page 30

do now is to ascertain the leaders of Boko Haram who will bear utmost responsibility for the crimes committed. She is expected to request for the cooperation and assistance of states and international organisations. The Prosecutor is further expected to approach the Pre-Trial Chamber with her evidence and apply for issuance of warrants of arrest or summons to appear before the ICC at the Hague, Nertherlands.

Under Article 58 of the Statute, Eze said the judges of the PreTrial Chamber are at liberty to issue warrants of arrest if they are convinced that the allegation is admissible and has attained a threshold. Once the warrant is issued, the responsibility to enforce the warrants of arrest in all cases remains with the State Parties. The obvious implication of issuance of arrest warrants against Boko Haram warlords , he said, is that they will become wanted international criminals who will have no place to hide.

Any State habouring any of them may be reported to the UN Security Council for reprimand.

Once an arrest occurs, the arrested person will be brought before the competent judicial authority in the custodial State, which determines whether the warrant is indeed for the arrested person. The judicial authority of the custodial State will be required to grant an order of surrender of the person to the ICC who will in turn hold him at the Detention Centre at the Hague.

Eze recalled that, Joseph Kony of the Ugandan Lord’s Resistant Army (LRA) who was indicted in July 2005 on 12 counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes was referred to ICC by his home country, Uganda, is still on the run with his cohorts.

The case of Sudan was referred to the UN Security Council. He said that the case of Boko Haram,if indictment eventually occurs, will be comparable to the “Ocampo Six” in Kenya who were indicted by the former ICC Prosecutor, Louis Moreno Ocampo, despite the refusal of the then President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya to refer the situation to the ICC.He remarked that any arrest warrant issued against any perpetrator can never expire until it is executed. The Pre-Trial Chamber will still be required to confirm the charges against an accused before he faces the Trial Chamber, who will try him and if found guilty will be sentenced to a number of years not exceeding thirty (30) years.

According to Ikeji , Article 5 enumerates the various crimes for which the ICC can exercise jurisdiction, namely genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

He said that genocide simply portends mass extermination or grievous bodily harm on a group of people based on race, ethnic origin, religion or nationality adding that this is exactly what boko haram is doing. He said that Crimes against Humanity is defined by the ICC Statute as including any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: (a) Murder, (b)Extermination, (c) Enslavement, (d) Deportation or

forcible transfer of population.

Ikeji argued that Boko haram’s actions till date clearly qualify as both genocide and crimes against humanity bringing them within the jurisdictional purview of the ICC. These are what the ICC should look out for, whether they make up the required elements of the stated crimes. he however noted that the ICC can only come in where Nigerian government is unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute the crimes. ikeji saif that the ICC can only exercise jurisdiction in one of three situations, namely where Nigeria refers the boko haram crimes to it or the United Nations Security Council by itself refers the crimes to the ICC or the ICC prosecutor by himself initiates investigations in respect of the crimes and comes to the conclusion that a case has been made out.

“In my view, it appears from the provision of Article 17 that there is a principle of subsidiarity jurisdiction such that the ICC shall not accept jurisdiction in any case where a state with jurisdiction is already investigating and prosecuting the case, or has investigated and decided not to prosecute, unless the state is genuinely unwilling or unable to carry out the investigation and possible prosecution. This means that the ICC can only conduct investigation and thereafter initiate prosecution only when Nigeria is unable or unwilling to prosecute the crimes even where Article 15 of the ICC Statute clearly empowers the ICC prosecutor to initiate investigations proprio motu (by its own self) on the basis of information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court”, he explained.

To ikeji, “It is always tidier to give space to the home government to use its internal crime fighting and prosecution machinery to achieve justice.

However, where it appears that the home government is unable or unwilling to properly prosecute the perpetrators, it behoves on the ICC to intervene and do the needful to bring the perpetrators to justice. This is where the cooperation of the Nigerian government becomes important. In my view, I suggest that the ICC immediately invokes its powers under Article 15 of the ICC Statute to prosecute all the boko haram suspects arrested.

This is because the present half hearted attempt at amnesty by the Nigerian government seems to be

‘It appears from the provision of Article 17 that there is a principle of subsidiarity jurisdiction such that the ICC shall not accept jurisdiction in any case where a State with jurisdiction is already investigating and prosecuting the case, or has investigated and decided not to prosecute’

troubling the waters of justice in that the vigour to prosecute the members of the boko haram seem to have whittled down in favour of dialogue.

The problem here is to determine at which stage when it can be said that Nigeria has become unable or unwilling to prosecute the boko haram insurgents. Presently, Nigeria can only be said to be going about the situation halfheartedly making it imperative for one to call for the ICC to intervene. It is therefore a good thing that the ICC is presently interested in the matter.

Since the level of criminal impunity in Nigeria has attracted the attention of the ICC, it is time that Nigeria passes “the Rome Statute (Ratification and Jurisdiction) Bill, 2006, which had earlier been passed by both houses of the National Assembly but was not harmonized for assent before May 2007. Once this Bill is passed, cases of crimes against humanity can be tried in Nigeria as the current reliance on the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, No. 10 of 2011 as amended by the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment), 2013 to try Boko Haram suspects may not offer complete succour to victims.

One remarkable possible outcome of justice at the ICC is that the victim may be paid reparations if the Court orders so. Reparation is a luxury which I don’t think our Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 or its amendment can provide succour to a victim.

The way forward Fagbohungbe remarked that since the country also have agencies investigating Boko Haram locally, the report of the ICC can be used to supplement that of the local efforts in finding a way of preventing a reoccurrence of insurgencies in the future.

Eze pointed out that since the level of criminal impunity in Nigeria has attracted the attention of the ICC, it is time that Nigeria passes “the Rome Statute (Ratification and Jurisdiction) Bill, 2006, which had earlier been passed by both houses of the National Assembly but was not harmonized for assent before May 2007. Once this Bill is passed, cases of crimes against humanity can be tried in Nigeria as the current reliance on the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, No. 10 of 2011 as amended by the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment), 2013 to try Boko Haram suspects may not offer complete succour to victims. One remarkable possible outcome of justice at the ICC is that the victim may be paid reparations if the Court orders so.

Reparation is a luxury which I don’t think our Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 or its amendment can provide succour to a victim.

Ikeji was of the opinion that with effective intervention in the present circumstances, the ICC would pass a strong message to warn against further insurgencies. This is the time for the ICC to act with seriousness and details. The ICC can be used if Nigeria completely hands over the prosecution of the boko haram insurgents to the ICC. He advised that Nigeria should assist the ICC by immediately inviting it to take over the investigation of the atrocities of the boko haram with a view to prosecuting the members of the group.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

State govts and the urban poor

M

OST of the commentaries on the recent spat between the Lagos and Anambra state governments over the so called deportation of Ndigbo, in my humble view missed the most essential challenge at stake. The worst of the comments concentrated on whipping up ethnic tensions, without sparing a thought for facts and the consequences. Others in service of their misplaced interests sought to impugn the integrity of either of the distinguished governors of the two states, in most cases, leaving the substance, and chasing shadows just to impress their perceived group or parochial interests. Very few of the renowned commentators, if any, spared a whiff of concern for the person of the urban poor, and his or her faith or rights in our inhuman capitalist economy.

But the challenge posed by the urban poor is likely to get worse, and Lagos with its status as the most economically viable city in Nigeria will have to brace up for more of the crisis, as Nigerians from all parts converge here for economic liberation. The defenders of the policy to prove that the issue is not a case of ethnic segregation, argues that similar repatriation of the urban poor has taken place within the southwestern states, specifically to Oyo State, and also to Kwara and Kano states in the northern parts of the country. The antagonists of this policy choose to ignore those facts and rather prefer to argue that the policy shows that the government of Lagos State has an axe to grind with Ndigbo. To counter this apparently false claim of bias against Ndigbo by Governor Fashola’s administration, the names of Igbo sons and daughters holding prominent positions in Lagos State are touted; as if the appointees have accepted to take in the 14 urban poor, left to their faith at the Onitsha head bridge.

In my view, the real challenge in this drama is the dilemma faced by the urban poor; and also the governments of cities, such as Lagos or even Onitsha, as they strive to strike a balance between protecting the constitutional rights and privileges of the urban poor and maintaining the expected public decency and security for the comfort of the majority of the people living and plying their trade in those cities. In the entire mix, one thing is, however, constant; and that is, that the essence of the famed social contract in governance is to strive to lift as many people as possible out of poverty, as well as to ensure the security of lives and property of the people living within the sphere of influence of the government concerned. As expected of any modern society, it is also very important to make the process of dealing with those challenges predictable and humane, through transparent rules and regulations.

In the instant case of the repatriated 14 urban poor, an examination of the duties and responsibilities of the government of a state to a citizen/resident/indigene and the rights and privileges of an indigent or destitute citizen/resident/indigene are the fair grounds to determine the appropriateness or otherwise of the actions or inactions of the parties in the circumstance. In my humble view, generally speaking, under the laws of Nigeria, particularly the provisions of the 1999 Constitution on fundamental human rights, the rights and privileges of a Nigerian citizen living in Nigeria, cannot be impugned by the circumstances of his state of origin or economic status. Unfortunately, that is the law, as the practice is substantially different. Conversely, a state has an ample rights and prerogatives under the constitution to make extant laws and regulations to guide those who may choose to reside or ply a trade within the state.

The challenge for the governors is how to manage the convolution between our constitution and our national reality. For while there is no citizen of Lagos or Anambra state, but citizen of Nigeria, under the constitution; there is the recognition of a state of origin, but without a definition of the aborigines or methods of legally becoming citizens of such states, in the constitution. The palpable confusion in the constitution is also manifested for instance when the constitution allows any Nigerian resident of a state to context the highest office within the state, but throws up serious confusion when in sharing some federal political offices, it segregates as it envisages only the aborigines for such named federal appointments. Thus, when an indigent Igbo or talakawa Hausa or hinterland Yoruba invade Lagos in search of a better life, the administrators of the state are torn between which sides of the inherent two faced goddess that the 1999 Constitution is, to worship.

This invitation to constitutional idolatry is made worse by the economic crises of our modern times. It is also worsened by the deliberate dissonance between the federal and state administrations; heightened by an obtrusive federal power, which does all in its power to make the states economically powerless and dependent. So at great cost, Lagos State with its peculiar challenges for instance is forced by the Federal Government, to always go to court to gain what ordinarily should be its standard economic right, were our constitution to be truly federal in character and content. And so the state of excellence after such individual battles to grow its economy, feels further let down when it has to take the pains of managing the fallout of the developmental challenges of its indigent indigenes and those of other states in the country. Unfortunately, for the urban poor, there is no Mother Theresa in this part of the world, populated by strange capitalists in a strange country without any form of social security, or even diverse viable economic centres.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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LAW & SOCIETY

House, Legal Studies Institute to collaborate T HE House of Representatives has pledged to partner the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) to improve the administration of justice in the country.

Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said the Institute for Legislative Studies and the House Committee on Justice will also collaborate with NIALS to deepen democratic ethos.

Tambuwal, represented by Hon. Osai N. Osai, spoke at the public presentation of two books: The Restatement of Customary laws in Nigeria” and Traditional Administration of Justice in Nigeria by NIALS in Abuja.

He said the House has passed the bill on customary law, adding that the law makers also approved the panel of seven justices for the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in the ongoing amendment of the constitution.

According to him, the House will continue to work towards strengthening judicial processes.

He said an economy grows when there is a virile judiciary, as entrepreneurs are confident that they will get justice when disputes arise.

Tambuwal praised NIALS for publishing the two books, and praised its Director-General Prof.

Epiphany Azinge (SAN) for taking the institute to greater heights.

Participants called for more constitutional roles for the Customary court.

They want the court vested with jurisdiction to be the court of first instance in chieftaincy matters.

Azinge said he conceptualised the Restatement of Customary Law in Nigeria project as one of the flagship projects of his administration.

“Informing my resolve in this regard was the need to elevate Nigeria’s customary jurisprudence to its rightful position in our nation’s legal system. ”This project, being the first at this scale of coverage, blazes a very important trail in our legal system.

The enormity of what was implicated by a project of this magnitude required that our only hope for its completion lies in the unwavering commitment of all academic staff of the institute engaged in various aspects of the project.

“This yellow bound volume of 385 pages is the product of three years of a massive research undertaking involving 33 researchers who participated in various stages of the research work involving the desk review, field research, presentation of field research findings to stakeholders, further desk review to test findings from the field research, and the core restatement exercise by a select committee of reporters.”

Azinge said no other area of law in Nigeria is in dire need of a restatement as much as Nigeria’s customary law.

“A number of reasons inform this position: the cultural diversity of the country has meant that customary practices differ in so many respects on the same issue; the oral tradition of our customary system has placed it in the ‘endangered species’ list; the paucity of authoritative works on customary law has created a yawning gap for the scholarship in this vital area of law; and no matter how we may choose to pretend not to care, customary law continues to play a very significant role in moderating our values system in society.

“For these reasons, the Restatement of Customary law was conceptualised with the objective of identifying the COMMON LAW of Nigeria’s customary jurisprudence. Our researchers were mandated to identify commonalities in customary practices in four thematic areas: Chieftaincy/Traditional institutions; Inheritance/ Succession; Land; and Marriage.

“Within the three years span it

By John Austin Unachukwu

took the institute to carry out this work, certain fundamental foundations had to be laid out.

“At the conceptualisation stage, a lot of scholarships went into deciding what path was to be followed in the work. At this point, the debate centred on what exactly the restatement work was going to look like – was it going to be a code of applicable customary laws or something else?

“I held several deliberation sessions with senior researchers and academics in the institute with the sole purpose of deciding this question.

“At last it was settled that what was expected was something less than a code but more than a treatise, although it would read like a code. It had to be such that it would speak authoritatively on what applied as common custom in the thematic areas pursued by the research.

“It had to qualify as the purest form of secondary evidence on the issues treated.”

Azinge said while the work is by no means the final word on the Restatement of Customary Law in Nigeria and Traditional Administration of Justice in Nigeria, it represents an important contribution to the scholarship in these areas.

He said hopefully, future endeavours would build upon the foundation they have laid.

Presenting the book, Prof. A. O. Obilade said: “Restatement identifies common rules and principles governing a particular area of the law.

“Restatement of customary law of Nigeria deals with four areas namely: chieftaincy / traditional institutions, inheritance / succession, land and marriage. The project is not a codification exercise.

“The ultimate human authority on the correctness and validity of a restatement on any particular point is the judiciary.”

According to him, Customary Law forms the root of the prevailing values in society.

“This bold step taken by the institute is highly commendable.

“I find in the two projects a proper blending of scholarship, commitment foresight and courage which are prerequisites of effectiveness in the type of enterprise.

“The Director-General has, through the projects, performed a great feat.

‘The ultimate human authority on the correctness and validity of a restatement on any particular point is the judiciary’

• Ossai and Obilade.

• From left: Former Chief Justice of Nigeria Muhammadu Lawal Uwais; Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajana; Mr. Benson Igbanoi representing the book reviewer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Azinge

• From left: Prof. Dakas Clement J. Dakas, Prof. Peter Akper representing the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke and Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN)

• From left: Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja branch, Desmond Yamah; Dr. Valerie Azinge and Vice Chairman, NBA Abuja branch, Ozioma Izuora.

• From left: Mr Yomi Odunsi Eshinlokun; Mr Omotayo Shasanya; Mrs Mojisola Afuani-George; Mr Adeola Hundeyin; Mrs Oyinkansola Dola-Fadun; Mr Adedamola Apena and Mr Abiodun Lesi.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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LAW & SOCIETY

‘How a defective justice system freed al-Mustapha’ Activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) examines the trial of freed former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha, for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

The delay tactics by the defendants ASED on the unassailable evidence led at the trial court and at the Oputa panel on the brutal assassination of Mrs. Abiola, the defendants decided to prolong the trial by resorting to various dilatory tactics. After the prosecution had led seven witnesses in evidence in the case the defendants applied for several adjournments.

The trial within trial lasted for over a year. Many interlocutory appeals and applications for stay of proceedings pending the determination of appeals were also filed by the defendants. In dismissing one of the bail applications fought all the way to the Supreme Court the defendants and their counsel were cautioned by the Justices to cooperate with the trial court to bring the murder case to a speedy end “in the overall interest of the administration of criminal justice in this country.”

When it became clear that the trial judge wanted to proceed with the case the defendants suddenly turned round to accuse him of having taken a bribe of $10 million to convict them.

They also petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) which decided to investigate the allegation. In the circumstance, the murder case was suspended sine die to enable the panel set up by the NJC to investigate the alleged misconduct of the judge.

At the end of the investigation which lasted for over a year the NJC committee found that the bribe allegation was a fluke as it could not be substantiated. The NJC gave the trial judge a clean bill of health and directed him to proceed with the trial. On resumption of hearing the trial judge was requested by the defendants to withdraw from the case on the ground that he was likely to be biased having been falsely accused by them. At that juncture, Justice Alabi recused himself from the case and it was assigned to another judge.

Through such diversionary tactics the case lasted 13 years in the docket and was handled by five judges at different times before it was eventually concluded by Justice Modupe Dada.

B

The conviction and acquittal After the trial had lasted for over a decade due to ceaseless adjournments mostly at the instance of the defendants Justice Dada rejected all fresh strategies designed to frustrate the trial.

Curiously, the witness protection arrangement put in place by the federal government was discontinued. Not unexpectedly, some of the witnesses who had earlier on testified refused to show up in court. The star witness, Sergeant Rogers testified but decided to contradict himself by alleging undue influence on the part of the prosecution.

In his own defence, Major AlMustapha alleged that the trial was politically motivated by two former heads of state. The late Pa Abraham Adesanya (who narrowly escaped Sergeant Rogers’ bullet) and Chief Bola Ige (who was gruesomely assassinated by unknown gunmen in December 2001) were alleged to have collected millions of pounds, dollars and naira from General Abdulsalami Abubakar to betray the June 12 mandate.

But when the video recording of the much touted bribe was shown during the trial it turned out to be a ruse deliberately designed to divert the course of

justice.

In her considered judgment Justice Dada rejected the retraction of the confessional statements of the two prosecution witnesses in line with many decisions of the appellate courts to the effect that a trial court can still convict on a retracted confessional statement as long as the judex is satisfied with the truth of the statement. Having watched the demeanour of the witnesses when they testified before her the trial judge came to the conclusion that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt that both defendants were guilty of the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. Accordingly, her ladyship convicted and sentenced them to death by hanging. Completely dissatisfied with the verdict both convicts challenged it at the Court of Appeal.

Upon a critical review of the case the Court of Appeal found that the prosecution’s case was riddled with contradictions which ought to have been resolved in favour of the appellants. While condemning the shoddy investigation conducted by the police in the case the Court discharged and acquitted the appellants. As if that was not enough their ladyships descended on the trial judge for “allowing herself to be caught in the web of the conflict”. But convinved that justice has not been done to the deceased the Court of Appeal concluded thus, “ Assuming the culprit is at large, there is nothing hidden under the sun that will not be exposed. The Law of the Lord is perfect. His judgments are true and righteous altogether— Psalm 19:7—9”.

With profound respect to the Court of Appeal it does not appear that “the culprit is at large”. Hence the Court criticised the prosecution for fielding Sergeant Rogers “as a prosecution witness instead of being charged with murder” when he had initially confessed to the shooting of the deceased. In Abacha v the State (supra) the Supreme Court had equally noted, with dismay, that “the criminals have not been charged”. In particular the court observed that “Sergeant Jabila (a.k.a Rogers) gave a graphic description of his involvement that if voluntary must amount to confession . He has not been charged with any offence”.

While the Lagos state government has indicated its wish to challenge the judgment of the Appeal Court in the Al-

L

Mustapha’s case at the Supreme Court it is high time that Sergeant Rogers and the members of the killer gang were charged with conspiracy and murder of Mrs Abiola. After all, there is no statute of limitation with respect to the offence of murder.

Beyond the acquittal of Major Al-Mustapha Some members of the public who were not privy to the deliberate frustration of the trial by the defendants joined in the political campaign for their release while the trial was in progress.

As impunity has become the order of the day the Lagos state Attorney-General was under tremendous political pressure to file nolle prosequi with a view to aborting the trial. No doubt, the judges and the prosecutors should be blamed for alllowing the defendants to exploit the loopholes in the criminal justice system to drag the trial for 13 years. Ironically, following their conviction by the Lagos high court the defendants ensured that the appeal filed against the judgment of the trial court was heard and determined within 15 months in spite of the congestion of cases in the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal.

It is however pertinent to note that the Al-Mustapha trial has compelled the Lagos state government to amend the criminal procedure law. Thus, under the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2011, stay of proceedings pending appeal has been prohibited while the courts are precluded from entertaining preliminary objections filed by defendants until the prosecution has closed its case.

Furthermore, confessional statements made by suspects are required to be vídeo recorded to avoid retraction by the defendands which often leads to trial within trial. Adjournments by parties designed to prolong criminal trials have also been banned. It can therefore be said that the case has put an end to the brazen manipulation of the criminal justice system by rich defendants and their lawyers In view of the incendiary statement credited to the factional leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr Faseun to the effect that Major Al-Mustapha is a victim of injustice he may wish to persuade his new political ally to sue the Lagos State Government for malicious prosecution. It is however doubtful whether Dr. Faseun has come across the comprehensive report of the Oputa Panel which spe-

• Al-Mustapha

cifically named Major AlMustapha as one of “perpetrators of gross violations of the rights of citizens under military rule”. Based on the unwarranted brutality meted out to many innocent persons by such torturers the Panel recommended that “those of them not yet retired or relieved of their jobs should be so retired forthwith”. On the suspicious death of Chief M.K.O Abiola and other politically motivated killings which characterised the darkest chapter of our political history the Panel recommended that the Federal Government should re-open such cases for “proper investigation”. But out of sheer class solidarity with the indicted characters the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration could not muster the political will to implement the recommendations of the Oputa Panel.

CONCLUSION Those who have expressed genuine concern over the discharge and acquittal of Major Al-Mustapha and Mr Shofolahan should be reminded of the fact that General Ishaya Bamaiyi, Mr James Dambaba, Mohammed Rabo Lawal and Mohammed Aminu who had been tried for the attempted murder of Chief Abraham Adesanya and Chief Alex Ibru had been freed due to the fact that the witnesses who had made confessional statements decided to make a u-turn.

In the same vein, those who were charged with the assassinations of Pa Alfred Rewane, Chief Bola Ige, Harry Marshal et al were left off the hook on the ground that the charges

brought against them were not proved beyond reasonable doubt. With respect to the cases of Dele Giwa, Bagauda Kaltho, Jerry Agbeyegbe, Toyin Onagoruwa, Aminasoari Dikibo and several others the police did not even charge any suspect to court. Since thecriminal justice system of the neo-colonial state has virtually collapsed serious cases involving rich criminal suspects are usually lost in court due to either shoddy police investigation or prosecutorial irresponsibility.

But suffice it to say that under the criminal justice system only the poor are successfully prosecuted for murder and sundry offences because they lack the resources to manipulate the criminal justice system. Ours has become a banana republic that is managed by a ruling class which cannot even protect the lives of its own members. As for the rest of the the society it has become a case of everyone for himself and God for us all.

Hence, extra-judicial killing of unarmed citizens by security personnel and unofficial killer gangs is on the ascendancy. Instead of resigning to fate in the circumstance concerned individuals and organisations should be prepared to struggle for the establishment of a new society where impunity will be consigned to the dustbin of history. And the struggle should begin with a call on the Federal Government to disarm and disband the Strike Force and other killer groups set up by the State and well connected politicians for the violent elimination of their political opponents.

Falana threatens legal action against firm over N358m

AGOS lawyer Mr Femi Falana(SAN) has threatened to sue a Lagos based company, Vixen Enterprises Limited, if it fails to pay N358 million owed some members of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN).

Falana, who is the legal counsel to the association, said he would file an action in court to recover the debt if the money is not paid at the end of the ultimatum.

In a letter addressed to the Managing Ditrector of the company, signed by Oludare Falana for Falana and Falana Chambers and copied to Mrs Gladys Talabi, Executive Director, Legal Services, Globacom Ltd., titled, “Demand for the payment of

• Alleged debtor asks for time to study claims N358,497,500 being indebtedness to some members of OAAN,” the activist claimed that Vixen allegedly refused to pay the money in spite of repeated demands.

He listed the companies being owed N358,497,500 jointly after they allegedly carried out advertising services for an indigenous communication firm, Globalcom Nigeria to include: Nigeria Advertising Services Limited, Great Grace Communication Limited, Media Link, Francis Stillwaters Nigeria Limited.

Others are Tripple A Outdoor Limited, KOK Visibility Edge Limited, De Signplast Nigeria Limited and Charella Nigeria Limited.

According to him, the services rendered between 2011 and 2012, which are yet to be paid for “has caused them huge financial loss, loss of goodwill, avoidable law suit from their various bankers and creditors who advanced several millions of naira to them to execute the contract that has been concluded, hence its instructions to us and our consequent demand.”

The law firm further stated : “Our client as a responsible and responsive association cannot sit back and fold its arms while its members are being treated unfairly by your company on a contract that has been concluded, hence its instructions to us and

our consequent demand.”

However, the management of Vixen Enterprises, in its July 31 response to the letter, sent to Falana’s Chambers, asked for time to look into the claims of the affected outdoor agencies.

The letter signed by an authorised signatory, read in part: “ We have evaluated the claims contained in your letter and wish to request for some time to situate the claims in perspective and revert to you as appropriate.”

However, the counsel to OAAN said it would not only file the suit at the end of its ultimatum against the company but also employ every means within the confines of the law to ensure immediate payment of the said sum.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

NATIONAL BAR A lawyer, Yemi Oke, reviews the Ikeja Bar Review, a special publication of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, in honour of Mr Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN)

Essays on legal issues Background: ’M probably the least qualified, in relative terms, to undertake this review in honour of a man some of us referred to as the ‘Araba’ of the legal profession. The closest I’ve had with the honouree was while I was at Olaniwun Ajayi and during my stay at the Chambers of the late Chief Rotimi Williams. We were on opposing side in the Tribunal set up to probe the sale of the then AP Plc. I did some crossexamination of some of our witnesses after having been drilled by Mr Ayanlanja (SAN). I must confess openly here that, beyond his fascinating immaculate-wellironed long bibs that has since become his ‘trademark’ that some of us have adopted. I picked a few skills in his advocacies which I’m unable to reveal to fellow competitors here. This adds to his thoroughness that our call mates who worked with him have glowingly cherished as the tunic of their law practice, even after leaving the firm.

For reasons best known to the organisers, I’ve been picked to undertake the noble job of reviewing this book, the “Ikeja Bar Review”, Volume 4, Part 1, of August 2010July, 2012 in honour of our baba, egbon, master, colleague, friend, and distinguished legal “theatrician”, Mr. Tunji Ayanlaja SAN. The first article titled, “The Use and Abuse of Court Process” written by B. Adesanya (SAN) at pages 1-13. This is followed by another piece written by P. Lawal SAN, Solicitor-General of Lagos State, titled: “Criminal Jurisdiction of Magistrate Courts in Nigeria, pages 14-23. A.A. Alabi’s article is titled “The Significance, Scope and Implications of Olaniyan’s Case in the Security of Employment of Public Servants in Nigeria” at pages 2431. Okechukwu wrote on “(De)Bureaucratisation of Intellectual Property Administration in Nigeria” at pages 32-37 while C.T. Emejuru writes on “The Socio-Legal Dilemama of Rape Victim” at pages 38-44. K.E.O. Ikenga’s article is captioned “Frontloading Under the High court of Lagos (Civil Prodecure) Rules 2004: Effects on Admissibility of Documentary Analysis”, at 45-57. Gasu G.N. writes on “The Relevance of Forensic Science in the Criminal Justice: A Comparative Analysis”, at 58-69.

E.I. Osakuni writes on “International Legal Framework for the Protection of Flora and Fauna” at 70-78 while A. Adeyombo opined on “Islamic Banking, Secularism and Constitutionalism in Nigeria, at 79-84. Ubanyionwu C.J. writes on “Pleas Bargain and Fight Against Political Corruption in Nigeria”, at 85-95. T.O. Ibrahim’s piece is titled: “The Relevance of Administrative Tribunals in the Administration of Justice in Nigeria”, at 96-107. The duo of C.T. Emejuru and E. Jonathan writes on “Securing Ecology in the Face of Global Environmental Challenges” at 108-115. In the last series of articles, U. Uguru writes on “Critical Issues in Marginal Oil Fields Development in Nigeria: Challenges for Indigenous Oil Companies”, at 116-125, while A. Ogundeji says on “Corruption, the Rule of Law and Nigeria’s Nascent Democracy”, at 126-132.

The later segments of the publication include case review, statute reviews, and book review. The book review by O.O. Guobadia centers on the case of “Captain

I

BOOK REVIEW Title: Ikeja Bar Review Reviewer: Yemi Oke, Phd Publisher: NBA, Ikeja chapter Edition: Vol. 4, Part 1 Pages: 167 G.N.H. Asake v The Nigerian Army Council & Anor. The first statute review was written by the duo of O.O. Guobadia and M. Ikpen, titled: “The Trade Mark Act 2004: The Exemplification of Intricate and Overcast Draftsmanship”, at 141-151. The second statute review is that of C. Achikeh titled: “The New Evidence Act 2011- An Appraisal, at 152-156. The only book review piece is “Law Politics and Development: The Challenges of an Emerging Mega-city: Essays in Honour of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)” written by O.A. Fatula, at pages 157-167.

A review of the Ikeja Bar Review: The first article in this edition of the Ikeja Bar Review, “The Use and Abuse of Court Process” written by B. Adesanya (SAN) (at pages 1-13) deals with a major concern in law practice. The article x-rayed instances of abuse of court processes with a challenge to stakeholdersthe court, lawyers, officials and others- to avoid acts capable of undermining the integrity of the judiciary.

The piece written by P. Lawal (SAN), Solicitor-General of Lagos State, “Criminal Jurisdiction of Magistrate Courts in Nigeria”, (pages 14-23) amplifies the importance of Magistrate Courts in the criminal justice system in Nigeria.

It traces the source of criminal law jurisdiction vested in the Magistrate Court to the Constitution. The article justifies the innovations of Magistrate Court of Lagos State 2009 for expanding the scope of jurisdiction vested in the Magistrate court.

Alabi’s article is titled: “The Significance, Scope and Implications of Olaniyan’s Case in the Security of Employment of Public Servants in Nigeria” (at pages 24-31) highlights the significance of the distinction made in Olaniyan’s case as it affects employment of public servants (or employment with statutory flavor). The writer hails the SC for its “revolutionary departure” from the old order by introducing a distinction between a contract of personal service entered into with a master that is not a human being but a creation of the statute.

Okechukwu’s piece on “(De)Bureaucratisation of Intellectual Property Administration in Nigeria” (pages 32-37) deals with an important aspect of the administration of intellectual property.

The author argues in favour of the need to disentangle the bureaucracy in the administration and practice of intellectual property. He attributes the bureaucracy to the proliferations of institutions and calls for harmonisation under a centralised system. (I tend to favour decentralised framework though, for electricity, may be not IPL).

Emejuru’s article “The Socio-Legal Dilemama of Rape Victim” (pages 38-44) considers the challenge of legal definition of rape and articulates the need for reform in this regard. Ikenga’s article titled: “Frontloading Under the High court of Lagos (Civil Procedure) Rules 2004: Effects on Admissibil-

ity of Documentary Analysis”, (at 45-57) though raised crucial issues about front-loading as a new procedural methodology; my concern is that the 2004 Rules is now a dead law, having been replaced with the 2013 Rules. Notwithstanding, the objective of front-loading is well articulated by the writer, to the effect that it encourages speedy disposal of cases including the case management concept, all which form part of the new Rules.

Gasu G.N. wrote on “The Relevance of Forensic Science in the Criminal Justice: A Comparative Analysis”, (58-69). The writer places strong emphasis on the need to deploy science for efficiency in criminal investigation, electoral fraud, among others. The writer calls for the establishment of a DNA database in Nigeria to control our porous borders and reduce the incidence of transnational crime/ criminals.

Osakuni’s piece on “International Legal Framework for the Protection of Flora and Fauna” (70-78) amplifies the growing concern in international environmental law and regulation. The writer acknowledges what has been done in terms of recognition and adoption of international treaties, but calls for more efforts towards realization of the objectives of these instruments by entrenching proper mechanism for their enforcement.

Adeyombo opined on “Islamic Banking, Secularism and Constitutionalism in Nigeria, (at 79-84). The writer argues that, though secularism is a highly contested concept; non-interest banking should not be religion-specific. He argues that being a veritable means of access to capital by the un-banked and those who ordinarily might not qualify for debt financing; such should be made available to nonMuslim Nigerians to ensure equity, constitutionality and justice.

Ubanyionwu’s piece on “Pleas Bargain and Fight Against Political Corruption in Nigeria”, at (8595) opens-up the argument in some quarters against plea bargaining.

The writer contends that it is not part of the laws of Nigeria and should be declared illegal. He concluded that it should be abolished in our judicial systems so that persons found guilty of political corruption should face the consequences of their actions.

Ibrahim’s piece titled “The Relevance of Administrative Tribunals in the Administration of Justice in Nigeria”, (at 96-107) the principle of natural justice are not confined to strictly legal tribunals but to every tribunal or body of persons invested with authority to adjudicate upon matters involving civil consequences on citizens. The duo of C.T. Emejuru and E. Jonathan wrote on “Securing Ecology in the Face of Global Environmental Challenges” (at 108-115).

The writers advocate the adoption of ecological security as a new methodology in the field of environmental management, as a way of organizing and structuring theoretical and practical activities and systems.

In the last series of articles, U. Uguru wrote on “Critical Issues in Marginal Oil Fields Development in Nigeria: Challenges for Indigenous Oil Companies”, (at 116125). The writer gave a well illustrated account of ownership, community, environmental, tax and other issues bordering on Marginal Oil Fields in Nigeria. He suggested that marginal operator, the multinational corporations, the finance companies and general public have a role to play to ensure the success of the Federal Government policy

of awarding marginal oil fields to indigenous oil companies in Nigeria. Ogundeji’s piece opined on “Corruption, the Rule of Law and Nigeria’s Nascent Democracy”, (at 126-132) and offers suggestions on how to solve the problems of corruption in Nigeria.

The later segments of the publication comprise of case review, statute reviews, and book review.

The book review by O.O. Guobadia centers on the case of “Captain G.N.H. Asake v The Nigerian Army Council & Anor (133140). This case reviewer argued that while maintaining discipline in the military, there should be adherence to rules that guide Fundamental Human rights of erring military personnel, and that due process should be observed by Military courts and others institutions exercising similar powers over military personnel.

The first statute review was written by the duo of O.O. Guobadia and M. Ikpen, titled “The Trade Mark Act 2004: The Exemplification of Intricate and Overcast Draftsmanship”, (at 141-151). The book reviewers argued that there is need to amend, holistically, the Trademarks Act in order to remove the numerous clumsy sections in the law, to give effect to the 1989 Madrid Protocol relating to the international registration of Trademarks and to bring it in line with acceptable modern Trademark laws and practices. The second statute review is that of C. Achikeh captioned “The New Evidence Act 2011- An Appraisal, at (152-156). In this review, the writer admonished that the success of the new Evidence Act will require the determination and cooperation of all stakeholders- Legal practitioners, the Bench, Academia, and other institutions. The only book review piece is “Law Politics and Development: The Challenges of an Emerging Mega-city: Essays in Honour of Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN” written by O.A. Fatula, at pages 157-167. This, like the instant one, is a review of a collection of articles written by several writers.

I have carefully read, and hereby adopt the comments made by my colleague Dr. Fatula while reviewing the piece.

General appraisal of the publication: The publication under review is a 167-page collection of legal essays and learned articles written by some of the best legal minds in the country. It is a collection of legal writings covering diverse fields of law ranging from practice and procedure, criminal law, intellectual property, labour/employment law, socio-legal issues, evidence law and practice, international environmental law, forensics, banking and finance, administrative law, oil and gas, military law, among others. The publication under review is made-up of legalscholarly contributions from writers of difference geographical, social and cultural orientations/backgrounds. It represents a good evidence of town-gown-classroomcourt-room, as it attracts input from academics, practitioners and inhouse Counsel and legal administrators at the highest cadre of the legal profession (SAN). The book covers a range of typologies of legal essays, ranging from short articles, case review, statute review, book review and others. This represents a good mix of legal scholarship. · • Dr. Yemi Oke is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

‘The principle of natural justice are not confined to strictly legal tribunals but to every tribunal or body of persons invested with authority to adjudicate upon matters involving civil consequences on citizens’

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

36

BAR DISCOURSE

Democracyandsocio-economicimbalanceinNigeria:Theroleoflaw Text of a keynote address by Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) delivered at the Law Week of the Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held at Fourteen Eighty Five Marquee in Benin City, Edo State.

• Continued from last week

Non-justiciable Nature of SocioEconomic Rights OCIO-ECONOMIC rights are required for democracy to thrive in any country (thus giving it socio-economic balance).

These rights are only present on paper in Nigeria and are, thus at best, ineffectual. This is because of the provisions of section 6 (6) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended). Chapter II of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (As Amended) covers sections 13 to 24 and deals with socio-economic rights. In this Chapter, the duties and obligations of the Nigerian Government are clearly stated. For instance, Section 14 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (As Amended) state thus: “14. The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.

It is hereby, accordingly, declared that: (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and (c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

I feel particularly compelled to refer to Section 18 which states thus: 18. Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.

Government shall promote science and technology Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end Government shall as and when practicable provide (a) free, compulsory and universal primary education; (b) free secondary education (c) free university education; and (d) free adult literacy programme.

By reason of the non-justiciable nature of these rights, Nigerians have been tacitly deprived of socioeconomic rights. If Section 14 states that sovereignty belongs to the people but the same section is declared non-justiciable, should we really begin to wonder why there is socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria? The truth is that the nonjusticiability of socio-economic rights absolves the government of its responsibility to the Nigerian populace. These rights are of course guaranteed by democracy but in the absence of an express and effective provision giving life to them, they merely serve aesthetic and cosmetic purposes. In the absence of any concrete provision therefore, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and other vices continue to reign unchecked because the government cannot be sued either for its part in creating them or for its inability to curb their advent. We must borrow a leaf from either South Africa, India or Pakistan. In South Africa, socio-economic rights are justiciable while in India and Pakistan the courts have given such provisions very liberal interpretations and they are therefore justiciable. Civil and political rights cannot be realized in isolation of economic, social and cultural rights. Indeed, these rights form the basis upon which all other rights are predicated. What we need in Nigeria is public interest litigation and the review of the issue of locus standi. In the case of the first

S

generation of rights (fundamental human rights) the Rules of court have relaxed the requirement of standing. (d) Corruption: Corruption is a common word in the vocabulary of most Nigerian citizens. Almost all levels of Nigerian society have been perverted by corruption. It has been described as being endemic and a subculture in Nigeria. Section 98 of the Criminal Code has defined corruption as: “the receiving or offering of some benefits, rewards or inducement to sway or deflect a person employed in the public service from the honest and impartial discharge of his duties”.

However in real application corruption applies to both public and private sectors.

In Nigeria, a major cause of corruption is ethnicity otherwise called tribalism in Nigeria. Friends and kinsmen seeking favors from officials may impose difficult strains on the ethical disposition of the official. Many Nigerians having a kinsman as a government official may see such a government official as holding necessary avenues for their personal gain 10 .

Corruption is one of the major causes of socio-economic imbalance as well as the political problems besetting Nigeria. It is a sickness difficult to cure once it infects.

It is an evil that spreads terror amongst citizens who are its victims and comforts those who use it as a means to acquire wealth.

Despite the government’s concerted efforts to combat corruption through the establishment of various anti-corruption agencies e.g Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), this endemic problem still persists. Lack of continuity and change in policy framework, lack of political will, low level of public enlightenment and the politicization of policies are some of the factors why most of the anticorruption agencies can not completely eradicate or reduce the level of corruption.

Noteworthy also is the sociocultural constraint towards the fight against corruption. Some communities traditionally encourage gratification and this affects the members of such communities in discharging their functions in bureaucratic organizations. Without the eradication of corruption, the future is bleak. Any country with a high level of corruption cannot attain socio-economic balance.

Though corruption is a universal problem, other countries afflicted by it have been able to attain development because they have adequate punitive structures/measures in place. One proposed solution to this endemic problem is for an overall social re-orientation through public enlightenment programmes and campaigns to build up a national consciousness against corruption in the minds of every Nigerian citizen.

The Role of Law in the fight against corruption cannot be overemphasized. The Independence of the Judiciary, Supremacy of judicial pronouncements, equality of citizens before the law and the subjection of all social norms to judicial interpretation will be steps in the right direction. There should be a determined approach towards the elimination of institutional weaknesses that promote corruption in the public sector. Professionalism is an avenue where professional associations can effectively discipline their members by the withdrawal of practising licences.

The fear of withdrawal of licences

are best imagined. In Nigeria, about 51.6% of the population live on less than a dollar per day10. This however is the lot of many Nigerians.

The challenges of mass illiteracy in Nigeria- BEN ADOGA, Nigerian Pilot, Thursday, June 20, 2013 Press briefing by the statisticiangeneral of the federation/Chief Executive, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale held at the conference room, 5th floor, NBS Headquarters, Central Business District, Abuja on Monday, 13th February, 2012.

Poverty more than any other factor is the greatest effect of socioeconomic imbalance as it breeds angry groups of individuals who are more than ready to do great harm to others. (d) Insurgency

• Gadzama

will not allow professionals employed by organizations to engage in corrupt practices.

3. Socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria; effects.

The current socio-economic problems being experienced in the country could be linked to the long years of military rule, but this is fast becoming a lazy man’s argument. Since the advent of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria in 1999, Nigeria has not fared as well as experts believe it should, economically or socially and this is not entirely the fault of the military; the civilian governments should shoulder their fair share of the blame as well. The effects of socio-economic imbalance are self-evident. They include the following; (a) Illiteracy.

The value of education, in any society, cannot be over-emphasized. It is no secret that the countries with the highest number of educated individuals take the lead in every major organization from the European Union to the United Nations Organisation. In Nigeria, education which is an important factor in economic growth and development8 and which was one of the platforms upon which such a promising country was built, has lost its glamour due to inadequate funding, lack of planning, poor management, lack of infrastructure and poor quality of teachers at all levels, among others, thus leading to the creation of a new group of educated illiterates. It does not help that more and more Nigerians seem inclined to taking the shortcut to success, instead of the patient build-up that education demands.

Formulations and implementation of educational policies in Nigeria Dayo Odukoya, Ph.D Education & Development Consultant ERNWACA, University of Lagos, Nigeria This has further worsened the already fragile security situation in the country. Ethnic, economic and religious militia now hold sway in some parts of the country and while we may not have an ‘Arab Spring’ anytime soon, there is certainly a growing discontent, particularly

among our misinformed youth, some of whom pay less attention to education these days, but many of whom could not even afford basic education, if they were to pay attention to it. Free public education means that knowledge is widely diffused among the people and would go a long way in clearing the ignorance that today’s youth suffer from. Unfortunately, however the rising cost of education in Nigeria, and the non-availability of free education in most parts of Nigeria have combined to ensure that the astronomical number of uneducated Nigerians will not be significantly reduced anytime soon. The increasing number of uneducated and unemployed Nigerians is alarming and should be a major cause for worry.

About 56 million Nigerians are believed to be illiterate 9. In the North in particular, the situation is critical and the region lags behind the rest of Nigeria in this regard. What does an uneducated, unemployed person think about? I am afraid we are starting to find out. (b) High Rate of Unemployment It is rather ironic that while Nigeria continues to post impressive financial figures, majority of its citizens live in abject poverty. To cut a long story short, Nigeria has grown richer without making majority of Nigerians any richer. Jobs have suddenly become scarce or totally unavailable. Unemployed people quite naturally flirt with poverty and it does not take too long for a life of crime to beckon. It appears as though the Nigerian population is growing at a rate much faster than the country’s ability to create jobs. When illiteracy and unemployment marry as in the case of husband and wife, the children they gave birth to will certainly include but not limited to poverty, riots, insurgencies and kidnapping. (c) Poverty Poverty is every government’s greatest fear. It is a situation in which an individual lives on less than $1.00 (One dollar) per day. A dollar as we know exchanges for N160.00 (One Hundred and Sixty Naira). The horrors of such a state

This is a logical consequence of socio-economic imbalance in any country. The ‘have-nots’ mobilize against the ‘haves’, who are represented by the government and other affluent personalities. Insurgency is said to occur when individuals take up arms against the state. This has occurred in quite a number of countries like Libya and Egypt with tragic consequences. It nearly occurred in England as well but was unsuccessful due to the fact that impoverished individuals constitute the minority. In a country like Nigeria where the “have-nots” far outnumber the “haves”, coordinated insurgencies have proved to be quite damaging. The activities of the Boko Haram sect as well as the Niger-Delta Militants not too long ago have given us a glimpse of what we would experience if all uneducated, unemployed and impoverished Nigerians were to take up arms against the government.

Grappling with the sectional insurgents has been tasking enough for the government with lots of collateral damage in-between. This is a major effect of socio-economic imbalance. There was a placard at a riot some years back which read: Very soon the poor shall have nothing to eat except the rich. I hope it never comes to that. (e) Criminality Another inevitable fall-out of socio-economic imbalance is criminality. For individuals who are unemployed, illiterate and poor and who are unwilling to create jobs for themselves, a life of crime offers succour, because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

It is in this life of crime that they can harass and inflict terror on the affluent minority, while keeping body and soul together. As far back as 2006, our crime rates were shocking with a healthy population in prisons11. The activities of criminals in turn, lead to insecurity12 and commercial stagnation (most business ventures close on time for fear of armed robbers). Criminality is certainly the scariest of the effects of socio-economic imbalance. (f) International embarrassment Countries suffering from socioeconomic imbalance are regularly at the fore-front of embarrassing international incidents. This is because of the inadvertent exportation of their socio-economic imbalance to other countries.

International Centre for Prison Studies - World Prison Brief.

12 Rising crime wave in Nigeria: US laments poor security response.

Vanguard Newspaper March 15, 2013.

• To be continued next week

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

37

NATIONAL BAR

‘Nigeria’s obligation under the Rome Statute’ Amid the dust generated by protests by Nigerian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) against President Goodluck Jonathan for not arresting Sudanese President Omar Al- Bashir and handing him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution during his visit to Nigeria, Chukwuemeke Eze examines the implications of this action on Nigeria’s obligations under the Rome Statute and Genocide Convention • Continued from last week

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HE Rome Statute (Ratification and Jurisdiction) Bill, 2006 was passed by both houses of the National Assembly, but was not harmonised for assent by the President before the end of the last civilian administration in May 2007. The bill is to be resubmitted by the Ministry of Justice, which committed to resubmit the bill as soon as possible during the 10th anniversary of the Rome Statute.

Nigeria recently joined the bandwagon of AU members who chose to obey the 2009 AU Resolution not to cooperate with ICC to arrest and surrender Al-Bashir should he visit their states. Al-Bashir on the 15th of July attended the AU Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other related Infectious Diseases (ORID) in Abuja and despite calls from the civil societies and international communities to arrest and surrender Al-Bashir Government of Nigeria refused to do so but rather choose to abide by the AU Resolution.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained why AlBashir was not arrested in Nigeria. It said by the statute of the African Union (AU), he was supposed to enjoy immunity like other delegates. It also said Al-Bashir was in the country under the auspices of the AU and the nation owes an obligation to respect the decision of the continental body. The Ministry said the Federal Government decided to stick to the 2009 resolution of the AU urging the UN Security Council to defer action against Al-Bashir.

For the records and avoidance of doubt, Nigeria’s position in this regard is consistent with the AU Assembly decision adopted at the 13th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government in Sirte, Libya on 3rd July, 2009, as it concerns President al-Bashir of The Sudan.

In this regard, it is worthy to recall that following the lack of action on the request by the African Union to the UN Security Council to defer the proceedings initiated against President al- Bashir in accordance with Article 16 of the Rome Statute of the ICC, the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government decided inter-alia that the …AU Member States shall not cooperate pursuant to the provisions of Article 98 of the Rome Statute of the ICC relating to immunities, for the arrest and surrender of President Omar Al-Bashir of The Sudan…

The AU decision further reiterated its request to the UN Security Council and appropriate response is still being awaited to-date. As a responsible member of the AU, Nigeria has a duty to take full cognisance of this decision in the overall interest of Africa.

However, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the auspices of the Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC) had earlier approached a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order compelling President Goodluck Jonathan to arrest AlBashir the minute he steps foot in the country and surrender him to the trial chamber of the ICC. Also, a group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) called on the Federal Government to “immediately arrest” Al-Bashir. The organisation noted that: Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, and as such, has international legal obligations to ensure that this country does not become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of crimes under international law like Al-Bashir.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation stated: The government risks sanctions by the UN Security Council if it fails to arrest President Al-Bashir and surrender him to the ICC at The Hague. President Jonathan now has a rare opportunity to assist the ICC and support the demand by the international community for justice for the victims of genocide and war crimes in Darfur. Ignoring the ICC’s arrest warrants will have huge legal ramifications for the country, and it is therefore in Nigeria’s national interest to act in this case, by arresting President Al-Bashir and surrendering him to the ICC to face fair trial for the allegations against him.

Other civil groups also condemned the Federal Government for the state reception accorded Al-Bashir in his arrival in Nigeria and called for his immediate arrest and surrender to the ICC. At a press conference under the aegis of Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC), the Chair, Steering Committee, Chino Obiagwu, warned that: Failure of Nigeria to do so will be a brazen disregard of its international treaty obligation under Article 89 of the Rome Statute of the ICC which it has ratified since 2001.

NCICC noted that “such failure also undermines the pursuit of international justice, peace and security which are the objectives of the ICC”, warning that: it amounted to grave diplomatic blunder for the Jonathan ad-

ministration to invite and give full ceremonial reception to a war crime indictee in disregard of millions of victims of Darfur atrocities and their families, some of them Nigerian citizens who are still crying for justice.

Nigeria as a state Party to the Rome Statute has obligation to arrest and surrender Al-Bashir to ICC. The AU decision not to cooperate with the ICC does not defeat ICC States Parties’ obligations to arrest or surrender under Article 89 of the Rome Statute. Obligations cannot be created subsequent to an ICC request simply to avoid cooperation with the ICC just as AU did, hence Nigeria should have chosen to co-operate with ICC that obeying AU Resolution on Al-Bashir.

One of the key issues to this debate is whether Al-Bashir can even be legally prosecuted considering historical deference to immunity under customary international law.

In issuing the arrest warrant, Pre-Trial Chamber I expressed the view that Al-Bashir’s status as a sitting head of state does not grant him immunity before the ICC. However, the African Union has asserted that Al-Bashir is protected by immunity. The question is: what is the basis of AlBashir’s immunity and is it valid against the charge of genocide before the ICC? However, Security Council Resolution 1593 alters the equation. Despite not being a party to the Rome Statute, Sudan became subject to ICC authority once the Security Council referred the matter to the ICC, stating that; the Government of Sudan and all other parties to the conflict in Darfur, shall cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor.

The ICC authority is governed by the terms of the Rome Statute; by referring the situation in Darfur to the ICC, the Security Council essentially made Sudan subject to prosecution under the terms of the Rome Statute for the Darfur conflict. As such, Al-Bashir’s immunity as head of state has been suspended.

The issue of immunity and Al-Bashir’s arrest is a far greater battle for the ICC to fight so long as Al-Bashir remains an incumbent President. Under Resolution 1593, Sudan has the obligation to “cooperate fully” with the ICC, meaning the government of Sudan should surrender Al-Bashir of its own accord. This is highly unlikely scenario considering Sudan still does not recognize ICC authority and would clearly be resistant to arresting its own head of state. Since the ICC lacks a related police force, the only other viable alternative is to rely on its member states to effectuate the arrest. Here, the immunities question begins anew because the question is no longer about immunity before an international tribunal but about immunity between states.

On the surface, Al-Bashir’s travel plans do not seem to have been hindered much by the arrest warrants issued by the ICC; since his indictment, he has made trips to Chad, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Qatar. The Chad trip stands as the most significant because it is the first time al-Bashir has visited a member state of the ICC. By not acting upon the arrest warrants during al-Bashir’s visit, Chad defied international law and its own treaty obligations via the Rome Statute. Yet Chad is not the only gracious host on the aforementioned list to violate international law by hosting a leader accused of genocide. Ethiopia and Zimbabwe are both parties to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and state parties to the Genocide Convention have a legal obligation to implement the ICC arrest warrants.

As the situation stands with the Rome Statute and current customary international law, Al Bashir is immune from arrest by a foreign state so long as he is a sitting head of state. One factor that could possibly change this calculus is the Genocide Convention. This obligation stems from the holding in Application of the Convention on the Prevention and the Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia v. Serbia), where the International Court of Justice held that states parties to the Genocide Convention have an obligation to take affirmative action to prevent and punish genocide. The ICJ analyzed Article VI of the Genocide Convention which provides: Persons charged with genocide … shall be tried by a competent tribunal of the State in the territory of which the act was committed, or by such international penal tribunal as may have jurisdiction with respect to those Contracting Parties which shall have accepted its jurisdiction.

Of note is the finding of the ICJ that prevention and punishment, while linked, are separate obligations. Thus, the responsibility of contracting parties to the Genocide Convention to implement the ICC arrest warrants, regardless of their membership status in the ICC, is tied to both their obligation to prevent genocide, as well as their obligation to punish. In other words, the Genocide Convention would overcome the customary international law obstacle that the Rome Statute alone could not. Thus, states who are parties to both the Genocide Convention

• President Jonathan

and the Rome Statute would be obligated by Art. VI to arrest those accused of genocide by the Prosecutor such as Al-Bashir.

The position of AU requiring AU members not co-operate with ICC to arrest Al-Bashir is another critical issue.

The AU has legal competence to require AU members to not cooperate with ICC under the Constitutive Act of the African Union. Article 9 (g) states: The functions of the Assembly shall be to…give directives to the Executive Council on the management of conflicts, war and other emergency situations and the restoration of peace; and Article 23(2) provides that “any Member State that fails to comply with the decisions and policies of the Union may be subjected to other sanctions”.

However, for States Parties to the Rome Statute, the AU decision not to cooperate with the ICC does not defeat ICC States Parties’ obligations to arrest or surrender under Article 89 of the Rome Statute. Although Article 98 of the Rome Statute prevents the ICC from requesting assistance for arrest or surrender when it would require a state to act inconsistently with its obligations under international law, these obligations cannot be created subsequent to an ICC request simply to avoid cooperation with the ICC. Otherwise, any ICC request for cooperation can be sidestepped by artificially creating a new international obligation which is inconsistent with that request. It is an international law principle that emanated from the Nuremberg Trials after the Second World War that head of state immunity cannot be invoked to avoid prosecution for acts that are condemned as criminal by international law. This principle also finds expression in the Genocide Convention of 1948.

Thus, for States Parties to the Rome Statute, compliance with the AU decision constitutes a material breach of the Rome Statute, as it is only the Security Council that can defer the investigation or prosecution in accordance with Article 16 of the Rome Statute.

Moreover, the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969 (VCLT) prohibits compliance with the AU decision if it would be incompatible with compliance with the Rome Statute. Under Article 18, “State is obliged to refrain from acts which would defeat the object and purpose of a treaty when it has expressed its consent to be bound by the treaty.”

ICC States Parties have consented to be bound by the Rome Statute. The object and purpose of the Rome Statute is “to put an end to impunity.” However, by complying with the AU decision and giving it priority, ICC States Parties are protecting rather than bringing Al-Bashir to justice. Thus, ICC States Parties that refuse to comply with the Rome Statute are thereby breaching their obligations under it.

Nigeria, by violating its obligation to multi-lateral treaties like the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention with impunity, risks losing its chance of becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council when the reform of democratisation eventually berths at the United Nations. If this happens as speculated by many human rights pundits, this will be too high a price to pay for our diplomatic delinquency.

•Chukwuemeka Eze is the principal solicitor of Eze & Associates in Ikeja, Lagos.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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LAW REPORT

‘Courts have power to formulate issues for parties where justice demands’

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Date: April 19, 2013 SC. 135/2004, 2013(4) LEDLR-16 Before their Lordships

CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL CHUKWUMA ENEH IBRAHIM TANKO MUHAMMAD SULEIMAN GALADIMA NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA STANLEY SHENKO ALAGOA BETWEEN ALHAJI RASAKI ABIOLA EKUNOLA

APPELLANT

AND CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

RESPONDENTS

ALHAJI SAIDU MOHAMMED (Director of Personnel, CBN) SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA •Continued from last week

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HE appellant has complained of not having been arraigned before appropriate standing Committees of the Central Bank of Nigeria by the bank i.e. 1st respondent but before adhoc committees that have been constituted by a bizarre procedure contrived by the 2nd respondent against which the appellant has complained as a clear usurpation and abuse of power of the 1st respondent and should never have been held as “proper” by the two lower courts.

The appellant has put the respondents to the burden of failing to identify one by one how the said sixteen grounds attacked in these respects are of mixed law and facts or facts simplicita and that in consequence of failing to do so as the onus is by law placed on the respondents, would without more, he has urged, result in overruling the preliminary objection and upholding the said grounds as competent grounds in law. See: Briggs v. Chief Land Officer (supra) & Ogbechie v.

Onochie (supra). The foregoing submission if I may interject here has showed a fundamental flaw of misconception of the appellant’s case in this appeal. The onus is clearly on him to show that the said grounds are of law in order to ignite the jurisdiction of this court.

See Section 233(3) (supra).

Finally, the court is urged to dismiss the objection with costs as lacking in merit and to hear the appeal on the merits.

The appellant by a strange twist in his submission has urged in the alternative that the court should stay proceedings and give directives as will best meet the justice of the case where it is found that all or any of these grounds are of fact or mixed law and fact and has to that effect urged the court to seriously consider following the approach in Lawson Jackson v. Shell Petroleum Development Co. Ltd. (2002) 7 SC (Pt.11) 112 at 120 - 121 as supported by Order 10 Rule 1(l) of the Rules of the court. And that this has to be so in view of the fact that an appeal with leave is a matter that comes within order 6 Rule 2(1) of the Rules of court. From the forgoing temporary aberrations, there can be doubt that the appellant with respect having departed from concentrating on the nature of his case and the applicable law has gone too casual over the serious discussion of the competency

of his grounds of appeal vis-a-vis the provisions of Section 233(3) (supra) and has totally derailed in submitting that the law governing leave to appeal is a matter under Order 6 Rule 2(1). I think that the appellant in the exercise of rambling about in presenting his case in the appeal has thus committed unpardonable error in law in so submitting. I can find no connection between the purport of the provisions of order 6 Rule 2(1) of the Rules of this court and questions raised as to the competency of the said sixteen grounds under Section 233(3) (Supra).

The instant objection as canvassed by the parties herein (in their respective briefs of argument and oral submissions before this court strikes at the heart of this appeal. It simply means that where the objection is sustained it will leave only ground 7 in the Amended Notice of Appeal as the only competent ground in law to sustain the appeal as the rest of the grounds as urged by the respondents being ex facie bad and incompetent in law have to be struck out as well as the issues for determination erected thereupon. Although it is trite that a single ground of law is sufficient to sustain a Notice of Appeal in an appeal; also, see: Niger Construction Ltd. v.

Okugbeni (1987) 2 NSCC (Vol. 18) 1258 per Nnaemeka Agu JSC. I think that in the sense of the instant preliminary objection it is vital and appropriate in this regard to set out the seventeen grounds of appeal as I have clone above with their prolix particulars of errors in law, even then for ease of reference and more so as the substantive ground of every ground of appeal has to be read and considered conjointly with their respective particulars of error to ascertain the real issue or complaint as encompassed in the said ground. In this regard the court is not to place undue reliance or emphasis on the form or in the manner the ground is couched as the gravamen or form of a ground of appeal for purposes of determining whether a ground is a ground of law or mixed law and facts or facts alone goes beyond the mere words used in couching or preferring the ground to the more serious question of identifying the real issue or the core of the complaint as encompassed in the ground. Clearly It is the real issue or complaint centrally encompassed in a ground on the backdrop of its particulars that decides whether the ground is one of law

or not. Where, in short, the ground raises a complaint on an issue of law based upon accepted or admitted facts it is a ground of law requiring no leave of court but where the complaint or real issue is founded on disputed or unascertained facts then it is a ground of mixed law and fact requiring leave of court. See Section 233(3) (supra), and N.N.S. Co. Ltd. vs. Establishment Sima of Vaduz (1990) 7 NWLR (Pt.164) 526. The process of determining the substantive complaint of a ground as in this appeal has been accentuated by the fact, as can be seen from established authorities that the distinction between a ground of law and mixed law and fact may at times be so blurred or thin and so, difficult to ascertain with relative application of the established guiding principles as per settled authorities on the question. lt is a matter that goes beyond a ground of appeal being simply labeled without more as a ground of law by the appellant. A hard scrutiny of the case as per Ehinlanwo v. Oke & Ors. (2008) 6 - 7 SC (Pt.1) 123 has established that a ground of law arises where the court has misunderstood the law or has misapplied the law to the proved and admitted facts. Against the backdrop of the foregoing guidelines I now go on to examine the outstanding eleven grounds of appeal in this matter and in that regard I adopt the three categorization of these grounds of appeal as in the manner the appellant has attempted to tackle them in his brief of argument that is to say as I have adumbrated above: (A).Ground 1. The complaint in this regard is that the judgment of the court below amongst other reasons is perverse; being perverse necessarily will involve examining facts and evidence ignored by the court or that the court has taken into account irrelevant matters and has based its decision thereon or has misconceived the thrust of the case of the appellant and as borne out by the particulars of the ground. In the instant ground the particulars have clearly raised the question of improper appraisal or evaluation or assessment of the facts in the pleadings and evidence.

See: Udengwu v. Uzuegbu & Ors. (2003) 110 L.R.C.N. 1702. Having thus raised an issue of mixed law and fact it is therefore incompetent for not having firstly sought and obtained leave of court. See section 233(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, and Nwadike & Ors. v. lbekwe & Ors. (1987) 11-12 SCNJ 72 at 98 - 99; (1987) 4 NWLR 718.

(B) As regards Grounds 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 lumped together and argued by appellant to which with respect I add grounds 5 and 16 apparently for no reason left out of this class. There is a thread of complaint traversing all these grounds as alleged by the appellant and they, each of them, have again showed on the aggregate a failure to apply the law to the unproved and unascertained facts in the pleadings and evidence on the record vis-a-vis Order 12 Rule 3 of the Federal High court Civil Procedure Rules 2000 and section 137 0f the Evidence Act. These grounds have unequivocally raised questions of appraisal or evaluation of the facts and evidence before the trial court as affirmed by the court below. There can be no doubt therefore, that the single complaint running through these grounds has raised a question of mixed law and fact and so these grounds have required leave of court to be competent. In other words, these grounds are incompetent for want of leave of court as prescribed by Section 233(3) (supra). See: Arowolo v.

Ademula (1991) 8 NWLR (Pt. 212)

753 at 764 and Nwadike v. lbekwe & Ors” (supra).

(C) Grounds 8, 9 and 10: simply put the appellant has raised these grounds alleging that by not having been arraigned before the appropriate Central Disciplinary Committees of the Bank by the Bank itself (i.e. the respondent) but before illegal Committees (not the appropriate Standing Disciplinary Committees) of any consequence set up by the machinations of the 2nd respondent in his pursuit to force out the appellant from his employment, the appellant has been denied a fair hearing by default and that the court below has even gone ahead to make the case for the 2nd respondent to justify the same and so that Exhibits E, F, G, L, L1, & J not having come from proper authority the case built thereupon on the facts both oral and documentary has not been decided on the proper evidence before the court. The court is urged to scrutinize the facts and evidence all over again. He relies on Garba v. Unimaid (supra) a case he has misconstrued, with respect, as applying to the facts of this case. It is my view that he has thus raised questions of facts requiring appraisal and evaluation on the record before the court below to find out whether there has been in fact such a denial and so, the grounds do not contravene Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution in relation to the appellant; consequently making it incumbent on the appellant to seek leave of court under Section 233(3) (supra). Besides Section 36(1) (supra) arises where the denial of fair hearing has been charged against a court or tribunal established by law and not before domestic or standing/ adhoc tribunals raised departmentally by the parties as the 1st respondent here. See: Bakare v.

LSCSC (1992) 8 NWLR (Pt.262) 641 per Nnemeka Agu JSC. The question here therefore cannot be whether the said section has been contravened with regard to the appellant as there is no basis for so conjuring and so, as there is no basis for raising the same as the grounds cannot be raised as of right being of mixed law and fact requiring leave of court under section 233 (3) (supra). In sum these grounds have deviated from the issues on the pleadings and evidence on the record and cannot therefore be allowed to stand as grounds of law appealable as of right.

Having struck out ail the grounds of appeal but ground 7, it is trite law that the issues for determination ten of them excepting issue No.7 raised in the instant appeal are for not having any legal basis on which to stand incompetent and are hereby struck out. In that regard, specifically issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 raised in the appellant’s brief of argument having become otiose are hereby struck out and so also ail the arguments

proffered as based on these issues, they also are hereby struck out being incompetent. See: Nonye v.

Anyichie (2000) NWLR (Pt.39) 66 at 75, Attorney General Bendel State v. Aideyan (1989) 4 NWLR (Pt.118) 646, Adelaja v. Fanoiki (1998) 2 NWLR (Pt. 131) 137, Ugo v Obiekwe & Anor. (1989) 1 NWLR (Pt.99) 36. I am now left with issue seven to examine in this appeal.

Before then let me observe that in fact the appellant has raised no issues for determination from grounds twelve to seventeen inclusive and the consequence in law is settled. He has acted completely by inadvertence in regard to them.

They are therefore, in the circumstances, deemed to have been abandoned and for the avoidance of doubt each of them is hereby struck out. See: Niger Construction Ltd. v. Okugbeni (supra).

The remaining ground is Ground 7 and the issue raised therefrom is as follows: ‘Whether the learned Justices of the court below were right on the facts of the case when they held that ‘the complaint of tack of fair hearing by the trial Judge has not been made out and/or that the learned trial judge did not breach the principle of fair hearing in not calling upon counsel to address him on the two issues formulated suo motu’.

This issue relates to ground 7 of the ground of appeal.”

The appellant in his brief has in regard to this issue challenged the propriety of the trial court in formulating this issue suo motu and deciding it without inviting addresses from the parties to this appeal particularly the appellant and it has been strenuously contended that the appellant’s right to a fair hearing has been seriously compromised/violated thus vitiating the entire trial.

In the main, the appellant’s case in this respect has made a heavy weather of the fact that not having been invited by the trial court as affirmed by the court below in formulating of the two issues raised suo motu by it and decided them has denied him of the opportunity of expatiating on any areas of his case with respect to the burden of proof and the standard of proof as alleged have been placed on him on the pleadings and by section 136 of the Evidence Act. The appellant is particularly irked that having placed sufficient materials to show who has power to discipline him and who actually has wrongfully disciplined him in the circumstances both on the pleadings and evidence, oral as well as documentary on this question that yet the trial court as affirmed by the court below has wrongly found that he has not discharged the burden of proof arising from the state of the pleadings nor has his case attained the standard of proof on the overall evidence before the court to sustain the same.

•To be continued next week

LEGAL JOKES Question: The tooth fairy, an honest lawyer, and an expensive, dishonest lawyer are in the same room. There is a $500 bill on a table in the room. When they leave, the money is gone. Who took it?

Answer: Since there is no such thing as the tooth fairy or an honest lawyer, the answer is obvious.

Question: What can a goose do that a duck can’t do that a lawyer won’t do?

Answer: Stick his bill up his ass.

A doctor and a lawyer were attending a cocktail party when the doctor was approached by a man

who asked advice on how to handle his ulcer. The doctor mumbled some medical advice, then turned to the lawyer and remarked, “I never know how to handle the situation when I’m asked for medical advice during a social function. Is it acceptable to send a bill for such advice?”

The lawyer replied that it was certainly acceptable to do so. So, the next day, the doctor sent the ulcer- stricken man a bill. The lawyer also sent one to the doctor.

Question: What do you call parachuting lawyers?

Answer: Skeet.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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ABUJA REVIEW NEWS

•From left: Chief Imam of Abuja Sheik Musa Mohammed, President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and FCT CAN Chairman Rev, Israel Akanji during the Sallah homage to the President by FCT communities at the State House, Abuja.

•Secretary, Transport Secretariat Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jonathan Achara Ivoke (middle); Chairman of the occasion, Moses Siloko Siasia (left) and Managing Director, Harbour Auto Centre Bonaventure Eneh during the commissioning of the Auto Harbour Centre in Abuja

PHOTOS AKIN OLADOKUN

• Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second left); Chairman Grand Towers Abuja Hon Nze Chidi Duru and Managing Director, Grand Towers Leisure, Ms. Laure Lloyd-Lister(left) during a visit to the Grand Towers in Abuja •Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Joseph Bagobiri (right), Guest of Honour John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Managing Director of Platinum Mortgage Bank Mr Ndubuisi Mbaka (left) and his wife Ngozi at the opening of Platinum Mega Mall in Abuja

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From leftL: First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, Chairman Visa Phone, Jim Ovia, and Chairman, Forte Oil Femi Otedola during a condolence visit on the death of the First Lady’s mother at the State House Abuja.

• Nigerian Ambassador to United States of America Prof. Ade Adefuye (middle), Mr Kenneth Imansuangbon and students of Pace Setters Schools in Abuja during a visit to the American Embassy in Abuja.

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), John Obinna Chukwu; General Counsel, FCT Administration, Ima Okpengete; birthday ‘girl’ and Minister of State for FCT Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; Secretary Area Council Services Secretariat Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan Gwagwa and Director of Establishment and Training, FCT Ad- •President Goodluck Jonathan welcoming the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria Sudirman ministration, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed, at a birthday reception organised by the aides and staff Haseng and other Muslim ambassadors during Ramadan visit to the State House Abuja. of the Office of the Minister

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ABUJA REVIEW

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O you long for the fresh smell and touch of newlyminted naira notes, but can’t find any?

Do not despair. If you live in Abuja or its vicinity, Dei-Dei market is the answer.

New notes are scarce and that is why questions are often asked by some concerned Nigerians regarding what could be responsible at the banks. Clearly, and going by the volumes of money displayed by these hawkers at various locations in the FCT, it has nothing to do with Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy to engender a cash-less society.

In the past few months, many have wondered why banks no longer pay customers with new notes. Some have even suggested that they are probably no longer being produced due to the cash-less policy. However, findings by this correspondent have shown that these notes will continually remain scarce at the banks for as long as those hawking them on the streets have access to them through a special arrangement with some banking officials. No doubt, these hawkers make huge profits from the sale as many Nigerians rush to buy from them.

For example, at the Dei Dei market, these crisp notes are usually on display like normal wares. The hawkers usually stand at strategic positions along the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway. They have a special way of attracting customers as they flip their fingers in the air suggestive of the traditional way of counting or spraying money, to pass their message to customers. They can also be identified with their polythene bags or the common Bagco bags which are often filled with new notes.

Though they do not have specific work routine, these hawkers, mostly agile youths, are usually seen on the road between 6am and 6pm.

Abuja Review sought to find out who the major customers are, where, and how the notes were procured, what the exchange rate is and the challenges thereof.

One of the traders, Biliya popularly called Billy from Katsina State, explained that the job is tasking but quite rewarding con-

T

HE Northern Youth Development Initiative (NYDI) in Abuja has praised the Senate and the House of Representatives for asking for the redeployment of Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu. According to a statement issued by NYDI Publicity Secre-

•Dei-Dei

Reporter tracks new naira notes boom in market From Faith Yahaya

sidering the percentage they charge on the notes depending the denominations and amount to be exchanged.

He spoke in pidgin English, noting: “You no fit get N100 new notes with N1000, we no dey do am. Na only from N5000 we dey change if na N100 you want. Anything wey small pass N5000, we no dey change. For N50 too, the least one can get is N5000 because it makes a bundle and to get it, an extra N1500 is paid, i.e. you give me N6500 old note to get N5000 new note. ”As for N20 and N10, the least one can get is N1000 and to get it, one has to forfeit N300. One pays N1300 to get N20 or N10 new note worth N10000.

For N5, one gets a bundle which

is N500 for N750.

Vouching for the authenticity of the notes, Billy said: “No fake o.

This is real money. E get number and na from bank. Na correct money. People no dey complain, if they complain, we no go dey do this business again. We never get experience of fake money. Police no dey disturb us because my Oga don register for CBN and we dey exchange dollar too. The registration is for both dollars and new naira notes”.

Furthermore, he explained that it was not in his place to know where his boss gets the news notes from, noting that as far as the chain of supply is not broken, there was nothing to worry about.

One of the customers who offered to speak with Abuja Review at the market, Mr. Olugbenga Ilori, justified his preference for the notes es-

pecially when attending a party. ”I must say that most people love new notes. It confers a kind of prestige on one. Basically, it places you in a status and boosts your ego.

While you are spending it, you are excited.

“It is unfortunate that it is scarce in banks. They don’t give unless you are a recognised customer with fat bank account with them.”

Also speaking on the love for new notes, Tijani Ahmed said, “In as much as I love new notes, I don’t think I will go the extra mile to get it. New or old note, the most important thing is the value. If the value does not depreciate no problem.”

Temitope Ajewole, who also admitted her love for new notes, said: “New notes make one feel good because it is fresh from the company and not many dirty hands

would have touched it. The feeling that it is clean and new is okay for me even if it is N5.

“Take, for instance, if I have new and old note in my wallet, I would prefer to spend the old one and keep the new one simply because it makes me feel good.”

Whether these notes make people feel good or not, a big question still hang over the scarcity of the notes in banks. While the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Ltd, the organisation saddled with the responsibility of the production of bank notes and coins, has declared an increase in the volume of production from 2 million notes per week at the initial stages to over 40 million notes per week, it is clear that these notes are hardly dispensed to those who need them at the banks. It is still a mystery that they somehow flow on the streets and traded like any common wares.

Group praises National Assembly From Gbenga Omokhunu

tary, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, the group said: “we took these steps as a welcome development especially coming at this point

in time when commonsense has taken leave of those we considered to be elders and leaders from that part of the country.

“We highly wish to commend the well thought out ideas by

Comrade Timi Frank in his open letter to Mr. President over the current crisis going on in Rivers State and the potential spill over to the rest of the country.

“We also wish to commend the bold steps by both the House of Representative and the Senate in their unbiased resolutions aimed at creating peace and harmony in the state most especially the directive to the Inspector General of Police to immediately redeploy the Rivers State Police Commis-

sioner for his complicity in the political imbroglio.

“In as much as we believe in the saying that “there is no smoke without fire” we wish to also urge good leaders from that part of the country to as a matter of urgency, call on the GDI and their sponsors to come plain and publicly apologise to the four Northern State Governor that were harassed recently when the paid visit to their colleague in River state.”

FCT donates to the deaf

T

•Little Halima Sani with her mat during the Eid-El-Fitr prayers in Abuja

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has donated an 18- setter bus and a grant of N2.5 million to the Association of Deaf in Nigeria, FCT chapter.

The presentation was made by the Minister of State for the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide to the leaders of the group.

She said that, the fact that a Nigerian has a disability does not diminish his or her worth to the country or has less to offer. All that is needed is a little assistance to realise individual potential. She said:”We in the FCT Administration want to encourage and appreciate you, we expect you to be the best that you can be and will continue to give you all the support that we can give as an administration and we know that you will

From Grace Obike

support this administration as well.

“We know that as we grow as a territory, we need to focus more not only on the deaf but disabled in general, I will be liaising with the secretary education to see how we can improve their facilities.”

She added that, “Enlightenment are coming, policies are evolving and we are seeing the need to provide for those with special needs.

“As it is, the territory already has a special slot for them in employment and presently has quite a few.

In terms of training, I believe that we need to increase them in our training and empowerment programme so they can learn to be selfsufficient and learn to provide for themselves also.”

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ENERGY

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THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Since the discovery of the false subsidy claim made by some marketers two years ago, the Federal Government has adopted measures to enthrone transparency in payment. But the process, marketers believe, is cumbersome and costing them a lot, SAMSON UNAMKA reports.

When will govt get the subsidy maths right?

I

T all has to do with swiftness of the Federal Ministry of Finance in handling the matter. If it acts swiftly, it will avert a fuel crisis. If it does not, danger looms. Why? Because of the payment of the backlog of arrears owed oil marketing companies and importing companies.

All the ministry needs to do, experts say, is to start complying with the 2010 guideline for the administration of the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF), which stipulates payment within 45 days of submitting complete documents by importers to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Downstream sector watchers were unanimous in their contentions that the enthronement of a culture of delayed payments to genuine importers in the last three years has put many marketers’operations in jeopardy.

Marketers are groaning under the huge accumulated bank interest charges which the loans sourced from these financial institutions to import products continue to attract.

The foreign exchange differential losses which these marketers are also incurring owing to the government’s snail speed approach to effecting payment is equally mind boggling.

Industry sources last week estimated that over N145 billion is outstanding to marketers and some of the overdue payments are for 2011 and 2012 and some N50 billion as outstanding for 2013.

While the ministry has continued to justify the delay in payment to its resolve to painstakingly verify claims to ensure marketers’ transparency in the wake of the claims claims paid to some unscrupulous companies, observers argue that the approach is hurting importers badly and could be counter productive in the long run.

Most marketers believe that it is wrong for the ministry of finance to hide under the guise of forensic auditing and thorough verification of claims as justification for these delays which have drained them of resources to do their business, made them to incur avoidable huge bank charges and put their credibility and credit rating on the line.

The situation is not that many marketers are finding it difficult to source for funds to import products even when they win allocation from PPPRA, their infrastructure which cost billions of naira, are idle and most of the affected firms are set to reduce their workforce. The

A

•Fuel supply threatened over marketers’claim companies’inability to source funds to import product could throw the nation into another fuel crisis which a top major marketing company executive last Friday said was inevitable.

Ordinarily, if the ministry and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) comply with the 2010 Guidelines for the administration of PSF, the nation should not find itself in a situation of endless delay in payment for products imported.

The PSF import cycle as laid out in the guidelines states that once a marketer is issued a licence to import products by PPPRA, the marketer imports the volume allocated it, and delivers to a depot approved by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); the product is verified and confirmed by PPPRA, DPR and government appointed external auditors.

The marketer will then submit complete and verified documents to PPPRA which, after verification and batching, issues a Sovereign Debt Statement (SDS) to the marketer. The marketer goes ahead to submit the SDS to CBN, which then issues a Sovereign Debt Note (SDN) to the marketer. Going by the guidelines, the marketer is to get value for the SDN within 45 days of submission of complete and verified documents to PPPRA. Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, (MOMAN), Obafemi Olawore, while fielding questions on a programme on Channels Television, said the government had consistently failed to adhere to this guideline even when the importers/marketers have consistently kept their own side of the bargain.

He wondered why the ministry only pays whenever marketers cry out and threaten to discontinue importation.

Truly so. By August last year, many marketers had discontinued importation of products to protest the accumulated arrears owed them by the government.

At issue was some N100 billion which the Minister of Finance and the Co-coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was yet to sign off on. Though N888 billion had been earmarked for fuel subsidy in that year’s budget, President Goodluck Jonathan was to later request for an additional N161 billion three weeks to the end of the year which was given expedite approval by the National Assembly, bringing

•A queue at the filling station. the total subsidy figure for 2012 to N1.042 trillion naira.

Out of the N888 billion initially allocated, some N500 billion had been paid before mid-2012 for the 2011 outstanding. The accumulated arrears due to the oil marketing and trading firms by then had risen to N179 billion.

Following subtle threat to scale down on importation, the ministry paid N79billion, leaving a balance of N100billion.

Before long, another fuel crisis started rearing its head; in parts of the country and Abuja, long queues at the gas stations resurfaced. It spread to Lagos, the nation’s commercial nerve centre.

Initially, the official line was that the development followed vandalism of the major supply channel the pipelines at Arepo in Ogun State.

It was not long before it became a common knowledge that it was only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a few marketers that were importing products.

Most marketers halted further importation and pressure was brought on government to pay the N100 billion outstanding.

To reverse the trend, Mrs OkonjoIweala, who had warned earlier that she would not be stampeded into paying the marketers because she was embarking on forensic auditing

Firms partner on oil and gas products

XEL Enterprise Systems Limited and SAP comput ing have partnered to facilitate the growth of the oil and gas sector.

The deal has resulted in the provision of solutions that would help stakeholders achieve an appreciable level of safety in the sector.

In a statement, the firm said the solutions are not only produced

by SAP, but would enable players to enjoy acompettive advantage, and further encourage industry's

growth.

A Director of Axel, Mr Chude Osiegbu, said SAP solutions would help in facilitating environmental, health and safety of the workers, Others are enhancing visibility, insight and decision making processes, improving efficiency across mission-critical processes, extending enterprise managemement programmes to various departments in oil and gas firms, and ensuring implementation of best practices standards in the sector.

He said: “SAP delivers provide

systems that help oil and gas operators achieve transparency across their operations, improve efficiency in wells production, predict cash flows to drive collections, risk management, and short-term borrowing, as well as accelerating decision making with mobile solutions.”

SAP Partner Manager Account Manager,Ayokanmi Ayuba, using SAP ERP suite in providing business solutions was a step to organisational success.

of the claims, quickly made more payments. This development also led to the President requesting for additional N161 billion appropriation from the National Assembly to enable the government to meet the marketers’ request.

But the normalcy which the nation has witnessed over the months appears to be under threat again.

By mid-June, this year, the marketers’discomfort with another round of overdue payment from the subsidy support fund had come into the open.

Indeed, the marketers, who import

close to 70 per cent of the nation’s fuel requirement, are threatening to halt importation if something was not done about their predicament soon.

At issue again is another N100 billion outstanding for the first two quarters of the year. While the marketers acknowledge that they have been paid twice this year, the payments, according to them, were for last year’s outstanding.

Following their outcry, the ministry released about N48 billion to about 25 oil marketers to cover what it said was the verifiable claims.

Fed Govt yet to meet 13GWs target

D

ESPITE the rise in private sector investment in energy, the Federal Government has yet to meet the estimated power supply target of 13 giga watts(GWs).

The Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy Department, Nigerian Liquifield and Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Ezekiel Adeniyi, said the current power generation was estimated at between 4.2 and 4.5GWs. According to him, there are investment opportunities in the gas sector as domestic gas consumption is growing at a high Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) when compared to other gas endowed nations.These include gas transmission, exploration and the gas value chain He said there was need for capacity expansion utilisation, mostly in natural gas for generated converted to combine cycle gas turbines(CCGT). There is also need for additional implementation of Greenfield Combined Cycle Gas Turbines power plants to tap these opportunities adding that gas plays a significant role in power generation.

Some of the thermal power plants in operation in the country, he said, were single open cycle gas turbines, adding that, there is need for closure of selected existing single cycle Gas Turbines because limited energy

By Ambrose Nnaji

efficiency that could be attained by those plants.

He said transforming a single cycle plant to a combined cycle would increase the plant’s efficiency, making investment in cycle more profitable than CCGT plants.

The existing single cycle gas turbines in the country when converted to CCGT, he said, could generate additional power capacity above the current installed grid capacity without additional fuel combustion.

Adesina identified inadequate funding, low private investment, poor fiscal regime and incentives and inadequate energy mix portfolio as major constraints of the power sector.

He said over dependence on natural gas sources of power generation, low awareness on the use of alternative source of power generation, low utilisation of alternative source of energy, low fiscal policies to promote other usage of energy, high cost of power generation from renewable based power generation technologies, ignorance and lack of technical know-how on alternative source of power generation also contributed to power failure.

Nigeria, he said, was endowed with renewable energy resources, which if adequately harnessed would serve as alternative solution for low power generation.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-08-13

FirstBank raises $300m from global markets F

IRST Bank of Nigeria (FirstBank) has successfully raised $300 million, about N47 billion, from a subordinated Tier 2 capital issue.

In a statement made available to The Nation, spokesperson for FBN Holdings, the holding company for First Bank of Nigeria and its previous subsidiaries, Folake Ani Mumuney, yesterday said the capital raising exercise was in line with FirstBank’s capital management strategy, which is aimed at ensuring that it remains well capitalised.

She noted the improvement in the bank’s total capital adequacy ratio (CAR) at 22.5 per cent as against 20.1 per cent recorded by the period ended March 30, 2013 adding that the improved capital adequacy would support loan growth over the near term.

She pointed out the transaction further diversifies and extends the maturity of the bank’s foreign currency funding.

The Tier 2 capital transaction has a seven-year maturity and is callable on the fifth year after the issuance date. It carries an initial coupon of 8.250 per cent on the nominal par amount, which resets at the call date to a new fixed rate without no step-up until ma-

•Equities drop by 0.59%

By Taofik Salako

turity. The Tier 2 capital treatment amortises over the last 5 years prior to maturity.

“The successful offering was achieved within the context of volatile debt capital markets, especially for emerging market borrowers. This transaction is FirstBank’s second Tier 2 capital raise, following on its debut 2007 $175 Million Tier 2 capital raise which carried a 9.750 per cent coupon rate and which was called by the institution in 2012. This makes FirstBank the only Nigerian banking institution to carry out not only one, but two consecutive subordinated Tier 2 capital raising transactions in the international debt markets,” Ani Mumuney stated.

FBN Capital, the investment banking and asset management subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, served as financial advisers with Citigroup and Goldman Sachs International also acting as advisers and Joint Lead Managers to

FirstBank on the transaction.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian equity market opened yesterday on a negative note with nearly three losers for every gainer. Average market return dropped by 0.59 per cent, pushing equities’ year-to-date return downward to 34.67 per cent.

Aggregate market value of all equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped from N12.047 trillion to N11.975 trillion, representing a loss of N72 billion.

The main index at the NSE, the All Share Index (ASI), slipped from 38,038.79 points to 37,813.43 points. Forte Oil topped the losers’ list with a drop of N4.30 to close at N39.65. Presco dropped by N1.48 to close at N37. Okomu Oil lost N1 to close at N47.

Ashaka Cement declined by 71 kobo to close at N23.78 while Nigerian Breweries lost 70 kobo to close at N23.78.

Total turnover stood at N489.39 million shares valued at N3.16 billion in 5,797 deals.

Multiverse was the most active stock with a turnover of 222.22 million shares worth N111.11 million in 14 deals.

United Bank for Africa followed with a turnover of 30.81 million shares valued at N252.6 million in 383 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-08-13

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

55

MONEY LINK

CBN reviews agent banking guidelines T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed agent banking guidelines it issued in February this year. The new guidelines released yesterday stipulate that deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Microfinance Banks (MFBs) and Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) that want to deploy agent banking services should apply for a one-off approval from the apex bank.

In a statement, CBN Director, Banking & Payments System Department, Dipo Fatokun said licensed mobile money operators need not seek any approval from the CBN to appoint agents. He said the regulatory framework under which they are licensed already permits

Stories by Collins Nweze

them to appoint agents in line with the existing provisions.

However, they only need to include the details of such appointed agents in their regular reports to the CBN. He said that DMBs, MfBs and PMBs with regional, state or unit authorisations are only permitted to establish agency relationships within the geographical scope of their licences.

However, he said these groups of financial institutions are not authorised to appoint entities to carry out agent banking activities outside Nigeria.

For DMBs, every applicant seeking to engage in agent banking business shall, on a one-off basis, make an application to the CBN. He said the application is a signal of intent to engage in agent banking business and will contain the DMB’s strategy for agent banking, including proposed number and structure of agents per state, over a three year period, description of the agent management structure to be used by the institution, Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures among others.

Also to be included are the services to be provided through the agents, a copy of the draft standard, evidence of existing agent due diligence policies and procedures and risk management policies.

Skye Bank gets S&P ‘B/B’ rating

S

TANDARD and Poor’s (S&P), has assigned ‘B/B’ counterparty credit and ‘ngBBB/ngA-2’ national scale ratings to Skye Bank Plc. A statement from the bank said the stable outlook assigned to the bank reflects the lender’s business and financial profile which it said, would remain broadly unchanged over the next 12 months. It also forecasts that the positive economic prospects in the

country will further support the bank’s earnings growth.

“Our ratings on Skye Bank reflect its anchor of ‘bb-’, as well as our view of its “moderate” business position, “moderate” capital and earnings, “moderate” risk position, “average” funding, and “adequate” liquidity,” it said.

S&P said Skye Bank has a modest, but profitable franchise, which ac-

counts for about five per cent of the Nigerian market, with a little over N1 trillion in assets. “We view Skye Bank’s overall funding and liquidity as adequate. Similar to peers in Nigeria, the bank is largely funded by customer deposits, which accounted for 70 per cent of the total funding base. Deposits are remarkably stable, despite their contractually short-term nature”, S&P noted.

Okonjo-Iweala, Alison-Madueke, others for confab

T

HE Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Accountant General of the Federation Niyi Otunba, Minster of Petroleum, Diezani AllisonMadueke , Minister of State for Finance Yerima Lawan Ngama, Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu among others are expected to attend an international conference on the oil sector in

Minna, Niger State.

The conference with theme: “Deregulation of the Downstream Sector and Development” started yesterday and will end on Thursday this week. The conference is organised by the National council on Finance and Economic Development in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Other guests expected at the con-

ference include all Commissioners of Finance, Permanent Secretaries in charge of Budget and Planning in the thirty six states, representatives of the National Planning and Fiscal Commission, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Agencies responsible for the collection of revenues accruing to the Federation Account and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

G

UARANTY Trust Bank Plc has been recognised as the top Nigerian Company in the Banking industry according to African Business’ Annual Rankings Magazine.

In a statement, the bank said it achieved the feat even as it continues to consolidate its position as a foremost African brand through adherence to high corporate governance principles, strong financial performance and the introduction of innovative products and services.

These, it said, ensured its stakeholders are well satisfied each time they encounter the brand.

The rankings which incorporates companies that are listed on African stock exchanges also includes those that are listed on other bourses elsewhere in

Heritage Bank mulls funding for entertainment industry

H

ERITAGE Bank has pledged to work with stakeholders in the entertainment industry to develop a funding model for the sector.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Ifie Sekibo gave this assurance while responding to enquiries about the bank’s plan for the entertainment industry.

Speaking during an interactive session at the launch of the Heritage MSME Clinic, he said the lender is committed to developing a strategy on how to fund the sector. He said the bank will also have to understand the industry first before committing funds to it.

“We have quite a number of people in the entertainment industry. The last time we met with the President of Nollywood, we wanted to find out, how to bank the sector. Do we deal with each person, or take the industry as a whole? This and many other

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Current Market 5495.33 N552.20

Amount Offered ($) 350m 350m 350m

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 12-08-13

SYMBOL WAPIC CHAMPION STERLNBNK IPWA RTBRISCOE UBCAP UNITYBNK LIVESTOCK FIDSON MANSARD

O/PRICE 0.70 14.64 2.80 1.02 1.46 1.25 0.57 4.50 2.10 2.18

C/PRICE 0.77 16.10 2.90 1.05 1.50 1.28 0.58 4.57 2.13 2.21

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

CHANGE 0.07 1.46 0.10 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.01 0.07 0.03 0.03

Year Start Offer

Current Before

Current After

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N)

239.4810 212.4997

244.0123 207.9023

245.6422 209.2910

-2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

EVANSMED THOMASWY FO ABCTRANS UPL WEMABANK NAHCO VONO NPFMCRFBK COSTAIN

O/PRICE 4.80 0.81 43.95 0.94 4.20 1.10 6.60 0.69 0.96 1.35

C/PRICE 4.32 0.73 39.65 0.85 3.80 1.00 6.00 0.63 0.88 1.24

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE 0.48 0.08 4.30 0.09 0.40 0.10 0.60 0.06 0.08 0.11

Amount Demanded ($) 150m 138m 113m

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

CUV Start %

LOSERS AS AT 12-08-13

SYMBOL

issues need to be addressed in funding the sector, he said.

“Most times people think that banks can just jump in, but our approach is different. We need to first know how, when you tell us how then you can leave the financial engineering to us”, he said.

Heritage Bank assumed the license of the former Societe Generale Bank, and commenced operations in March. In line with its promise to deliver innovative, technology driven, cost competitive and efficient banking services, the bank introduced zero Commission on Turnover (COT) for all its customers.

This was followed with a funding model for Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSME), which offers concessionary interest rate to operators in the sector.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Quotation Price N8250.00 N1000.00

the world and global giants listed on two or more of the Johannesburg, London, Sydney and New York exchanges.

Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Segun Agbaje attributed the achievement to discipline, a defined operating strategy, hands on knowledge about the Nigerian market and the passion of GTBank employees, who constantly strive to give 100 per cent above customer expectations every single time.

“We are a Proudly African and Truly International Institution and are committed to the ideal that our stakeholders should be better off for partnering with us. This principle influences our operations, products, services style and company culture,’ he said.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

‘GTBank is top financial services provider’

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 9.08 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE 140.65 140.16 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 162.63 162.36 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.80 0.78 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.16 1.16 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.18 1.16 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 100.00 100.00 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,000.00 1,000.00 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,799.14 1,797.09 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 14.73 14.01 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 1.33 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 1.80 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 11.386.29 11,045.54 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE • OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

57

NEWS

APC begins talks PDP plotting unfair rerun in Offa, Plateau on office structures T ex-chair alleges A

FORMER Chairman of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Prince Saheed Popoola, yesterday alleged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was planning to railroad the state Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) into holding a fresh election into the council without following due process.

He said the plot is to exclude the opposition from contesting in the poll, thereby making the rerun a walkover for the PDP. In a statement in Offa, Popoola also dismissed as futile the alleged plot to disqualify him from contesting in the election on the grounds that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), under which he contested, is defunct.

The statement reads: “Our

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

attention has been drawn to a meeting Senator Bukola Saraki held with PDP stakeholders, including PDP chieftains from Offa at the weekend, where they resolved to railroad the KWASIEC into holding a rerun into Offa Local Government any moment from now.

“While we remain confident that the people of Offa will mete out the appropriate punishment to people who see Kwara as their fiefdom and make no pretence about their intention to lord it over all of us, we wish to remind the PDP and, of course KWASIEC, that the law governing KWASIEC

is that a notice of 150 days shall be given for an election into a local government. This is not retroactive! We hope the PDP will bear this in mind as its plots to impose itself on the people of Offa by all crooked means...”

The Kwara State PDP yesterday denied the allegation.

In a statement in Ilorin by its Director of Publicity, Mash’ud Adebimpe, the party said: “The Kwara State PDP was aware of the false allegation being spread about by the former Offa Local Governmet Chairman, Mr Saheed Popoola, to the effect that there was an alleged plot to deprive him from participating in the forthcoming

rerun.

“The PDP wishes to state that the allegation is an outright falsehood with no substance.

Our party is law-bidding and would follow the law to the letter.

“Our leader, at no time, held any meeting where such matter was discussed or mentioned.

“The removed council boss should go back and sort himself out with his party. As far as his candidature is concerned to us in the PDP, it does not pose any threat, as the people of Offa would decide who will lead them.

“Saheed should not whip up unfounded sentiments all in the name of seeking public sympathy. The PDP would support any process that is in tandem with the law guiding the electoral exercise.”

Kwara APC receives 5,000 pro-Okorocha APGA members

F

IVE thousand members of the former All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Kwara State loyal to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha have backed the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC).

A chieftain of the party in the state, Alhaji Bala Lade, addressed reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, with scores of other party members.

Lade, who was the governorship candidate of the APGA in the 2011 election, criticised the state Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) for charging councillorship and local government chairmen candidates discriminatory fees.

He said: “Members of proOkorocha (ex-APGA) should

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

be precisely over 5,000. The numerical strength of a group of pro-Okorocha APGA in Kwara State, who have embraced the merger process of APC, include all the Ndigbo who believe in the struggle.

The APGA members loyal to Okorocha in the 16 local governments, numerically, should not be less than 5,000.

“We want to reaffirm our decision as a group of proOkoroacha APGA in Kwara State to dissolve into the APC, which is the saving grace of the country. We are convinced, having considered all variables as a group, to be part of history in this country that needs salvation. We agree, as such, to be absorbed into the

APC, to champion a new cause for Nigeria.

“It is because of our dissatisfaction that we want a new platform to chase the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) away, to give room for trusted people to govern this country.

This is the first time we are having a historically merging parties.

“I believe that existing parties have their various ideologies. So, if we decide to come together and work for a common goal, we must be convinced that having buried our individual interests to champion the cause of the country is really the solution for this country. This is our conviction.”

Lade assured that APC would participate in the forthcoming local government

Boko Haram: Fed Govt to rehabilitate 2,000 HE Federal Governyouths in Yobe, Borno ment said yesterday it

T

will rehabilitate 2,000 youths in Yobe and Borno states to change their mindset from Boko Haram activities.

The rehabilitation, it said, would later be extended to Adamawa State.

The Minister of Youth Development Inuwa Abdulkadir said the programme would change the youth from engaging in violent activities, which

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

the Boko Haram sect has been using to wreak havoc on the state for years.

Abdulkadir spoke yesterday at a ministerial briefing to mark this year’s International Youth Day in Abuja.

He said there is need to rehabilitate the youth in the

‘Adult education teachers paid N500 monthly salary’

S

TAKEHOLDERS at a meeting of the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (ANFEA) have heard that education facilitators were paid N500 monthly salary.

Benue State Gabriel Suswam, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Elizabeth Ugor, spoke at the meeting in Makurdi, the state capital.

He noted that the minimum the local government areas in Benue State were supposed to pay adult education facilitators was N6,000, though they were paying only N500.

The governor said education is a collective responsibility, adding that the stakeholders need to brace themselves for its challenges.

The Executive Director of the education agency Mrs.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Becky Ortese said the training of 111 facilitators, organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), broadened their knowledge for positive impact.

She hailed Suswam and the commissioner for supporting the agency.

Mrs Ortese, however, called for more assistance in the areas of logistics, employment of new workers and funds, to enable the agency impart literacy to the non-literate in the state.

The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Education Alahji Jibrin Paiko said there were over 40 million illiterates in Nigeria.

North to make them shun acts of violence, which may trigger more crises in the future.

The minister said Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states were selected as pilot states because of the state of emergency imposed on them by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Abdulkadir noted that since youths constitute the driving force of the society, there is need to remould them to contribute to the development of the country without engaging in violence.

On the theme of this year’s celebration: Youth Migration, Moving Development Forward, the minister said most youths migrate from Nigeria to escape persecution or economic hardship, among other reasons.

“Poverty, crowded and unsanitary living conditions and the challenges of finding decent employment are regular features of youth migration. These are unacceptable,” Abdulkadir said.

The minister added that the Federal Government would create a conducive environment for youths.

Abdulkadir attributed the crises rocking the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) to older persons.

According to him, such persons have been fomenting trouble to derail the council.

He warned such persons to desist or face sanctions.

HE Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the three parties in its fold have begun talks on how to form formidable structures for the party.

It hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registering the party.

The State Publicity Secretary of the absorbed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the parties in the APC merger, Jamilu Baba, spoke in Jos, the state capital.

He said: “The Plateau State chapter of the party will be the first to establish state structures of the new party as soon as the national body of the party gives the go-ahead.

“Politicians on the Plateau are the happiest for the formal registration of the APC.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

In fact, we are set to take off in the state with all necessary party structures because we have got a party and we can’t afford any delay. Plateau people are anxious to welcome the party with both arms.

“Politicians on the Plateau see the formal registration of APC by the INEC as the best thing the commission has ever done for democracy in the country. This is because the APC is the right platform for democracy to thrive in this country.

“Plateau people are tired of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and they are anxiously waiting for an alternative platform, which has come with the emergence of the APC.

Gombe reinstates deposed emir

T

•Okorocha

election in the state.

He added: “This forthcoming local government in Kwara State is the litmus test for APC in Kwara. I want to assure that by the special grace of Almighty Allah, on October 26, APC shall have a clean slate.

HE former Emir of Pindiga, Alhaji Mohammed Seyoji Ahmed, who was deposed by former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje, has been reinstated, nine years after his removal.

Ahmed was reinstated, following the removal of his successor, Alhaji Adamu Haruna Yakubu, two weeks ago.

Delivering his reappointment letter at the emir’s palace in Pindiga, the Secretary to the Gombe State Government (SSG), Abubakar Sule Bage, said Ahmed’s reinstatement followed the deposition of Yakubu, who was allegedly found guilty of several complaints against him.

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

The SSG said the committee, which investigated Ahmed, found him to be neutral in the politics of the day.

Bage said Ahmed was reinstated, following the recommendations of the reconstituted Kingmakers’ Council of Pindiga Emirate, which got approval from six persons in the three ruling houses of the emirate: Shuaibu, Hassan and Yakubu.

Bage urged the emir to be responsible to everyone in the emirate and avoid revenge or discrimination because his enthronement was ordained by Allah.

THE NATION TUESDAY AUGUST 13, 2013

58

NEWS Lagos land use tribunal delivers first verdict

T

By Joseph Jibueze

HE Land Use Charge Assessment Appeals Tribunal delivered its first verdict yesterday in a case between Lanre Badmus Industries Limited and Lagos State government.

The appellant challenged the assessment of its property situated at 6/8, Alhaji Adenekan Street, Okota, by the government.

The company said the N149, 949, 000 value attached to the property was more than a 1990 valuation which put it at N26, 826, 000. 00.

It urged the tribunal to determine whether the property was properly classified as commercial and whether the value of N149, 949, 000. 00 is grossly exaggerated in the circumstance of the appeal.

Delivering the judgment, the tribunal’s Chairman, Mr. Ayodele Odunlami said the building is used for storage of products and raw materials, which amount to a commercial activity.

“I agree with the submission of learned counsel for the respondent that they are valuable products of commercial value.

“In addition, it is my humble view that even if a property is not let out to any tenant, the owner still derives a notional rent on it by using it himself.

“The property is properly classified as commercial even though owner-occupied,” he added.

However, the tribunal put the value of land at N5, 000 per square metre, “for the purpose of Land Use Charge Assessment.”

Two other members of the tribunal, Tunde Seriki and Akin Olawaro concurred.

Counsel for Lagos, Miss Adetutu Okegbenro and appellant’s lawyer Prince F.G Adewale expressed satisfaction with the judgment.

Odunlami said that the tribunal remains committed to upholding principles of fairness in the discharge of its duties.

DCP Taiwo Lakanu loses twin brother

D

E P U T Y Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of Delta State command , Mr Taiwo Lakanu’s twin brother, Kehinde is dead.

The United States based businessman died at St. Nicholas hospital after a brief illness.

Taiwo was the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to former Inspector General of Police

•The late Kehinde

Tafa Balogun.

The police chief broke the news to our reporters on telephone.

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi with some Muslims leaders who paid him a Sallah visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

Two robbery suspects arrested in Enugu

T

HE police in Enugu State have arrested two robbery suspects. The police said they had been on the wanted list “for their nefarious activities, ranging from robberies to cult operations within Ogui and its environs.

They were arrested within Ogui axis, following a tip-off.

Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said the suspects gave their names as Igata Chinedu and Okonkwo Patrick of 57, Onyiuke Ogui New layout, Enugu.

Recovered from the suspects include one revolver pistol with ammunitions, one automatic Pump action Rifle with five cartridges and a Toyota Camry car.

•Fake MOPOL official held From Chris Oji, Enugu and Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

Amaraizu said investigations into the incident have commenced in full scale.

A man, Chinenye Nnagbogu (26), who has been allegedly impersonating a military police officer, was arrested yesterday by officers from Onitsha Military Cantonment in Anambra State.

Parading the suspect, Lt.Col. John Majebi, second-in-

command in 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, said he was arrested by two officers near the cantonment gate.

Majebi said he was caught while extorting commercial motorcycle riders plying the Onitsha-Enugu Road.

“This is one of those that give the army a bad name in Onitsha.

“Since he was carrying out his act close to the cantonment gate it would be difficult to suspect that he is not

an army personnel.

“We had been on his trail for over three months now, since we received complaints from the public.

“And we reliably gathered that he had even gone to introduce himself to the Onitsha Police Area Command officers as an army officer,” he said.

Nnagbogu said: “Sir, I was not extorting but I was telling the okada riders to pay up their daily dues and I said I am an army officer to get their compliance,’’ Nnagbogu said.

Annie Okonkwo joins Anambra governorship race T HE National Interim Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Annie Okonkwo, has resigned to join the Anambra State governorship race.

He threw his hat into the ring yesterday at Emmaus House in Awka at a meeting attended by another aspirant, Sir Godwin Ezeemo.

Okonkwo said there was no provision for godfatherism and imposition of any candidate, adding that they would all contest for the position.

He said: “Go to your wards and local governments to be fishers of members. God wants to use APC to liberate the people and indeed

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Anambra.

“APC has no provision for a consensus candidate; the party has no provision for imposition of anybody as its candidate. Some people are looking forward to impose themselves as demi gods, it will not work in APC. “I am contesting the governorship of Anambra State and some individuals have been telling you different stories about me.

“Do not listen to anybody.

Based on the constitution of our party, I have resigned as deputy national chairman.”

Okonkwo said he wants the party to restore the lost glory of Anambra State, adding that only APC would save democracy in Nigeria.

Ezeemo said everybody should prepare to vote for who ever they want to rule them.

He said: “I am not desperate to be governor but APC has come to take Anambra to the next level. What is left is to join hands together to achieve this aim.”

Ezeemo warned some people who are still selling forms to innocent persons using the name of merged parties to stop it, describing the action as fraudulent.

‘Southeast should produce president in 2015’

T

HE Southeast geo-political zone should produce the president in 2015, the leader of the ‘Nidigbo in Diaspora’, Geoffrey Nzeadibe, has said.

He said power shift to the region would give its people a sense of belonging. But, the group’s leader was not categorical on the choice of the party to be endorsed by the Igbo abroad.

Nzeadile condemned the recent deportation of some destitute of Igbo origin to Onitsha

by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

By Helen Wakawa

Recalling that the quest for an Igbo Presidency started in 1999 when former Vice President Alex Ekwueme vied for the position, he said the project is feasible in 2015, if there is commitment.

Nzeadile said in a statement that Igbo would not support a presidential candidate, who cannot provide the dividends of democracy for the race.

He added: “If the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) refuses to support Ndi-Igbo and its agitation, we will have no

other choice than to jettison the party. The world needs to understand that Ndigbo, which is predominantly Christian, is treated like second-class citizens.

“In Nigeria, they are treated with ignominy by every government in Nigeria. Fashola has no justifiable reason to send any Nigerian away from Lagos State.

“Fifty years after independence, no Igbo person has been president. Where is the equality, if Ndigbo cannot be President, as guaranteed by the constitution?”

‘Accountants will fight corruption’

A

CCOUNTING expert and founder of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Olumuyiwa Sosanya, has urged Nigerians to raise more accountants to tackle corruption in the land.

He also advised companies and industries not to patronise a particular auditor for over three years so that it can detect fraud going on in the system.

Sosanya spoke at the launch of his book, titled: Revolution of Accountancy Profession in Nigeria, in Lagos.

The pioneer ANAN President, from 1979-

By Nneka Nwaneri

1996, said the launch was in commemoration of his 70th birthday.

Though he said professional bodies, such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and ANAN are self-regulatory, he added that they often keep quiet on some important matters they discover in the system.

Sosanya urged the government to set up a standard regulatory body to help the accounting institute to curb crime.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

59

NEWS

R

Erosion in Edo community

ESIDENTS of Ewu Community in Edo Central Senatorial District have called on the federal and Edo State governments to come to their rescue on the erosion ravaging the community.

The Onogie of Ewu, Zaiki Ojeifo, said the havoc has persisted for over 10 years and has led to the destruction of life and property.

Ojeifo added that over 30 houses were in danger of being washed away “anytime there is a heavy rain.”

The Commissioner for En-

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin City

vironment, Clem Agba, said the erosion in Ewu is one of the more than 110 sites across the state.

He said the worst sites are in Benin, Ewu, Iruekpen in Edo Central, Warrake and parts of Auchi in Edo North.

A resident, Oboh Gracious, said: “We are living on borrowed time. We are faced with the danger of being forced out soon. Self help in the form of concrete walls and sand filled bags have not helped the situation.”

Gas leak in Bonny

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From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

ESIDENTS of Oloma community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State have raised the alarm on the health complications resulting from a gas leak from a pipeline belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

They said though they have discovered the source of the leak, Shell is yet to stop it.

Chairman, Organisation of Fishermen, Sea Food Dealers and Farmers in Niger Delta(OFSDF/ND) Richard Abbey said the company needs to ease the impact on fishermen and residents.

Abbey said Shell’s gas pipeline from Well 29 ruptured on August 7.

“As I speak to you, some persons are complaining of pains in their chest and ribs, some, especially children, were injured in attempts to evacuate human and materials out of the area,” he said.

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Prophetess files for divorce

HE co-founder of World Liberation Gospel Church, Benin, Edo State, Prophetess Gertrude Nkasiobi, has filed for divorce, following accusations of infidelity by her husband, Apostle Michael Nkasiobi.

Prophetess Nkasiobi, who is a former banker, said her other reason was because her has been beating her husband since they got married in October 2007.

She told reporters that she decided to report the matter at the Police Area Command

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

in Benin City as her husband has vowed to ridicule and destroy her.

“He accused me of being a prostitute after we broke away from our former church, Bible Christian Ministry, he told me, ‘I will ridicule and I will destroy you”.

She added that all attempts to get family members on both sides to intervene failed.

Apostle Nkasiobi said he was in a meeting and promised to respond later.

Resign now, Akpabio tells officials

P

UBLIC office holders in Akwa Ibom State, who wish to contest in 2015 have been told to resign in accordance with the electoral law.

Akpabio, who spoke at the weekend, said: “I want to encourage anybody who wishes to declare for any position to please do so.

“If you do so, you can opt out of government; you can resign or you can step aside whichever way you like it. But what it means is that you are still ready to serve the state.”

On whether the administration has plans to reshuffle the cabinet, he said: “I definitely hope not. But if anybody wishes to contest any election, the law states that you should resign.

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“If you resign, we will have no option than to make a change. The electoral law expects that any public officer who wishes to declare his/her intention for any election should resign and thereafter make the declaration.

“So if there is any officer of government who wishes to declare his/her intention to contest for any elective office, the person has the right to resign. You cannot force somebody to sit in a position forever,” he remarked.

Akpabio thanked officials, especially the former Secretary to the State Government, commissioners and special advisers who had taken part in the government’s uncommon transformation and those who will serve in the future.

Edo pays flood victims

HE Edo State government yesterday began the disbursement of the N400million Federal Government flood relief grant to 60, 289 victims of last year’s flood.

The Chairman of the flood relief committee, Hajia Maimunat Momodu, said the payment would be completed in two weeks.

Mrs. Momodu said the least beneficiary would be paid N20, 000 while the highest is to get N250, 000.

According to her, three categories were spelt out for the payment: houses destroyed by the flood, affected household and public buildings.

The committee chairman, who did not give the number of collapsed houses, said the owners of such buildings

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

would get N200, 000, which amounts to N273, 790, 000.

On the other hand, she said 5, 811 households would get N20, 000 each, which amounts to N116, 220, 000 while owners of collapsed public buildings, such as mosques, churches and schools would be paid N250, 000.

“We had to go to various villages and communities affected by the flood and verify the actual losses suffered by victims.

“One challenge is that some of these communities are located in very difficult terrains and without doubt, I can tell you that we did a good job as everybody was captured for compensation,” she said.

•GOVERNORS ALL: Udughan flanked by his Ebonyi State counterpart Martin Elechi (right) and his Akwa Ibom colleague Godswill Akpabio

Governors determined to check oil theft, says Uduaghan

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ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is determined to check the challenge of oil theft in the country.

Answering questions from reporters at the venue of the factional NGF meeting on Sunday, Uduaghan said the measures taken by the Forum to support the Federal Government were paying off.

According to him, the Forum had to do something after the shutdown of two major pipelines (Trans-Niger

and Nembe) led to the combined loss of about 300,000 barrels per day.

“This resulted in the drop of our oil output from 2.5million bpd to 2.1million bpd.

But as I speak today, the two pipelines vandalised and damaged have been repaired and re-opened,” he said.

He said the cooperation and vigilance of all Nigerians were necessary to check illegal oil bunkering, which has reduced the socio-economic potential of the country.

Speaking on the participation of Delta State-born Bless-

ing Okagbare in the on-going International Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, the governor expressed satisfaction at her performance so far.

He praised Okagbare’s feat in clinching the silver medal in Long Jump and encouraged her to be focused in the determination to secure a gold medal.

Uduaghan promised that his administration would continue to support the athlete and other youths, who are prepared to make a living out of

sports.

Briefing reporters after the Forum’s meeting, the vice chairman and Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said the NGF has resolved to streamline its position on the on-going review of the constitution and come up with a common position for the governors.

The governors also considered the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and appealed to lecturers to call it off in the interest of the nation’s educational development.

Bodies of drowned victims recovered

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HE remains of the victims of a boat mishap, which occurred in the Bayelsa State waterways were recovered yesterday.

It was learnt that the bodies of Felix Azazi, a relative of the late National Security Adviser and a yet-to-be identified victim were recovered from the waterways of Ekeremor, where the incident happened on Friday.

It was gathered that the

A

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

bodies were recovered late Sunday by local divers at a place called ‘Beautiful Gate’ ,close to Torugbene, in neighbouring Delta State.

An inhaler was said to have been found in the late Azazi’s pocket, an indication that he might have been asthmatic.

The bodies were said to have been deposited at an

Group calls for Wike’s arrest

GROUP, the Rivers Peoples’ Forum (RPF), has called for the arrest and prosecution of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, for openly threatening the security of the state.

It is also planning the “mother of all protests,” to ensure the prosecution of Wike by the police.

RPF, through its President, Charles Bekwele, yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, described Wike’s statement of making the state ungovernable and life uncomfortable for Governor Rotimi Amaechi, as threats to democracy.

The government said Amaechi, who doubles as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), would not lose focus over

•Plans mega protest From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

provocative statements by members of the opposition.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Tony Okocha, said Amaechi remained committed to developing the state.

“We refuse to be deterred.

The governor (Amaechi) has refused to lose focus because of what is going on. His focus and mission are to improve the lives of our people. His vision is to put smiles on the faces of our people.

“His (Amaechi’s) vision is to develop our people rapidly in a manner that nobody else has done in the state. That is his mission and we are still bent on it.

“Before the end of this

Teachers’ kidnappers reduce ransom

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undisclosed hospital in Ughelli, Delta State.

The victims drowned when their boat capsized while overtaking another boat.

They were said to be traveling to Ojobo in Delta State for a wake when the incident happened at about 7.30pm.

The accident, according to sources, was caused by poor visibility.

Azazi and the boat driver were said to have bought a

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

HREE primary school teachers, who were abducted at Orhogbua Primary school in Ekenwan village, are yet to be released after 13 days in captivity.

Patience Osadolor, Momodu Aisha and Patience Oroghene were abducted on July 30 and a ransom of N60million was placed on them.

Their abductors reduced the ransom to N15million last week and further reduced it to N7.5million, which is N2.5m per teacher.

An official of the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), who pleaded anonymity, said the kidnappers informed the victims’ families that the N7.5million was the least they would collect.

A source said the spouses have sent out Save our Soul letters to kind hearted Nigerians to help them raise funds for the release of their wives.

month, we will be on the streets commissioning projects.

“So that Nigerians will now know what projects the governor has been able to do in Rivers State.

The RPF said: “It is a shame that the police, instead of arresting and prosecuting Wike, are allowing him to arrogantly roam the streets, making more provocative and hateful comments against the state and its people.

“The same police declared wanted and arrested supporters of Governor Amaechi for flimsy reasons. So, why are they not arresting a man who openly threatened the people, the peace and security of Rivers State? Is Nyesom Wike above the law?”

“We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police (Mohammed Abubakar), to arrest and prosecute Nyesom Wike now.”

torch at Tuomo waterside before embarking on the ill-fated trip.

“The news of the tragic boat mishap and the death of two occupants is still a surprise to us.

“The late Azazi had no bruise on his body and his inhaler was in his pocket suggesting he may have had a seizure when the boat capsized,” one of the sources said.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OMOROSE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Loveth Omorose now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Loveth Egharevba. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please note.

ALUKO I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Taiye Aluko now wish to be known and addressed as Ms. Taiye Teniola. All former documents remain valid. The Nigerian Police, Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency and general public should please note.

AKANBI I formerly known and addressed as Akanbi Oluwafunmilayo Ola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olapade Oluwafunmilayo Ola. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please note.

ADEJOH I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEJOH GLORIA ALADI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS DAVID GLORIA ALADI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

60

FOREIGN NEWS

Mugabe riles MDC rivals

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OBERT Mugabe has launched a stinging attack on his opposition rivals in his first public speech since he won Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential election.

Rejecting PM Morgan Tsvangirai’s claims that the vote was stolen, he said those against him could “go hang”.

Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) boycotted the speech.

The MDC has lodged a legal challenge against the result of the “stolen election”, demanding it be rerun.

Mr Mugabe won 61% of the

vote in the election on 31 July, while Mr Tsvangirai came second with 35% and Welshman Ncube third with 3%, according to official results.

The president’s Zanu-PF party also gained a parliamentary majority of more than two-thirds, winning 160 of the 210 seats.

A spirit of defiance was palpable at Heroes’ Acre, reinforcing a controversial electoral victory that has possibly ushered 89year old Robert Mugabe into office for another five-year term.

The posters overlooking the shrine captured the spirit of the

moment: “There is honour in conceding defeat,” and “It’s Africa versus Europe”.

The venom with which Mr Mugabe attacked his political rivals speaks of an unrepentant politician, who despised the power-sharing government that some believe gave him political respite over the past four years.

“They can go hang,” he said, apparently referring to his former coalition partners.

“Even dogs won’t sniff their corpses.”

For those tempted to think there may be a sudden shift in

U.S. embassies reopen after terror alert

T •Mugabe

policies, another banner hailed the controversial proposal to force foreign-owned companies to relinquish 51% of their shares to locals. “Now begins the empowerment revolution.”

HE United States (U.S.) has reopened 18 of the 19 diplomatic missions recently closed due to security threats.

The state department says its embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa will stay closed “because of ongoing concerns”.

The US closed 19 diplomatic missions in the Middle East and Africa last Sunday in response to what it said was a threat of a terrorist attack.

The consulate in the Pakistani city of Lahore, which closed after a separate threat, will also not reopen yet.

“We will also continue to evaluate information about these and all of our posts and to take appropriate steps to best protect the safety of our personnel, American citizens travelling overseas, and visitors to our facilities.”

On Thursday, at least 14 suspected al-Qaeda militants reportedly including seven from Saudi Arabia - were killed in Yemen in three drone strikes, Yemeni officials said.

The number of US strikes in Yemen has been stepped up over the past month.

Celebrating International Youth Day

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S the world commemorate this year’s International Youth Day this week, the spotlight and the focus is precisely on youth migration. The United Nation’s Chief Ban Ki-moon urged leaders to promote the rights of the youth-migrants.

Young people constitute more than 10 per cent of about 214 million international migrants yearly, according to the United Nations (UN). Despite the rate of youth migration, too little is known about their struggles and experiences.

With the theme: Youth Migration: Moving Development forward, the occasion calls attention to struggles and experiences facing the youth.

Poverty, crowded and unsanitary living conditions and the challenges of finding decent employment, are regular features of the migrant experience.

The UN Chief notes that,

Yemen: Gunmen launch deadly attack

By Evelyn Osagie

young people migrate for so many reasons. No matter the reason, the UN chief urged leaders to promote the rights of young migrants, adding that they have impacted on the development of the countries they now live in.

He said: “I urge Member States to consider youth migration. Working with and for young people is one of my top priorities. On this International Youth Day, I encourage Member States, youth-led organisations and other stakeholders to act to promote the rights of all young migrants and maximise the development potential of youth migration.”

“It is important to emphasise the positive contribution young migrants make to societies of origin, transit and destination – economically and by enriching the social and cultural fabric.”

S •Another day in Aleppo: Photo journalists in cross hair of Syrian ‘the-war-within’.

Egypt authorities delay camps’ crackdown

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HE Egyptian authorities have postponed their plans to disperse two sit-ins in Cairo by supporters of the country’s ousted president, officials say.

A security official in the capital told BBC Arabic the authorities had hoped the

announcement to disperse them would encourage protesters to leave.

But this has not happened and the number of people at the sites is increasing.

A judge has extended ousted President Mohammed Morsi’s detention by 15 days.

NEWS Igbo president to wait, says Iwuanyanwu

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GAINST the backdrop of renewed agitation for a president of Igbo extraction in 2015, a frontline politician from the Southeast geo-political zone, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has urged Nigerians to give President Goodluck Jonathan a second term.

Iwuanayanwu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it is necessary to allow the president to complete eight years as agreed in the PDP’s zoning plan.

Iwuanyanwu spoke yesterday when the Hausa community in the Southeast zone led

by Alhaji Adamu Sokoto visited him in Owerri, the Imo

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

State capital.

The Champion publisher described Jonathan as the President from the Eastern Nigeria who should be allowed to rule for eight years.

He said: “This is the first time someone from Eastern Nigeria is President, let him complete eight years and after that, power can shift to wherever and if 2015 is not properly handled, it will be tragic for the country”.

He hinted that the country has so well integrated to the extent that it will be difficult to brea kup. “It is in the interest of every tribe that Nigeria remains the same because if we

break up, there will be severe injuries.

“Just as people from the Southeast of the country have made remarkable contributions to the development of the country, the Hausa have contributed immeasurably to trade and commerce in the Southeast. Besides, the people have intermarried and it will not be possible to break the country along ethnic lines”, he said.

He added that the Boko Haram insurgency has nothing to do with Hausa or Fulani but should be seen as Nigeria’s common enemy which must be condemned by all Nigerians.

On the crisis rocking the rul-

ing party, the one-time presidential aspirant said it is not unusual. “It is common with big parties which will make the party stronger, the crisis will soon be over and those who have left will all come back.

“I have confidence in the PDP; I have faith in the country,” he said, adding “if not that we have strong leadership in Jonathan, what happened would have broken Nigeria.”

The Hausa community pledged their continued support for the PDP and the Federal Government, adding that they will continue to work for the success of the party, irrespective of any part of the country they may be.

Police seize 114 Biafran flags, pounds from MASSOB members

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HE Police are set to arraign six members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), for alleged illegal activities.

The suspected MASSOB leaders arrested on August 6 according to Delta Police are: Ndubisi Ezeocha, 20, Francis Onuigbo, 28, Emeka Izigbo, 28 and Andrew Nwufulu, 26 Delta Police spokesman Lucky Uyabeme who gave the names added: “On August 7, one Emeka Okafor ‘m’ aged 52 years, a native of Nkanu in Enugu State and the acclaimed leader of the group was arrested with five other suspects.”

Uyabeme, an ASP, said the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

He listed the items recovered from them to include, 114 Biafran flags, two boots, 129 Biaf-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

ran pounds and ten shillings.

Others things recovered from them he said, include: 32 membership forms and other documents, ten pairs of complete Biafran uniforms with name tags, three cutlasses, seven hard cover notebooks for minutes of meeting, two military belts and one expended cartridge.

He said the police would not allow any part of the state to be used as breeding ground for any criminal activity, insisting that acts of the suspects were “treasonable and the government will not condone such lawlessness.”

Okafor, who is the Coordinator of MASSOB in Anioma/ Ndokwa East region, said he was arrested last week and has been in police detention. in police detention.

Police accused the suspects of

attacking vigilance men at Powerline and Ominigboma areas of Asaba.

Okofor insisted that they were arrested because of the growing popularity of MASSOB. His words: “This is a sector, how can we go and attack them.

They are afraid that if MASSOB continues to be visible, they would not continue to harass people. They are street people.

“Nothing much happened, there were people that came there and wanted to sympathise with flood victims and three of my members went there. Unfortunately one of them, who has not been given proper MASSOB training, went with them.

“And while there, they were pushing each other trying to get space and in the process the vigilance people slapped one of my boys and he retaliated. And

then the vigilante people called policemen from ‘B’ Division. Instead of coming to settle the matter, the police started arresting our members, nothing again.”

He said MASSOB remained a peaceful association that is going about its activities without intimidating, harassing or attacking members of the public, adding that they were attacked by crooks who removed everything that the police paraded as exhibits.

“We did not go on road block neither did we go on demonstration. We were at a place and they went there to search everything. Those boys are crooks, they searched everywhere and brought out these moneys. The money is for me, we keep the money knowing that it is a legal tender to the Biafran people, so we hide it because we know the quality of it,” he said.

Mr Morsi, who was overthrown by the military on 3 July and has been held largely incommunicado since, was placed in detention on 26 July over his links with the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas, which rules neighbouring Gaza.

USPECTED al-Qaeda militants have killed five soldiers in an attack on a gas terminal in southern Yemen, reports say.

They opened fire on a checkpoint near the Balhaf terminal in Shabwa province, killing the soldiers before fleeing.

Almost all US diplomatic missions recently closed in the region due to threats were due to reopen on Sunday.

But the US embassy in the capital, Sanaa, was to stay closed “because of ongoing concerns”.

Yemen is a stronghold of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) - an alQaeda offshoot considered

by Washington to be the most dangerous to the West.

Boko Haram leader Shekau dares Obama in video Continued from page 2

series of raids being carried out by the security agencies to rid Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states of some of the fleeing insurgents from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

He said: “Troops of the brigade have in the past few days intensified raids on the hideouts of these suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

“We had also made several arrests and investigations are ongoing, so this is the only one we can authoritatively confirm now.

“But I can, however, authoritatively confirm that there were no deaths recorded either on the side of the insurgents or the military, SSS.’’ Musa said arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspect’s house at the Nakasari area of Sokoto.

They are: “Three AK 47 rifles, one riot gun, 153 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, explosives, three cartons of acid, knock-outs, chemicals and thermometers, among others.

He appealed to residents to disregard rumours and remain supportive of the security agencies.

Amnesty alleges eviction of 9000 in Lagos Continued from page 2

affected area was a rubbish dump.

Amnesty said residents were now sleeping in the open, at risk of disease and bandits, and that thousands of people have lost their livelihoods along with their homes.

The report calls on Lagos authorities to halt the forced evictions.

According to the BBC, the sight of bulldozers moving into slum areas at dawn and flattening people’s homes is a familiar scene, happening more and more in cities across the continent.

Bringing some order to this chaotic city of more than 15 million people is a huge challenge for the state government, our correspondent says.

Critics say the wealth gap is widening as those forced from their homes can only dream of owning an apartment in the new developments that are re-

placing the city’s slums.

“We want the state government to remember that we are not animals,” Tunde Aworetam, a pastor in the affected community, is quoted as telling a news conference.

Commissioner for Housing Bosun Jeje, told the BBC the authorities were trying to improve the living conditions of the people in the area.

“I went there personally before we cleared the place and I can tell you if you look at the video and you look at the documentary before we cleared the place you couldn’t find a single housing structure except the shanties that were there,” he said.

But he said the government had been talking to the people and “addressing the problems”.

He said the displaced residents would be given priority when new houses become available for rent.

61

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

Fire renders LASTMA officials, others homeless T

•Goods, cash worth over N11m gone in flames

HEY cut a pitiable picture yesterday. Men and women wept like babies over the fire that gutted their properties.

Sympathisers too broke down in tears when they beheld the disaster.

They had gone to bed on Sunday, looking forward to the next day. But a “mysterious” fire ended their sleep abruptly, making their 4, Oseni Street, Palmgrove, Lagos abode, a sympathisers' second home. The house was razed before day-break yesterday and the tenants, comprising about 30 adults and children, lost everything.

On the cause of the fire, an occupant was said to have slept off in her room with a lit candle placed beside a filledup gas cylinder.

Two officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and eight other tenants of the structure, were brought to “zero level.”

Now, they want any form of assistance from Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and other kind-hearted Nigerians.

One of the victims, Idris Oloko, said the fire started around 12.30 am. He recalled that men of the state Fire Service came around 2 am to put out the fire. He too said the fire could have been sparked off by a candle in one of the rooms as there was no power

By Uyoatta Eshiet supply from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in the area that night.

Oloko said everything he had was burnt down, including property and over N400,000 cash. He expressed relief that no one was injured as many scaled the fence of the neighbouring compound to escape.

Osinubi Adeleke, a LASTMA official, with employment number, "Oracle 69335," could not report for duty yesterday. Reason: He lost all - his employment and promotion letters, identity card, original copies of his credentials, mobile phone sets and cash.

He said the tragedy cut short his night rest and that he woke up to the commotion arising from the incident, adding: "I ran out only with the wrapper on me, while everything in my room was already consumed by the fire."

He further said: "The ware you see on me now was given to me by a neighbour from another compound. I lost valuables worth about N350,000, including cash."

Another tenant said he had earlier travelled to Abuja, only to come back to witness the calamity that claimed everything he had laboured for.

Another LASTMA official,

•Some sympathisers at the scene ... yesterday Hakeem Adeniran, said, sobbing: "I could not rescue anything from my room; the only thing left for me now is the wrapper I went to bed with, last night."

Regretting that he lost valuables and cash worth about N500,000 in his two-room

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O promote peace and commerce in his domain, the Alagbado of Agbado in Ogun State, Oba Adedayo Shyllon, has met with his subjects.

The meeting, which was attended by over 30 village heads (Baales) from adjoining townships and several youth leaders, was held last Saturday in the monarch's palace.

Oba Shyllon said the presence of the village heads indicated that there was no crisis in community against the rumour by some people. He urged the public to shun rumour-mongering.

Urging his chiefs to preach peace, the royal father said: "Nobody should use thugs to breach the peace we are enjoy-

PHOTO: Abiodun William

apartment, Adeniran said he could not report for duty yesterday because his uniforms were burnt alongside other items.

Ibrahim Olore, another victim, said goods worth over N8 million were destroyed in one of the rooms used as a store by

another victim - a business woman.

He said because the woman attempted to commit suicide, she was taken somewhere under sympathisers' close watch.

The woman, he said, just returned from Dubai with the goods, which included as-

sorted clothes, shoes, perfumes and other items.

As the victims bemoaned their losses when The Nation was leaving the scene yesterday, the main poser on their lips was: "Where do we go from here?" It was a question no one could answer.

By Wale Ajetunmobi

pay taxes in order to prompt government to bring more projects to the community.

The village heads urged the monarch to use his exposure

to attract more development to the area. Oba Shyllon promised to seek improved welfare package for his chiefs in response to their demand.

Ogun monarch preaches peace

ing in this community. I have my own land that I inherited from my parents. I also had a lot of property before I became king. I am not after anybody's property and nobody should use my name to forcefully take anybody's land. Anyone found doing so will be prosecuted."

He praised the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration's developmental projects in the community, particularly, the reconstruction of Isale Owonikoko canal, which he said, had claimed lives.

He urged the village heads to encourage their subjects to

College berths in Nigeria THE KAAF University College, an affiliate of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, will soon start its international centre in Nigeria.

Its Nigerian coordinator, Mathew Ayegba, in a statement, said the university would organise an admission seminar next week in Lagos for the centre’s first batch of students.

KAAF University College was established in 2007 to provide qualitative education which would turn out resourceful graduates in Engineering and Business Administration.

KAAF is an acronym connoting: "For All Advanced Knowledge,” It was established to provide world-class tertiary education for human capital development.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

S

ometimes when I have an erection and I don’t get to have sex, my scrotum will start paining me and the pain will last for hours. Is this an illness or what? I don’t understand what is going on and I am really scared – Ejiofor Ejiofor there is a condition that affects some men and it is commonly known as Blue Balls. It is a case where the scrotum anticipates an ejaculation when the penis is erect. If after getting an erection and there is no sex or masturbation leading to an erection, the scrotum begins to hurt. It is your body’s way of telling you that you need to ejaculate. So there is a possibility that this is what is happening to you. Next time you get an erection and it begins to hurt, try having sex or masturbating and see what happens. If the pain goes after you ejaculate, then you simply have a case of Blue Balls. If it doesn’t, then go and consult your doctor for in-depth analysis and tests – Uche Good day sir. I have been reading about the new products MaXtremeZen 2000 and Power Zen Gold.

I hear they are very good. Which one do you recommend? I experience weak erection sometimes and I have always had premature ejaculation. I need a solution to these problems – Solomon Dear Solomon, MaXtremeZen 2000 and Power Zen Gold are two new high grade performance enhancers that do it all. Both products enlarge the penis, stop weak erection, give hard erections, stop premature ejaculation, increase semen quantity and thickness and give the user the energy to perform at high capacity for days. They are both 100% herbal supplements as well. The difference however is in the gramage. MaXtremeZen 2000 comes in 2000 milligrams and therefore gives results that last for up to seven days with just one capsule. Power Zen Gold has a lower gramage of 1200 grams so the results it gives last for up to five days.

That is basically the difference but they are both more powerful than all the other supplements we have been

talking about. MaXtremeZen 2000 of course is slightly higher in price as a result of its higher potency and longer lasting results. So you can go for any one. It all depends on you – Uche I experience pain sometimes during intercourse and it makes me say no to it. This is affecting my marriage – Margaret Margaret vaginal dryness is the most common cause of sexual pain. Women who don’t always lubricate well during intercourse experience this pain due to friction and sometimes the skin tears a bit in the process making them bleed. The easiest way to deal with dryness is through the use of a lubricant. Colt Slick Lubricant is very good for the elimination of dryness and the sexual pain that occurs as a result. It comes in an 8 ounce bottle which is quite big and will last you for years. Colt Slick Lubricant is also water based so it is easier to wash off after use – Uche Hello Mr Edochie and well done. Please can a pheromone be effective when one has other things they are using that are scented such as body cream, roll on and perfume etc.? John Dear John, yes they can. But if you are using a pheromone perfume like the Namiko pheromone body spray, you don’t need to wear another perfume on top of that – Uche I just used MaXtremeZen 2000 and all I can say is wow! The first improvement I noticed was that it handled my premature ejaculation and I could last much longer. I just feel recharged overall and a lot more confident in bed. Well done - Olayinka You are welcome. We wish you all a wonderful holiday.

Zee Virtual Media will be closed for a one week holiday from the 8th of August and reopens on the 15th. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can place their orders online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We will process them when we reopen on the 15th of August, 2013. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

W

HEN the National Judicial Council recommended in May 2012 after a detailed inquiry that the suspended president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, be reinstated, not a few of those who had followed the matter closely felt that the Council was offering President Goodluck Jonathan a decent way to end one of the ugliest episodes in Nigeria’s judicial history.

That the recommendation bore the imprint of two of the nation’s most eminent jurists who stand at opposite ends of the ideological spectrum made it all the more resonant.

If the liberal retired associate justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Kayode Eso, since deceased, and the conservative senior attorney and former Minister of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide, could sign off on the document, along with the overwhelming majority, it would seem that the Council had decided to take politics out of the matter and had considered it purely on its legal merit.

The Council, I thought, had thus placed in Dr Jonathan’s hands a powerful weapon to rein in the hawks in the PDP who will settle for nothing less than Justice Salami’s scalp because his Court stripped them of their stolen gubernatorial trophies in Osun and Ekiti and restored the people’s mandate to those who had earned it at the polls.

I was hoping that Dr Jonathan would seize the opportunity to play statesman rather than party chieftain. And when he was reported to be “studying” the document, I thought he was trying to find a way of appeasing the hawks, aforementioned.

Dr Jonathan had something else in mind.

His strategy, it is now clear, was to run down the clock on Justice Salami, calculating that the books would be closed on the matter once the jurist reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

And so, two years after being consigned to judicial purgatory, Justice Salami, according to competent sources, has served notice of retirement, effective October 15, victim of an epic injustice that Dr Jonathan could and indeed should have ended.

Justice Salami’s ordeal began, as I once recalled in this space, when he presided over the sitting of the Court of Appeal that voided the purported election of the PDP candidate, Engineer Segun Oni in the 2007 Ekiti gubernatorial election and declared Dr Kayode Fayemi of the ACN winner.

The election was marred by fraud on a staggering scale. In a court-ordered partial rerun to ascertain the true voice of the people, the PDP, the election umpire INEC, Maurice Iwu presiding, and the police executed a more brazen heist that a 3-2 majority of the Election Petitions Tribunal nevertheless consecrated with transparent sophistry.

The Court of Appeal reversed, and Justice Salami became a marked man.

Five weeks later, the Salami Court, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi presiding, vacated the stolen mandate under which yet another PDP candidate, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had gov-

‘We need democracy at the grass roots; we also need development. Autonomy in the circumstance cannot be the end.’

VOL. 8

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Salami: An epic injustice

• Justice Salami

erned Osun for three years and seven months — or seven years and seven months if one believes, as one now positively must — that Oyinlola and the PDP never won the 2003 election, on the basis of which he had served a four-year term.

As in Ekiti, the Osun poll was vitiated by massive rigging and violence. The ACN candidate, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, headed to the Elections Petition Tribunal for review and redress. Obtaining none, he took his case to a superior body, which held that the verdict of the court below amounted to a miscarriage of justice and ordered that the petition be heard de novo.

The new tribunal rejected Aregbesola’s petition in a “unanimous” judgment signed by four of the five judges, and the text of which was festooned with alterations and interpolations that called the integrity of the process into question.

In finding for Aregbesola, Justice Ogunbiyi wrote for a unanimous Appeal Court, that the Tribunal was “lackadaisical” in its handling of the case, that it dismissed vital evidence as “mere allegations”; that it set at nought compelling forensic evidence; that it wantonly misrepresented evidence of key

witnesses; in sum, that the Tribunal’s conduct was “a travesty, and a mockery” of the judicial process.

That verdict sealed Justice Salami’s doom.

He would have to be taken out of the Court of Appeal, the terminus for all election petitions except those arising from the election of President.

First they offered to promote him to associate justice of the Supreme Court. He demurred.

Several years earlier, when there was a vacancy, he had declined to apply for such a position.

Then, they accused him, first in whispers and subsequently in paid newspaper advertisements, of all manner of misconduct, including consorting with attorneys of parties to the case he was handling. Leading the charge was Senator (as he then was) Iyiola Omisore who, despite his apparent conversion to an apostle of probity and propriety, nevertheless remains a principal suspect in the murder of the former Federal Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Chief Bola Ige, leading the charge.

Then there was talk of giving him a “soft landing” if only he would just quit.

Why would they contemplate, much less make such offers to a judge they claim has been tainted irredeemably? Why would they reward him with a promotion to the Supreme Court? Why offer him a “soft landing”? Why not make a public example of him?

If you have the facts on your side, if you are serious about cleansing the judiciary, if you are truly desirous of prosecuting a Transformation Agenda in which fighting corruption is a core element, why would you pass up such a great opportunity to nail him?

But Justice Salami’s saga was never about law. It was all along about politics, politics in its rawest form.

A pending judgment in the disputed gubernatorial election result in Sokoto before the Salami Court would provide the final pretext for caging Justice Salami and ultimately terminating his career. The judgment could overturn many a political applecart, and the authorities were taking no chances.

According to Justice Salami, the sitting chief

HARDBALL

H

IS eyes must have misted as he beheld the musty edifice of shame at Iganmu in the Mainland of Lagos.

The National Arts Theatre which in 1977 was a symbol of Nigeria’s emerging power and influence in Africa and the world has withered into utter dereliction and abandon. For many years, the Theatre, Nigeria’s showpiece architecture and cultural hotspot had become at best, the hub of drunkards and at worst a paradise for miscreant and marauders.

This is Nigeria’s sad reality that must have evoked tears from a visiting Kenyan professor, Chris Wanjala. The don who was in Nigeria for the conference of the Nigerian Oral Literature Association, NOLA, had lamented: “I was here in 1977 when we had FESTAC and it was built anew then. It had several compartments where plays and cultural activities were being performed in so many places. It represented a centre for the promotion of the arts and culture across the continent.

Ironically, there has been so many

SANYA ONI

NO.2,576

Prof. Wanjala weeps for Nigeria controversies around the National Theatre, talking about its neglect and all … its neglect over the years is a tragedy because that is what we, in Kenya and across Africa are emulating. It is even (more) a loss to us than to Nigerians because we have always felt that is how we want to organise our own cultural institutions. It is a shame.”

Wanjala is a poet, novelist and a Professor of Literature at the University of Nairobi since 1985. Author of a recent novel, Drums of Death, he is cited as being deeply aware of the disruption of traditional rural culture by modernity. This, of course, explains Wanjala’s agony over an edifice that ought to have been the fulcrum of Black and Africa’s arts and culture. After the staging of a great arts and culture festival in 1977, more ordered countries would have latched unto that template to convert Nigeria into the centre for Black and African culture. A less philistine government and people

would have developed the National Theatre, 37 years after, into a cultural tourist centre of global renown; outposts and mini sites would have sprung up across the country to harness our rich cultural endowments. Many tertiary institutions from across the world would have been affiliated to it to benefit from a rich archive and documentation trove. It was designed to be the centre of excellence for creative art, design, traditional music, drama, folklore and more.

Prof. Wanjala probably expected all this as he visited Nigeria and hurried to that poetic edifice of sublime presence situated at the crossroads of Iganmu, by the brackish water where Lagos Mainland meets Lagos Island. The scholar was shocked; he didn’t believe what he beheld, the ugly remains of a Theatre he probably had boasted about in his country as a model. “This is where there is a tragedy,” he echoed, “Our leaders

justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius KatsinaAlu, requested that the judgment be withheld, for political reasons. He cited Justice Dahiru Musdapher, of the Supreme Court, as a witness to this encounter.

Justice Katsina-Alu said he had merely informed Justice Salami that the judgment had been leaked, and that it might be wise to put off issuing it.

If the judgment had indeed leaked, that was not unusual. Only last month, judgment in a major case before the Supreme Court leaked well ahead of delivery, and no member of the Court was blamed for it.

Justice Musdapher whom Justice Salami had cited as witness would only say with consummate diplomatic tact that he could not recall the occasion. Not categorically that the encounter never happened; merely that he had no recollection of it.

For all practical purposes, that was the end of Justice Salami’s career. Those determined to teach him a lesson wove Justice Musdapher’s diplomatic answer into a charge of perjury, with chief justice KatsinaAlu as accuser and prosecutor and witness and judge while in office and even after he retired.

Not even the National Judicial Council could save Justice Salami from their vengeful wrath.

He leaves the scene bruised and battered, and not entirely on his own terms. But his head is unbowed. He refused to submit to blackmail and blandishment. While they hurled every weapon in their arsenal of dirty tricks at him, he sought vindication through the law.

Something tells me that history will remember him more kindly than those who, when presented with a chance to end an epic injustice, chose to perpetuate it.

Re: Allah-De

A

RETIRED career ambassador has commented as follows on my tribute in this space (July 31, 2013) (to Alade “Allah-De” Odunewu, the departed veteran newspaperman and revered columnist: “I could understand your good intention to “speak no ill of the dead.” But you should not mislead your readers by creating the impression that the veteran was utterly apolitical as a top Editor of the highly regarded Daily Times in the 60s. He certainly wasn’t!

“The day after the Western Region election was massively rigged by Chief Akintola, & Co, the Daily Times under Allah De screamed with a headline in an unprecedented Yoruba language headline, “DEMO BORI!” — a clear exultant declaration by an ‘apolitical’ editor.

“I hope you will be characteristically courageous to publish this contribution.”

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above have become even (more) brainwashed than the people they are leading. In other words, they put so much value on economic issues and other sectors where they get handout from.”

If Prof. Wanjala had look closer, he would have seen the pockmarks of philistinism all around the country and he would have noticed that this theatre of shame is only a metaphor for how we live today. It is emblematic of the regression which has been our national narrative since in the last few decades. If only our leaders paid attention to “economic issue”, a lot would have been different but they have paid attention to nothing of substance.

That is why the national telephony broke down, national carrier crashed, power quenched, energy sector stymied, education failed – name it, anything the Federal Government ought to tend to in the last three decades has been left in a sorry state. If only Wanjala has seen the old Federal Secretariat at Ikoyi, Lagos… what monumental waste!

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