August 25, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

Dasuki charged with illegal arms possession NEWS

Page 4

•‘Ex-NSA held firearms without licence’

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS EVER RETURN?

NEWS

•‘N1tr allegation infantile’

Page 4

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 10, NO. 3317 TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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EFCC: PDP Caucus disowns senator

N150.00

Nigerian equities lose N228b as China crisis goes global

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LOBAL stock markets yesterday took a major plunge after China suffered its worst trading session in eight years.

An unprecedented collapse in Chinese shares sent tremors through financial markets, triggering the ugli-

By Our Reporter

est day of global trading since the depths of the financial crisis eight years ago.

Billions were wiped off indices across the world in a day of frenetic selling, which saw the Shanghai composite suffer an 8.5 per

cent decline, its worst oneday performance since 2007.

The mass panic, dubbed “Black Monday” by China’s official state news agency, was driven by investors’ dashed hopes that Beijing would inject a fresh round of stimulus into its economy following a series of disap-

pointing data last week.

In Nigeria, after losing N283 billion last week, equities opened this week with a whooping loss of N228 billion in the five-hour trading session. Average decline stood at 2.22 per cent as relatively higher losses by 46 stocks, including the

market’s largest stocks, overwhelmed modest gains by nine stocks.

The opening downtrend pushed the negative average year-to-date return at the Nigerian stock market to -15.71 per cent. The Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: 50 PER CENT OF NAVY’S PLATFORMS DOWN, SAYS CNS P6 BABA SALA DISCHARGED P8

$1b loan, $466m jets top as Buhari probes arms deals Panel of generals to examine Yar’Adua, Jonathan govts contracts From Yusuf Allli and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved a 13-man committee, which will examine the procurement of arms and ammunition for the Armed Forces from 2007 to date.

The period covers the administrations of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

But the committee of former military chiefs may face a major obstacle – arms, ammunition and military hardware are not subjected to vetting by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Such purchases, The Nation learnt last night, are over 350 in the last eight years. Some of them sparked crises between Service Chiefs and political authorities.

But many retired top military officers are believed to be prepared to testify before the panel, which got no deadline for its job.

For “security reasons”, arms purchases by the military do not go through the BPP – the office that examines government procurements to ensure cost-effectiveness and others.

Before the President raised the panel, there had Continued on page 4

SOME LIKELY CONTRACTS •$466.5m contract to weaponise six Puma helicopters by the Jonathan administration •N3b contract for the supply of six units of K-38 patrol boats to the disbanded Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS) •Theft of over 200m Euros at PICOMMS and the purchase of two private jets •$9.3m seized by South Africa •$1b loan approved by the 7th Senate for arms purchase to fight Boko Haram •Un-accessed N7b military budget •Rehabilitation of the Military Reference Hospital in Kaduna

THE PANEL MEMBERS •AVM J.O.N. Ode (rtd.)

- president •R/Adm J.A. Aikhomu (rtd.)

•R/Adm E. Ogbor (rtd.)

•Brig.-Gen. L. Adekagun (rtd.)

•Brig.-Gen. M. Aminun-Kano (rtd.)

•Brig.-Gen. N. Rimtip (rtd.)

•Cdre T.D. Ikoli - member, •Air Cdre U. Mohammed (rtd.)

•Air Cdre I. Shafi’i •Col. A.A. Ariyibi •Gp. Capt. C.A. Oriaku (rtd.)

•Mr. I. Magu (EFCC) •Brig.-Gen. Y.I. Shalangwa - secretary

•President Buhari (right) and Mr Ki-Moon briefing the press after their meeting at the State House ... yesterday.

UN seeks release of Chibok girls Ki-Moon invites Buhari, world leaders for conference

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NITED Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban KiMoon yesterday demanded the unconditional release of the Chibok girls.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Over 200 secondary school girls were abducted from Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014 by

Boko Haram insurgents.

Ki-Moon spoke during a remark at the end of a meeting Continued on page 4

•E-BUSINESS P13 •TRANSPORTATION P17 •SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P45 •AVIATION P47

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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NEWS

Looters: Kukah vs Buhari and the rest of us

•United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon (right), President /Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (middle) and Head, UN Special Envoy for West Africa, Ibn Mohammed Chamber...yesterday.

Not a few Nigerians have reacted to the comment of fiery cleric Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, on President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to bring to justice those who plundered the nation’s wealth. In the article below, MOSES AKINOLA MAKINDE, a professor of Philosophy and Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Letters (FNAL), feels such a remark shouldn’t have come from a respected Nigerian in the mould of the former Secretary-General of the Catholic Secreatriat.

“N

•Osun State Governor State Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Senator Babajide Omoworare (second right); leader, Swiss Embassy delegation, Dr. Daniel Caregn (second left); Finland Embassy representative, Mrs. Toran Ekland (right) and Political Adviser, Swiss Embassy, Mr. Pascal Holliger (left), when the evoys visited the governor at the Government House in Osogbo...at the weekend.

•From left, President, Paediatric Association of Nigeria, Prof. Adebiyi Olowu; Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, Mr. Rahul Colaco: wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; FrieslandCampina WAMCO's Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs. Ore Famurewa; Marketing Director, Mr. Tarang Gupta and Senior Scientist, Global Nutrition Development, FrieslandCampina Innovation Centre, The Netherlands, Dr. Anne Shaafsma at the 10th PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI Nutrition Seminar at FrieslandCampina WAMCO in Lagos...at the weekend.

•From left: Head, Operations, Oando Marketing, Mr. Adeboye Temidayo; Head, Downstream, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Mohammed Idris; Chief Operating Officer (COO), Oando Marketing, Mrs. Olaposi Williams; Zonal Operation Controller, DPR, Abuja, Alhaji Mohammed Usman and a dealer, Oando Filling Station, Sector Center, Abuja, Mr. Umar Faruk, at the inauguration of the Oando Filling Station, Sector Center in Abuja.

O case of corruption against Jonathan– Kukah” (Punch August 17, 2015, p.19). Concerning a probe that is yet to take off, the above statement was not a hypothetical, but most certainly a categorical assertion (of sureness and certainty) by Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. It was Bishop Kukah’s definitive - though imaginary- judgment before a possible judgment on Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and others, whose involvement in the looting of Nigeria’s treasury is common knowledge. Either a probe or an investigation? The one shares the same connotation with the other. Talking of any difference between both, as Kukah might think, is a terminological howler.

Our Roman Catholic cleric spoke eloquently on the Channels Television’s evening and morning programmes respectively on August 12 and 13. I was baffled at the palpably incoherent presentation of what the Peace Committee, headed by Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami (rtd), had asked Kukah to disseminate to the general public. After introducing him, in glee, as the spokesperson for the Committee, Kukah began to speak as if he was afraid of something. He kept on repeating himself, saying one thing and then another, changing or correcting his previous statement up and down like yoyo, thus getting trapped in what is known in logical parlance, as contradictory supposition. The reason for this was obvious. He wanted to hoodwink the public that the committee was in support of Buhari’s antigraft campaign that will enable his administration to recover every public fund looted from the treasury and, if found guilty as charged, prosecute them according to the laws of the land.

On the other hand, and from the other side of the mouth, he spoke as if he was denying his feigned support against corruption but then said, that a probe was unnecessary and that President Buhari should not waste his time on his anti-corruption agenda “at the expense of providing good governance for the country”.

Despite the identified $11 trillion allegedly stolen from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) alone (see Punch, & Nation 17 August, 2015, front pages 1 & 2) and many trillions from others yet-to-be named government agencies under former President Jonathan’s administration, Kukah spoke as if he was “charged” or under a spell, in favour of the looters. He was almost pleading that Jonathan and his disciples should be left alone or given soft landings. In fact, he said that President Buhari, who got into power through his vigorous campaigns against corruption should stop his anti-graft crusade and put aside probes (which he prefers to call investigation) and, instead, face the business of governance,

as if fighting greed, lawlessness, corruption, impunity and all other vices that characterised Jonathan’s administration which brought Nigeria to this sorry mess are not, indeed, the beginning of good governance, or that the woeful economy handed over by Jonathan to Buhari is something that we should hail and not deal with decisively once and for all, if the present administration is to ever start off on a reasonably strong footing. Or, he meant that Buhari should go on with the kind of crude governance that consisted mainly of looting, dishing out of oil money in hard currency to selected Nigerians, including clerics and rented protesters while the Jonathan “governance” lasted. Even right now, there are rumours that a lot of stolen money are kept in huge, “golden” vaults underground of some of the looters’ mansions (see Chukwudi Emekwedu, “The alleged hiding of stolen funds in private homes” (Daily Sun, August 20, p19).

Now, people have said that the Peace Committee was fronting for Jonathan when they visited Buhari in Aso Rock Villa on August 11, following Jonatan’s previous meeting with the President also at the Presidential Villa on August 6.

At the Peace Committee meeting with Buhari, Kukah had defended Jonathan and his ministers against Buhari’s intended probe by making his second categorical assertion that, after all, “there are no charges against President Jonathan or anybody for that matter”.

Yes, there have not been charges.

But, trillions of dollars had been identified as stolen under Jonathan’s watch as president, and this is why a probe or investigation is absolutely necessary. And this is why Kukah, as a man of God, should have praised Buhari to high heavens over his intended probe. But then, Kukah would not have any of what he called “lynching” of Jonathan. Rather, he wanted everybody to just go to sleep and forget everything about the ugly past and let the sleeping dogs lie after many Nigerians had lost their lives as a result of Jonathan’s mismanagement of the nation’s economy. Yet, Kukah wanted the looters to be left to enjoy their stolen wealth, irrespective of who had died, are dying and will die as a result of the looting of the people’s money.

Kukah is even predicting that it might be Buhari’s fate of looting the nation’s treasury “tomorrow”, which means he does not trust Buhari’s avowed discipline, incorruptibility and transparency for one second, but harping on the over beaten “spectacular benefit” of a spectacularly defeated President, handing over power, as if that is not the normal thing to do in a civilised democracy unless of course, our own is a morbid democracy in a primitive society.

He (Kukah) said: “What everybody should focus on is that it might be

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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NEWS

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•Gen. Abdusalami

•Dr. Kukah

•Dr. Jonathan

‘

Yes, there have not been charges. But, trillions of dollars had been identified as stolen under Jonathan’s watch as president, and this is why a probe or investigation is absolutely necessary. And this is why Kukah, as a man of God, should have praised Buhari to high heavens over his intended probe

‘

•President Buhari

Jonathan today, and we don’t have a case against Jonathan on the table.

Even if we do, this public lynching is not going to help anybody. Nobody knows whether when Buhari steps aside, he might face the same thing.

What we are talking about is that we are not in a military regime, we are in a democracy. Even if we are going to go into probe, it is not a substitute for governance, and we are interested in the fact that every sane Nigerian must be conscious of the fact that it might be another person today and might be you tomorrow.

“And I think that we should not become so preoccupied with Jonathan to the extent that we forget the spectacular benefit that we gained under his presidency. Politics has ended and now is the time for governance.”

If I may add to Kukah’s statements, “not the time for probe and recovery of trillions of dollars of people’s money looted by Jonathan and members of his infamous administration.” But, this is precisely what the electorate who had voted Buhari into power, wanted him to do with all the ammunition at his disposal – to recover every kobo stolen, without remainder, and bring the looters to the book of punishments.

I believe the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) publication of more than $11 trillion stolen by the Jonathan administration from just one of the many agencies is mind-boggling enough.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s revelation (The Punch & The Nation, August 17, 2015, front & p2) was an appropriate response to Matthew Kukah’s gesture as supported by his rremarks. It is for the same reason that the highly revered Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, told Buhari to “go after

Kukah’s comment that stirred the hornet’s nest

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FTER the meeting of the Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami-led Peace Committee parley with President Muhammadu Buhari, spokesman of the committee, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, briefed State House reporters on the mission of the group to the seat of power.

He said the committee was not at the State House to plead for former President Goodluck Jonathan, even as he confirmed that the committee had earlier met the the immediate past leader.

According to him, the committee also met with Senate President Bukola Saraki and had plans to seek audience with House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

He described the sessions as ‘a hearing-out process.’

“We gave a bit of update about the relevance of the Peace Committee itself and how we can help to nurture what God has given to us. Anybody is free to come to our committee but President Jonathan never by telephone or another means talked to the committee.

We went to see him, but that was after we had already seen members of the political party, members of the civil society; we plan to see the Speaker because we couldn’t see him yesterday.

“This is a very planned series of interventions essentially just to hear out everybody and I think the good news is that Nigerians are committed to a new nation. They are committed to ensuring that the gains and blessings God has given us come to fruition. the looters, prosecute and send them to jail” (Punch, August 18, front page) and quickly followed by The Nation’s editorial titled: “Sultan’s Salvo” (The Nation, August 20, p.19). It is also in response to Kukah’s attempt to find a soft landing for Jonathan and his followers that Buhari, in anger, vowed to “resist pressure on the anti-graft war” (The Punch, August 18, front page) and to “seek fearless judges to try looters” (The Punch, August 17,

“This is not an intervention. It is a hearing out process. When we had election, it was like a wedding, now the reality of government is the marriage and people need to be encouraged. We need to reaffirm that this is our country and the only thing we can collectively be opposed to is injustice, inequity, corruption and in that regard we all had one single conversation.

“The President has also reaffirmed the need for this committee to continue and the international committee has very much welcomed the contributions of the committee. Essentially we are not policing, but when the need arises, we will help to build confidence in the process.

“It is not heating up the polity. In our conversation with former President Jonathan and members of the parties, I don’t think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the President’s commitment to ensuring that we turn a new leaf. I think what we are concerned about is the process. It is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.

“Again, our own commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody. The former President’s commitment and what he did still remains spectacular and I think that President Buhari himself appreciates that. So, our effort really is to make sure that the right thing is done,” Kukah said.

2015) for which he is to “set up special courts in each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for looters” (The Nation, Sunday, August 22, front page & p3). It is also in a response to Kukah that Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and others “urged Kukah not to obstruct loot recovery” (The Nation, August 18, pp 14 & 58). Even Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the former Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission (EFCC) chief, backed Buhari on the recovery of looted funds, claiming that by punishing those looters, “Buhari would have solved the problems of Nigeria”. (New Telegraph, August 20, pages 5 & 11).

For Gen Oladipo Diya (rtd), “the only opportunity, which must not be lost, to salvage Nigeria of corruption is through President Buhari’s administration” (Silverbird T.V, 10pm, August 23) while for former President

Olusegun Obasanjo, “there is no alternative to Buhari or his leadership style at this peculiar period of the country’s life” (The Nation, August 23, p4).

Right now, some people are already thinking of probing those kicking against the probing of looters. For those crying about selective probes, it is important to let them know that the present probes affect mainly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its corrupt administration under President Jonathan. I do not see how anybody, who was not in Jonathan’s government or its beneficiaries, could be a candidate for the ongoing probes, and certainly not the APC, Labour Party (LP) or All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), whose members had no access to the nation’s treasury, let alone looting it.

And it is known to the ordinary man on the street that the Buhari’s fight against corruption is economic and not political. Perhaps the probe should be extended to the National Assembly which consists of different political parties.

Now, it appears the die is cast and looters, small or big, no matter how highly placed in the Jonathan’s administration, must face the music and realise that they cannot escape justice, hoping that some commercial clerics will not be caught in the looting bazaar.

After all, some of them had prayed and boasted that God would not allow Buhari to become President. But God did not answer their prayers. Instead, He installed Buhari as a divinely ordained popular President in a grand style!

Right now, Buhari does not need the hypocritical advices and prayers of clerics, who preach morality in the morning and break it at noon!

When everything is considered, we believe that Bishop Kukah spoke for members of the Peace Committee, which means he was not acting alone.

After introducing Kukah as the person to speak on behalf of the Peace Committee by Gen Abdulsalami, we may now ask a legitimate question: was Kukah on his own while he was delivering the cruel message, supposedly for the Peace Committee, to the public on Channels Television on August 12 and 13, and which has been repeated several times since then? This question is in need of an answer, just in case Kukah turned out to be a mere scapegoat, but nevertheless a scapegoat that deserves serious bashing.

When all is said, we believe that the duties of the so-called Peace Committee should have ended after the inauguration of President Buhari on May 29, and should not have been extended to the aftermath of “war” to the extent that the committee took undue advantage of its continued existence to canvass a soft landing for Jonathan and his ministers over a serious matter that had gone beyond the shores of Nigeria – yes, serious matters, like looting of the treasury that belongs to all Nigerians, young and old, majority of whom had given Buhari the strong and irreversible mandate to rule and with the high expectation that he would fight corruption to a standstill or in his own words, kill corruption before it kills Nigeria!

Prof Makinde is the Director General/ Chief Executive Officer, Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance, Osogbo in Osun State.

Sultan to Ki Moon: UN should help retrieve Nigeria’ stolen funds

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ULTAN of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III yesterday called on the United Nations (UN) to assist Nigeria retrieve public funds stolen from the country and lodged in foreign bank accounts by corrupt officials.

Abubakar made the call at a forum on democracy, human rights and countering violent extremism as part of activities lined up in Abuja for the visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon.

He urged the UN to urge member states to use the necessary instruments to mobilise funds that had been illegally taken away by those who served under previous administrations.

His words: “You (Mr Ban Ki-moon) are here in our country because you believe in Nigeria and in the present government.

“How can you use your office to bring back all the monies stolen from this country and stacked in foreign banks?

“Corruption is the foundation of all bad gov-

ernance and crimes being committed across the world. It is important to have corruption checked.

“Please, see how you can urge those countries to bring back such monies.”

The Sultan urged that the perpetrators of terrorist acts should be punished as criminals to promote globally peace.

He said that the perpetrators of violent act who used religion as a cover to carry out such acts should be viewed as criminals and extrem-

ists and not as Islamic extremists.

The monarch said; “There is no problem between Islam and Christianity but there is a problem between Christians and Muslims in certain places.

“Those few elements among us must be looked at as criminals and extremists not just Islamic extremists and should be dealt with in that manner.

“If we do that across the world, there will be peace between individuals we come across.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

NEWS PDP governors, NWC split over Kogi governorship poll

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governors and members of its National Working Committee (NWC) are divided over whether or not to support Kogi State Governor Idris Wada for second term.

The governors and the NWC are confused on how to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from winning the governorship poll.

The jostle for the ticket is between Wada and a former banker, Jibrin Isa Echocho.

It was gathered that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, exGovernors Liyel Imoke and

UN seeks release of Chibok girls Continued from page 1

with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

According to him, the UN is poised to work with Nigeria to counter terrorism in the country and the continent.

He said a change being championed by this administration will also bring about positive change in the continent.

He said: “This week will witness the 500 days of the kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls. I want to reiterate my support for the Chibok girls and so many other innocent abducted girls and boys whose names and fate remain unknown.

“It is intolerable that their lives and schooling have been disrupted in this way. The whole world has been moved by their fate. I once again call, on the strongest possible terms, of those responsible to unconditionally release these girls and many other abducted children. I will have more to say this afternoon in my speech.”

He said that he discussed with President Buhari a full range of issues covering development, human rights, peace and security including the cause of troubling levels of violence and terror perpetuated by Boko Haram in the northeastern and the world.

Expressing solidarity with Continued on page 58

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

Ibrahim Idris are supporting Wada.

But Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, two governors and some NWC members prefer Echocho because of “his wider acceptance by PDP members and the electorate”.

Mimiko, Imoke and Senator Iyiola Omisore had a long session with Echocho a few days ago to convince him to quit the race.

At the session, the proWada leaders said ordinarily the governor ought to have an automatic ticket – in line with the agreement between PDP governors and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 general elections.

But Echocho vowed not to step down for Wada.

A highly-placed source said: “The PDP is in disarray

in Kogi State ahead of the governorship poll. Some PDP governors and NWC members are sharply divided on the choice of the party’s candidate.

“Based on alleged low performance, some governors and NWC members believe that Wada’s candidacy is not sellable.

“They said a survey conducted by the party indicated that the PDP might lose if Wada is fielded.

“They said the ultimate target is to prevent the APC from winning the governorship poll.”

These reasons accounted for the refusal of the NWC to concede automatic ticket to Wada.

But Mimiko, Imoke, Idris and Omisore said Wada had done “reasonably well” and PDP could win the state again.

Another source added:

Nigerian equities lose N228b as China crisis goes global Continued from page 1

•Wada

“Mimiko and others begged Echocho to step down for Wada, but he refused, saying they were trying to force him to go through his 2011 experience.

“Echocho warned that PDP will lose if Wada is anointed as the candidate of the party,” said the source.

Wada may have to slug it out at the primaries, if Echocho remains adamant.”

negative market position appeared to be increasing, unnerving the more optimistic investors, lowering demand and increasing open-order supply, which has virtually turned the market into a discount window.

Analysts were negative on the market’s outlook in the short-term, although there was almost unanimity on the good prospects of Nigerian equities in the medium to long terms.

“We anticipate another round of bearish trading at tomorrow`s session (today) as there are no catalysts in the horizon to spur positive sen-

timents. The tumbling in global oil prices at the international markets may also be taking its toll on the market,” SCM Capital, formerly Sterling Capital Markets, stated in a post-trading review.

Aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) almost dropped below its psychological N10 trillion position to close at N10.013 trillion as against its opening value of N10.241 trillion, representing a loss of N228 billion or 2.22 per cent.

The All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted Continued on page 58

DSS charges Dasuki to court From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

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HE immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, was on Monday charged to court by the Department of State Services (DSS).

A statement yesterday by the Acting spokesman of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, said Dasuki was charged to court based on evidence relating to possession of firearms without licence.

According to the statement, the offence is punishable under Section 27(i) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28LFN 2004.

“This is in line with democratic practice and our avowed commitment to the rule of law, in which nobody is deemed to be above the law, no matter how highly placed in the society.

“Accordingly, the general public will be duly informed as the matter progresses”, the statement added.

The DSS on July 16, carried out a search on property belonging to Dasuki in Abuja and Sokoto.

The search followed what the DSS described as credible intelligence linking the ex-NSA to acts capable of undermining national security.

“The search led to the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted”, the DSS said.

EFCC: Crisis hits Senate as PDP Caucus disowns senator •Allegation infantile, says agency From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

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•Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (left), receiving souvenir from President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh, during NBA 55th Annual General Conference in Abuja ... yesterday. With them is the ex-president of the association , Olisa Agbakoba (SAN). PHOTO: NAN

FRESH crisis has hit the Senate over a petition against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, alleging diversion of N1trillion by the agency.

The petition is being promoted by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, believed to be an ally of the Senate President.

But the PDP Caucus, to which Nwaoboshi belongs, yesterday opposed the probe of the allegation.

The caucus made its position known in a statement signed by the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Sen. Phillip Aduda (FCT), Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba) and Senator Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti).

The statement said: “It has come to the notice of the PDP leadership in the Senate that the Senate Committee on Public Petitions would begin a public hearing on Wednesday, 26th of August 2015 and the Committee has invited the Chairman of EFCC to appear before it.

Continued on page 58

$1b loan, $466m jets top as Buhari probes arms contracts Continued from page 1

been some petitions before the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), among others, on some shady deals; in arms procurement.

Some of the controversial issues are

•$466.5m contract to weaponise six Puma helicopters by the Jonathan administration; •N3billion contract for the supply of six units of K-38 patrol boats to the disbanded Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS); •Theft of over 200m Euros by PICOMMS including the pur-

chase of two private jets; •$9.3m cash seized by South Africa; •Whereabouts of $1billion loan approved by the 7th Senate for arms purchase to fight Boko Haram; •Contract scam over rehabilitation of the Military Reference Hospital in Kaduna The $466.5m weaponize contract was awarded to a financier of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, leading to a protest by one of the immediate past Service Chiefs.

About two years ago, a businessman blew the lid open on N3billion contract for the supply of six units of K-38 patrol boats to the disbanded Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS).

The businessman alleged that one of the officials of PICOMSS

converted N620million down payment for the contract into personal use.

Besides, PICOMSS was enmeshed in the theft of over 200m Euros.

One of the contracts which drew national ourtrage was the seizure in South Africa of $9.3m said to have been meant for the purchase of arms.

President Buhari directed the National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno to convene the investigative committee on the procurement of hardware and munitions in the Armed Forces from 2007 till date.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the investigative committee’s mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces.

To this end, the statement

said that the National Security Adviser has constituted the Investigative Committee as follows: AVM J.O.N. Ode (rtd.) - president, R/Adm J.A. Aikhomu (rtd.) - member, R/ Adm E. Ogbor (rtd.) - member, Brig.-Gen. L. Adekagun (rtd.) - member, Brig.-Gen. M. Aminun-Kano (rtd.) member, Brig.-Gen. N. Rimtip (rtd.) - member.

Others are: Cdre T.D. Ikoli - member, Air Cdre U. Mohammed (rtd.) - member, Air Cdre I. Shafi’i - member, Col. A.A. Ariyibi - member, Gp. Capt. C.A. Oriaku (rtd.)

- member, Mr. I. Magu (EFCC) - member and Brig.-Gen. Y.I. Shalangwa - secretary.

The establishment of the investigative committee, the statement said, is in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in

Nigeria’s public service.

It reads: “It comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms, with its attendant negative effects on troops’ morale.

“The committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.”

Continued on page 58

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

5

NEWS

None should be excluded in fight against financial crimes, says U.S. envoy

U

NITED States Acting Consul General Dehab Ghebreab has urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that in the fight against financial crimes, none should be excluded.

Ghebreab spoke yesterday in Lagos at a Department of Homeland Security/Investigations–Cross Border Financial Investigations Training (CBFIT).

The seminar was attended by law enforcement officers and Ministry of Justice officials.

She said: “Evidence-based and thorough investigation that result in convictions consistent with Nigerian and international law will help you succeed and generate respect for you and your agencies.

The training that you’re about to receive will enhance your investigation skills. .

“For Nigeria to tackle cor-

By Wale Ajetunmobi

ruption effectively there must be clear and consistent consequences for those individuals who commit financial fraud.

These sanctions must extend to all bad actors with no exemptions or exceptions for government officials who abuse the public trust and steal from their country. Your work is tough but you can do it successfully.

“The United States government recognises that financial crime is a global phenomenon transcending political borders.

Developing partnerships with other nations and international bodies ensures effective outcomes in the detection of criminal activities and tracing the proceeds. Our collective efforts to combat and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing must focus and depend on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities and loopholes.

Loopholes are frequently exploited by transnational criminal organisations, terrorists, and other criminal groups.

Our training programme is designed to build partnerships and assist international law enforcement in countering trafficking and raising awareness of money laundering, bulk cash smuggling, and terrorist financing. Through international law enforcement partnerships, we can track down illegal actors and bring them to justice. We must work together to succeed.”

She added that the United States was committed to the fight against laundering of illicit proceeds.

The envoy said the effectiveness of the fight against financial crimes would help to reduce poverty in Nigeria.

“Stolen money returned to public coffers through your efforts could be used to improve

education, health care, build roads, and develop your country. You must stop the crooks from stealing and trafficking public funds and with will power and capacity you can do it,” she said.

Ms Ghebreab presented a money counter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to assist the commission in its work.

The counter, she said, was specifically designed to help the EFCC count and sort the various types of international currencies they encounter regularly.

“It will allow EFCC to sort and quickly count bills from around the world with utmost accuracy and expeditiously, save valuable time. One of the greatest benefits, however, is that the counter can detect counterfeit bills, which should prove to be extremely beneficial to the EFCC,” she added.

•From left: Mrs Ghebreab presenting a Universal TwoPocket Currency Scanner to the Head of Lagos Operations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Iliyasu Kwarbai in Lagos...yesterday.

With them are (from left) representative of the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu; Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent, Ramon Oyegbola; and Director of Assets and Financial Investigations, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), Victoria Egbase.

Nigeria may miss $400b global fund, says DFID

N

IGERIA risks losing a $400 billion global fund support, the Southwest Coordinator of the Department for International Development (DFID), Dr. Adesina Fagbenro, has said.

He spoke at a meeting with the Oyo State House of Assembly members on genderbased violence prohibition bill, which was organised by the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), with support from the National Endowment for Democracy at the Ibadan Business School, Ibadan, yesterday.

According to him, the fund was set aside following the global development goals.

He said Nigeria could lose out of the fund if the government failed to understand the

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

technical issues associated with accessing the fund.

“The $400billion is a commitment that is set aside by international finance agencies such as the World Bank, Asia Bank, Africa Development Bank and so on, after the global goals have been agreed upon. The fund is meant to assist countries in meeting the global development goals. To access it, you need to familiarise yourself with the goals. A number of the goals have to do with gender protection, global partnership and others.

We may not pursue all the goals but we must identify the ones that concern us as a nation,” Fagbenro said.

He said in Oyo and many

states it was difficult to access data from ministries and other agencies. He said without data evidence, it would be difficult to present a planning proposal to the international agencies in order to access the fund.

The DFID boss stated: “We have to track the indicators and measure our performance on such issues. Lagos is now enjoying the status of being able to receive budget support. It is only when progress is noticed that international financing agencies will come around to support you. If you don’t get it right, you cannot get the needed support.

“We also have the non-governmental organisations and huge private sector-owned foundations as the Bill Gates

and Dangote, Elumelu, Mike Adenuga foundations, which put money aside for development. The idea is to seize the opportunity to engage with them. We can get technical support from some of these agencies if we position ourselves to receive international development support.”

Executive Director of NISD Abiodun Oyeleye said the event was staged to address domestic violence in Oyo State, adding that the state had more domestic violence cases than armed robbery.

House of Assembly Speaker Michael Adeyemo, who was represented by her deputy, Abdulwasi Musah, assured the gathering that the assembly would support genderfriendly related issues.

Fed Govt withdraws ‘illegal’ diplomatic, official passports

T

HE Federal Government yesterday directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to retrieve all valid diplomatic and official passports from people who are not entitled to it.

According to a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Yusuf Isiaka Alhaji and made available to The Nation, “The Federal Government has found out that some Nigerians who are not entitled to hold diplomatic and official passports are in possession

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

of these documents.

“In view of the Federal Government’s determination to protect and promote Nigeria’s integrity in the comity of nations, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to retrieve all valid diplomatic and official passports with immediate effect from all persons who are not entitled to hold such documents.”

Lawyer sues Buhari for ‘illegal’ AMCON board

By Joseph Jibueze

A

CTIVIST-LAWYER Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa yesterday filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) board without recourse to the Senate.

He said the appointments, made on August 19, was in violation of the relevant statutes setting up the agency.

He referred to Section 10(1) (C) of the AMCON Act 2010 which provides that the board, consisting of three executive directors nominated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in consultation with the Minister of Finance, must be appointed subject to Senate’s confirmation.

Adegboruwa sought a declaration that the President cannot appoint anyone as executive director of AMCON without complying with Section 10(1)C of the AMCON Act 2010.

•President Buhari

He prayed the court to hold that the appointments, having been made without complying with the Section, was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

The lawyer asked for an order “nullifying, annulling, voiding, cancelling and invalidating the appointment of the Executive Directors of AMCON by the President.”

Adegboruwa also sought to obtain an order of perpetual injunction restraining the persons purportedly appointed by the President from functioning or further parading themselves as AMCON’s Executive Directors.

IG deploys four DIGs

T

HE Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, yesterday approved the redeployment of four senior officers to various units in the force headquarters.

The newly redeployed officers, who are all Deputy Inspectors General of police, are to commence duty at their new posts with immediate effect.

According to the police spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, the redeployed officers include Dan’Azumi Doma as the DIG in-charge of Department of Finance and Administration; Christopher Katso, as the DIG in-charge of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department; Chintua Amajor-Onu, as DIG in-charge of Department of Information and Communications Technology and; Jubril Adeniji as DIG in-charge of Department of Research and Planning, all at the force headquarters in Abuja.

However, the police spokesperson, said other senior officers – Mamman Tsafe, DIG in-charge of Department of Logistics and Supply; Saliu Argungu Hashimu, DIG in-charge of Department of Training and Development and Sotonye Leroy Wakama, DIG in-charge of Department of Operations will maintain their duty posts at the force headquarters.

APC hails Service Chiefs for leading war against insurgency

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the Service Chiefs for taking charge of the fight against Boko Haram.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the widely-published report that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal

By Wale Ajetunmobi

Sadique Abubakar, were coordinating the efforts of their troops in the theatre of war was the best news to have emerged from the frontline of the Boko Haram battle. ‘’There can be no bigger boost to the morale of the gallant troops who are combating Boko Haram than the sight of their Service Chiefs personally leading the charge from one village to another

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

battling the insurgents or flying in a reconnaissance aircraft coordinating the various NAF platforms involved in the operation to provide close air support to ground forces. ‘’By their actions, Lt.-Gen. Buratai and Air Marshal Abubakar have shown that they care deeply for their troops and are determined to lead them to beat the deadline set

by President Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Har-

am insurgency,’’ it said, adding that the Service Chiefs and the troops they are leading are pride to the military and indeed to Nigeria.

APC reiterated its call on Nigerians to continue to support, the nation’s gallant men and women, who are making every sacrifice, including the supreme sacrifice, to keep the country safe.

Meanwhile, the party has also commended governors, mostly in the Northwest,

who have decided to work together to address the security challenges in the area, especially the worsening cases of cattle rustling that cut right into the artery of the economic well being of the people of the region.

It said the efforts, which have led to the recovery of over 3,000 cows and the arrests of some bandits by the joint security task force set up by the states, must continue unhindered.

‘’Cattle rustling and the other security challenges in the Northwest in particular are all inter-linked and must be addressed holistically.

“This is why we are delighted that the governors of states within and outside the Northwest - Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Kano and Sokoto - have decided to pool their resources to ensure that there is no hideout for criminals or terrorists,’’ APC said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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NEWS

50 per cent of naval ships grounded, says Naval chief

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HE Chief of Naval Chief (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ette-Ibas, yesterday said 50 per cent of Nigerian Navy (NN) platforms were grounded.

Ibas spoke at the Naval Base, Apapa, during his maiden familiarisation tour of units and commands in the Lagos area.

He noted that most of the problems with the grounded vessels were avoidable, appealing to naval personnel to handle public property with care.

The CNS reminded his personnel that misusing government property negatively robs off on the force because fund that would be used for other things are expended on maintenance.

He warned them against conniving or aiding oil thieves and illegal bunkerers, adding that the menace must be contained.

“Fifty per cent of our platforms are down and most of the causes of the problem are

•Vice Admiral Ette-Ibas (middle), Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango (left) and FOC Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) Rear Admiral E.A. Egbedina during the CNS's dialogue with naval personnel in Lagos.

PHOTO: PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

By Precious Igbonwelundu

avoidable. You are aware of the meagre resources and I expect that those handling any equipment or posted onboard ships should be able to maintain them, such that the best is obtained.

Boko Haram: Kenya’s CJ advises Fed Govt on rights protection

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HE Chief Justice of Kenya, Justice Willy Mutunga has urged the Nigerian government to ensure that citizens’ rights were not sacrificed because of the need to conquer the Boko Haram insurgency.

The judge said although it was a difficult task for the country to strike a balance between the protection of national security and the preservation of human rights in the face of increasing threat by the insurgents, it was necessary to discourage impunity by state agents to avert chaos and instability.

Justice Mutunga, who is in the country for the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), spoke in Abuja yesterday during a visit to the Executive Secretary of ththe National Human Rights Commission [NHRC], Prof. bem Angwe.

He noted that the war against terror must follow due process and rules of engagement as it was being, “waged against our motherland. Our commitment is that our motherland must survive.”

“These strategies must conform to the principles of rule of law so as to avoid infringing

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

on the rights of innocent citizens. To do otherwise is to put the citizens in a very difficult situation of double suffering.”

Aware of the pain terrorist cause, Mutunga, who is also the president of the Supreme Court of Kenya, said: “inhuman and murderers as they are, they cannot be our teacher and we cannot therefore treat them as they treat us.”

“As painful and unpopular as this statement may sound, terrorists, rapists, murderers, drug traffickers…they have their rights under our Constitution.”

“Terrorists are not our teachers so the question is why do they deserve our sympathy? But we take high moral grounds of morality. People who don’t deserve sympathy are taken through a humane process of administration of justice.

But the war against terrorism must be fought in a way that said citizens must be able to tell the difference between state actions and those of terrorists.

“To effectively respond to terrorism threats, it is also critical that we continue building and enhancing the capacity of our security and criminal justice systems,” Mutunga said.

“We must start handling government property with care, as we would our personnel property. When we handle government property carelessly, we are shortchanging ourselves because the money we should use for something else would be

E

personnel, who come to Apapa from far distances as Badagry, he assured them of his commitment to ensure they are taken off the streets and provided accommodation within the barracks.

He said: ‘’I, the CNS will not involve myself in any illegal

Fed Govt vows to complete bombed UN House in six months

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HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu, yesterday assured the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban kiMoon, of the commitment of the Federal Government to complete and handover the damaged United Nations, (UN) Common Building in six months.

Chukwu gave the assurance after laying of wreath in honour of the 23 victims that died in the unfortunate bomb attack on the UN House on August 26, 2011.

He said the Federal Government would do everything possible to avoid further delay.

The permanent secretary challenged the contractor, M/S Julius Berger Nigeria, handling the job, to work round the clock even if it meant running three shifts to complete the work in order to put that sad event behind us.

His words: “The contractors already said they would need between five to eight months to get the job fixed

•Ban ki-Moon praises govt efforts From: Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

but I have asked them to fast track their approach by working 24 hours to get it done within 5 months.”

According to him, “we cannot afford to delay here anymore, this project is very important, because Nigeria government is committed to its obligations”.

He reiterated that the FCT Administration and the United Nations had sorted out all grey areas as some of the meetings even included the UN experts.

Speaking on the occasion, the representative of the contractor, who also serves as the Division Manager, M/S Julius Berger Nigeria, Mr. Marco Braun, assured that with adequate funding the firm would try its best to deliver.

Ban ki-Moon commended the Federal Government for rebuilding the UN House and urged UN workers to be patient for the completion of the building.

His words: “I am happy to be with you today I know the troubled you are passing through and very soon all will soon become history. I pay tribute to all our 23 friends who lost their lives during the Bomb blast. We still remember them.

“I also commend the survivors for the courage that they continue to show in working for a better future.

“I commend Nigerian government for the commitment to rebuild the UN House as a symbol of our working relationship. I thank the UN staff for their cooperation and patience. We have the mandate to help promote peace.

Please do not allow the sad development hinder your performance and commitment.”

The Chairman of Federation of United Nations Staff Association in Nigeria (FUNSAN), Dr. Noma Owens lamented that United Nations agencies were scattered all over town because of the delay in the completion of the

•Ki-moon

UN House.

His words: “UN workers are people that work hard and are committed to the promotion of peace in Nigeria and all over the world. His coming is a moral booster and to share some of the challenges we have had.

“The key challenge is the fact that Unite Nations agencies are scattered all over town because of the delay in the completion of the UN House. We appreciate all that the Nigerian government has done.”

The solemn wreath laying is part of the United Nations Secretary-General’s programme of activities lined up for his two-day official visit to Nigeria.

‘Why ISIS chief got Nigeria’s visa’

Ekiti appoints 13 executive secretaries KITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose has approved the appointment of 13 Executive Secretaries for the state public service.

A statement from the Office of the State Head of Service, Dr. Olugbenga Faseluka, explained that the executive secretaries were among the 105 substantive directors that participated in the examination and interview organised by the state government last month.

The new appointees include Mr. Ale James Agbelusi, Mrs. Owoeye Mopelola, Mr. Jeje Abiodun, Mr. Akinola James, Mr. Longe Abayomi, Mr. Olatilu Olubunmi, Mr. Akinbolawa Taiwo, and Engr. Adeola Johnson.

Others are Pharmacist Adewole Abike Olutope, Mrs. Boluwatife Juliet, Mr. Alokan Tokunbo, Mrs. Wale-Awe Bolanle and Dr. Adeniyi Ilesanmi.

The statement added that they would be in charge of the activities of Bureau of Chieftaincy, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Education Endowment Fund, Pension Commission, Bureau of Tourism, Arts and Culture as well as Boundary Commission and Office of the Public Defender.

The remaining executive secretaries would man the State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA), Primary Health Care Development Agency, Bureau of Productivity and Empowerment, Solid Minerals Development Agency, State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) and Farm Settlement and Peasant Farmer.

It said that the appointments are with immediate effect.

used for repairs,” he said.

Ibas said plans had been concluded for retired officers, who are knowledgeable, to be engaged as resource persons for naval training schools by next month.

While acknowledging the stress encountered by junior

act and I will not tolerate it.

Nobody will or should use my name to perpetrate any illegal operation.

“If you find yourself in a tight corner, contact me, most of you have my phone number and it is that same number I am using.

“If those engage in these vices are your friends, for your good, disengage from them. For those who are willing to toll the path of honour, feel free to call my number. ‘’The nation is losing a lot through illegal activities and we must stop it. We must tackle crude oil theft and other fraudulent practices at sea.

“If the menace at sea is contained, there will be more revenue for the country, which means more money may come to the navy to address some shortcomings. ‘’Laxity of the past will no longer be tolerated, the navy must live up to its constitutional responsibility.”

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ADICAL Lebanese Islamic cleric, Ahmad Al-Assir, who was arrested last week as he attempted traveling to Nigeria, got a Nigerian visa because the country’s embassies do not capture applicants’ biometric data, Premium Times quoted an anonymous official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Biometrics cover a variety of unique identifiable attributes of people including fingerprint, iris print, hand, face, voice, gait or signatures, and are used for identification and authentication.

The foreign affairs official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said with the surge of security breaches and religious fundamentalism, biometric capturing had

become a norm yet, Nigeria, currently battling Boko Haram insurgency, failed to utilise the technology.

“While the measure tends to pre-empt influx of terrorists, they depend on the use of stop list for potential visa applicants,” the official said.

He added: “If we have a bank for storing the number of personal data which should be distributed to all our embassies; the prevailing spate of insecurity in the globe which has gone beyond just the antiquated stop list method would be checkmated.”

The official said the antiquated list, which Nigerian embassies rely on were not even backed with photographs or fingerprints.

He said Nigerian consular officers do not embark on

adequate background check on all visa requests as no applicant appears for oral interview with visas even issued in absentia.

The official wondered why visa applications go through a third party state passport and why Nigerian embassies rarely verified addresses and telephone number(s) of the person inviting the visa applicant.

He suggested that the Federal Government take steps to abolish the policy of the issuance of visa within 48 hours and make room for efficiency through technology.

Some countries currently adopting the biometrics technology include: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Gambia, Germany, India, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ukraine,

United Kingdom and United States of America.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulus Lolo, told PREMIUM TIMES that he has personally launched his own investigation into the matter.

He said the terrorist might had operated under a pseudo name.

Mr. Al-Assir, a radical Muslim cleric, was arrested on August 15, after he was caught trying to travel to Nigeria through Cairo, Egypt, with a fake Palestinian passport and a valid Nigerian visa at the Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport in Lebanon.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into how the wanted terrorist was able to obtain a valid Nigerian visa.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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NEWS

‘Fake’ Ondo PDP lawmakers may Mimiko warns workers on verification be arraigned soon O T •Governor says those liable ‘ll face the law

WO Ondo Peoples D e m o c r a t i c Party(PDP)lawmakers - Abayomi Akinruntan and Malachi Coker representing Ilaje 1 and 11 State Constituencies – may be arraigned in court soon for alleged assumption of office without Certificate of Returns from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The arraignment followed the conclusion of their interrogation by the police.

Sources said the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Princess Jumoke Akindele, and the Clerk, Bode Adeyelu, may also not be spared.

The two lawmakers, who were allegedly sworn in illegally on June 1, had earlier being invited to the Force Headquarters for interroga-

•Assembly Speaker, Clerk in trouble From Damisi Ojo, Akure

tion over the matter.

It was learnt that investigation was concluded last Thursday by the police from the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Abuja.

The probe, sources said, was delayed till last week to enable the clerk make his statement, which he eventually did last Wednesday.

It was learnt that the investigation, which started on July 8, took the FCID operatives to Akure, the Ondo State capital, on two occasions.

It also involved the questioning of the state Resident

Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Segun Agbaje, and the two Returning officers for Ilaje I and II in the April 11 House of Assembly election, which was adjudged inconclusive by the INEC. INEC had declared that the election was marred with widespread irregularities.

Sources added that the inability to arraign the four persons involved in the matter last week was because the Assistant Inspector General(AIG), who was in charge of criminal investigation at the FCIB, Mr. A. Adeniji, has been promoted to Deputy Inspector

General(DIG) and moved to the Force Headquarters.

It was learnt that the officer deployed to replace him was “yet to be fully briefed” as at yesterday.

The police started their probe after the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), through its lawyer, Charles Titiloye, petitioned the Inspector General of Police(IGP) that the Speaker and the clerk allegedly conspired to fraudulently swearin Akinruntan and Coker without the Certificates of Return from the INEC. The two lawmakers escaped arrest when detectives from the Force Headquarters stormed Akure to pick them few weeks ago.

They eventually made themselves available for interrogation.

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has warned the state’s workers that anybody found to be criminally liable in the on-going verification would “face the wrath of the law”.

Mimiko spoke yesterday during an unscheduled inspection visit to Oyemekun and C.A.C Grammar Schools in Akure, the state capital, where the exercise was being conducted.

The governor noted that the verification would afford the state government the opportunity to clean up its payroll and eradicate sharp practices, which, he said, are detrimental to the government and the people.

Mimiko, who explained that there were shortcomings in the state electronic data capturing system, said that the on-going exercise would clean up the payroll system and make some savings for government.

The governor, who said over 80 per cent of tax payers in the state were public servants, appealed to eligible citizens to exercise their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes and other levies so that his administration could continue to provide social services to the people.

He hailed teachers for the support given to government officials assigned for the exercise, which, according to him, has aided its smooth process.

Mimiko added that his administration has embarked on financial engineering, which, he said, has assisted the state government to continue to pay workers salaries and fulfill its other responsibilities.

“I got to know that there are some cases of impersonation in some places. Some of them have been arrested and handed over to the police. There is no question about the fact that anybody that is found to be criminally liable in this exercise will be made to face the wrath of the law.

“The whole idea is to clean up our payroll. Yes, we have electronic data capture and we added biometric to the electronic data capturing system, but you know this electronic system might not be perfect. This exercise will afford us the opportunity to clean up the data at the end of this exercise. Some, who had retired in 2013/2014 still have their names on the payroll,” Mimiko said.

Court vacates order on Ayangburen’s coronation LAGOS High Court sitting in Ikeja has vacated an order of interim injunction restraining Governor Akinwunmi Ambode from performing the coronation ceremony of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi.

The claimant’s lawyer prayed the court for an extension of the interim order of injunction earlier granted until after the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

Having listened to all counsels, Justice Olabisi Ogungbesan, in her ruling, refused to grant an extension to an earlier order dated August 14, in which she granted an interim injunction.

She said the order of interim injunction was for a period of seven days, by effluxion of time

A

•From left: Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, outgoing Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folushade Omolara Erogbogbo and former Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, during 60 th Birthday and Thanksgiving Service of Mrs. Erogbogbo at the African Church Archcathedral Bathel, Lagos.

PHOTO: ABIDOUN WILLIAMS.

Mum arrested for alleged murder of own baby

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he Police in Ondo State yesterday arrested a 30-year-old woman, Mrs. Toyin Akinrosotu, for allegedly killing her six-month-old baby during a scuffle with her neighbours.

Mrs. Akinrosotu, according to sources, was arrested by policemen in Idanre, headquarters of Idanre Local Government Area.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Detectives said the suspect was responsible for the death of the baby who was in her custody as at the time he died.

It was learnt that the suspect was holding the deceased baby when she engaged in a physical combat with some people and in the process, battered the infant.

The baby reportedly died at

a private hospital, where he was rushed to after the scuffle.

The infant’s body was said to have been deposited at the morgue of Idanre General Hospital.

Sources said the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) of the state Police Command was probing the cause of the brawl.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said the baby’s mother reported the matter to the police and, upon investigation, she was arrested.

Ogodo added that the command has launched investigations into the cause of the baby’s death, adding that the suspect would be arraigned in court as after investigation is concluded.

Tinubu leader of all times, says APC chieftain

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CHIEFTAIN of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), Basorun Tajudeen Jaiyesimi, has described the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as “a leader of all times”.

Jaiyesimi, who spoke following the conferment of “Baba Oba of Ikorodu” title on Tinubu, reasoned that the APC national leader’s “leadership qualities cannot be overemphasized”.

He noted that Tinubu persistently demonstrated sterling qualities since his days

as treasurer of Mobil Plc. He added that it was Tinubu’s ingenuity that led to the construction of the ultramodern office of the oil company at Victoria Island, Lagos.

“That Lagos is what it is today cannot be divorced from Asiwaju’s vision of a well-developed and prosperous Lagos.

“He was able to do this, using his vast experience in the corporate world to turn the state into a dream come true.

“Lagosians will recall the ingenuity he brought into the system, which led to a

quantum leap in the resources of Lagos.

“This is aside the setting up of political structure that has made the state to continue to work.

“To cap it all, he used his vision and resources to spread development, starting from the Southwest to other zones under the control of the APC. “That APC won the presidential election surely is the icing on the cake for the Jagaban,” he said.

Jaiyesimi, who is the Basorun of Ipakodo, Ikorodu,, hailed the

Ayangbure, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, for conferring the title on Tinubu.

This, he added, showed that the traditional ruler was on the same page with his people.

“I’m not surprised that Kabiyesi honoured Asiwaju with the great title of Baba Oba because Kabiyesi stands for the growth and development of Ikorodu.

“It only confirms that our Kabiyesi, just like the people, recognise the contributions of Asiwaju to the development of Ikorodu,” he added.

automatically lapses on Friday, August 21, following upon which the said order of injunction will thereby stand vacated accordingly.

Justice Ogungbesan had earlier found merit in the ex-parte application of one Odupitan Eniola seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Government or its agents from performing the coronation ceremony on Saturday, August 15.

In a motion on notice, the state government had sought to quash the earlier order of interim injunction made by the court, halting the coronation ceremony.

It said it should be set aside for an order dismissing the suit to be made on grounds of constituting an abuse of the court process.

Amosun to religious leaders: pray for Nigeria

By Adebisi Onanuga

O

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has assured that the nation’s dream towards attaining the much-desired height will be fulfilled.

He urged religious leaders to continue praying for positive change at all levels of government.

Amosun said this in a message at the grand finale of the 2015 Tabiorah programme of the Church of the Lord World-Wide, Aladura Ground at Ogere Remo, Ogun State.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Yetunde Onanuga, noted that the ongoing change by the Federal Government and All Progressive Congress(APC) state governments were taking a positive shape.

He added that only prayers from religious leaders/stakeholders could help political leaders achieve the required breakthrough.

A statement by Press Officer in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Miss Damilola Koleade, said the governor acknowledged the support given to his administration since inception.

He reiterated his government’s commitment to the provision of more infrastructural development and other people-oriented programmes that would improve the well-being of the people.

Amosun congratulated the Primate of the Church of the Lord Worldwide, the most Rev. Rufus Ositelu, and church members on this year’s anniversary, which also coincided with its 79th evangelism.

He urged the primate not to relent in praying for peace, tranquility and development of the country and state.

He added that the theme of this year’s anniversary, “Divine prosperity”, was in tandem with the ongoing transformation agenda embarked upon by the President Muhammad Buhari-led administration to take the country to the promise land.

In his exhortation, Ositelu decried the insecurity, corruption and unemployment among others challenges facing the country.

He called on Nigerians to join the Federal Government in tackling the menace that has become the order of the day.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

NEWS Ogun community protests attacks by land speculators From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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From left: Human rights lawyer Festus Keyamo; Chairman Board of Trustees, Little Saint Ophanage Captain Jide George; wife of Lagos State Governor Bolanle Ambode; National President, Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON) Rev. Dele George and National Secretary, ASOHON Dr. Gabriel Oyediji, during the maiden edition of ASOHON 2015 National Conference, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos…yesterday.

Lagos to Fed Govt: relocate illegal Togolese immigrants T HE Lagos State Government has urged the Federal Government to relocate the 199 illegal Togolese immigrants camped at the Lagos Emergency Resettlement Centres (ERCs) in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area and Agbowa, Ikorodu to their country.

Secretary to the State Government Mr. Tunji Bello said the state government could no longer continue to accommodate the illegal immigrants due to the enormous pressure on its ERCs at Igando and Agbowa.

According to Bello, the Togolese were first sighted at Awolowo road, Ikoyi, directly in front of the United Nations Refugees office fol-

lowing which the governor directed that the relevant state agency should take up responsibility of accommodating them.

He added that the governor directed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Immigration Services should be notified, a directive that was carried out.

Bello noted that these agencies have not taken any step to address the situation because the number of illegal immigrants continues to rise.

“As at today, they are 199 up from 114, thereby putting serious pressure on the lim-

ited space at the two camps. ”Investigations by the state revealed that these Togolese immigrants were expelled from Benin Republic, where they had lived for over 10 years. ”They came to Lagos and because of the accommodation provided by the government, those illegal immigrants at the Igando camp started calling others on phone in Benin Republic to come to Nigeria. Another batch of 85 illegal immigrants of same Togolese descent were taken to ERC, Agbowa.

“They came in illegally

through the Nigerian borders,” the Secretary to the State Government said.

Bello warned that the state’s hospitality to Nigerian residents and other lawful inhabitants in distress should not be abused or over-stretched because the ERC was built to accommodate Lagosians and Nigerian residents during emergencies and period of disasters.

He said the emergency facilities could no longer accommodate anybody.

The state government urged the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure that the nation’s borders are well-manned.

Aderemi joins the race for Ooni’s throne

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PRINCE of Ile-Ife, Prince Adedamola Aderemi, has joined the list of top contenders in the race for Ooni’s throne.

This followed the demise of the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II. Princes from the town’s four ruling families - Osinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafogido have started showing strong interest for the vacant seat.

Aderemi was born into the Osinkola ruling house over 50 years ago. He is the son of Aderoju, who is also the legal luminary son of the late Oba Adesoji Aderemi.

Oba Aderemi was succeeded by Sijuwade.

The prince, who holds LLB and Masters of Laws from the Obafemi Awolowo University, graduated as the best masters’ student.

He obtained professional qualifications from law institutions within and outside the country, namely, Nigeria Law School and Inns of Court School of Law. For over thirty years, the prince has been practising law successfully, both in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. He is cerebral, culturally exposed and with wide social network.

He started the profession as a Legislative Aide and Legal Draftsman in Kwara State House of Assembly during his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), before proceeding to be

By Oluwatomisin Amokeoja

the State Counsel in the Oyo State Ministry of Justice.

In 1983, he moved on to take a job as a law lecturer at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). Aderemi acted on several occasions as head of two departments - Department of Jurisprudence and Private Law and Department of International Law. He also practiced in two law firms in Nigeria, namely, Law firm of Femi Atoyebi and S. O. Ajayi and Co & Pinnacle Chambers, before becoming a Barrister at Chambers of W ForsterJones in England.

Between 1998 and 1999, he was a frontline gubernatorial aspirant of Alliance for Democracy (AD). He was also former President of Ife Metro Jaycees.

He is currently Director, (formerly Managing Director) Ovation International, publishers of Ovation Magazine. He has also been the Director of Energy Bank, Ghana since February 2010.

Prince Aderemi also serves as the External General Legal Counsel of Global Fleet/ Energy Group since 2005.

Over the years, he has made so many achievements professionally and academically with areas of specialisation in criminal law, immigration, human rights law, family law, commercial law and transactional law.

Aside from law, the prince has several published articles and

contributions to books in the area of Banking, Local Government Law and Criminal Law to his credit.

In his quest for development, he was involved in several high profile transactional matters in Nigeria - the oil and gas and energy sectors as well as hospitality and insurance industry.

He has successfully litigated several major cases both in Nigeria and the UK, which included cases such as the NOGA commercial case and Serious Crimes in the UK. About 13 years ago, he was exceptionally allowed to practise up to Supreme Court level in the United States (U.S.) in a case involving serious fraud and sovereignty.

Due to his level of professionalism, he appeared in English House of Lords in a case, which overturned more than 500 years

ESIDENTS of Oke -Ore town yesterday on OtaIdiroko road, Ogun State protested the incessant attacks by land speculators.

They alleged that land speculators wanted to forcefully eject them from their ancestral homeland.

For an hour, vehicular traffic came to a halt as the town’s women, men and youths armed with placards and tree branches, marched on the stretch of the dual lanes road, cursing land speculators that have been terrorising them since the beginning of the year.

The residents said they have “lost a promising young boy, Bidemi Akinde, last Wednesday, including their peace and privacy, to such attacks”.

They appealed to the Federal Government to protect them from routine assault by the land grabbers.

They accused a land speculator of frequently leading armed thugs “to attack them day and night”, ostensibly to dispossess them of their residential and farm lands.

Addressing reporters in midst of the town’s chiefs, their community development committee’s (CDC) chairman, Apostle Kunle Amosu, said they are predominantly Egba and Egbado people, whose ancestors lived and occupied their present location over 300 years ago.

Amosu said there were no records that their forefathers paid tribute on the land to anybody by whatever name, wondering why the land grabber and some families in Ota were bent on dispossessing them of their “inheritance.”

He noted that the land speculator was arrested last week with the help of soldiers and handed over to the police.

He appealed to Nigerians to protect and ensure that the land speculator “does not escape justice”.

Medview flies Hajj pilgrims

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EDVIEW Airline yesterday started Hajj operations with the airlifting of 540 pilgrims to Medina for this year’s Holy pilgrimage to Mecca.

The pilgrims from Ogun State were airlifted in two jumbo aircraft - B777-200ER and B767-300ER - from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

The operation will continue for the next two weeks for the airline to complete the airlift of over 9,000 pilgrims allocated to it by the National Hajj Commission.

Medview Airline is operating from four airports – Lagos for Southwest, Port Harcourt (Southsouth), Enugu (Southeast states) and Maiduguri for Borno State pilgrims.

Ex-Ekiti Speaker denies defection

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•Aderemi

of jurisprudence in relation to an aspect of domicile in international law.

He is a man that loves cricket, football, watching sports, reading and politics.

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

Officials of the Zone’s Hajj Commission expressed satisfaction over the airline’s preparedness for the airlift.

Medview Airline’s Managing Director/Chief executive officer , Alhaji Muneer Bankole, yesterday assured pilgrims of hitch-free operations.

He told pilgrims during documentation at the Hajj Camp, Murtala Muhammed Airport, that they were being flown directly to Medina.

He said the plan would remove the stress and hazard associated with road transportation from Jeddah to the Holy Land.

ORMER Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly Olufemi Bamisile has denied returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He declared that the PDP has become history for him and he would never return to his “vomit”.

Bamisile, in a statement yesterday, maintained that he remained a committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and “was more resolute in his resolve to emerge as the next governor of the state in the 2018 polls”.

The former Speaker confirmed that he had a meeting with some paramount traditional rulers in his local government area of Ekiti East, only for Governor Ayo Fayose to join midway.

Bamisile said: “It is no news that Ekiti APC is back on her track, having learnt from her lessons in

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

governance and politics of Ekiti State. I had offered myself as the biblical Nehemiah, who rebuilt the fallen walls of Jerusalem.

“Indeed, I had a meeting with the traditional kings, where Governor Fayose joined. He said I would be given the ticket of the PDP, if I return to his party and held my legs, begging that the kings should plead with me.

“I snubbed and immediately left him in the room because I think it was unhealthy for our political system, if we soil the hands of our traditional kings into the dirty mud of politics.”

Bamisile said his activities had put the governor on pressure, and returned the vigour to the Ekiti State APC.

Ace comedian Baba Sala discharged from UCH

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ENOWNED comedian Moses Adejumo (aka Baba Sala) was discharged yesterday from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan after spending eight days.

Baba Sala, 80, was rushed to the hospital on Monday, August 17, after he complained of discomfort, which the UCH spokesman, Deji Bobade, confirmed as old-age related symptom.

Bobade said Baba Sala was discharged at 3:47p.m after he

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

recovered from the ailment.

“Baba Sala has fully recovered now and has been discharged.

We gave him necessary medical care. If he’s not alright, we would not have discharged him,” he said.

One of his sons, Emmanuel Adejumo, took to his Facebook page and said: “To the glory of God, my daddy has been discharged from the hospital today.

I want to use this opportunity

to thank all friends and fan of my daddy for the love, care and concerns. He actually thanks everyone for all comments and love.”

On Saturday, members of Adejumo family decried the “constant rumour of the death of their father in the media”.

When The Nation visited the hospital on Saturday, it was observed that more private security men were stationed at the entrance of the South West 3 Ward, where the octogenarian was re-

ceiving treatment.

His family members, including his children and one of his wives, said they were advised to stay outside the ward so that the hospital medical team could have enough time to observe the health of the comedian.

On Thursday, the UCH Chief Medical Director, Prof.

Temitope Alonge, said the hospital would be responsible for the hospital bill of the comedian.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

NEWS ‘Save oil producing communities’

By Musa Odoshimokhe

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N Itsekiri high chief and the Igba of Warri, Mrs Rita-Lori Ogbebor, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Delta State government to stop diverting funds for the development oil producing communities.

She said the 13 per cent derivation for oil producing communities was being mismanaged.

At a conference yesterday in Lagos, the high chief and spokesperson for some oil producing communities in Delta State, said the state government was using the Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to collect money that was going into the hands of “a cabal”.

Mrs Ogbebor said: “About 16 years ago, I challenged former Governor James Ibori for using our derivation fund with the state allocation. We were in court for nearly eight years of his reign and it went as far as the Supreme Court.

“Just before he left, he created the DESOPADEC, which gave the state 50 per cent of the fund from the derivation and allocated 50 per cent to the oil producing areas.”

The spokesperson said former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan did not redress the abnormality under Ibori, which she said caused untold hardship to the people.

She said: “The painful thing is that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who worked against the controversial bill to look at the activities of DESOPADEC, has suddenly put up his bill, which was passed in a big rush without letting the people who actually produce the oil to know its impact.

“Some of our people, who went there to make input on the bill, were beaten up. At last, the controversial bill was passed.

This will divide Delta State, as usual.”

The environmental activist urged President Buhari to intervene in the matter, in line with his administration’s change mantra.

According to her, life in the oil producing areas had become brutish and short.

Mrs Ogbebor said oil producing areas lacked arable farmland, drinking water and were exposed to health hazard and poverty.

She added: “Recently, DESOPADEC officials boasted that the commission had done wonderful work in the oil producing communities.

“I challenge them within seven days to produce the evidence of the work.

Otherwise, I will invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), world press and the Federal Government representatives to tour the area to show us the good work done, having received huge amounts of money on our behalf.”

NJC queries Osun judge for alleged husband snatching

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HE National Judicial Council (NJC) has queried Justice Olamide Oloyede of the Osun State Judiciary over allegation that she unlawfully cohabited with another man.

Justice Oloyede recently petitioned the Osun State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Rauf Aregesoola for alleged financial misconduct.

The House has dismissed the petition.

A mother of four, Mrs. Emily Richard-Obire, petitioned the NJC that the judge allegedly cohabited with her husband, Richard-Obire.

Mrs. Richhard-Obire, in

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the petition dated July 13, alleged that her husband moved out of their matrimonial home in Lagos since 2011 and often travelled to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to cohabit with the judge.

She claimed that her husband and Justice Oloyode were adherents of Grail Message and must have met in one of their meetings.

She said the alleged relationship between her husband and the judge had gone to the extent that the judge’s official car was in RichardObire’s custody.

Mrs. Richard-Obire urged the NJC to restrain Justice

Oloyede “from further acts of having an affair with my husband”.

She expressed fear that the judge could eventually “snatch” her husband and encourage him to abdicate his responsibilities, if nothing urgent was done.

The petitioner said: “I am afraid that if something urgent is not done, Justice Oloyede may finally snatch my husband and he may eventually and finally abdicate his responsibilities. I have evidence to the effect that she has been addressing my husband as her ‘husband’ and also my husband addresses her as ‘my beautiful

wife’, knowing that there is subsistence of marriage between us.

“I urge you to use your good offices to restrain Justice Olamide Oloyede from further acts of having affair with my husband.”

Following the receipt of the petition, the Chief Justice of Nigerian (CJN), who is also NJC’s Chairman, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, directed that a copy of the petition be sent to the judge to which she must respond within 14 days of receiving it.

A copy of the CJN’s directive, dated July 28, sent through the Osun State Chief Judge, Justice O. A. Ojo, was

Ondo Varsity’s VC, ex-Provost in leadership struggle

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HERE is confusion at the Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, over who is in charge of the institution.

A former Provost, Prof.

Olukoya Ogen, and the university’s newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Richard King are claiming legitimacy to the same VC’s seat.

The new VC was appointed a few weeks to the end of the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan, when institution was

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Adeyemi College of Education.

It was upgraded with three other colleges to a university status.

Before the upgrade, Prof.

Ogen was in charge of the college; he left after it became a university.

Members of the university’s community were confused when news got to town that Prof Ogen had been authorised to resume at his pre-

vious post and that the upgrade of the institution had been reversed.

It was learnt, two weeks ago, that non-teaching workers of the institution staged a peaceful protest over the alleged plan to reverse the school’s status.

Sources said Prof Ogen was given a letter on August 19 to take return to his previous post as the provost.

The embattled VC was said to have issued a circular yesterday to the workers that

he had not received any letter to vacate his seat.

The institution’s management declined comments when our reporter contacted them last night.

But a senior lecturer urged the workers not to fear.

He said the issue would soon be resolved.

According to him, there has not been any official announcement from the Federal Government and the school had not received any circular to that effect.

•From left: Former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch, Mr Alex Muoka; Managing Partner, Technology Advisors and ICT lawyer, Mr Basil Udotai; Legal and Board Matter Unit, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Mr Emmanuel Edet; President, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), Mrs Sola Salako and Chief Corporate Service Officer, SMILE Communications Nigeria Limited, Mr Tobe Okigbo, during this year’s Technology Times Outlook forum on Cyber Crimes Law Review, in Lagos

Kogi, Bayelsa voter registration to hold Sept. 2

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will begin the Continuous Voter Registration in Kogi and Bayelsa states on September 2 till September 7, ahead of the governorship elections in both states.

The commission’s daily bulletin yesterday said the registration would hold in the local government areas from 8a.m. to 4p.m. daily.

It noted that the five-day registration was for those yet unregistered and those who just turned 18.

“Those who were eligible but did not register before the March and April general election and those who registered but their names were not in the voters’ register”, INEC said.

“There are also those who have attained the age of 18 years since the last registration”, it said.

The commission urged prospective voters in both states to register so that they can vote

APGA’s governorship form for Kogi, Bayelsa polls costs N1.5m

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HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has said its form for this year’s governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states will cost N1.5 million.

APGA’s National Director of Publicity, Mr Ifeanacho Ogbuejiofor, spoke in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ogbuejiofor said the “Expression of Interest Form” would cost N500,000 while the Nomination Form would cost N1 million.

He said sale of the form began yesterday, adding that the forms would be obtained at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Ogbuejiofor said the party was ready to participate in the elections in both states and ensure that it fielded good candidates for the polls.

The spokesman said the dates for the primaries to pick the party’s candidates would be decided after the sale of the forms and ascertaining the number of aspirants.

He said: “Before now, many persons have shown interest to contest in the elections in both states. I hope that now that the party is ready, they will come for the forms.” in the elections.

It said the commission held a stakeholders’ meeting in Kogi and would hold a similar meeting in Bayelsa on

Thursday.

Also, INEC has urged election monitors to make meaningful observations and recommendations that would

further strengthen the electoral process.

Its bulletin quoted the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole OsazeUzzi, as speaking at a stakeholders’ post-election review of gender responsiveness during elections.

It said Osaze-Uzzi, who was represented by the commission’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang, said INEC had benefited from the recommendation of election monitors.

He noted that such recommendations had been factored into the commission’s plans to strengthen the country’s electoral process.

Osaze-Uzzi said: “It is what observers say about an election that gives it credibility.

“That is why it is always important, especially for a growing democracy like that of Nigeria, to always factor and invite observers and report the process before, during and after the election.”

sighted yesterday by our reporter.

It is titled: “Re: Petition against Justice Olamide Oloyede of the Osun State Judiciary.”

The CJN’s directive reads: “I forward herewith a petition, dated July 13, 2015, against you by Mrs. Emily Richard-Obire on the above subject matter. The petition speaks for itself.

“I shall be glad to have your comments within 14 days from the date of your receipt of this letter.”

The Nation could not confirm yesterday if the judge had responded to the petition, as directed by the CJN.

You can’t destroy Fayemi’s legacies, APC tells Fayose From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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KITI State All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to Governor Ayo Fayose’s mocking of the legacies of his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as not worthy of emulation and sustaining.

The APC, in a statement by its spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said rather than showing delight in destroying Fayemi’s legacies, “Fayose was not only destroying himself, but also mortgaging the future of Ekiti people through stomach infrastructure that provides a kilogramme of rice and threemonth-old chicken at every Christmas”.

Olatunbosun said Fayemi’s projects presented the best opportunities for the state to grow, but Fayose has been hiding under non-existent debts to deny Ekiti people the needed development.

He added that 10 months after inauguration, the governor could not point to any project he had initiated, except conducting road shows, including buying pepper and tomatoes in open markets, to pose as a friend of the poor, even when all he had done so far tended towards taking sufferings to the doorsteps of Ekiti people.

“Fayose claimed that Ekiti owed N86 billion, when in reality the debt restructuring as released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) and published in ThisDay of Friday, August 21, 2015, confirmed Ekiti debt as N18. 8 billion after conversion to long-term bond.

“This has shown that Fayose is a pathological and serial liar. Ekiti people should now ask Fayose, where he got the N8 billion figure he has been bandying around that does not allow him implement development projects, including payments of gratuities and pensions for several months while also refusing to pay last year September salaries and five months salaries to traditional rulers after collecting allocations for the payments,” he said.

Olatunbosun also challenged Fayose to probe Fayemi, who has made himself available in the last 10 months, if he is sure of his allegations.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘It is regrettable that the damaging consequences of the Ecowas CET policy on the local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in Nigeria were not considered despite our desperate attempts to draw attention to this. This policy undoubtedly spells doom for the local industry as imported medicines will become far cheaper than locally produced ones’ Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG MAN), Mr. Okey Akpa

‘Low awareness inhibits Nigeria to be self-sufficient in sugar, women entrepreneurs’ growth’ rice, others by 2019, says Dangote T

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FRICA’S richest man and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote yesterday said Nigeria would be self-sufficient in rice, sugar and other commodities in the next four years.

He said this in Abuja at a meeting with the United Nations’ Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, businessmen and some philanthropists.

Dangote, who spoke against the backdrop of his investment in the economy in the nation, added that Nigeria would soon become the largest exporter of petroleum products and fertiliser.

The business mogul said he would not want to be known

as the richest man alone, but would also lend his voice and other capacity to better the lots of Nigerians.

He commended the steps being taken by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in addressing the challenge of corruption facing the nation.

“War on corruption will enable government to have better outcome on any naira or dollar earned or spent,” he said.

He said the government was taking measures to diversify the economy by promoting local production of essential commodities.

According to him, this will enhance the growth of the

economy in job creation and preservation of scarce foreign exchange.

He said the business community in Nigeria would focus more on developing the non-oil sector to support the government efforts in diversifying the economy and reduce reliance on importation of goods.

“We are committed to improving the economy in a responsible and sustainable way,” he said.

Earlier, the UN scribe urged the businessmen to work towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Nigeria.

He said the solution to the

challenges facing Nigeria, which was not limited to the nation, should be all inclusive, stressing that no country could solve its problems alone.

“No country or institution can solve its challenge alone; we must harness the power of the private sector and civil society for share of solution to the complex challenges.

“We need to build all inclusive global partnership with the future of accountability and for share of responsibility; we must leverage on our comparative strength, capacities and resources to achieve meaningful result,” he said

• From left: Group Head, Lagos Island, FirstBank, Mr. Tunde Owolabi; Group Head, Lagos Mainland, Mrs. Funke Smith; Oba of Igbobi-Sabe, HRM. Oba Owolabi Adeniyi, and Managing Director, Environmental Accord, Mr. Ibrahim Salau, at FirstBank’s Voice of the Customer Forum in Lagos.

Fed Govt seeks establishment of national cooperative fund T

HE Federal Government is seeking the establishment of National Cooperative Development Fund in line with the recommendations of the National Cooperative Development Policy (2002) to guarantee access to finance by the Cooperative Societies for its members.

Federal Director, Cooperatives, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Dickson Okolo, who spoke at the weekend, stressed the need to strengthen and upgrade the Federal Department of Cooperatives to a commission or an agency.

He said the commission or agency should be backed with authority and budget to enable it properly supervise and regulate the cooperative movement in Nigeria A statement in Abuja

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

showed that he spoke in Asaba, the Delta State capital, while delivering a lecture with Enhancing greater access to finance for cooperatives through the establishment of a National Cooperative Development Fund as its theme during the summit organised by the National Cooperative Financing Agency of Nigeria (CFAN).

CFAN President, Adebola Orolugbagbe and Executive Secretary, Emmanuel Atama, in a communiqué at the end of the summit, sought a review of the guidelines on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF), which should take into account the peculiar nature of

the cooperative structure and model to make it more cooperative friendly.

The communiqué reads: “The summit equally prefers that the recommended Cooperative Development Agency Commission should be situated in either the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development or the Presidency.

“Some states in Nigeria like Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa have implemented this and advised the Federal Government and other states of the federation to take a cue from the aforementioned states.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria should, as a matter of urgency, include the Federal Department of Cooperatives (FDC) and the

relevant apex financial cooperative body, CFAN, on the steering committee of the MSMEDF to ensure that the apex bank is guided on decisions affecting the cooperative movement as far as the said fund is concerned as against what presently exists.

“The Rural Finance Building Programme (RUFIN) should directly interface with the CFAN as the apex Financial Cooperative body in Nigeria in the execution of its programmes on rural finance building for cooperatives.”

The summit advised cooperative societies to embrace Information Technology to bring about the desired quality of records and to enhance good corporate governance of cooperative societies.

HE Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has said the capacity of women entrepreneurs’ interested in export business has been inhibited because they have failed to take advantage of the export awareness its programme.

Its Head of Trade Information Uyo Zonal Office, Mr. Emmanuel Matthew, who spoke at a one-day Export Enlightenment Programme in Uyo, Akwa State capital, lamented that in spite of the strategic role women play in galvanising local economies and the numerical strength of their involvement in small and medium businesses, only a few of them have been able to take their businesses beyond informal level.

He spoke on Unlocking export opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom State.

He said: “It is saddening that despite the vast business opportunities opened to women entrepreneurs in the state, only a negligible percentage of them have been able to raise their business above the bar within the national and international perspectives.’’

He enjoined women to get adequate knowledge of the export business matrix as well as apply appropriate strategies if they are to be successful in export businesses.

He said the workshop is

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

intended to build women entrepreneurs’ capacity in becoming key global business players through export of products that women have comparative advantage as well as connect them to international network to create export business opportunities.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Glory Edet, represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mrs Edima B. Ndaobong, had in her keynote address, lauded the contributions of women to the economic development of the country.

However she said women’s contributions to gross domestic product (GDP) has remained insignificant over the years because such contribution is not usually seen or quantified because it is not paid for.

She described the theme of the workshop as very appropriate, adding that it would unlock all the gates and showcase their potentials in the State.

The state Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and industries, Emmanuel Enoidem, who was represented by the Director of Commerce, Mr. N. E. Ettang while declaring the workshop open, described women as engine of growth and drivers of the economy of the country.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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BUSINESS NEWS

BoI okays N903.4m loan for SMEs in Gombe

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HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has approved N903.4million for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Gombe State.

Its Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, who spoke during the inauguration of BoI’s new office in the state, said agro-processing accounted for 80 per cent of the loan portfolio.

In a statement, Olaoluwa was quoted to have said so far, projects being financed through loans from the bank created 1, 900 direct and indirect jobs in Gombe State. ”Shortly after his assumption of office on May 2011, the Governor of Gombe State expressed the desire for partnership with BoI as a vehicle

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

for accelerating the socioeconomic development of Gombe State.

“In order to actualise the partnership, he made a pledge to contribute the sum of N500million towards the establishment of a N1.0 billion Entrepreneurial Development Fund which was to be matched in like sum by BoI. “The first tranche of the state’s contribution to the matching fund in the sum of N250million was released in August 2011. This amount was equally matched by BoI thereby creating an initial pool of N500million for onlending to entrepreneurs in the state.”

He said by this gesture, Gombe emerged the first in the Northeast to collaborate with the BoI in entrepreneurial development under the states’ Matching Fund Scheme.

He said: “I am pleased to inform you that to date, a total sum of N903.4million was approved for 171 projects.

However, because the available matching fund was N500million, only 55 per cent of the approved loan amount could be funded under the Matching Fund Scheme. It is evident that there is an urgent need for the state government to release its outstanding contribution of N250million to the Matching Fund.

“Notwithstanding, BoI had disbursed N110million to 16

enterprises in the state from its own resources. In terms of impact, 1,277 direct and 623 indirect jobs totalling 1900 were created. Gombe State is a predominantly agrarian state and this is evidenced by the fact that, 80 per cent of the approved loans was committed to agroprocessing, while 20 per cent was for other sectors such as beverages, construction prod-

ucts, plastic and chemical products.”

The BoI chief noted that given the fact that the state had been identified as a major hub for commoditybased industrial clusters within the Northeast, the bank would concentrate its lending efforts in major industrial clusters such as meat processing, metal fabrication

rice milling and groundnut oil production, among others.

According to him, to deepen its developmental impact in the country, BoI has identified 34 product clusters nationwide, adding that Gombe, being a major hub for clusters in the Norteast, would be a beneficiary of the initiative.

Arik Air, Irish Embassy to partner on trade

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HE Irish Embassy in Nigeria and Enterprise Ireland are seeking to partner with Arik Air on the Irish Trade Mission to Nigeria in December.

Speaking when the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy, led a team of Enterprise Ireland officials to Arik Aviation Centre at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, he said the trade mission to Nigeria is expected to be one of the largest, adding that there would be a lot of interest in the aviation sector as there are about 250 aviation companies in Ireland.

He said the Irish Embassy

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

in Nigeria is committed to improving trade relations between Nigeria and Ireland.

The Head of Africa Region, Enterprise Ireland, Mr. Fred Klinkenberg, who was in the team, said Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in markets around the world.

The organisation work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start,

grow, innovate and win export sales on global markets.

The Trade Mission Representative in Nigeria, Thessa Brongers Bagu while stressing that Arik Air is the airline of choice said Arik would be the official carrier to move the trade mission between Accra, Abuja and Lagos.

Chairman, Arik Air, Sir Joseph ArumemiIkhide, who led the management team of the airline to receive the visitors, said the carrier would be interested in flying the Lagos-Dublin route if there is enough traffic between the two countries.

From left: Partner, Templars Law Firm, Mr. Chike Obianwu; Director, Consumer Protection Department, Central Bank of NIgeria (CBN), Hajiya Umma Dutse; Director, Banking and Payment System Department, Mr. Dipo Fatokun; and Managing Director, Jaiz Bank Plc, Mr. Muhammad Nurul-Islam, during a meeting of the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum in Lagos.

‘Investment in agric ‘ll boost govt revenue’

T

HE Chairman, ODS Global Investment Farms and Company , Alhaji Olaniyi Salami has advised Nigerians to invest in agriculture as crude oil

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

and gas can no longer be sustainable as major revenue earner for the country.

Salami gave this advice during the facility tour of the 50-acre farm land acquired by his company at Onigambari, Ibadan/Ijebu Ode road in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The investor who decried a situation whereby the country continues to spend huge sums to import food despite the availability of vast arable land and enough manpower necessary for self-sufficiency, lamented that importation of food was one of the factors that depleted the country’s foreign reserves.

“My company decided to embark on large scale farming to assist the government in its effort at attaining selfsufficiency in food production and industrial raw materials. The farm, when fully operational, would embark on food processing and also create employment for many people,” he said Salami who emphasised the need to harness agriculture to boost food production and become less-dependent on food importation, also enjoined government at all levels to give priority to that agriculture sector and appoint competent and practising farmers with relevant experience to man the agriculture ministries.

Senate praises NERC for appropriate billing

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HE Senate yesterday commended the Nige rian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for being responsive to the yearnings of the people.

Chairman, Senate Adhoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, in a statement in Abuja, stated that NERC’s intervention and directive to electricity distribution companies (Discos) to restructure fixed charges, discontinue estimated billing and bulk metering of consumers showed that the commission could be relied upon to save electricity consumers from the excesses of the service providers.

While describing the steps taken so far by NERC in response to Senate’s resolution on the issue of fixed charges as pro-people, Melaye said the commission has shown that it is a responsible regulatory body.

The Senate had, shortly before going on its six

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

weeks recess, called on NERC to immediately ensure that Discos discontinue the fixed monthly charges on electricity following a motion on the issue by Senators Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North) and David Umaru (Niger East).

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NERC, Sam Amadi, in response to the issue of fixed charges, said though the practice is legal, the Commission intervened to prevent its abuse and ensure that customers are not forced to pay for what they did not consume.

The Commission agreed with the Senate’s position on the need to eliminate the practice of bulk billing of residential customers and replace the practice with individual metering and billing while urging Nigerians to reject the practice forthwith.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

13

e-Business THE NATION

Tel: 08023335695/08111813065/08099400179

lukajanaku02@gmail.com

SIM deactivation: NCC, telcos in blame game Page 15

NCS urges Buhari to appoint IT professional as ComTech minister Page 16

CYBERCRIME ACT:

Page 50

STORY ON PAGE 14

Still a long way to go

Huawei does not manufacture substandard products

14

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 , 2015

e-Business At the twilight of his administration, former President Goodluck Jonathan assented to the Cybercrime Bill which had earlier been passed into law by the Sixth National Assembly to become the Cybercrime Act 2015. Last week in Lagos, during Technology Times Outlook, stakeholders, largely telecom lawyers, gathered to review the law.

The consensus was that there is still a long way to go as several lacunae were decidedly created by the authors of the law.

Cybercrime Act: Still a long way to go

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HE hall of Rodizzo Event Centre, GRA, Ikeja, venue of Technology Times Outlook on Nigeria Cybercrime Act 2015 Review was filled to capacity. After the formal introduction of guests, largely telecoms legal practitioners, some from the telcos and others from Federal Government agency such as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and from the human rights community, the lead presenter, Managing Partner, Technology Advisors, ICT Lawyers & Consultants, Basil Udotai mounted the rostrum and took a sweeping look at the provisions of the Act. The Act, among others, prescribes punishment for vandalism of critical infrastructure, other offences.

Henceforth, any crime or injury on critical national information infrastructure, sale of pre-registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, unlawful access to computer systems, cyber-terrorism, among others will be punishable by this Act. The Act Lists offences and penalties including unlawful access to computers, unlawful operation of cybercafes, system interference, intercepting electronic messages, emails, e-money transfer, tampering with critical infrastructure, computer-related forgery are punishable under the Act. Theft of electronic devices, electronic signature, child pornography and related offences, racism and xenophobic offences are punishable under the Act. The objectives of this Act are to-provide an effective and unified legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria: ensure the protection of critical national information infrastructure and promote cyber security and the protection of computer systems and networks electronic communications, data and computer programs intellectual property and privacy rights.

Highlight of the Act are: Part 11: Protection of Critical National Infrastructure which states that (1) The President may, on the recommendation of the National Security Adviser,

by Order published in the Federal Gazette, designate certain computer systems or networks, whether physical or virtual, the computer programs, computer data or traffic data vital to this country that incapacity or destruction of or interference with such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national or economic security, national public health and safety or any combination of those matters as constituting Critical National Information Infrastructure; The Presidential Order made under subsection (1) of this section may prescribe minimum standards, guidelines, rules or procedure in respect of- the protection or preservation of critical information infrastructure: the general management of critical information infrastructure: access to transfer and control of data in any critical information infrastructure: infrastructural or procedural rules and requirements for securing the integrity and authenticity of data or information contained in any designated critical national information infrastructure: the storage or archiving of data or information designated as critical national information

infrastructure: recovery plans in the event of disaster, breach or loss of critical national information infrastructure or any part of it: any other matter required for the adequate protection, management and control of data and other resources in any critical national information infrastructure.

It further stated that the Presidential Order made under Section 3 of this Act may require the Office of the National Security Adviser to audit and inspect any critical National Information infrastructure at any time to ensure compliance with this Act. Part III which deals with offences and penalties stated that a person who, with intent commits any offence punishable under this Act against any critical national information infrastructure designated under section 3 of this Act, is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years without option of fine.

Where the offence committed under subsection (1) of this section results in grievous bodily harm to any person, the offender is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 15 years without option of fine.

Where the offence committed under subsection (1) of this section results in the death of a person, the offender is liable on conviction to life imprisonment.

It added that a person who, without authorisation, intentionally access in whole or in part a computer system or network for fraudulent purposes and obtains data that are vital to national security, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years or a fine of not more than N5,000,000.00 or both.

Where the offence provided in subsection (1) of this section is committed with the intent of obtaining computer data, securing access to any program, commercial or industrial secrets or classified information, the punishment shall be imprisonment for a term of not more than 7 years or a fine of not more than N7,000,000.00 or both.

A person who with the intent to commit an offence under this section, uses any device to avoid detection or otherwise prevent identification or attribution with the act or omission, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than seven years or to a fine not more than N7,000,000.00 or both such.

A person or organisation who knowingly and intentionally traffics in any password or similar information through which a computer may be accessed without lawful authority if such trafficking affects public, private or individual interest within or outside the Federation of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on Conviction to a fine of not more than N7,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not more than three years or both.

It stated that from the commencement of this Act, all operators of cybercafé shall- register as a business concern with Computer Professionals Registration Council in addition to a business name registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission and; maintain a register of users through a sign-in register and the register shall be available to law enforcement personnel whenever needed A person who perpetrates electronic or online fraud using a cyber café, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of three years or fine of N1,000,000.00 or both.

In the event of proven connivance by the owner of the cybercafé, such owners are guilty of an offence and are liable to a fine N2,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of three years or both. The burden of proving connivance in subsection 3 of this section shall be on the prosecutor.

A person who without lawful authority intentionally or for fraudulent purposes does an act which causes directly or indirectly the serious hindering of the functioning of a computer system by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data or any other form of interference with the computer system, which prevents the computer system or any part thereof, from functioning in accordance with its intended purpose, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years or to a fine of not more than N5,000,000.00 or both.

A person who unlawfully destroys or aborts any electronic mail

or process through which money or valuable information is being conveyed, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment for seven years in the first instance and upon second conviction, is liable to 14 years imprisonment.

From the commencement of this Act, any person being employed by or under a Local Government of Nigeria, private organization or financial institution with respect to working with any critical infrastructure or electronic mail commits any act which he is not authorised to do by virtue of his contract of service or intentionally permits tampering with such computer, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for three years.

A person who misdirects electronic messages with either the intention to fraudulently obtain financial gain as a result of such act or with the intention of obstructing the process in order to cause delay or speeding the messages with a view to cause an omission or commission that may defeat the essence of such messages, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment for 3 years or a fine of N1,000,000.00 or both.

A person who intentionally and without authorization, intercepts by technical means, non-public transmission of computer data, content, or traffic data, including electromagnetic emissions or signals from a computer, computer system, or network carrying or emitting signa,s, to or from a computer, computer system or connected system or network commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not more than two years or a fine of not more than N5,000,000.00

‘The operators are always on the firing line. The Cybercrime Act 2015 as currently passed, is a major risk to the telcos. Over the years, the telcos have clamoured for critical national communication infrastructure. The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) should have been empowered to advise the NSA before such advice gets to the President because of the technicalities involved in the issues. He urged stakeholders' engagement to fine tune the implementation of the Act’

or both.

A person or organization who, by means of false pretense, induces any person employed by or under the federal state or local government of Nigeria or any person in charge of electronic devices to deliver to h9im any electronic message which including e-mail, credit and debit cards information, facsimile messages which is not specifically meant for him or his organization (in the latter case except he is authorized to receive such messages for and on behalf of his organization), commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment for two years or a fine of not more than N1,000,000.00 or both.

A person who, being employed by or under the authorities of the Local, State or Federal Government of Nigeria or private organization who intentionally hides or detains any electronic mail, message, electronic payment, credit and debit cards which was found by him or delivered to him in error and which to his knowledge ought to be delivered to another person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of one year or a fine of N250,000 or both.

A person who knowingly accesses any computer or network and inputs, alters, deletes or suppresses any data resulting in inauthentic data with the intention that such inauthentic data will be considered or acted upon as if it were authentic or genuine, regardless of whether or not such data is directly readable or intelligible, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years or a fine of not less than N7,000,000.00 or both.

A person who knowingly and without authority or in excess of authority causes any loss of property to another by altering, erasing, inputting or suppressing any data held in any computer, whether or not for the purpose of conferring any economic benefits on himself or another person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years or to a fine of not less than N7,000,000.00 or both A person who with intent to defraud, sends electronic message materially misrepresents any fact or set of facts upon which reliance the recipient or another person is caused to suffer any damage or loss, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and to a fine of not less than N10,000,000.00 or both.

A person who with intent to defraud, franks electronic messages, instructions superscribes any electronic message or instruction, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to a fine of not more than N5,000,000.00 or both.

Udotai identified weaknesses in the Act to include decentralised and distributed enforcement framework; issues with compliance; possible constitutional challenge (the NSA Act); impact of the Cybersecurity Fund doubtful; technology-specificity; special provisions on the Financial Sector worrisome (needless really); and tendency for focus shifting dangerous; and unnecessarily transactional in certain areas.

Looking at the enforcement framework of the Act, he wondered if there is a conspiracy to ensure Nigeria doesn't enforce cybercrime. "You may feel that way if you look at the enforcement framework designed for this law. But I think it was an error, which should be corrected," he •Continued on page 15

15

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 , 2015

e-Business NCC, MTN, Samsung, Galaxy Backbone, others for NITRA's confab

SIM deactivation: NCC, telcos in blame game

T

HE major network operators (MNOs) have accused the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) of not giving them enough time to tidy up the cleaning of their data before its seven-day ultimatum to deactivate all improperly registered subscriber identity modules (SMSs) on their network.

An official of one of the operators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the travails of the subscribers would have been avoided had the regulator given them enough time to do the data cleaning.

"The deadline given by the NCC is too short considering the total number of customers affected in the data correction. So, it is, indeed, impossible to clean over the 10,000 SIMs within the timeline of the regulator. With the deactivation of these lines, we are losing money because if our customers do not make calls, we don't make money.

"So, for us as operators, we are not happy about the development but there is nothing we can do because the NCC is the regulator and whatever step it is taking it says it is in the best interest of the country, we have no choice but to obey it. But quite frankly, we are not happy and our sympathy goes to our customers that are affected by this unfortunate development," the source said.

The exercise that started about two weeks ago has seen some 10.7 million lines deactivated across all the network of the MNOs.

T

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

In a telephone interview, Director, Public Affairs, at NCC, Tony Ojobo, had blamed the operators for bringing pains to their customers. He recalled that the issue had been on since 2012, adding that the MNOs had kept vacillating.

According to him, another reminder was sent to the MNOs last year September, adding that they turned deaf ears to the NCC. He said it was baseless blaming the regulator for their intransigence, arguing that they had more than enough time to correct the SIMs shipped back to them after they were handed over to the NCC and discovered to be defective.

He said the commission had returned a total of 18.6 million SIM data to MTN; 7.4 million to Airtel; 2.2 million to Globacom and 10.4 million to Etisalat for corrections.

He said these SIMs had one challenge or the other, including some that were pre-registered and others without the required biometric information. "I think the bulk of the blame would stop on the table of the operators. They failed to do what they were supposed to have done earlier. The commission sent the list of improperly registered subscribers to the operators in September last year.

He said: "In October 2014, the commission wrote to the service providers indicating that they had still not responded to the communication in terms of those data that were not duly captured and requested that they should do that im-

•NCC EVC, Prof Umar Danbatta

mediately and get back to the commission. This continued until the meeting of August 4, 2015.

The operators were expected to have long before now sent SMS to affected subscribers requesting them to go and get their data corrected or risk deactivation but nothing was done until now."

According to Ojobo, who said any erring operator that still harbours defective SIMs on their network and if detected would pay N200,000 per SIM, according to the stipulated law, noted that deactivation does not mean total withdrawal of the lines, but that it simply indicates that the registration of those particular lines were improper or the data required for a particular information was not captured.

HE Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Samsung Electronics West Africa, MTN Nigeria and other stakeholders in the information communication technology (ICT) industry have expressed willingness to be part of an industrywide forum that will tackle important issues in the industry.

The seminar, a brainchild of the Nigeria Information and Communication Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), holds on Friday at Westown Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos.

With Foreign Direct Investment: An Impetus to Achieving Ubiquitous Broadband Penetration as its theme, regulators, industry leaders and other key stakeholders will share their thoughts on the subject matter.

Sponsored by MTN Nigeria, Samsung Electronic West Africa, and Galaxy Backbone, the forum has also received the backing of the NCC, National Information Technology Development Agency of Nigeria (NITDA), and other industry stakeholders such as Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria

(ATCON), Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), ISPON, NCS, as well as other players in the industry.

As the lead discussant at the forum, MTN Nigeria will examine the imperatives of Federal Direct Investments (FDIs) for further development of the nation's ICT sector with a particular focus on broadband while Galaxy Backbone will give details of its activities in the area of e-Government strategy, Samsung will speak of innovation in mobile phone devices, as well as capacity building and skills acquisition.

With an investment profile of over $13 billion (over N2 trillion) in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria is a market leader with over 62 million subscribers on its network, a total market share of 46 per cent as at June this year.

Panel sessions will feature specific discussions on regulatory activities, operational activities, investment potential, as well as impediments to the ongoing move to attract further investment into the sector, which has been identified as an investment haven for telecom business by Pyramid Research.

APC by Schneider Electric unveils reward programme in IT

G

LOBAL specialist in energy management and automation, Schneider Electric, has unveiled an invigorated APC by Schneider Electric Global Channel Partner Programme with some new enhancements to meet the rapidly evolving needs of partners in the changing information technology (IT) landscape.

Schneider Electric Channel Manager, IT Business English West Africa, Oluwaseun Oloyede, who spoke in Abuja, said it is targeted at its distributors and resellers. He said to improve IT and energy efficiency across Nigeria, the company plans to open APC by Schneider Electric service centres in Abuja to provide easier access to its products and solutions for its customers in the northern region of the country.

Oluwaseun explained that in addition to launching the new programme, Schneider Electric has also invested in creating a dedicated support team for its partners.

"We are heavily focused on the channel right now, which will help us grow in the market," he said.

According to him, this renewed commitment was shaped by the direct feedback from partners. And it focuses on enhanced profitability, support, enablement and overall partner experience. "We have spent a good period of time listening to our channel partners and gaining feedback on what is important to them. Ultimately, this is a channel partner feedback delivered partner program", he reiterated.

The programme is a partner sales incentive package in which partners earn points by claiming their APC invoiced sales. The programme promises, "The more you sell, the more points you earn!" It also boasts of having over a million of rewards to choose from, thus the promise to Dream, Earn, Redeem, Enjoy. A reseller must however be a Registered Partner in the APC Channel Partner Program in order to gain access to the programme.

MainOne’s Data Centre gets PCI DSS, ISO 27001 •From left: Business Development Manager, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo; Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Marketing Manager, Information Technology and Mobile, Ms Olajumoke Okikiolu and Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim at the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, its newest flagship smartphone in Lagos.

Cybercrime Act: Still a long way to go •Continued from Page 13

if there is a conspiracy to ensure Nigeria doesn't enforce cybercrime. "You may feel that way if you look at the enforcement framework designed for this law.

But I think it was an error, which should be corrected," he said.

On cybercrime investigation, prosecution and enforcement, he also wondered if they are separated, adding that it prescribed the traditional approach the nation's Criminal Justice System which is usually based on 'Conferred Authority'; which he argued is an unprecedented departure from the norm, and very unlikely to work. He also foresees threat of chaotic compliance Head, Legal Services and Board Matters Unit, NITDA, Emmanuel Edet, said he has read the Act, adding that it was "asking for the impossible." He said the Act created funds to be generated yet failed to give direction on how the fund would be spent, lamenting that the criminal law which the Act appeared to have copied has become

too old and anachronistic. "It is a good law with fundamental flaws that could be amended," he submiited.

President, Oniline Publishers Association of Nigeria and CEO, Proshare Nigeria, Femi Awoyemi, like Edet, said Nigeria's criminal law has become too old. He said the police which is charged with the responsibility of investigating criminal activities live in a world completely different from reality.

He also agreed that the law was not perfect but argued that there is no need trying to re-invent the wheel.

Chief Corporate Services Officer, Smile Communications, Tobe Okigbo lamented that the operators were always on the firing line, adding that the Cybercrime Act 2015 as currently passed, is a major risk to the telcos. Over the years, the telcos have clamoured for critical national communication infrastructure. The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) should have been empowered to advise the NSA before such advice gets to the President be-

cause of the technicalities involved in the issues. He urged stakeholders' engagement to fine tune the implementation of the Act. For the former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Lagso Branch, Alex Muoka, described the Act as the most unintelligent law he had ever reviewed, creating lacuna, setting up a cybercrime council which the NSA is not a member yet calls its meeting and advice.

He described the provision for funding as "alternative taxation" which will not be administered by anybody.

While agreeing that the law will change the way businesses are carried out, he identified dearth of expertise in the areas of prosecution and adjudication as threats to the law.

Like Okigbo, Edet stressed the need for multi-stakeholders' forum, arguing that previously under international law, attention was focused on the state adding that now, things have changed as groups are taking up arms and annexing parts of countries.

AINONE’s premier Tier III Data Center, MDX-I, has become the first Tier III Data Center operator in Nigeria to achieve both Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and ISO 27001:2013 certifications.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke, who spoke during an event at which the company was presented with certification documents at its Head Office in Lagos.

The certifications show that the Data Centre has complied with globally accepted standards on Customer Data Security as well as commitment towards the security and protection of the company’s information assets. While the PCI DSS accreditation is the most comprehensive, internationally recognised data security standard focused on promoting payment card data security, the ISO 27001 standard is a globally recognised Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard which specifies the requirements for a business to establish, implement, review, monitor, manage and maintain effective information security management systems.

MainOne’s Data Centre was certified, following a comprehensive ISO27001 audit carried out by British Standard Institution (BSI) group, a business standards company that helps organisations all over the world make excellence a habit. The

M

•Opeke

PCI DSS assessment was conducted

by Digital Jewels Limited, a PCIDSS QSA and an Information Value Chain Company which also provided endto-end support in preparing the Data Centre for certification to both standards. The audits measured the facilities at the Data Center according to several strict criteria including physical access controls as well as information security policies, procedures and infrastructure.

Ms. Opeke noted that the ISO 27001 and PCI DSS certifications consolidate the company’s investment in critical infrastructure and processes to grow West Africa’s Digital Economy. “We are delighted to be the first commercial Tier III Data Center in Nigeria to assure our customers of both PCI DSS and ISO 27001:2013 certifications. We have continued to see an increase in the number of payment card operators, and many of these are our customers, “ she said.

16

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 , 2015

e-Business

NCS urges Buhari to appoint IT professional as ComTech minister

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IGERIA'S umbrella body for information technology (IT) professionals, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a professional with IT pedigree as minister of the Communications Technology (ComTech) Ministry, lamenting that placing square pegs in round holes over the years by successive governments has been an ill-wind that has not blown any good to the country.

Its President, Prof Sola Aderounmu, said on September 6, this year, the administration of President Buhari will be 100 days old in office, adding that as the nation evaluates the first 100 days with the citizens eagerly awaiting the announcement of his ministerial nominees as the president promised by during his state visit to the United States (U.S), the professionals are urging him, as a man of integrity to appoint men and women that share his vision of unblemished public service.

He said: "As a professional group, we are not unaware of the clamour

•Says square pegs in round holes affects productivity Stoy by Lucas Ajanaku

by Nigerians on the need to nominate men of sound pedigree and untainted integrity to serve as ministers in the current administration.

We at the NCS, as a society and the umbrella body for all IT practitioners in Nigeria align ourselves with these general call by the populace that it cannot be business as usual.

"We also want to unequivocally assert that a major bane in underperformance by some ministers lies in the choice of non-professionals to serve as ministers especially in some key ministries that require some level of technical expertise and understanding industry understanding.

"We therefore urge the President that in his choice of minister for Communications Technology, consideration should be given to a professional in the field of IT who has clear understanding of the challenges of the industry and ways to move it forward for the greater

good of the country. Such a person must not only be a practising IT professional but must possess among other qualifications, membership of local relevant IT bodies, that is, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and NCS." He lamented that the retrogressive culture of putting square pegs in round holes must end with this administration.

"Similar to what is being done in Ministries of Health and that of Justice, where medical personnel and lawyers are appointed respectively, we request that Mr. President extends same to the ICT ministry.

"We wish to bring it to the attention of Mr. President that the Communications Technology Ministry, if well managed, is capable of resolving the job crisis and further create wealth for the nation similar to the ICT revolution going on in India and the rest of Asia," he said.

GADGET REVIEW

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Huawei's P8 performance that outpaces the

HE Huawei P8 takes beauty to the next level, striking a flawless balance of artistry and creativity. Based on a deep understanding of human-machine design, the Huawei P8 delivers a new level of usability for apps impacting everyday life - at work and at play. With craftsmanship that pushes the bounds of possibility and new revolutionary light painting modes, the device provides consumers with an inspiration for creativity.

Style, beauty, technology Introduced in 2012, the Huawei P series has redefined style. The P1 marked the debut of Huawei's journey, taking the stage with a new ethos based on beauty. The P2 built on the momentum of the P1, breaking new boundaries of processing speed; the P6 brought out a new and elegant sleekness; and the ultimate craftsmanship of the P7 stunned the market.

The Huawei P8 design is deeply rooted in literary tradition, combining elements of ancient manuscripts, illuminated books and the essence of sunlight in stained glass library windows.

It is inspired by the best of human design from different cultures across the centuries and embodies the human spirit of exploration and beauty.

The design details of the Huawei P8 evoke the pages, bindings and hard covers of traditional books.

The one-piece aluminium body with the diamond shape blasting craftsmanship highlights the texture of the metal. The phone comes with four elegant colour options: silver, gold, black and grey. The devices come in a translucent package and the unboxing experience is like taking a book from the shelf.

Design, technology

• Senior Marketing Manager, Huawei Consumer Business Group, Nigeria Olaonipekun Okunowo (right) with Ace comedian, Owen Gee, during the launch of Huawei P8 in Lagos.

Users of tokunbo Blackberry phones lament ordeal

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EOPLE who use fairly used or tokunbo Blacberry phones have lamented the raft of unsolicited chat messages they receive on their phones.

This is because when a Blackberry phone is manufactured, it comes with an inbuilt Personal Identification Number (PIN), which cannot be changed. The PIN, which is designed to enable the users communicate has however, become a pain for those who purchase tokunbo Blackberry phones because the new phone user often times receives message from the contacts of the old user.

One of them, Miss Lovena Eze, who works as a personal assistant to a pastor in a church in Lagos, expressed frustration over some mundane chat messages she receives on her phone.

She said: "In the church where I work, we bought a used Blackberry Curve 7 and use it as a church line. Calls as well as text messages, and even WhatsApp messages are also received on the phone as well as messages on church/ spiritual matters. But sometimes, I just see a Blackberry chat asking me some

By Olatunde Odebiyi

stupid questions or accusing me of something I do not know. They ask me questions about things I am not aware of whereas the fellow feels he is talking to his friend who own the PIN not knowing the phone belongs to a church .

"The message from the former user's contact is often times provocative because sometimes they will send some messages asking of why I was not at their party or telling me about some nasty experience with their girl friends before they later discover the phone is now a church line, I really wish we could find a way to stop these chats from the friends of the phone's old user."

Another phone user, Mr. Femi Adebayo who uses Blackberry Z10, lamented that he bought the phone from a shop in Computer Village, Lagos but his experience is that he receives some confidential message from some friends of the former Blackberry phone user.

"There are several contacts of the old phone user who send some messages

of real business deal to my phone. I am sure the former phone user is a good business man but it is so unfortunate that he has lost such contact.

How I wish I know the former user of the phone so I can relay all the messages to him.

"Sometimes, I get messages saying there is need for the phone user to deliver some goods. I hope the former phone user still has the contacts of his business associates so he does not lose them, but if not there is nothing I can do about that," he said.

Some mobile phone repairers at Computer Village, Ikeja, said it will amount to a wild geese chase attempting to alter a Blackberry PIN. "Blackberry PIN cannot change but all the new user can do is to send ignore future PIN request for each PIN that is not known to him in order to block communication with unknown persons," a young man who identified himself simply as Ayo, said.

He added that this has been the challenge all users of tokunbo Blackberry phone face and there is yet to be a solution in that regard.

Continuing the minimalist design of previous generations in the P series, the Huawei P8 embodies the ultimate in elegance, craftsmanship and durability. Highlights include nano-injection molding process results in an industry-leading seamless tight junction connecting a 1.5mm thin plastic bar with one of the industry's largest screens; it is 6.4mm thin, with dual SIM cards, and works seamlessly with a 4G network (where the service is available); the triple-layer shark-gill design enhances the reliability and robustness of the device; inside, the new Kirin 930 64-bit Octa-Core chipset boosts performance by approximately 20 per cent compared with other phones with similar levels of battery life; and the body's sleek back cover is constructed of steel, for reinforced structural rigidity.

Craft best-in-class user experiences The Huawei P8 is designed to have a natural connection to human nature, providing solutions to common pain points and meeting consumers' needs - both simple and complex.

The Huawei P8 has a revolutionary touch screen experience that is innate to consumers. Doubletapping a knuckle captures a fulllength screen shot, while drawing a circle on the screen quickly captures content. Additionally, the "search phone by voice" function allows users to call out to their misplaced smartphone, which will respond through its speaker to identify.

Unique power management creates a bridge between the Huawei P8's slim design, power efficiently and stunning performance. The device contains a 2680mAh battery and with Kirin 930 Octa-Core 64bit chipset, delivering outstanding

smartphone market by 20 per cent.

The device brings innovative and much-needed features to voice and sound. In loud environments users can increase volume up to 58 percent above normal level. In a windy environment, the smartphone can eliminate 90 percent of the sound of wind when using a headset or earphones with a single mic. Additionally, super hands-free functionality supports hands ge of two meters, while a built-in independent audio decoder chipset enables music volume to double while maintaining the same high quality.

Considering the user habits as well as upcoming trends, the Huawei P8 provides a comprehensive line-up of solutions for 4G SIM card users, the device features dual 4G SIM card support with two flexible card slots; once the Huawei P8 has identified and connected with a Bluetooth device such as the Huawei TalkBand B2, the phone can be remotely unlocked without entering a password; with network roaming performance optimized for 4G, the Huawei P8 connects with network roaming services approximately three times faster than average phone models; and additionally, with a n optional e - i n k screen on the back of the phone, the metal back cover can switch to an eBook in just seconds.

The goal of Huawei P8 is to become the most user-friendly smartphone for consumers globally" said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, Through indepth market research, Huawei has addressed the most pressing pain points for premium smartphone users today.

Huawei seamlessly combines the best elements of style and durability in this device, delivering a revolutionary user experience - especially in terms of camera capabilities and network connectivity. Building on the outstanding market performance of Huawei's P series, we fully believe the Huawei P8 will become one of the most popular smartphones of this year.

Light painting camera The Huawei P8 introduces a new philosophy for camera design leveraging a combination of hardware, software and proprietary algorithms to help users capture beautiful photographs, even in the worst lighting conditions. Features include industry-leading optical image stabiliser technology up to 1.2°, enabling high-quality photos and videos, and managing camera shake so images are consistently sharp.

The world's first four-color RGBW sensor enhances brightness by 32 per cent in high contrast lighting situations, reduces it by 78 per cent in low light environments. DSLR-level independent image processor enables noise reduction when shooting and intelligent detection of a high-contrast lighting environment.

It also has four professional quality low-light shooting modes giving users access to a virtual photo and video studio to capture artistic inspirations.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

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E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

those culpable in train loan We need more men, says Punish diversion scam, workers urge Railway Police chief T

O enable it provide adequate security for facilities and ensure the safety of lives and property of commuters, the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s (NRC’s) Police has urged the deployment of more men to the Railway Police Command.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Pius Imue, who made the appeal in his Ebute-Metta, Lagos, office last Thursday, while reviewing the raids on rooftop riders, said the Command needed more men to maintain order and provide adequate security to the flagship train service.

Imue’s request is coming on the heels of the Federal Government’s plan to employ 10,000 policemen to strengthen the Nigeria Police.

Imue said sustaining the war against rooftop riders would be unattainable without adequate men to do the work.

He said what the Command needed more are men of the rank and file, (lower ranking officers),

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

who would be deployed to provide security at train stations and NRC routes.

He said the growing insecurity, especially in the Northeast, has heightened the need for enhanced security, especially on the routes outside the metropolis.

He said: “I have been writing repeatedly to appropriate authorities on the inadequate manpower since I resumed here in March. We need especially junior officers of the rank and file, but not higher than Inspectors and their services are even needed even now that our services are more needed in assuring of safety and security onboard of all trains whether intra or inter-city shuttles.”

Imue said the plans to add more rolling stock to the train and the opening of the Eastern line, which runs from Port-Harcourt to Gombe State with Maiduguri as the destination, had expanded the scope of

work for the Railway Police Command.

“When all these are added to the ongoing rehabilitation and resumption of freighting of petroleum products, the need for more police personnel at the command would be much more pronounced,” he said.

Though Imue was silent on the staff strength of the Command, it was learnt that the NRC Police with headquarters in Lagos, has about 300 men. They include officers and rank and file, who provide security on trains across the country.

Imue said he was reviewing the security arrangements he inherited with the intention of plugging all loopholes to ensure the effectiveness of the command.

He called on police authorities to support his initiatives by deploying more men to the Command to strengthen its capacity to perform its statutory function of providing adequate security for passengers and other users of the train and railway facilities across the country.

• Nigerian Railway Corporation Headquarters in Lagos

HE Nigeria Railway Workers Un ion (NUR) has called for appro priate sanction against anyone found guilty of diverting public funds even as it demanded for a law to protect funds specifically appropriated for a national project from being diverted to another.

The union spoke against the backdrop of the controversy over the purported diversion of $600 million of the $1.05 billion secured by the Federal Government from the China Exim Bank for the development of the standard gauge lines of the NRC. In a statement by the NUR SecretaryGeneral, Comrade Segun Esan, the Federal Government should come up with a law making it difficult for anyone to divert any money appropriated for the execution of any project.

They equally demanded that any politician or civil servant caught should, apart from being prosecuted, be banned for life from holding any public office.

These, according to Esan, are part of the resolutions of the special Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the union, which expressed its support for the administration’s resolve to fight corruption and its crippling effects on the economy.

Praising the commitment of the government to ridding the nation of corruption, the workers said the way forward in bequeathing a reliable and world class train service to the nation must begin with the probing of how the loan meant for the expansion and rehabilitation of the railway was diverted by the immediate past government.

He urged President Buhari to stop at nothing in unraveling the mystery behind the diversion, adding that all the workers under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) are behind the President and “he should stop at nothing to recover the nation’s patrimony stolen by some unscrupulous politicians and greedy public servants.”

He said: “The leadership of our great union summoned a special CWC meeting where we considered various issues and challenges confronting our dear nation. There, we agreed unanimously that corruption has been the

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

major problem that has made true development elusive and largely impossible in Nigeria. Regrettably, those that are involved in high-scale corruption that has crippled and robbed this country of greatness and sustainable development are the politicians and public servants who are trusted with our collective patrimony.”

He said railway workers praised President Mohammadu Buhari for starting right with the campaign against corruption and advised that the President should investigate all the politicians and public servants suspected to have enriched themselves unjustly while in office.

Esan added that the President should empower all anti-corruption agencies such as EFCC and ICPC with more legislative power to deal squarely with such cases.

“All suspected politicians and public servants who are proved beyond all doubt to be thieves of our national wealth should forfeit all assets and proceeds proved to have been earned through corruption to the Federal Government and beyond that, such politicians and public servants should be banned for life from holding public offices. This administration should also come up with legal framework that will protect funds specifically appropriated or set aside for one national project or the other from being diverted to another.

• Esan

FRSC deploys men to tank farms, oil depots

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O fewer than 212 Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC) personnel have been deployed to depots and tank farms across the country, Corps Marshal/Chief Executive Officer Boboye Oyeyemi, has said.

Oyeyemi spoke at the opening of a two-day safe-to-load training for FRSC officers at the Nigeria Institute of Maritime and Safety Authority (NIMASA) Multipurpose Resource Centre, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos.

Among others, the men are to check, daily, the road worthiness of trailers and trucks loading before leaving the farm.

Oyeyemi, who was represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Corps Administrative and Strategy (CAS), Operatives Department Services (ODS), Augustine Aipoh, said the process was to enable the corps checkmate the excesses of trailer and tanker drivers causing accidents on the roads.

He said the corps would,henceforth, monitor the activities of tanker/truck drivers from the loading point and strengthen its monitoring on the roads until they get to their destinations.

He appealed to the tanker/trailer owners, drivers and depot owners to cooperate with the officers in the course of carrying out their duties; and to report any erring officer working contrary to the rules.

By Olalekan Ayeni

The RS 2.1 Zonal Commander, Nseobong Charles Akpabio, said the deployment of the officers to the oil farms followed the increasing crashes involving the tankers/trailers in recent months.

He said a monitoring mechanism had been put in place at the Corps headquarters to ensure that no officer misbehaved.

Akpabio urged the deployed officers to maintain discipline at the depot. He noted that the Corps would not tolerate any indiscipline that could tarnish its image, adding that erring officers would be sanctioned.

The Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Mr Olufemi Adewole, praised the Corps for the initiative. He urged tanker owners and drivers to ensure optimum standard in their vehicles, noting that all tankers are expected to have discharge valve and other mechanisms that would guarantee safety of the product before lifting.

He urged other stakeholders - National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) unit of National Union of Petroleum and Natural

Gas (NUPENG), Major Oil Markerters Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) - and independent truck owners to cooperate with the Corps.

He said the association will equip the safety departments at their terminals in conjunction with FRSC to ensure no truck below the minimum safety standards come into the premises to load.

“The tyres, brake systems, lights, discharge and inlet valves are expected to

be of good standards, “no truck no matter who owns it must be allowed to load if it falls below the required standard,” he added The General Manager, Corporate Services, Petroleum Equalization Fund, Dr. Godwin Nnamdi, appealed to the officers to be cordial and justified in their relationship with drivers and others within the depots.

He told the officers that their coming to the depots is to sensitise and en-

lighten the tanker drivers/owners on the law guiding their operations and enforce rules that would guarantee safety of lives and property.

Nnamdi urged them to check the necessary loading documents and be satisfied before allowing trucks to go out of the tank farms.

He advised the Corps to know the number of registered trucks across the country, adding that this would enable it detect and checkmate erring drivers.

•From left: Mr. Akpabio, Mr. Aipoh, Corps Public Enlightenment Officer, Etuk Imoh and Mr. Adewole, at the event.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

•President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (third left); former Head of Interim National Government/Chairman, APM Terminals, Apapa, Chief Ernest Shonekan (third right); Senior Vice President, Africa Region, Lars Reno Jakobsen (left); AP. Moller-Maersk Group CEO Nils Andersen (second left); and Regional CEO of APM Terminals, Peder Sondergaard and Country Manager, APM Terminals Nigeria, David Skov, during a visit to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Shippers Council to block revenue leakages T

HE management of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) is to block leakages in the importation of cargoes – as part of its efforts to introduce a new port order.

The council will convene a jointstakeholders’ meeting next month to iron out loss of revenue at the ports.

The meeting, it was gathered, will be held before NSC signs the contract for the implementation of the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN).

The introduction of CTN, it was gathered, will not attract additional cost in doing business at the ports.

Speaking with The Nation at the weekend, NSC Executive Secretary Mr Hassan Bello said the council was introducing the scheme because 80 per cent of cargoes imported into the country are underdeclared, leading to loss of huge revenue and unnecessary delays in the cargo release process.

Bello said the problems associated with quick cargo clearance at the ports would be eliminated with the implementation of the CTN. ”Cargo Tracking Note will reduce under-declaration of cargoes

• Cargo Tracking Note coming Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

by Nigerian shippers because the council would have got information on what is inside every container before the vessel will come to the country. ”CTN will also help the Federal Government to identify dangerous goods coming into the country and immediately this is observed by Shippers Council, an alert will be issued to the security agencies and the Nigeria Customs Service for immediate action.

“When the CTN comes on stream, cargoes will no longer come into the country without the council giving the vessel permission to sail in after having all information like the Gross Tonnage of the ship and the reason the ship is visiting the country, among others,”he said.

Bello said emphasis would be on trade information which will help in clearing and monitoring goods coming into the country to ensure they are not under-declared.

His words:“For example, you import furniture but you say it is not furniture but walking sticks. Almost all importers under-declare and this leads to loss of revenue for the gov-

ernment. It also leads to delay and that is why Customs, sometimes, insists on physical examination.

He said he was happy the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is excited about the scheme.

“Apart from being a totally paperless exercise, CTN is not going to add to the cost of doing business in Nigeria.

Shippers will not pay any charge for the CTN, neither will the government.

Information on the cargoes will be shared with the Nigeria Customs Service officials to enable them prepare and pass cargoes out of the port if they are not dangerous cargoes. ”Shipping companies will no longer delay a cargo unnecessarily, because they would have had clear and prior information on what a container is loaded with.

Bello said the CTN introduced two years back was an aberration, noting that the NPA had no business running the CTN. He said all over the world, Shippers Councils operates CTN because it deals with tracking cargoes. So, when it was given to NPA, ‘’we became a laughing stock because that time we were not very strong.

“Customs is very key to the success

Agents urge govt to review waiver clause

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HE Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and importers have urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to review the waivers granted by the Federal Ministry of Finance to boost its revenue.

ANLCA also said there was a need for the government to remove the waiver clause from the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act (Cabotage Act of 2013).

This, it said, would improve the business of indigenous ship owners and provide employment for many.

Its President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said many indigenous shipping firms have closed shop due to the poor implementation of the Cabotage Law. His words:“Most of the waivers that were granted by the previous administration were done based on political reasons that have added no economic value to the country in terms of employment generation

and its economy.

“The management of the Nigerian Customs Service should be allowed by the government to scrutinise all requests for waivers and make recommendations to the government before it would be granted.

“Although, the request for waivers for the development of the gas is necessary, but there is an urgent need to stop granting waivers for those bringing wine, iron rod and other items that can be produced locally, to the country.”

Olayiwola said the removal of waivers from the CabotageAct would help to alleviate the plight of indigenous ship owners whose businesses have been damaged.

“The waiver clause has been made more important by some ministry officials to the detriment of the implementation of the Cabotage Law itself,” Olayiwola said, adding: “We are not happy with the kind of vessels that are granted waivers in Nigeria.

Instead of giving waivers to special-

ised vessels in consonance with the dreams of the initiators of the Act, the ministry ends up giving waivers to anchor handling and tankers which the Act did not envisage for waivers.

“In other climes, they do not leave the administration of waivers to be handled by the ever-busy government officials like the Minister, Permanent Secretary or NIMASA, but rather, it’s an all-inclusive exercise where applications are received by the agency concerned and forwarded to the stakeholders who do the needful and make recommendations to the implementing agency which now carries out the recommended action.”

An importer, Mr Victor Adeyemo, said the use of waivers and concessions was one of the legitimate tools any government could use for economic development and poverty eradication, but he wondered why the granting of waivers by the government has not decreased the high level or unemployment. He urged the government to review it.

of the scheme and I am so happy we have introduced it to the service, and its management has been very responsive.”

He said the scheme would not be introduced until stakeholders are adequately informed.

The Shippers Council, according to him, plans to meet the manufacturers association, NACCIMA trade group, shippers and carriers, shipping companies and terminal operators. “Infact, everybody will be introduced into it because the project is cardinal to our function as an economic regulator’’.

“The CTN that was introduced about three years ago brought a lot of delay, and it was not accepted by the industry because it had cost attached, but this one is at no cost to the economy and directly, there is no cost at all to the shippers; that is very important,’’ he said.

Continuing, he said:“CTN will do

three things, it will fasten the process of clearance at the ports in the sense that we have advanced information of the cargo that is coming. It will block pilferages and leakages, you cannot import wrist watches or you cannot import tyres and say they are tiles. If we block that, even the ship sometimes, they cut their gross registered tonnage (GRT) because the amount they are to pay is tied to it.

This is the beginning of the new port order and we are talking about transparency, predictability and efficiency.

“Gone are the days when all the agencies would do things in different direction. Shippers Council has come to introduce supervision, integration, equilibrium, balance and synergy in ports operation. We are going to have a big stakeholders’ meeting where we are going to launch our Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that would be obeyed by everybody,” Bello said.

Customs impounds 15 bulletproof vehicles in Imo • Destroys 5,364 cartons of poultry products

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HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ has impounded 100 vehicles with fake documents on the Benin Expressway, Agbor-Asaba and Aba/Owerri highways.

The vehicles included 15 latest models of Toyota Camry (bulletproof car) 2015 model without End-user Certificate, six Land Cruiser Prado Jeep, Land Cruiser VXR, Toyota Fortuner Jeep, Lexus LX 570 and M/Benz CLS 350, all 2014/ 2015 model worth N346,347,568.

The seizures came barely one week after the unit seized 42 various contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N197,385,747.

Aside the exotic vehicles, other items seized included 5,364 cartons of imported frozen poultry products, which were concealed in Mercedes Benz trucks, with used Jacuzzi bathing tubes, rolls of black polythene nylon bags, and crates of woods lining the walls of the truck, to beat the Customs officers.

Its Area Controller, Mr Victor Dimka, said four suspects were arrested in connection with the frozen poultry

products, while eight were arrested over the smuggled vehicles.

According to him, the destruction of the poultry products were carried out in the presence of some officials of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Defence Security Service (DSS) in line with “Operation Hawk Descend”, recentlylaunched by the Nigeria Customs Service to checkmate smugglers of frozen poultry products.

Dimka also said 300 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N6 million were also seized by his officers at Ikom border in Cross River State; two suspects were also arrested.

He said “the suspects are helping the Customs in its investigations into the illegal importations of the seized items.”

He warned smugglers that the Nigeria Customs Service is better trained, equipped and motivated with necessary logistics to meet its challenges.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Quintessential diplomat at 90 • Ambassador Olujimi Jolaoso achieves landmark age

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NE of Nigeria’s iconic and most distinguished diplomats, Ambassador Olujimi Jolaoso, OFR, turned 90 on August 19. The happy occasion was marked by a Thanksgiving and Holy Communion Service at the Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, at Yaba, and a modest reception afterwards in the church hall.

Both events were well attended. Many of his friends, admirers, family, and former professional colleagues turned out to honour this man of impeccable and gracious manners who, in his long and outstanding public career, served Nigeria well.

Born in Ilugun in former Western Nigeria, Ambassador Jolaoso was educated at Igbobi College, Yaba, and the Yaba Higher College, from where he entered the new University College, Ibadan, in 1948. He was one of its pioneering students. In 1951, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the Arts of the University of London, to which the UCI was then affiliated, winning the Faculty Prize in English. He took up appointment immediately as an Education Officer in the old Western Region. A year later, he won a colonial government scholarship to study for a postgraduate diploma in Education at the Institute of Education of the University of London. He was a keen sportsman and a great sprinter in his days at UCI, setting national records in the 100 yards and relay. Jolaoso also won the University of London’s ’Purple’ in the London/Oxford/Cambridge Universities ath-

letics competition.

He returned home in 1953 to resume a teaching career that took him to several famous schools and colleges, such as Igbobi College, Yaba, the Queen’s School, Ede, the Government College, Edo (Benin), and the Government College, Ibadan. In all these schools, he impacted positively on his students, many of whom, now highly successful, hold him in high esteem, and were at his 90th birthday celebrations.

In 1958, he entered the newly established Foreign Service, one of its pioneers, as it started only a year before. He immediately made his mark there as well. As independence approached, his good looks, pleasant manners, and personal warmth earned him appointment as Nigeria’s first state Chief of Protocol, a highly visible and sensitive position that brought him into regular contact with Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and other visiting foreign dignitaries during the celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day. It was a proud moment for him and the nation. Soon after, he was posted to our High Commission in London as deputy High Commissioner, and later to our new diplomatic mission in Kinshasa (then the Congo). He had a meteoric rise in his diplomatic career, serving as Ambassador in Western Germany, Ambassador in Liberia, Consul General in New York, and finally as Ambassador in Washington, with concurrent accreditation to Mexico. On his return to the ministry, he was appointed a director-general and, at

various times, he was placed in charge of Administration and Africa Departments.

In his memoirs, “In the Shadows’, regarded as a classic, he wrote candidly about his long years in the Diplomatic Service, the challenges he had to face there, and his memorable moments. His ardent patriotism, diligence, and professionalism were amply demonstrated in his entire career as one of Nigeria’s greatest public servants. His legacy is one of which he and his family can be proud. In 2000, he was conferred with the national award of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), an honour thoroughly deserved.

He also holds the chieftaincy titles of Babatolu of Egbaland, and Maiyegun of Ilugun.

He has been happily married to his wife, Marcie, for nearly 60 years, and the marriage is blessed with two sons, Abayomi and Bankole, as well as many grandchildren.

We join his family and friends in wishing him many more years of happiness, contentment, and self fulfillment.

‘His ardent patriotism, diligence, and professionalism were amply demonstrated in his entire career as one of Nigeria’s greatest public servants. His legacy is one of which he and his family can be proud’

Medicare for sale?

•To privatise or not to privatise, that is the question now in Nigeria’s health sector

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HE furor over the proposed policy of Private Public Partnership (PPP) in the health sector cannot be wished away because of its likely implications for access to healthcare by majority of poor Nigerians. The Yayale Committee Report on disharmony in the health sector gave a hint of government’s preparedness to adopt the policy.

The report calls for the privatisation of federal hospitals in the country through the system of PPP. In retrospection, we recollect that the debate over the suitability of the idea started since 2006 when the National Council on Health (NCH) purportedly looked into the idea and approved it initially under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and last year under the President Jonathan’s administration.

‘We do not think that privatisation is the solution here. Rather, the hospitals should be made substantially autonomous and self-sustaining. In many parts of the world, private hospitals and public ones run together. Health is too important to be left in the hands of private investors alone’

Sadly however, the initiative has thrown the health sector into avoidable pandemonium with the medical doctors supporting the idea and other stakeholders in the sector opposing it. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) and Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have been at daggers drawn over the suitability or otherwise of the policy idea. Clearly, the medical doctors are in support of the idea while those belonging to sister associations are against the idea. This altercation becomes unfortunate because the health care sector in recent times has faced damning strikes and other avoidable challenges including inadequate funding and corrupt disposition by personnel. So, any attempt, in our view, at ignoring these discordant tunes might further aggravate an already bad situation.

To us, competition is nonsense when it comes to healthcare as choice becomes illusory. The perception that competitiveness breeds quality and that market forces drive efficiency from the nation’s experience can sometimes be exaggerated. It is a perceived fact that privatization of the hospitals could become a recipe for over-treatment, overcharging and corner cutting on the delicate issues of human health and safety.

What privatisation of hospitals might lead to, going by the Nigerian experience with privately owned hospitals, is

high costs and inefficiency. Patients suffer since they are left at the mercy of investors who ceaselessly seek to make returns and maximise profits to the detriment of proper healthcare delivery.

We aver that privatisation of these hospitals is likely to be inimical to the wellbeing of Nigerians who are already living below poverty line. Why would hospitals not work despite the huge resources that government votes for the health sector yearly? We recollect that most of these hospitals competed with their counterparts in other parts of the world a few decades ago. This is why it is disheartening to see that things have deteriorated so much that the only option left seems to be privation. The hospitals, like most other government institutions, started to fail as a result of overcentralisation. Another problem is that of overzealous policing that is ineffective to allow for thorough monitoring of government establishments, including hospitals, which creates a bureaucracy that allows corruption to fester.

We do not think that privatisation is the solution here. Rather, the hospitals should be made substantially autonomous and self-sustaining. In many parts of the world, private hospitals and public ones run together. Health is too important to be left in the hands of private investors alone. There should be option of making top public hospitals to be affordable for the less privileged. Whatever the case, some of the problems that made the hospitals derelict are traceable to corruption and that needs to be dealt with.

Saraki’s days are numbered

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IR: The dog that will get lost, perhaps forever, will not hear the whistle of the hunter. Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s selfstyled Senate President, is running against strong winds of public discontent and disgust with his unbridled lust for power.

Rather than eat humble pie and respect the party and the President, Saraki is set in his ways of treachery and arm-twisting. He thinks money answereth all things. But now, he has added blackmail to his many tools. Simply put, he has sent out the message which all unbiased political observers long expected; that he will frustrate any nominee from the Buhari/ Tinubu camp during the Senate screening. We wish Saraki all the best.

However, Saraki needs be reminded that Nigerians will see through his bags of tricks and will hold him responsible for sabotaging the agenda of change for which Buhari was elected.

How much is one man’s ambition worth? Is it worth the destruction of a government? Is it worth the corruption of the system? Is it worth holding the President and the party to ransom? Saraki is on a journey of no return.

His days are numbered in the seat he so undeservedly occupies.

The story of Saraki’s rebellion and his crushing ambition to become Senate President is well known. What is not well known yet is where it will lead to and where it will end.

Saraki is not alone on this journey. As the script plays out, we know Saraki,s destination. Nigerians already have formed their opinion about Saraki as a usurper. How he intends to hold the government of Buhari to ransom is incomprehensible. How Tinubu is responsible for his present problem with the President is unclear. The nominees for key positions are nominees of the government picked to serve Nigerians. Every attempt to frustrate them must be regarded as unpatriotic and a sabotage of the Nigerian nation.

The process that produced Saraki was fraudulent. Saraki now behaves as if Nigeria owes him. He is on an Olympian height. He is riding the tiger and we know what happens to those who do that. The Nigerian people will rise against him for impeding the government they worked, sweated and died to elect.

The unfolding political drama has exposed Saraki as a character who wants power at all costs. But beyond the throne of bayonets he now sits are the well-founded allegations of corruption that have being hanging over his head for years. He must be made to answer because he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. No amount of media slant or public relations can save Saraki from the tide that will blow his way.

Saraki is his own problem. Not Tinubu. Not Buhari. He brought it upon himself. Hence, only he should bear his cross. Not the Buhariloving Nigerians. Not the carefully selected nominees Buhari want in his government.

• Segun Igbalode, Lagos

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: To start with, concerning the publication in *The Nation* Newspaper of 4th August, 2015 on page seven (7), we did not want to join issues with its author(s) and or sponsor(s), as it is a rabblerousing not worth dissipating energy on. Again, we considered it needless to dignify the falsehood that the publication represents with a response but in the Yoruba parlance, when a lie goes for too long unchallenged it begins to wear the similitude of the truth, hence, the need to break our silence.

We consider it a moral obligation to break our silence on the issue and present it as it is, vis-a-vis the provisions of the enabling law and the dictates of Ago-Are culture and tradition pertaining to the ascension to the historical stool of Aare of Ago-Are in Atisbo Local Government of Oyo State.

The stool became vacant on 4th May, 2015 and on 30th June, 2015 at

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

The truth about Aare of Ago-Are stool the Royal Family Head (Prince (Alh) Lawal Oyebisi’s) house, the members of the royal family converged to propose and nominate candidate(s) to fill the vacant stool.

In their midst was, the Head of Local Administration, Atisbo Local Government, Alh. K.O Aleem as an observer, also in his official capacity as representative of Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The meeting presented 15 princes to the kingmakers (13 of whom were Muslims and 2

Christians).

In the face of the multiple candidatures, what happens? The provisions of section 15(1)(ii) of the Chiefs Law, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 become authoritative.

It provides thus: “If the names of more than one candidate are submitted who appear to the kingmakers to be qualified and not disqualified in accordance with section 14, the names of those candidates shall be submitted to the vote of the kingmakers and the candidate who obtains the ma-

jority of votes of the kingmakers present and voting shall be declared appointed”.

Armed with the above provisions and those of the Declaration made under section 4(2) of the Chiefs Law 2000 of the Customary Law regulating the selection to the Aare of AgoAre chieftaincy, the six (6) living kingmakers converged under the chairmanship of the Agoro of AgoAre, Chief J.K Adetoro at Agoro Oloni’s Compound, Ago-Are on 7th July, 2015, for the purpose of appoint-

Professionalising driving

S

IR: Hate them or love them, commercial bus drivers and conductors often looked down upon with so much derision by many are fast gaining respect of some sort in Nigeria today.

The latest ‘honourable’ status being conferred on the commercial bus drivers and conductors is championed overtly or covertly by the confessional statements credited to some political actors in Nigeria.

These actors at different fora have been admitting and re-enacting their past experiences as commercial bus drivers and conductors. This voluntary seasonal true confession like a Nollywood movie has been attracting so much recognition.

The list of these political gladiators includes Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, formerly a commercial bus driver; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, formerly motor park tout; Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of Lagos State, formerly commercial bus driver and street trader; and immediate past Ogun State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Segun Odubela, formerly commercial bus driver and conductor. With these revelations, the Nigerian political news-space is expected to receive more admissions in the coming days.

Does it matter where one actually begins from in life? Affirmatively,

this does not really matter. Of course, there are several people all over the world with humble beginnings. The idea of humble beginning is certainly not peculiar to Nigeria and Nigerians.

The main thrust of this article is to emphasise the need to urgently professionalise driving, which daily suffers scorn, as a vocation. The general belief in our clime is that commercial bus drivers and conductors are the ‘rejected’ or the ‘stubborn children’ who are either drop-outs or lack capacity to continue with their education.

These ‘old beliefs’ have been rubbished. The reality today is that graduates are also involved in commercial bus driving to keep body and soul together and meet their daily needs. This was the same philosophy that forced some of our political actors into this vocation.

From Lagos to Maiduguri, Port Harcourt to Gusau and Awka to Kaduna, the present-day commercial bus drivers and conductors in Nigeria now enjoy a more dignified status as they can make direct reference to governors, speaker and commissioner as their senior colleagues.

In the recent times, one of the richest men in the world, Alhaji Aliko Dangote , placed a vacancy advert through one of his conglomerates seeking to employ graduates as truck

drivers. I think it’s high time we stopped playing ignorance. We must collectively stop bad-mouthing commercial bus drivers and conductors.

It’s no longer a vocation. It’s now a profession and even some political actors today reminisced about and expressed some joy and happiness having passed through that rough road.

The evidence of their joy is always tucked away within the lines of their meteoric rise from Mr. Nobody to Mr. Somebody. Who says we cannot have a president of Nigeria tomorrow who may have risen from being a commercial bus driver or conductor? The question is: what’s a profession? The quest to come up with a clear-cut definition of what a profession is has often ended up in a pool of controversy, arguments and counter-arguments. According to the popular Wikipedia, “A profession is a vocation founded upon specialised educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested objective counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain.”

Like every other profession, commercial bus drivers and conductors have a way of acquiring ‘education,’ rendering services to millions of people and organising themselves

through their respective associations.

In most of the developed countries, commercial bus drivers pass through a series of examinations - practical driving and theory test before being certified as professional drivers.

The critical stage of getting drivers certified in Nigeria perhaps need to be re-examined and must be made to work. I can take it for granted that most drivers-turned-political leaders in Nigeria might have treated this crucial stage of examination with disdain. Going forward, there is a need to make our institutions work. Bodies responsible for certifying commercial drivers must be awake to their responsibility. The story has changed and we must learn how to do things differently.

The commercial bus drivers and conductors should also learn from history that they can be greater than their present situation. They should do away with disgraceful behavioural tendencies and activities that make people to cast disparaging remarks at them.

Next time you see a commercial bus driver or conductor, you might be talking to a future governor or speaker or commissioner or even president.

• Idowu Sowunmi idowusowunmi@gmail.com

ment to the stool. Again, the Head of Local Administration as an observer was present. Officers and men of the Directorate of State Security Service and that of the Nigerian Police Force were present, while indigenes and dwellers of Ago-Are in their thousands were on hand to know the outcome of the process.

Under this peaceful and orderly environment, the kingmakers discharged the duty entrusted on them by destiny and the law. It’s noteworthy that names of each candidate, from the 1st on the list, to the 15th, was called and the kingmakers voted in accordance with the provisions of the extant law.

At the end of the whole process, Prince Abodunrin Oyetunji Kofoworola polled four (4) votes, while Prince Rasheed Oyewole got two (2) votes and Prince Oyetunji Kofoworola was consequently declared as the Aare-elect to the waiting ears of thousands of people who received the news with great jubilation.

The whole process was free, fair, transparent and credible. At this juncture, we feel that it is unconscionable, to say the least, and uncivilized, for anybody to say that “a Christian candidate emerged victorious through the strange selection process.” This is condemnable. It is a height of gross irresponsibility for anybody to trivialise and misrepresent the process on the naked altar of selfish interest and inordinate ambition to occupy the stool at all costs.

The provisions of the extant law as well as the native law and custom; “age-long tradition” pertaining to the filling of vacancy in Aare chieftaincy have been strictly complied with. We concede the fact that opinion is bound to be divided on issues like this; but our community is civilised, with unrestricted avenue for the ventilation of grievances, if any.

Leaning on the fact that all necessary steps in filling the vacant stool of Aare of Ago-Are were exhaustively followed, we implore the consenting and approving authorities; the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi to expedite action in ensuring the coronation of the Aare-designate, Prince Abodunrin Oyetunji Kofoworola as the Aare of Ago-Are. • John Ayanwale The Frontliners, Ago-Are

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

21

COMMENTS powers, from the Alaafin end, IRST, some conceptual for the Alaafin, Oba Adeniran clarifications.

Adeyemi II, paid dearly with Court records, of the late Ooni, deposition (in 1954), for his Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, rebellious disposition to the Olubuse II, (reigned 1980-2015) often Awo AG establishment. But referred to him as “His Imperial with his son, Oba Lamidi Majesty” — how so?

Adeyemi III already back on This is not only a historical negation the throne by 1970, an Oyo-Ife (the Ooni never headed an empire, so tussle for Yoruba primacy was Olakunle he could not have been His Imperial anticipated — the one claiming Majesty), it is also an affective lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola its latter-day imperial downgrade of the Ooni institution in the exploits, the other leveraging Yoruba essence. its pristine spiritual-cumDespite all the power and the glory civilising sovereignty. That (echoing Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican indeed came to pass. reggae star), empire building is So, how did Ooni Sijuwade essentially evil. The conquerors flaunt was complete, before benchmarking his acute mind with peers fare?

On the culture front, very well.

To the Diaspora Yoruba, prestige and power. But the conquered suffer greed and in the great academies in that city. there was probably no better ambassador of pristine Yoruba plunder.

Prof. Akintoye, again: “ ... A cultural ferment (with strong tradition and splendour. Add that to his ultra-regal fashion In all of Yorubaland, only the Alaafin could rightly claim intellectual character) was in progress in Ile-Ife in the centuries sense, and he was almost nonpareil. It is no surprise, therefore, “His Imperial Majesty”, for only Oyo historically enforced following the creation of the city, a cultural ferment whose that the Cuba Diaspora Yoruba are deeply mourning his the prestige of power and the notoriety of plunder. light gradually spread to the rest of Yorubaland.” passage.

But Oyo, even at the height of its glory, only compelled So, as Greece was the bastion of Western thinking, Ife was He also distinguished himself as custodian of Yoruba love by force; while Ife, even at the nadir of its decline, the fundament of Yoruba civilisation: spiritual, political and history, particularly regarding Ife’s place in it. The only dark commanded love by choice in the Yoruba soul — if not in the economic. clouds, in the late Ooni’s glittering sky of culture, was his secular realm, then on the spiritual plane.

So, how much of that Ife all-round awe did Ooni Sijuwade seeming penchant to merchandise Ife honorary titles, “For about five centuries, Ife was the most revered of all retain, compared to his predecessor, Ooni Adesoji Aderemi rebranded as whatever titles “of the Source”. It bordered on kingdoms of the Yoruba people,” wrote Prof. Banji Akintoye, (reigned 1930-1980)? crass venality, with awards to some really controversial in his definitive and much more inclusive book, A History of That is no straight question. For one, both monarchs reigned characters. the Yoruba People. “Its territory was sacred and inviolate to all in two dramatically different epochs, with dramatically It was, however, on his perceived lack of empathy with Yoruba people, by a universal consensus.” different dynamics: Ooni Aderemi under colonial rule (30 Yoruba popular aspirations, especially on the political plane, Even the much more Oyo-centric The History of the Yorubas, years: 1930-1960), and the first 20 years of independence (1960that Ooni Sijuwade dragged that institution into the mud — at

by Samuel Johnson, the 19th century ethnic Oyo cleric and 1980); and Ooni Sijuwade, 35 years, the bulk of which was least by popular perception — from the immaculate and Pastor of Oyo, confirmed the primacy of Ife, even if it also under military rule, with its cascading decay of public dizzying heights that Ooni Aderemi had vaulted it. blared the Oyo imperial glory. morality.

On 12 June 1993, Moshood Abiola, an ethnic Yoruba, won True, at the height of its glory, when Ife was but a humble For another, feudalism (the bastion of royalty) suited the presidency, in a spectacular pan-Nigeria mandate, hitherto settlement, Oyo struck naked fear. Also at its decline, and military rule just fine, for as unelected rulers, soldiers-inthought impossible, given the balance of regional powers. It wind-down with the Kiriji War (1877-1893), a pan-Yoruba government courted the royal fathers to shore up their was no thanks, in part, to the late Ooni’s pathetic hee-haw, armed rebellion against Oyo imperialism, the Ibadan army, legitimacy, in exchange for some visibility in governance. that the criminal annulment of that historic mandate was the most fearsome back then in the Yoruba country, still But even with that, Ooni Sijuwade was much diminished in sustained, at the end of which Chief Abiola lost his life in regarded the Alaafin as their sovereign, since Ibadan was only perceived influence than Ooni Aderemi was enhanced, both detention. a garrison town, with pan-Yoruba appeal for all the rough under colonial indirect rule (somewhat, a legitimacy-starved Later, the military conspirators would fall upon themselves, necks that loved war and plunder. precursor to military rule), and under democracy, as 1st when Sani Abacha declared himself the victim of an attempted But at its own zenith (14th century AD, though the Ife Republic, first governor of Western Region (1960-62), under coup, in which Oladipo Diya, his No. 2, was allegedly civilisation spread from 11th-15th century), according to the Action Group (AG) government; and even under early implicated. If Gen. Diya escaped the gallows, it was not Akintoye, Ife was close to what pertained in the Athens of military rule (1966-1979). because the Ooni, his pan-Yoruba spiritual monarch, raised a Pericles — the most golden age of any of the ancient Greek Besides, the military-era Land Use Decree (now Land Use voice in his defence — in any case, not in public. city states — when no thinker, philosopher or general literati Act) eroded the royal economy, so much so that the landed It was the cumulative effects of such faux pas that diminished wealth of many a royal father was drastically curtailed, the late Ooni in the estimation of not a few, at least in Yoruba ‘Ooni Sijuwade was not the angel sentencing not a few of them as military contractors, to the streets. Still, it is only fair that as he inched towards his chagrin, if not open disdain, of their subjects. creator, the late monarch became much more tempered than his co-elite piped at his passage. quiet Indeed, there is this school of thought that claims Chief his early years on the throne.

Neither was he the devil many in Obafemi Awolowo and associates actively encouraged Oba Ooni Sijuwade was not the angel his co-elite piped at his ascendancy because of his established wealth passage. Neither was he the devil many in the streets would the streets would swear he was. He Sijuwade’s which, they thought, should come in handy to preserve Ife’s swear he was. He was rather an embodiment of his age, warts was rather an embodiment of his primacy, in the conclave of Yoruba royal courts. and all.

Besides, that financial muscle should also help to checkmate It is therefore left to whoever succeed him to vault the Arole age, warts and all’. any untoward politicking, backed by mischievous extant Oodua throne to that height every Yoruba would be proud of.

F

R

epublican ipples

Ooni: reign sweet and sour

A

S President Buhari digs in without looking back in fighting corruption in Nigeria, corruption is ferociously fighting back like a wounded lion. The most corrupt political party in Africa and the world, PDP, was the first to start the blackmail and intimidation. What the brigands tell us is that the President should hit the ground running and stop chasing shadows. When it suits them, they tell us that President Buhari is clueless and unprepared for the big business of governance and hence the pretence to be fighting corruption. In another development, they tell us that Boko Haram has killed more people in a very short time when compared with the same time frame during ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.

The ‘Pay me, I write for you’ Diaspora internet warriors in Jonathan’s camp joined in hitting at Mr. President to form his cabinet as a matter of urgency and give them what he promised. The charge and bail lawyers and charge and write writers among them said the president’s inability to appoint his cabinet three weeks after being sworn in clearly shows unseriousness and unpreparedness on the part of the President who prepared for leadership for sixteen years. They are angry. They are frustrated and frightened. Jonathan made heavy investment on them to help him to realise his dream of governing Nigeria for 10years, but the project crashed like a pack of cards. They are yet to come to terms with what hit them. Pains, tears, abusive languages, hate speech and name calling have become their ways of life these days.

Frustrated left and right, they sought the help of General Abulsalami’s Peace Committee to intervene to rescue them from the bottomless pit they are going into. The Peace Committee moved in with their blackmail and intimidation also to suppress the anti-corruption machine of Mr. President. Hear them: ”I think what we are concerned about is the process (of fighting corruption). It is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty”. The Peace Committee spoke about former President Jonathan’s commitment and his spectacular deeds as president, whatever that means.

But when we look back to see the deep rot in the system and reckless looting of our institutions, the so-called spectacular stuff in Jonathan’s deeds vanish into thin air.

Those who benefited from Jonathan’s billions of naira and dollars to help him win an election he was bound to lose have resorted to their own arm-twisting and subterfuge. They insist that President Buhari must start his war on corruption from the days of IBB in 1985(30 years ago).

Wanted: Maximum security for Buhari as corruption fights back

By Joe Igbokwe After abusing President Buhari, after accusing him of being a Boko Haram sponsor, after denying him of votes from the South East and South South, they are setting an agenda for President Buhari. They are now shamelessly dictating to Buhari what to do after selling their votes for a mess of porridge. After marginalising themselves politically, the shameless hungry politicians in Ohaneze are now complaining of marginalisation of Igbo. How many votes did Igbo give to President Buhari? Did we not tell them that Jonathan will not win this election? Did they listen to us? Did they hear us? They abused and shouted us down. Now, you cannot eat your cake and have it. Please go to where you took your bath and pick your clothes. You have ruined and destroyed Igboland with your greed and political naivety. If you call your boat a useless boat, children will use it to play. Woe betide a nation whose leaders are children! I thank God that APC South East has risen to rebuke the children in Ohaneze for defending Jonathan who ran the most fraudulent and corrupt regime in the world. According to Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the South East APC spokesperson ”We have yet to find any sentence where any of them, even our revered icon, erudite, and constitutional lawyer Professor Ben Nwabueze, in any form denied the mindless, pervasive and unbridled corruption which pervaded ex-president Jonathan’s regime”. There is nothing more to add than to ask Ndigbo and the children in Ohaneze to move on with life and borrow a leaf from Ijaw nation that had moved on since May 29 2015.

President Buhari has been stunned into disbelief by the gamut of rot PDP left behind after 16 years. According to Governor Oshiomhole: “If Nigerians know what these people did, they will stone them to death”. These scavengers were not interested in building Nigeria, they were

not interested in creating jobs, they were not interested in moving Nigeria to join the human race, and they cared less about what Nigeria becomes in future. They were only interested in their pockets. It was a big scramble to pocket anything in sight and damn the consequences. It was primitive accumulation of even what you do not need. It was bazaar. PDP leaders who were less than 0.5% of the population stole 80% of our common patrimony without caring a hoot. Others called it mindless looting, I call it total madness when people do not know when to say enough is enough. These people are ready to do anything to keep their loot. They are sleeping in hospitals abroad pretending to be sick. They are using blackmail and subterfuge as a cover up to divert attention. They are shouting from the rooftop to deceive the gullible, but there is no hiding place for the enemies of progress. They want to run away from justice and keep their loot.

This is the reason why I want maximum protection for Mr. President. The world and concerned citizens of this country must help this President to succeed. Those who looted Nigeria for sixteen years are too rich and too dangerous to be ignored. They can do anything to retain their loot. They can destabilise the government with their huge resources. They can topple the government of President Buhari if we do not do something tangible to protect the man.

If anything happens to the President now, the war on corruption will come to a standstill and the looters will smile away. I know that God will keep President Buhari to do this great job but we have to do our own duty also by being vigilant. If you are surrounded by enemies, you must be vigilant all the time.

• Joe Igbokwe wrote in from Lagos.

‘The world and concerned citizens of this country must help this President to succeed. Those who looted Nigeria for sixteen years are too rich and too dangerous to be ignored.

They can do anything to retain their loot. They can destabilise the government with their huge resources’

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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COMMENTS

I

WAS very young when the legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, sang the evergreen number ‘Authority Stealing’. I didn’t quite get what he meant by that until I grew up to understand the cankerworm of corruption that has eaten deep into the fabric of our public and private institutions. The song is more relevant and meaningful in today’s Nigeria, especially about the mind-boggling and unbelievable sleaze that took place under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan’s PDPled Federal Government reported in the dailies.

In the fullness of time, Fela’s song suddenly came alive on radio and television stations as a sign-off for documentaries about corruption in Jonathan’s era. In that song, Fela sang about the irony of a common thief in Nigeria who stole items worth about N7, 000 and sentenced to death or lynched by a mob compared to a government official who stole millions of naira with his pen and was celebrated by the society. Fela sang that the common robber requires a gun to rob while the government official needs only pen to rob because gun does not have power like pen. This is the meaning of authority stealing.

What we are hearing these days is unbelievable and little wonder that the Nigeria economy has been left prostrate. The amount of money discovered to have been stolen in the last six years is enough to totally destroy the lives of the people of a country and we were moving towards that precipice until Buhari won the March 28 Presidential election. The list of looted funds from some sectors of the economy include: N3.8 trillion cash withheld by NNPC (between 2012-2015), $2. 1b missing Excess Crude Account funds, $3. 9b proceeds of 160m barrels of crude oil lost (2009-2012), $13b NLNG dividends mostly unaccounted for, N109.7b royalty from oil firms unremitted by DPR, $6b cash allegedly stolen by Jonathan’s former ministers, $15m botched arms deal cash yet to be returned and N183b funds unaccounted for at the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC). There is also the allegation that the Nigerian Ports Authority is yet to account for N160 billion it generated in one year.

Added to this is the alleged $4m centenary project fraud involving former Secretary to

O

N August 2 in Abia State, a midday fire gutted the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Mgboko, the Obingwa Local Government headquarters and turned the complex and everything therein to ashes. It is a common belief in the African setting that “when an owl cries at night and a baby dies the following morning, there is a correlation.”

Electoral materials used in the governorship election in Obingwa were in the custody of INEC at the local government. The materials were apparently in the store-room of the ill-fated office complex. And they were supposed to be conveyed from the local government to the premises of the governorship election petition tribunal in Umuahia for forensic inspection on August 3, only for suspected arsonists to set the building on fire and reduce it to rubble.

Following the record of events in the aftermath of the April governorship poll in Abia state, which saw Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) being declared the winner by INEC, it is evident that all was not right with the election. Little wonder two candidates in the election, Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Chief Anyim Nyerere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), headed for the tribunal to challenge the outcome.

Without prejudice to the legal tussle going on at the tribunal, it may suffice to rewind the drama that played out at the state collation centre in respect of the results from three council areas, viz: Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North.

MUTILATED RESULT SHEETS: One remarkable experience at the PDP-dominated collation centre worth recalling here was that virtually all the results were re-written at the state collation centre, under the guidance and assistance of the eagle-eyed INEC ICT staff

Authority Stealing

By Hakeem Jamiu Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, who presented a private project as government agenda and purportedly goaded former President Jonathan into signing it and yet there is the questionable $4.5 billion waiver fraud in the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission.

These are only some cases of sleaze discovered so far and still counting. One may be tempted to believe that the amount of money stolen under former President Jonathan is more than all the money stolen under former Presidents Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, AbdulSalaami Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo put together. This is happening in a country where over 90 million of her 140 million population live in abject poverty while more that 10 million children are out of school and more than 1.5 million citizens are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to insurgency in the North East. We should not be surprised about our level of poverty with this mind boggling stealing.

Little wonder Nigeria was in total darkness as 4,000 megawatts of electricity dropped to 1,800 at the tail end of Jonathan’s tenure.

Stealing and corruption were the same reasons there was scarcity of petrol during the same period whereby the product was sold for as high as N400 per litre and it was not available. Nigerians can now see that the Jonathan administration was wicked, deliberately punishing Nigerians in the last six years for no reason.

Nigerians can feel the Buhari government’s impact in the critical aspects of their lives, power and petroleum, just because of his integrity. The two sectors only responded to Buhari’s body language and with changes in the leadership of the oil sector, everything seems to be falling in place. In power generation, 1,800 megawatts suddenly jumped to 6,662 in less than three months

when Buhari has not even started his own reforms in the sector of adding 4,000 megawatts yearly. What happened was that the Malitoli contract that was stuck became active with the emergence of President Buhari whom the contractors know brooks no nonsense. The gas which they complained was not available became suddenly available and this has boosted power supply from a company like Egbin power station which generated 500 megawatts of electricity in 2013 but now generates 1,100 mw and will soon start to generate its installed capacity of 1, 320 mw. Nigerians are so excited about this magic of power supply that residents of Adebayo area in Ado-Ekiti a few days ago celebrated uninterrupted power supply for 24 hours, which has not happened in the last 40 years. If this continues, we may soon be celebrating One Year of uninterrupted power supply like our next door neighbour, Ghana.

As Governor Adams Oshiomhole rightly noted, ’ As you can see, under two months, without minister of energy, power has stabilised. The only thing Buhari has invested is power of integrity.’

We saw the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai leading troops in battle fronts in Borno as against the Service Chiefs under Jonathan who sat in Abuja with big tummies to discuss arms procurement contracts which were never executed, while Boko Haram annexed about 15 Local Governments in three North-Eastern states. In less than three months of Buhari’s Presidency without a cabinet, Boko Haram has been vigorously fought and we are getting results, electricity has been stable as generators are now on holidays in many homes, even as sanity has returned to the petroleum industry as Kaduna, Warri and Port Hacourt refineries, which had not worked in the last 16 years, have started working.

And why is EFCC just waking up to its responsibility? Is the chairman Ibrahim Larmorde responding to Buhari’s body language also? The leadership of the

commission should also change in my opinion.

We now know why the campaign slogan of Patience Jonathan was ”don’t vote for Buhari ooo I don’t want to visit my husband in prison because Buhari will jail everybody”. What Patience Jonathan did not add is that Buhari will only jail those who looted the treasury. Nigerians know they have stolen so much and that is the reason Patience and company were afraid. Under the PDP, everything and everybody was denominated in naira and kobo: integrity, merit and honesty were discounted while mediocrity, dishonesty, corruption and nepotism were elevated to state policy.

Nigeria would have collapsed if Jonathan was re-elected and not a few Nigerians share this belief. Why are the refineries suddenly working without any major Turn Around Maintenance? Why is electricity stable without any money spent on power yet from the Buhari administration? Why is fuel supply suddenly stable and the product affordable and available without a Minister of Petroleum in place? So many dramatis personae of the Jonathan administration should not just be dispossessed of their illgotten wealth but must face the full wrath of the law. President Buhari should not waver or look back in his bold move to fight the scourge of Authority Stealing which is worse than armed robbery. There is no amount of blackmail and distraction from those who are involved in corruption or benefited from it that would halt this present progress of Nigeria to greatness. We are gradually returning to Nigeria’s golden era where all of us would be proud to be called Nigerians.

• Jamiu wrote in from from Ado-Ekiti.

‘President Buhari should not waver or look back in his bold move to fight the scourge of Authority Stealing which is worse than armed robbery’

Obingwa INEC fire: Matters arising

By Christian Nwafor and the State Collation Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, who kept on pointing out the discrepancies that characterised the result sheets of the LGAs, especially the five in contention.

So, while some of the INEC Electoral Officers, along with their returning officers were helped to reconcile the figures in the full glare of journalists and election observers, others were simply excused to go into the INEC building to perfect their results, leading to cancellations and mutilations in the result sheets.

CANCELLATION OF RESULTS OF OBINGWA, OSISIOMA, ISIALANGWA NORTH LGAs: The climax of the drama came when Ozumba mustered an uncommon courage after perusing through the results from Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North.

Along with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Selina Oko, he declared the results cancelled. He based his action on the reports from the security agencies and international observers which, he said, stated that the election in those areas was substantially marred by violence and irregularities.

CARD READER THEFT: On May 5, 2015, two officials of ICT Department of INEC in Umuahia, Nnamdi Nwabuko and Herbert Ejiofor, were caught by security agents, while attempting to take away seven Card Readers and some sensitive electoral materials in the custody of the commission. They were detained, interrogated and later released by police in Zone 9. Police also quizzed seven additional INEC staff members, who were suspected to be accomplices in the act.

‘The peace-loving Abia indigenes at home and in Diaspora are patiently waiting to see how the perpetrators of the willful destruction of INEC property at Obingwa would get away with the impunity under President Muhammed Buhari’s watch. It is obvious that the days of impunity are over’

A few days after, security operatives also recovered five additional Card Readers and two laptops, allegedly belonging to INEC, from where they were hidden at a spot near Nwabuko’s residence.

FORENSIC INSPECTION OF INEC DOCUMENTS AND FLAGRANT BREACH OF TRIBUNAL ORDERS: Election petition tribunals, according to the law establishing them, enjoy equal powers as the conventional law courts. Consequently, their orders and rulings are as enforceable as those of the courts.

To that extent, they have the powers to either uphold or annul the results of an election.

Unfortunately in Abia state, specific orders of the three-member Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, headed by eminent jurist, Justice Usman Bwala, which are critical to Otti’s petition, have repeatedly been flouted with impunity by INEC. For instance, repeated orders of the tribunal compelling INEC to make the relevant documents used during the election available to Otti for forensic inspection had continually been flouted, frustrated and stalled.

The act of hooliganism and barbarism exhibited by political thugs, who were hired to ensure that the inspection of electoral materials in Obingwa did not succeed, were actually not unexpected for obvious reasons as follows: Obingwa is the local government area of Gov. Ikpeazu; it was the local government that generated the whooping 82,240 votes for PDP, the highest ever recorded by any local government in the 2015 general elections across the federation; the result of the forensic inspection of Obingwa electoral documents was expected to further arm Otti with greater evidence to dislodge and rubbish the Obingwa result and prove that it was not only unrealistic and controvertible but fraudulent.

Conversely, the inspection could also have afforded PDP a rare opportunity to prove to those who still doubt its victory at the polls that the Obingwa result was not imported, manipulated or fabricated but a true reflection of all the ballots magnanimously cast for the party by duly accredited voters in the area.

This opportunity was recklessly thrown into flames by the arsonists, who hoped to reap from blowing up the electoral documents in the midday fire.

The frustration posed by INEC and PDPled administration became more manifest when, contrary to the demand for electoral materials used in Osisioma for inspection, INEC deliberately brought those used in Aba South LGA. Even more ridiculous was the fact that the ballot boxes contained materials for the Presidential and National Assembly polls rather than those for the governorship. This has been the dilemma of a petitioner in a 21st Century general election in Abia state.

After the fire at Isialangwa South LGA office of INEC, now followed by the Obingwa INEC, the state government on August 16 raised alarm that it had uncovered plans by its ‘’political enemies’’ to also burn down the INEC headquarters in Umuahia. A media statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Godwin Adindu, said that the reason for the plan was to instigate a relocation of the governorship tribunal to Abuja.

It is still unimaginable why the administration’s political enemies would resort to burning down INEC or choose to set ablaze electoral documents which they hoped to heavily rely upon to prove their petition at the tribunal.

The alarm should not be taken as false or cheap propaganda by Ikpeazu and his media team. Rather, security operatives should look beyond that because with the successes recorded in Isialangwa South and Obingwa INEC fire incidents, anything is possible in Abia, considering the desperation by Ikpeazu to remain in power.

The peace-loving Abia indigenes at home and in Diaspora are patiently waiting to see how the perpetrators of the willful destruction of INEC property at Obingwa would get away with the impunity under President Muhammed Buhari’s watch. It is obvious that the days of impunity are over.

• Christian Nwafor wrote in from Lagos.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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The attack on Bishop Hassan MatthewKukah, for daring to ask PMB, to take it easy, with the officials of former President Jonathan, even when all that has taken place are mere threats, has shown what majority of Nigerians, would ordinarily love to do to the looters.

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E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

See page 39

Why do many students fail the Bar examination at the Nigerian Law School? Director-General Olanrewaju Onadeko tells ERIC IKHILAE how to improve performance and plans to modify the school’s curriculum.

‘Why many fail Bar exams‘ What is your assessment of the performance of students in this year’s Bar examinations?

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HE results of the Bar examinations were released last Thursday. There were two examinations. One was held in April.

That was the Bar re-sit examinations. The second was Bar examination for the April 2014 set.

The two results came out the same day. The re-sit students recorded 60.2 percent outright pass, 3.6 percent conditional pass and 36.2 percent were unsuccessful. This is a great improvement from what we had last year.

What was responsible for the improvement?

One factor that we believe had contributed to this improvement was the mandatory eight-week revision course. The Council of Legal Education (CLE) prescribed that every student, willing to undertake the re-sit examination, should come back to school and go through the eight weeks’intensive coaching period.

That was held between February and April of this year, before their examination. I think the result was because of the intensive training for those who are yet to pass the Bar final examinations after one or more attempts.

What are the details of the results?

For the regular students, that is, those who came in April 2014, their performance was 68.5 per cent outright pass, 2.9 per cent conditional pass, with 28.6 percent not making it.

The total number of those who sat for the examination is 2,852. Of that number, four made First Class, 109 Second Class Upper, 418 came out with Second Class Lower and 1, 422 passed. Eighty-three had conditional pass, while 815 were unsuccessful.

That is a good result. Put together, a little over 70 percent passed. We are happy for the First Class candidates in particular and other candidates that passed the examinations.

Their Call-to-Bar will be held here in Abuja from October 20 to 22. Interestingly, of the four First Class candidates, three are women. So, it appears the women are doing better than the men at the top level. We hope the men will not allow the women to overtake them outrightly in the near future.

What major innovations have you introduced in the training of students since you assumed office as the DG? Yes, we have put in place several improved mode of training. There is what we called class room solution, which is being put in place for us by the Nigerian Communication Satellite,which is a parastal of the Federal Government, to enable us have total link with our campuses.

That means, no campus will be deprived of the expertise of the members of the profession, who may come to the school, in a structured manner. We plan to do it to interact with the students. The presentation will be held and the students from all the campuses can be part of it, no matter which of the campuses, irrespective of the campus the programme is being beamed out.

Now, that is going to be useful for us.

Hitherto, some campuses have been at a disadvantage, while others are so lucky.

Expectedly, Lagos and Abuja campuses have always had the benefit of the senior members of the profession, either from the Bar or the Bench coming to share ideas with our students.

Other campuses have not been so lucky.

Though they do have their own fair share. Most law firms in Nigeria are located in Lagos, Abuja, Port Hacourt and Kaduna. It is always easier for practitioners and other members of the profession to be in Lagos and Abuja for obvious reasons.

So, we are bridging that gap now, in which

•Onadeko

case, all students of the Nigerian Law School will have the same level of exposure to the expertise of these senior members of the profession.

Are there plans to modify the school’s curriculum as well?

Yes, we are also restructuring our curriculum, to enable the students to benefit more. The important thing is that, we want to ensure that those lawyering skills, which they need to function as legal practioners are transferred to

them. This is now being done in a manner that involves them.

We are going to enhance the internship period, during which they are assigned to law firms and courts to understudy the rudiments of the profession in a manner that can be considered as practical. You will find out that it is useful.

We are doing it in a more structured manner, with adequate supervision, to be sure that those three months, within their programme here at the Law School, is •Continued on page 26

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, while inaugurating election tribunal judges, warned them against technicalities. Are the judges complying? ERIC IKHILAE asks.

Justice threatened at tribunals

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•CJN Mohammed

hen the election tribunals were inaugurated after the general elections, they were expected to do jus tice and dwell less on technicalities. The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, while inaugurating the 242 judges in the over 70 election tribunals, urged them to look at cases on their merit.

He told them: “As you start your assignment, I must reiterate that while you are on the tribunals, you will be looked upon as the embodiment of this ideal of justice. To that end, you must be the dispensers of justice, regardless of fear or favour, position or standing.

“Since you all do not have the luxury of time in the discharge of your duties, I urge you all to be pedantic in your deliberations but do not allow ‘red- herring’ technicalities to distract you from the path of justice. You must listen attentively, and enquire appropriately, taking care not to descend into the arena,” the CJN said.

However, judges at the tribunals seem to be doing otherwise. Some of their decisions, it appears, tend to emphasize technicalities.

On July 31, the Court of Appeal in Abuja reversed an ear-

lier decision by the Kogi State Legislative Election Tribunal. The Justice Akpan Ikpeme-led tribunal had, in a ruling on June 18 in the petition by Senator Smart Adeyemi against Senator Dino Melaye (challenging the outcome of the election in the Kogi West Senatorial District), dismissed the petition on technical ground.

The tribunal said petition was incompetent and was abandoned because the petitioner was out of time in its response to the reply by one of the respondents.

But, in its judgment on July 31, the Court of Appeal faulted the tribunal’s decision and ordered it to re-hear the petition promptly in line with the provision of the Constitution which stipulates 180 days from the date of filing.

Justice Mohammed Adume , who read the unanimous judgment, noted that “findings of the tribunal that the service was effected within 26 minutes was not supported with affidavit by the tribunal’s bailiff. The tribunal was wrong in its hasty conclusion and in striking out the petition on technicality.

“A tribunal has the duty to verify and evaluate evidence •Continued on page 26

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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LAW COVER CONT’D in the Law School. When you comprehend that, the rest will be smooth sailing.

You must work hard. You cannot shy away from that. You must understand what you are taught, to give solutions to any given problem.

Every examination at the Nigerian Law School is akin to a lawyer sitting down with a client and listening to the client’s story and proffering solutions to get relief for the client.

As much as possible, we ensure that students understand what they should be doing well before examinations.

•Continued from page 25

productive.

We have, during debriefing exercise, which we conduct after the period of internship, found that there is a disparity in the level of exposure that our students get when they go out.

For the courts, it is easier to monitor. We must commend our judges; most of them have been very wonderful. They take on the students.

They even pause to explain to them what is going on in the courts and they ask them questions at the end of the day. Some even set examinations for them.

The same goes for law office attachment. We commend the law firms for their input and cooperation.

We have now decided to engage law firms to know what they expect of our students at the point of leaving the law school. This came about when we realised we are doing what the law wants us to do. We feel we should not cut out the recipients of our products.

There is a committee in place to engage law firms in Nigeria. They have been divided into three tiers. Specifically, we are looking at the expectations of the law firms about our students after their call to Bar. When we get the information, we will come back to the drawing board to analyse them.

What is your reaction to the observation in some quarters that the standard of legal educations is falling?

Well, that is correct. We heard commentaries and other suggestions in like manner. I think there is no doubt that, when we look at the past, we are likely to conclude that the standard is falling. I will not contest that totally.

Whichever way we look at it, the lawyers of today have access to more information and knowledge than those that preceded them for obvious reasons. It easier now to undertake research in Law, materials are available online. You can visit several legal platforms from where you can garner knowledge. And it is so easy; even cases decided in our courts here in Nigeria are available on some of these platforms almost immediately.

Knowledge has become common place and copious in nature than what it was in my own time. To that extent, and for those who are hardworking, diligent and interested in learning, the horizon is very broad and they have all at their disposal.

Parents are concerned that their wards do not do well in Bar exams, whereas the same students came tops in their universities’examinations. Are differences in the mode of learning at the universities and the Law School?

I don’t think there is really any disconnect between the performance of a student in the university and the Bar vocational training stage at the Nigeria Law School.

Indeed, if you take a look at our top students here, they take a similar pedigree from their universities. And if you go further to their secondary school, you will discover it is a consistent pattern of self-evolution and development in the legal studies.

In the university, questions are asked in ambivalent manner, they (students) may be given a particular scenario or event and be asked to comment or discuss.

But here, the questions come in a way to draw your knowledge to solve problems. You must understand the principles and then, of course, the relevant case law and statutory law to proffer logical answers that will stand you in the good stead.

So, if you don’t migrate from the ambivalent way of answering question in the university, where you can regurgitate what you are taught in the classroom, it may be difficult. From the regurgitation, the examiner in the university can find some answers relevant to the questions, but here, it is very empirical and the marking scheme is there to guide us. We have a standard marking scheme that is

Are there challenges that inhibit the school’s effective performance?

•Onadeko

‘Why many fail Bar exams‘ prepared by the examiners. That is what every marking script uses.

So, if you are off point, or you do not understand what the question is or your response is devoid of the content expected, you are not likely to do well. Here, you must acquire the knowledge. It is not a matter of crash programme or working on past questions.

What other factors, do you think, hinder students’performance here?

You will see some students, who, rather than reading legal books or literature, go about with past questions and answers. By that, you are already limiting your scope of advancement.

What this has shown us is that some students decide to rewrite questions; they answer what they have already ingested. You know, when you are dealing with an examination that is empirical in nature, you are going to run into challenges. I think that is one of the reasons that affect the students at that stage.

The first thing we advise them, when they are coming in, is the difference between the approach in the university and the approach

There are a lot of challenges. Funding is there; we love to have uniform infrastructure in all our campuses, but that is something we are yet to achieve.Some campuses, especially the younger ones still need to be assisted to come up.

In the last 12 months, we have had to focus on security in our campuses, especially Yola and Kano campuses. I am happy to tell you that the two campuses are now fully fenced and we have adequate security now.

We need more infrastructure. Apart from Lagos and Yenagoa, most of our other campuses are not located in the heart of the city. It is a distance to law courts and law firms. We have lost a number of students to road accidents, which we are not happy about.

So we encourage our students to avoid moving around, except it is necessary. Accommodation in the campuses far away from the city becomes imperative. We need more vehicles for our students. Water supply is another problem. Poor staffing is another issue.

Our new campuses started without recruitment of new staff and that meant we have to deploy staff in existing campuses. There are manifold issues to discuss in this realm.

Technicalities threaten justice at tribunals

•Justice Mohammed

before it in order to arrive at a just conclusion. The tribunal was wrong in stopping the train while on its way to justice,” Justice Adume said.

The Court of Appeal in Akure reversed two decisions of the election tribunal dismissing the petitions by Festus Aregbesola (Akure South) and Gbenga Edema (Ilaje 11) in Ondo

State. The tribunal had dismissed both petitions on technical grounds.

There was also the decision in the petition by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha against Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, where the tribunal dismissed the petition on the ground that the petitioner did not pay for the answers to the prehearing questionnaire.

Also, the tribunal, by some of these decisions, seem to be in haste to do away with the petitions, and appear not to be interested in the CJN’s admonition and the various decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on the need to de-emphasise technicalities.

The Supreme Court in the case of Amaechi v. I.N.E.C. (No.3) (2007) 18 NWLR (Pt.1065) says: ‘’The sum total of the recent decisions of this court is that the court must move away from the era when adjudicatory power of the court was hindered by a constraining adherence to technicalities. .’’

The Court of Appeal, in the case of Balonwu v. Obi (2007) 5 NWLR (Part. 1028) 488 at 542, says: “The court is more interested in doing substantial justice because reliance on technicalities lead to injustice...”

The Court of Appeal added, in the case of Abdurauf v. State (2008) All FWLR (Part.410) 709 at 735 that “the policy of sticking to technicalities as opposed to substantial justice has ceased and the court has shifted from

undue reliance on technicalities to doing substantial justice between the parties before it.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also accused of not helping the course of justice but frustrating petitioners’ cases.

This allegation is further supported in most of the tribunals like that of Rivers, AkwaIbom, and Gombe states where INEC has made it difficult for petitioners to inspect election materials and obtain certified true copies of them.

In the case of Gombe governorship election tribunal, it took a long battle for the petitioners to overcome the intrigues and sometimes outright subterfuge of INEC officials in the Gombe office.

It took the intervention of the INEC headquarters for some of its officials subpoenaed to agree to testify. The petitioners had to rely on such intervention to get the Head of Operations for the April 11, 2015 governorship election to testify on subpoena.

With the INEC official as witness, the petitioners were able to go through the electoral forms to demonstrate their claim about how votes were deducted from the petitioners and how in some cases votes were added to the declared winner.

With another official of INEC from its Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) department, the petitioners were also able to demonstrate their claim that voters’ accreditation details recorded in the various

electoral forms defer from the details in the card reader server at the INEC Headquarters.

It is the petitioners’ contention that since no incident forms were used for the governorship elections across the country, such discrepancies are significant in determining the issue of whether the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act. The petitioners are however uncomfortable that the tribunal refused to allow the report of the inspection of other electoral materials like the voters’registers and ballot papers to be admitted in evidence.

They are equally sad that the tribunal in Gombe has denied petitioners in the other subsisting petitions the opportunity to bring in as evidence, report of inspection of electoral materials and even refused an application for the recounting of ballot papers.

The petitioners queried the decision by the tribunal to disallow an INEC official from giving evidence on the ground that the subpoena was not personally served on the officer to whom it was addressed.

They also complained that a substantial part of the 14 days allocated to the petitioners to present their case has been lost on account of all sorts of objections and applications raised and filed by the defence counsel.

Petitioners at the Gombe governorship tribunal are particularly umcomfortable with the tribunal’s seeming predilection for technicalities.

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THE NATION AUGUST 25, 2015

LAW PERSONALITY The Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has an important job: the eradication of gender-based violence in Lagos State. In this interview with YETUNDE OLADEHINDE, ADEBISI ONANUGA and ROBERT EGBE, the group’s Coordinator, Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, during a visit to The Nation, spoke on the scale of the problem in the state as well as the government’s strategies to combat the scourge. Excerpts.

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HERE are already many organisations handling issues relating to domestic as well as sexual abuse and violence, why was it necessary to establish the DSVRT? There was a case of a four-year-old girl that was sexually assaulted. Due to the intensity of the defilement, her pelvic dropped, so she couldn’t control her urinal passage, and, of course, you know that different agencies are doing different things to address these issues, but there was no coordinated response to it. For example, you know some NGOs carry out sensitisation campaigns to try and pressurise relevant agencies to take relevant action and, then, the police are supposed to investigate, but sometimes this doesn’t come through. And even when it does, there’s sometimes the issue of out-of-court settlement. Sometimes the case gets to the Director of Public Prosecutions, other times it does not. So, the former Attorney-General felt that the best thing to do was to have representatives from all these agencies under one umbrella, come together, since we’re all working towards one common goal, which is, ultimately, to eradicate sexual and gender-based violence. And that is why the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team was established in 2014.

So, the DSVRT is a coalition of the government as well as law enforcement agencies?

The team comprises representatives of relevant agencies and the private sector; it is a public-private partnership, so you have civil society organisations, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Education, that of Youth and Social Development, we have the Directorate of Public Prosecution and some media partners.

What kinds of challenges have you been facing?

This month alone we’ve attended to eight cases and the major challenge is the community. You have a victim and we say girl victim, but it can happen to boys or men.

You find out that when the girl or woman has found the courage to come out and speak up, you have her family members, the society, the community representatives begging,saying things like ‘please forgive him, are you God? Can’t you just forgive?

At least, you didn’t die, let God deal with him, etc.’ And you just wonder if these people know these things are crimes? Just a couple of days ago, the uncle of a victim called and said he heard I would speak to the Divisional Police Officer, requesting for the status of the case. I told him to come to my office so we could talk, but he said no, that they had reported it to the police and they want the police to ‘just punish him small, and let him go one week later.’ I looked at him and said, ‘Are you the Attorney-General? You’re not the government, you’re not the person that is allowed to mete out punishment. You’ve done a good job, you’ve reported the case, now allow the law to take its course. So, we have a lot of work to do to in terms of sensitising members of the public that rape is a crime and it is not for anyone to encourage.

Rape is a crime. What about its prevention? Is there anything are you doing towards sensitising people about this and to find out why they do it?

We’re not only interested in punishing the perpetrators, we’re also putting in a lot of preventive measures. Part of that is why we’re here, because when the public is aware of what we do it makes everything easier. We go to schools, we sensitise all stakeholders who have one thing or the other to do with the issue. We go to churches, we go to mosques; anywhere there’s a gathering. If you look at the way our culture is evolving, children see adults as uncles and aunties, as trusted people and most of the perpetrators of sexual violence are not strangers, so, as much as possible, we focus on the young. We tell them things like, nobody should touch certain parts of their bodies, whether or not the person is an aunty or an uncle. We’re even educating caregivers as well. The case you heard of the four-year-old, the girl was calling the perpetrator ‘uncle’, yet he was defiling all the little girls in the school, more like a serial rapist. We organize programmes, we

•From left: Busola Agagu, Ibidun Alakija-Ladapo; The Sunday Nation’s Assistant Editor, Yetunde Oladeinde; Team Coordinator, VivourAdeniyi and Tolu George during the visit of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) to The Nation ... on Thursday.

‘How impunity encourages sexual crimes’ have posters, handbills, etc. Wherever we can get these young people, we go there and tell them.

The victims of these crimes go through a lot of pain both physical and emotional.

What do they tell you about their experiences?

One thing that the victims go through is that sometimes they are actually harassed; they are threatened, their lives are threatened. Then when it comes to threats, we’re yet to get to that level where we develop a mindset that no matter what you do to me, I’m going on with the case and that is why we want the media to bring out articles that people can read whether adults or the young, and understand that they shouldn’t feel threatened. We need you to help us tell people that what we do is a holistic package, that sexual violence is a crime against the state. Bringing all of these various organisations under one umbrella is very helpful, because it means that people now know that there are different doors that they can approach.

Why is defilement usually treated differently than rape?

Well, we have the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011, and the difference between rape and defilement as you rightly said, is that we have Section 137 that provides for defilement, then we have section 258 for rape. But I think the reason we find that most defilement cases get handled differently is because the victim is unable to speak out by his or herself, you’ll find that it is through the parents or guardians that are the mouthpiece of the victim, it is through them we get to know about the victim. We actually think that defilement is a very serious matter, and defilement is not just being perpetuated by men, you’ll be amazed that female teachers are inserting things, inserting pens into children’s vaginas in the school premises.

What can we say is the cause of this new trend?

I think it is impunity. I think people are doing these things because they think they can get away with it. And even from best practices, when we look at how other countries that have had these kinds of incidents, how they’ve been able to handle it, the most effective deterrent is conviction. When you read the Punch, The Nation, and you see so and so defiled a child convicted for life; so and so person defiled a child, convicted for 30 years; it’ll send a message that it is no

more business as usual.

Talking about conviction, the UNILAG lecturer’s case, what are you doing about that?

The part-time lecturer? We’re actually on top of it. You know the case was reported to the Office of the Public Defender, which is a member of the team, and the Director sent a letter to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) management to inform them about it, but the victim has received medical treatment, the part-time lecturer case has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court and he’s on remand in Kirikiri.

The reality with rape is, it is ‘she said, he said’. The perpetrator will say it was consensual, the victim will say ‘I did not consent’, so, it’s only when they get to court that the court will now say ‘where is the evidence?’

When it comes to these crimes, what kind of people should children, parents and guardians be most wary of?

You’ll find out that most people who perpetrate these acts are people that the victims know. Sometimes these people know that a daughter is sneaking out of the house, they’ll blackmail her and say ‘I’m going to tell mummy and daddy if you don’t let me do this.’ That’s how it starts, and once there is a scar, it leads to some of the social problems we’re now having, because the scar is there, it didn’t heal. They have long-term effects on the victim. And we have a lot of problems now, taking care of the people who have been sexually abused. Every home must start educating its children. Not only on ABC and 123, but on whatever name you want to call it, whether it’s sex education, talk shows or whatever, you must discuss it at home.

There are stipulated punishments for perpetrators of domestic and gender-based crimes. Does your agency have any programme or system for identifying and rewarding ‘good behavior’ or ‘sanity’ for instance in schools?

Well, in terms of the Mandatory Reporting Policy, I don’t know if you’re familiar with that. It mandates anybody employed by the Lagos State Government that has dealings with children to report actual or perceived cases of child abuse to the Office of the Attorney-General, and we came up with this manual and there’s a form that they’re supposed to fill. What we intend to do is to see the mandated reporters that have reported; we note reports that have

‘The first thing is that the victim should not take a bath, and that is a stiff challenge because when a rape occurs, the first thing the victim wants to do is to wash. But when you’re washing, you’re actually washing away the evidence. The next thing is to go to the nearest hospital; ideally, the victim should go to the Mirabel Centre. The Mirabel Centre is a sexual assault and referral centre where you receive free medical and counselling aid’

been made by a particular set of mandated reporters and we intend to reward them. I believe we’ll do it in the open and get organisations to partner with us and give them their products and so on and so forth, just to encourage them that, okay, they’re doing the right thing.

What should a rape victim do to preserve evidence immediately such a crime occurs?

The first thing is that the victim should not take a bath, and that is a stiff challenge because when a rape occurs, the first thing the victim wants to do is to wash. But when you’re washing, you’re actually washing away the evidence. The next thing is to go to the nearest hospital; ideally, the victim should go to the Mirabel Centre. The Mirabel Centre is a sexual assault and referral centre where you receive free medical and counselling aid. If the Mirabel Centre, which is located at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) is too far, the victim should go to the nearest hospital. It’s not about prosecution at that stage; we simply want to protect the victim. If the victim presents herself of himself within 72 hours, which is the golden period, tests can be administered which reduces the chances of the victim contracting sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and all of that. So, the first thing is to get medical help.

Are you doing anything towards discouraging the subtle denigration of women in popular culture, such as in the featuring of scantily dressed ladies in Nigerian songs or films?

To be fair, that’s adult content. They’re not meant to be shown during regular hours. But, I don’t know if you’re familiar with Nigerian musician Olamide’s song ‘Story for the gods’? That song is promoting rape from the beginning to the end.

“You come to my house, you’re telling me it’s getting late. I don’t need your permission. Now you’re saying my hand is hurting me.” People were singing the song and I didn’t know. Then somebody interpreted it and I went online and saw the interpretation, and I said wow, this is a rape song. I don’t know if you’ve even seen the video.

We didn’t hear of it on time, in fact, we got wind of it like a year late, but when we did, and though there’s a limit to what we can do in a matter like this, we wrote to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and advised the NBC that if these kinds of songs are aired at all, they should be aired during off peak hours. And then we even attacked Olamide on Twitter and told him his song was promoting rape and he needed to desist from this. Obviously he didn’t respond. We all need to canvass more that these kinds of things should not be encouraged. Radio stations should not be playing these kinds of songs when children are listening, but I don’t think it’s reasonable to say, no don’t show those kinds of videos.

28

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

What’s wrong with Administration of Criminal Justice Act? •Continued from last week

I

T is on the above parameters amongst others that the success or failure of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 can be realistically assessed. We now turn our attention to the Act. Historical origin The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 is a revolutionary intervention in our justice sector delivery system that ostensibly would impact on the quality of justice and avoid delays in the adjudicatory process in Nigeria. To appreciate the magnitude of the likely reforms the new law would be bringing to the table, it may be useful to go down memory lane in order to determine how we now arrive at our present destination leading to the enactment of this new law. In the words of one commentator: ‘Criminal procedure in Nigeria is governed by two principal legislations which were handed down to us by the British Colonial Administration, namely: the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) 1 and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC)2. Each state in Nigeria has either adopted the CPA or the CPC. These laws have been applied for many decades without significant improvement. As a result, the criminal justice system has lost its capacity to respond quickly to the needs of the society to check the rising waves of crime speedily bring criminals to book and protect the victims of crime. The ACJA2015 responds to Nigeria’s dire need of a new legislation that will transform the criminal justice system to reflect the true intents of the Constitution and the demands of a democratic society eliminate unacceptable delays in disposing of criminal cases and improve the efficiency of criminal justice administration in the country. Indeed the Buhari Administration should urgently commence the implementation of the ACJA to prosecute its campaign against corruption and allied crimes.

The provisions for the reform of Administration of Criminal Justice were first developed in 2005 by the National Working Group on the Reform of Criminal Justice in Nigeria. The Group which was established by the then Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN was maintained by his successor, Chief BayoOjo (SAN). The Group consisted of individuals drawn from all segments of the criminal justice sector. The immediate Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) upon assumption established the Panel on Implementation of Justice Reform (PIJR) in 2011 to implement the proposals for reform produced by the National Working Group under the earlier administrations. The Panel conducted a detailed review of the proposals,

brought them up-to-date and adopted an improved version.

The ACJ proposals merged the provisions of the two principal legislations, CPA and CPC into one principal federal Act which is intended to apply uniformly in all federal courts across the entire Federation. Substantially, it preserves the existing criminal procedures. But it introduces new innovative provisions that will enhance the efficiency of the justice system. In other words the ACJA 2015 builds upon the existing framework of criminal justice administration in the country. However, it fills the gaps observed in these laws over the course of several decades. The contents as revised and updated by the Panel on Implementation of Justice Reform (PIJR), with the support of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies have now been enacted into law. The House of Representatives have turned the proposals to an Act and passed them wholly into law’.

Overview Briefly, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 is a 495 section law that repealed the Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Procedure Code as applicable in all Federal Courts and courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Act is divided into 49 parts Part 1 deals with ‘Preliminary Matters’such as purpose, application and the issue of arrest generally.

Part 2 covers ‘Arrest, Bail and Preventive Justice’with far-reaching provisions on “mode of arrest, forestalling unnecessary restraint in the cause of arrest, notification of cause of arrest and rights of suspect, prohibition of arrest in lieu, humane treatment of arrested suspect, search of arrested suspect, inventory of property of arrested suspect, Search ofarrested suspect, Inventory of property of arrested suspect. Examination of arrested suspect, Search of place entered by suspect sought to be arrested, Power to break out of a house or place for purpose of liberation, Arrested suspect to be taken immediately to police station, Recording of arrests, Central Criminal Records Registry, Recording of statement of suspects, Arrest by police officer without warrant, Refusal to give name and residence, Arrest by private persons, Arrest by owner of property, Arrest of suspect doing damage to public property, Handing over of an arrested suspect by private person, Offence committed in presence of Judge or Magistrate, Arrest by Magistrate, Arrest for offence committed in presence of Judge, Magistrate or Justice of the Peace, When public is bound to assist in arrest, Pursuit of suspect into other jurisdictions, Quarterly report of arrests to the AttorneyGeneral, Release on bail of a suspect arrested

without warrant, Power to release on bail before charge is accepted, Remedy of suspect detainedin custody, Police to report to supervising Magistrates, Chief Magistrate to visit police stations every month”.

Part 3 is on ‘Warrants’and covers ‘General authority to issue warrant, Form and requisites of warrant of arrest, Warrant to be issued on complaint only if on oath, Warrant may be issued on any day, Warrant, to whom directed and duration, Warrant of arrest may in exceptional cases be directed to other persons, Public summons for person absconding, Publication of public summons, Execution of warrant and procedure, Power to arrest on warrant but without the warrant, Court may direct particulars of security to be taken on execution of warrant, Procedure on arrest of suspect outside division or district of court issuing warrant, Warrant issued by the Federal High Court, Re-arrest of suspect escaping, Provisions of sections 12 and 13 to apply to arrests under section 48’ PART 4 deals with ‘Prevention of Offences And Security For Good Behaviour’and covers matters relating to: “Police to prevent offences and injury to public property, Information of design to commit offence, Arrest by police to prevent offences, Prevention by other public officers of offences and injury to public property, Power of Magistrate to require execution of recognizance for keeping peace, Security for good behaviour for suspected persons, Security for good behaviour for habitual offenders, Order to be made, Procedure in respect of suspect present in court, Summons or warrant in case of suspect not present, Copy of order under section 59 to accompany summons or warrant, Power to dispense with personal attendance, Inquiry as to truth of information, Order to give security, Discharge of suspect informed against.”

PART 5 on ‘Proceeding in all Cases Subsequent to order to furnish security’deals with”Commencement of period for which security is required, Conditions of recognizance, Power to reject sureties, Procedure on failure of suspect to give security, Power to release suspect imprisoned for failure to give security, Power of High Court to cancel recognizance, Discharge of sureties.”

PART 6 on ‘Public Nuisance’is concerned with “Conditional order for removal of nuisance, Service of order, Suspect to whom order is addressed to obey or appear before court, Consequences of failure to obey order or to appear, Procedure where suspect appears, Consequences of disobedience to order made absolute, Order pending inquiry, prohibition of repetition or continuance of nuisance.”

•Shittu

PART 7 on ‘Attachment Where a Person Disobeys Summons or Warrant’deals with “Attachment of property of suspect absconding, Order to attach property, Restoration of attached property, Issue of warrant in lieu of or in addition to summons, Power to take bond for appearance, Provisions of this Part generally applicable to summons and warrant.”

PART 8 on ‘Provisions Relating to Criminal Trials and Inquiries In General’is concerned with “Application of General authority to bring suspect before a court, Right of making complaint, Form of complaint, Form of documents in criminal proceedings, Rule as to statement of exception, Limitation of period for making a private complaint.”

PART 9 on ‘Place of Trial or Inquiry’is concerned with “Venue generally, Offence at sea or outside of Nigeria, Offence committed on a journey, Offence commenced and completed in different States, Chief Judge to decide question as to court of inquiry or place of trial, Chief Judge may transfer a case, When cases may be remitted to another court, Removal under warrant, Transfer of case where cause of complaint has arisen out of jurisdiction of court, Court may assume jurisdiction under certain conditions, Assumption of jurisdiction after commencement of proceedings.”

PART 10 on ‘Powers of the AttorneyGeneral’covers “Information by the Attorney-General, Issuance of legal advice and other directives to police and Prosecution of offences.”

•To be continued next week

Benue tribunal resumes Sept. 7

By John Austin Unachukwu

•Otorm

T

HE Benue State Election Petition Tribu nal sitting in Makurdi, the state capital, will resume sitting on September 7 to determine whether Governor Samuel Ortom was legally nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Petitioner, Mr. Terhemen Tarzor is

asking the Tribunal to nullify Dr. Ortom’s election and declare him (Tarzoor) as governor.

Certain legal and factual issues have, however, developed and may work against Tarzoor. First, in Suit No. FHC/ MKD/CS/09/2015, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had filed a pre-election action at the Federal High Court, Makurdi raising the same issues and claiming similar reliefs as the petition of Tarzoor was to later claim relief in his petition.

On May 21, this year, while Tarzoor’s matter was still pending, the Federal High Court, Makurdi dismissed the suit filed by the PDP. To date, the PDP has not appealed the final judgment.

This development prompted Senior Counsel to the APC, Sebastine Hon (SAN), to amend the APC’s reply to the petition and raised the defence of res judicata, since the PDP and Tarzoor are co-joined in the disputed governorship election. Res Judicata means a matter that has been decided by a court of competent jurisdiction, which the Tribunal needs not waste its time on.

In the motion on notice, Hon raised the issues of res judicata, abuse of court process, and lack of locus standi, saying Tarzoor,

pried into the internal affairs of the APC and other issues going to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal have been slated for hearing on September 7, when parties are expected to adopt their final addresses before the Tribunal gives its final judgment.

Apart from res judicata, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) and Prof. Anthony Ijohor (SAN), counsel to Ortom and the Independent National Election Petition (INEC), have raised similar points going to jurisdiction and their motions on notice and these will be entertained by the Tribunal on September 7.

Besides, Tarzoor called only one eyewitness to the rescheduled APC State Congress of December 10-11. He is Mr. Terkaa Andyar, a staff member of INEC, the body charged with monitoring party primaries.

As the only eyewitness to the rescheduled APC primary election, who was said to have co-signed a report that no such Congress had taken place, the Tarzoor camp was very upbeat about the potency or decisiveness of the evidence of this witness. Thus, when Andyar stepped into the witness box on August 3, to testify, there was tension in the courtroom.

This witness identified and tendered Exhibit P7, the INEC report and also adopted his statement on oath.

Under cross-examination however, this witness made startling admissions that

sent shock waves to the audience. Responding to a question from Hon, he admitted that said report, Exhibit P7, had nothing to indicate that it emanated from INEC. He further admitted that it was not written on INEC letterhead and that the word ‘INEC’ either in full or in abbreviation could All Progressives Congress (APC),be found on the report. The worst case scenario arose when he agreed with Hon that the signature on the report was not his own!

All other witnesses called by Tarzoor adduced hearsay, since none of them was an eyewitness to the APC Congress that produced Ortom as the APC flagbearer.

On the part of the defence, the APC called Baba Dala, a lawyer, who was the Chairman of the state Congress of the APC, who gave graphic evidence of how Ortom emerged as the APC flagbearer as a consensus candidate and how this was ratified by over 3,000 of the 4,013 delegates who attended the Congress.

All eyes are, therefore, on the Justice Elizabeth Karatu-led Tribunal as it reconvenes on September 7, for the parties to adopt their final written addresses. Thereafter, the Benue people who are very much expectant will know who their real Governor is, when the Tribunal will delivers its judgment.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

For no fewer than four years, Gombe State has been spared the common bloody clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers. The reason is the state’s blueprint, reports VINCENT OHONBAMU

PAGE 29

INSIDE Dikko bows out

PAGE 30

Police avert feast on toxic chicken

•Governor Dankwambo (left) inspecting newly procured tractors before distribution

Gombe: A blueprint for farmers-herdsmen’s peace A

CROSS the country, herding cattle has since become just as dangerous as tilling the soil. Herdsmen and farmers often clash over grazing rights, destruction of crops and herd rustling, among others. Those clashes do not merely leave the combatants with bloody noses.

Perhaps, thousands have perished, not only on the farms or in the wild but also in communities where raids have nearly wiped out residents.

Worse, no state has found an answer to the bloodbath, except Gombe. In the past four years, herdsmen have been grazing their animals in peace, just as farmers have been cultivating without much issues from their roving counterparts.

Gomber residents have their governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo to thank for it. His peace strategies are paying off.

What did he do?

He set up a devoted committee which ensures that any sign of clash is never allowed to degenrate to a fight.

It is in this regard that the governor has offered to avail the Fed-

eral Government his blueprint on containing farmer-herdsman clashes.

“The state is ready to surrender the blueprint of its existing strategies to the Federal Government at any given time,” Dankwambo said.

“We have a committee existing under the Ministry of Animal Husbandry that settles whichever disputes whenever it or may occour and we call it The State Farmers and Cattle Rearers’ Committee and has a dedicated line with a secretary.

“So, we welcome the Federal Government to come to Gombe state and learn from the experience of such committee and that is why overtime, we have not had any kind of clashes or disputes in Gombe State.”

Governor Dankwambo spoke in Gombe at the flag-off of sales of 12,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers and 35.5 metric tonnes of improved varieties of seeds to farmers in the state for the 2015 wet season farming.

He warned against diverting the inputs, and discriminatory sale of the commodities, saying they “belong to the people.”

He said each bag fertilizers was procured at N6,400 and would be sold N3,800 (46% subsidy) a bag while the improved varieties of

‘We have a committee existing under the Ministry of Animal Husbandry that settles whichever disputes whenever they occur and we call it the State Farmers and Cattle Rearers Committee; it has a dedicated line with a secretary’ maize (Samaz 18 and Samaz 14) would sell for N750.00 per 10kg bag.

He expressed satisfaction with the pace of agricultural development in the state and dry season farming in which many farmers now exploit the agricultural potentials of DadinKowa Dam, Balanga Dam and the Gongola River basin, pledging commitment “to supporting them to raise production and maintain the leading role of the state in agricultural production in the Northeast sub-region.

There is more. Some 225 new trac-

tors and 3,358 ox-drawn ploughs have been procured and distributed to farmers, who also now boast improved grains to boost their yields.

Dankwambo also recalled the “procurement and distribution of 8,000 units of water pumps sold at subsidised rates to farmers.

Things are looking up for Gombe farmers, just as their cattle-breeding counterparts have little to worry about.

The Gombe blueprint is worth celebrating.

PAGE 31

IDPs: Shippers to the rescue

PAGE 33

New face of State House

PAGE 36

30

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

Eventful exit for Customs chief A day after resigning as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dikko Abdullahi inaugurated a hospital for the service, accompanied by Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai and other dignitaries.

REMI ADELOWO reports

W

ELL, it was not a bad way to leave the scene. When Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Dikko Abdullahi bade farewell to the service, he was in good company. In the crowd of top officers was Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

There was more than that.

Abdullahi also had the honour to flag off a hospital built for NCS staff.

That Tuesday at the servivce headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), officers and men of the para-military organisation discussed the exit of their boss.

Many officers and men of the organisation who spoke to our correspondent, disclosed that the former CG’s era was a turning point in the NCS, with outstanding successes recorded.

At about midday, the Katsina State-born, accompanied by some aides, left the Customs headquarters for Karu, on the outskirts of Abuja, venue of the commissioning of the ultra-modern Nigeria Customs Service Hospital.

Other very senior officers, including Deputy Comptrollers General (DCGs), Assistant Comp-

trollers Generals (ACGs) and Comptrollers soon arrived at the venue for the grand ceremony.

One hour later, the Special Guest of Honour, Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State arrived. He was warmly received by Dikko and his management team comprising DCGs John Atte, A.A Adewuyi, T.A Musa, I.M Mera and A.C Nwosu.

After a brief inspection of the guard of honour by Governor El Rufai, the event, which was coordinated by the spokesman of the NCS, Wale Adeniyi, a Deputy Comptroller, began in earnest.

First to come to the podium to give the welcome address was ACG Grace Adeyemo, who was the Chairman of the Hospital Committee. That was quickly followed with a brief remark by the Chief Medical Officer of the NCS, Dr. Nanman Nandang.

And then came the introduction of the man of the moment, Dikko Inde Abdullahi. His address lasted only three minutes. He explained the vision behind the construction of the hospital, which he noted, was conceived in order to enhance the welfare and health of Customs personnel. He also assured that as part of the Customs’ corporate social responsibility, the hospital would ca-

•From left, Abudullahi; Senator Sabo Nagudu from Kaduna State and Governor el -Rufai, during the PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO inauguration of the Customs Hospital in Karu, Abuja

‘The vision behind the construction of the hospital was conceived in order to enhance the welfare and health of Customs personnel. He also assured that as part of the Customs’ corporate social responsibility, the hospital would cater for the health challenges of people living within the Karu community and beyond’ ter for the health challenges of people living within the Karu community and beyond.

It was now the turn of el-Rufai to

deliver his speech. Expectedly he did not disappoint. After commending the Customs’ management for the completion of the

Plateau governor fixes roads

•Continued on page 32

‘All thanks to the governor, at least I will not be doing alignment every week because of bad road anymore.

He is a people-oriented leader; I hail him’

R

OADS are nothing to cheer in Jos, the Plateau State capital. Now, the rains have worsened them, submerging the potholes and leaving motorists huffing and cursing.

Pedestrians do not fare better; often, they get splashed with dirty water by helpless drivers doing their best to avoid the ditches and potholes.

Ajara Usman, a resident, said, “One can no longer walk freely along the road; motorists will spray you with mud-water and spoil your whole day. Most of the potholes are deep, and when there is rain, water will cover up the holes and these motorists will...splash you water; it has happened to me several times.”

Governor Simon Lalong has started fixing them, something he promised to do as soon as he took office.

Two months after, Governor Lalong has decided to proffer a short-term solution to the road problem by flagging off the rehabilitation of road network around the city.

Apart from flagging off the rehabilitation of the road network, Lalong also impressed the people of the state by mobilising the construction company Pw Company Nigeria Limited to complete the

multi-billion naira hospital, which boasts of state of the art medical facilities, the governor equally showered encomiums on Abdullahi, whom he said has displayed exemplary leadership attributes as CG of NCS. He told the gathering that Abdullahi’s decision to quit when the ovation was loudest bears eloquent testimony to his patriotism and resolve to allow for his younger colleagues to contribute

•Road workers in action along bank road Jos From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

contract awarded by the immediate past government led by Jonah David Jang.

That uncompleted road which runs through the heart of the city, has been a nightmare for residents since last year when Jang began the construction.

“But realising the impact of the uncompleted project of the socio-

economic sector of the state and considering the hardship faced by motorists and pedestrians, Governor Lalong decided to make the road project topmost priority apart from settling seven months salary arrears of the state civil servants,” said Samuel Nanle, Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Lalong.

With the rehabilitation of the bad roads and the resumption of construction on the uncompleted road,

residents of Jos, particularly commercial taxi drivers, are hailing the governor for alleviating their plight.

One of them, Ahmodu Bala said, “My relief is because, recently I began to hate my driving profession because of the nature of roads in Jos; the roads are terribly bad, by the time you get home after the day’s work, you feel so devastated and it makes you get discouraged continuing the work the next day.

But I have been a taxi driver all my life and I don’t want to quit.

That is why I say this governor is a saviour for repairing these roads.“ Another motorist, Abel Aboki said, “All thanks to the governor, at least I will not be doing alignment every week because of bad road anymore. He is a people-oriented leader; I hail him.”

Most residents of the state said they are praying for the governor to continue in the same good spirit he has started.

A resident Abraham Malu said, “The governor had made the workers happy by offsetting their salary arrears, he has also turn to also solve the road problems to make the entire citizens happy, this to me is the best way to start a government and I think the way he is going, he will be a listening leader”

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

31

THE NORTH REPORT But for the police, scavengers would have dug out and gone home with over 6,000 cartons of hazardous imported poultry buried by officials in a Kaduna State dumpsite. ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports

Police avert feast on toxic chicken

T

HE police in Kaduna Kaduna State have arrested 34 people accused of exhuming and planning to eat or sell poisonous poultry products buried at a dumpsite.

One of the scavengers told our reporter that he took no more than one carton.

Another, a lady, said she was unaware that the toxic birds were disposed of by the authorities.

Of the 34 suspects, now with the police, 11 were women, 23 men.

The incident took place in Mando community.

Owing to the Federal Government’s ban on imported poultry products, especially chicken and turkey, said to cause non-communicable diseases

•The poisonous poultry (NCDs) and antibiotics resistance, the Federal Operating Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) conveyed over 6,000 cartons of the hazardous birds to the Mando dumpsite where there were buried.

Unbeknown to the Customs men, they were being closely monitored.

Scarcely had the personnel driven off when scavengers swooped on the dumpsite, digging away to take home the poultry products feared to cause cancer and lung and kidney diseases, among others.

Director General of National Agency for Foods Drugs

Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii warned Nigerians to avoid imported smuggled chicken and turkey because they have been found to contain substances that can predispose one to kidney, liver and lung diseases as well as certain types

of cancers and drug resistantbacterial infections.

The products were seized at Gadan Wali near Wawa town in Niger State.

Comptroller, ýFOU Zone ‘B’, Masaya Ajiya Malam spoke during destruction of the poultry products along Birnin Gwari Road, Kaduna dumpsite, saying that despite the ban, some unscrupulous individuals still engage in the act.

The poultry products were disposed of at the Kaduna dumpsite, with men of the state Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) watched. A certain chemical was mixed with fuel and poured on the products before setting it ablaze. But due to the wet conditions of the imported chicken and turkey, they could not burn properly, a situation which forced the government agencies to bury the rest of the products.

It was after the burial that the scavengers moved in.

Speaking to newsmen shortly before the suspected scavengers were paraded by the Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Zubairu Continued on page 32

Doctors from the United States and Nigeria carry out surgeries, among other activities, in Kaduna State communities, TONY AKOWE reports

A

ILING residents of Ungwan Romi and environs in the suburbs of Kaduna metropolis have had some of their challenges sorted out by a team of doctors from the United States of America working in conjunction with their Nigerian counterparts.

While some of the patients were diagnosed and given medications, some others went through surgery.

The outreach lasted 10 days.

The Restoration Bible Church located in the area facilitated the intervention, which was led by Dr. Stuart Quartermount from the Medical Missions International College Station in Texas.

He told The Nation that working in collaboration with the Mercy Angel Hospital owned by the Restoration Bible Church, they were able to carry out surgery on 42 patients in eight days with the assistance of Dr. Paul Odumu, a surgeon with the 44 Armed Forces Reference Hospital, Kaduna who led other Nigerian medical personnel.

Dr. Quartermount told The Nation that the mission was his third in Kaduna, having carried out similar exercises at the St Gerard Catholic Hospital and Gwamna Awan General Hospital in the past in collaboration with Restoration Bible Church.

He said, “I have been coming to Nigeria on medical mission since 1988 when we started a mission hospital in the east which is still there in Owerri. Since then, we come about three times a year to support the work there. Since 2008, we have been going to different parts of the country and that was when Rev. Tunde Bolanta invited

•The surgeons and a patient

Ten days of health outreach me to come and do outreach here.

We did one at St. Gerard Catholic Hospital and another at the General Hospital. Now, we have our own facilities here and that will make it easier to come and go”.

On how they raise the money for the mission, he said “We have a mission organisation in the United States of America that helps to raise the funds for the work we are doing. We have a number of churches and individuals that donate resources because they catch the vision of what we are doing here. Some of them have come here before on other missions and have been faithful to give so that we can bring all the things we needed”.

He said they carried out surgery on women with fibroids-related cases.

“It’s been quite interesting because a lot of the people we are doing surgery can’t afford to go somewhere else to get it done. We did a lot of hernia and there was one we did for a man who could not afford to lift anything. We did one hour surgery for him and when he is healed, he

‘We have a mission organisation in the United States of America that helps to raise the funds for the work we are doing. We have a number of churches and individuals that donate resources because they catch the vision of what we are doing here’ will be able to go back to work again.

Some of the women have not been able to give birth because they have problems. We’ve been able to correct that for them and by the grace of God, they will be able to have children. I want to encourage other people to follow the leading of the Lord and give as they have been blessed because God blessed us to be a blessing in return. Christ left his palace in heaven to come and give

us. The best we can do is to take a little bit of time and give to others.”

One of the Nigerian doctors who assisted during the intervention, Dr. Paul Odumu said he had to take part of his leave from the 44 Armed Forces Reference Hospital to be part of the intervention. Dr, Odumu attributed the intervention to the efforts of the leadership of Restoration Bible Church.

He said, “Essentially, Restoration

Bible Church led by Rev. Tunde Bolanta and his wife has been the foundation for the intervention, working in collaboration with our friends from the US led by Dr. Stuart and his wife. Eleven of them came from the US form the intervention. They also collaborated with my own NGO, Odumeaje Christian Medical Mission located in Benue State. We spent about 10 days and the Lord has been helping us. We operated on men, women and children and this has brought a lot of relief to the people here. Our friends from the US brought a lot of equipment and drugs which have been of great help. In the cases we have seen, there are lots of families that could not afford to pay for the surgery.

There is a particular case of an 18year-old girl who was rushed in one of the nights with a ruptured appendix. We attended to her even when she could not afford to pay for a card and she is doing well. In all, I will say there is need for more hands of all medical personnel.”

32

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

Eventful exit for Customs chief Continued from page 30

•The suspects Continued from page 31 Abubakar, PRO of the Customs FOU, Kaduna, Ado Idris said the poultry products were toxic.

He lamented that after the Customs destroyed the seized poultry products in the presence of relevant agencies, some Nigerians who were fully aware of the toxicity of the poultry products went to the site to exhume them to eat and sell

Police avert feast on toxic chicken to members of the public.

Zubairu Abubakar said the 34 suspects arrested at the dumpsite will be charged to court for consumption and sale of toxic and adulterated foods.

One of the suspects, Haliru Musa told The Nation that they were seated at the motor park when they saw people passing with cartons of chickens, and they decided to join

too.

According to him, “I was with my friend at garage, it was in the morning, suddenly, we saw people coming from Birnin Gwari Road with cartons of chicken. Initially, we didn’t know what they were carrying until some people said it is chicken buried at the refuse dump site. So, me and my friend too decided not to be left behind in the largesse”.

their quota to the development of the organisation.

The governor said, “The CG’s resignation to allow for the younger generation to run the Customs is highly commendable. While many others in privileged positions are lobbying to retain their seats, the CG (Abdullahi) lobbied to leave.

For this, he deserves commendation.”

He further noted that the successful completion of the hospital could be largely traced to the reforms of the NCS initiated by the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, part of which gave the Customs to retain about 10 percent of the revenue it generates.

He, however, added that beyond the funds available to the NCS to execute the project, the vision and political will of the Abdullahi-led management was largely instrumental to the successful completion of the hospital.

Shortly afterwards, the governor cut the tape to formally declare the

complex open. Thereafter, he and other senior officers were conducted round the hospital by Dr. Nandang.

Impressed with the sophisticated equipment the hospital boasts off, Governor El Rufai tasked his Commissioner of Health, who was present to look at the possibility of replicating the project in all the local government areas of the state.

Back to the NCS headquarters, as officers and men of the Service waited in bated breath the countdown to Abdullahi’s last moments on the hot seat.

The moment everybody had been waiting for finally came. Dikko, accompanied by other senior officers, descended briskly from his office located on the fourth floor, to the parade ground to take his final inspection of a guard of honour mounted by men of the NCS. At this point, every available space within the expansive premises had been occupied by officers and men, who left their various officers to capture the occasion with their phones.

Taraba governor flags off power plant

T

ARABA State Governor Darius Ishaku has flagged off the Tunga Dam hydroelectric power plant.

The fanfare event took place on the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Government Area.

The Tunga Dam power plant is different from the multi-billion naira Mambilla Hydroelectric Dam project which is to generate 3050 megawatts of electricity when completed.

The small hydro-electric power plant, the first project to be commissioned by the Ishaku administration, is to provide 400 Kilowatts of electricity to the Kakara Highland Tea Factory and the villages around its catchment area.

The power plant has been jointly constructed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations High Commission for

‘50,000 people including 6,000 tea farmers in the community depend on the Kakara tea factory for survival. Whereas the fertile soil and temperate climate of the plateau favour tea production in the area, the absence of a steady source of power has prevented the tea firm from peak production’ From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

Refugee (UNHCR) and the Taraba State Government. The project was initiated by the im-

•Governor Darius Ishaku cutting the tape to commission the hydro-electric power plant

mediate past governor Danbaba Suntai and Ishaku when the new governor was Minister of State for Power.

Ishaku said, “The power plant

•Chairman, management committee, Qua’anpan Local Government Council, Mr Andraw Yenkwo (second left); executive secretary, Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji All-hassan Barde (middle) and others during their visit to flood areas in Qua’anpan and Shendam Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

is the key to my rescue mission in Taraba State.”

The project is to employ thousands of indigenous people and is geared towards “enhancing economic activities of the people of Mambilla Plateau.”

The UNHCR representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Angele Dikongue-Atangana explained through a representative that the project was put in place to improve the living standard of over 10,000 Nigerians that the commission repatriated from Cameroon in 2001, who were residing in the area.

At least 50,000 people including 6,000 tea farmers in the community depend on the Kakara tea factory for survival. Whereas the fertile soil and temperate climate of the plateau favour tea production in the area, the absence of a steady source of power has prevented the tea firm from peak production. The factory’s equipment, including its tea processor, are obsolete, The Nation learnt.

Head of the UNIDO Regional Office Abuja, Chuma Ezedinma said the organisation was happy to be part of the success story of using micro and small hydroelectric power to support productive activities in the state.

He disclosed that the regional office of UNIDO has discovered

over 200 potential hydro power sites in Nigeria that were ready for development.

Governor Ishaku pledged the commitment of the state government in partnering with UN to build additional power plants that would supply electricity to more communities on the plateau and the state. “The area is endowed with adequate waterfalls that can be converted to hydro-power,” he said.

The Mambilla Plateau, rising to a breathtaking 1,840 meters above sea level, is one of the greatest tourist destinations in Africa and has one of the best climatic conditions in the country.

Ishaku said electricity supply will boost socio-economic development on the plateau in many ways, including tourism and sports.

The natives were urged to jealously protect the project from vandals, and above all, sustain peace in the area for massive development.

Many dignitaries attended the commissioning, including Deputy Governor Haruna Manu, House of Assembly Speaker Abel Peter Dial, former SSG Gebon Kataps, chairmen of local government councils and traditional rulers.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 33

Things may not be getting worse for persons forced from their homes by the insurgents but some shippers who visited a camp in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) made the point that the victims of Boko Haram need more help. GRACE OBIKE reports

•The shippers presenting their gifts to the displaced people

T

HE visitors brought quite a sizeable consignment of relief materials, but their message may be just as helpful as their gifts. There is much more to do for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

That was more or less the point made by members of the Nigerians Shippers Council Senior Staff Association (NSCSSA) who presented bags of rice and a load of other household needs on their visit to an IDPs camp in the FCT. Boko Haram has dealt a lifelong blow to its victims. Its fighters have killed thousands and wounded many more mainly in the Northeast. The invaders robbed homes, shops and farms before setting a good many on fire, leaving survivors with no choice but to flee. But such is the flight that virtually state in the country hosts a number of IDPs. And at a huge cost not only on themselves but also those who

IDPs: Shippers to the rescue have to look after them.

Yet, their squalid accommodation is far short; daily necessities even fewer. That is not all; at some point Abuja developers told them to evacuate. Before then, security personnel also clashed with them, leaving about five IDPs dead.

That was, as it were, in the old order. Under the new administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, things seem to be changing a bit for the better. But the IDPs still need help.

The visiting members of the NSCSSA have said that although the government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) are doing their best for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), they can afford to do more.

‘Members of the association decided to contribute from their meagre salaries to provide for the IDPs because anyone could be displaced just like these people, and it is only when Nigerians come out en mass to contribute that these Nigerians will survive the situation that they have found themselves in’ NSCSSA painted a touching picture of people who escaped the only life they were accustomed to because of Boko Haram and now have to live in deplorable conditions, adding that Nigerians who have the resources should help.

President NSCSSA Comrade Mukhtar Adikwu said said that members of the association decided to contribute from their meagre salary to provide for the IDP’s because they realise that the situation that made some Nigerians dis-

Kubwa residents seek evacuation of refuse

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ESIDENTS of Kubwa Extension III in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the environmental department of the council to evacuate the heaps of refuse in the area.

One of the residents, Mr. Ighedosa John, a member of St.

From Gbenga Omokhunu

John Mary Vianney Quasi Parish, the catholic church located very close to a dumpsite, expressed disappointment at the FCT authorities for locating it so close to residential houses, worship centres and the ice block industries.

John said the dumpsite should be

relocated, after the church leadership sought in vain to get the Bwari Area Council authorities to do something on the dump.

“I went to Bwari area council, with a letter dated July 13, I was told to come back after the Salah celebration, which I did. When I went back, I met a woman called Alhaja, who told me that this area which we are

complaining about has the ministerial blessing to be used as a dumpsite.

“I told her that where the dump site is situated is a residential area, but, she replied that there is nothing they could do about it, that they have even buried some refuse in •Continued on page 34

placed can happen to anyone and it is only when Nigerians come out en mass to contribute that these Nigerians will survive the situation that they have found themselves in.

He added, “We discovered that this people are our brothers, who are displaced from their homes and we feel that as Nigerian workers, it is not really nice when you eat in your house and realise that others are not eating, you don’t feel comfortable at all so that is why we put our heads together and to take something out of our meagre salaries to come and assist the needy because it could be anybody because this one’s are displaced today, tomorrow it could be my relatives or even me, which is why we have come together to bring this items to this people to at least solve some of the problems they are encountering.

“Some of the items that we brought here today are sixty bags of 25kg rice, twenty cartons of soap, eight cartons of vegetable oil, cartons of spices and clothing materials as well as liquid soap, these are what the staff of Nigerian shippers council are able to gather together especially the senior staff association and we are able to bring them here.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

Kubwa residents seek evacuation of refuse Continued from page 33 the ground in the past.

“We are appealing to the government to come and help us to remove this refuse from this place, because it is dangerous to the lives of people living here. The road is blocked with the refuse and cannot be accessed any longer, because of the refuse and the bad odour from it,” he said.

Ms. Bola Aberuagba, one of the owners of the Ice Block industries located directly behind the dump site, said they are not happy with the environment hazard in the area, saying that the smell is too much for them to continue their business there, but they have no other option than to continue to pray for the government to come to their rescue.

“We cannot even eat, because of the countless numbers of flies. During the rainy season like this, we cannot move about because, of the stinky water that comes out from it to the road and most times to our business centre, to the extent that people will find it difficult to stand and patronize us mostly when it rains.

“Even the Catholic church at the other end is suffering seriously from the smells that come out from

the refuse. When we came to this area initially, there was no dump site here, it was the mobile refuse collectors that told us that they are paying money to the area council to dump refuse here, because it is a designated dump site. We have done all we could to chase them away, but to no avail,” she said.

Ibrahim Ibrahim, one of the mobile refuse collectors at the dump site, explained that they were initially located close to Dutse junction, a place called Ugwan-Bacha, and the land was sold for Estate to be constructed, before the leadership of council moved to the present dump site at Kubwa Extention III, because it is under a high tension.

“We use to have people from the environmental department of Bwari area council that used to come and evacuate the refuse after it gathers for awhile, but recently, we do not know what went wrong that they allowed it to get to this level after some months. We are appealing to the council to come and evacuate the refuse for us.

“Also, in order to survive in this challenging period, we collect rubber plates and buckets that could be recycled, and we sell them to rubber factories for them to be recycled. We do not want to chased out of this place, so that we will not loose our daily bread,” he said.

Breeders urged to use new cattle market

By Gbenga Omokhunu

T

HE chairman of Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon Yahaya Garba has urged cattle breeders in the FCT and neighbouring states to take advantage of the new market at Old Gawu community in the council.

Garba made the called at a meeting with the leadership of Miyeti Allah, leadership of Fulani community and Gawu traditional council led by the District Head of Gawu.

The chairman urged them to mobilise and sensitise their people on the takeoff and operation of the new market.

He further promised to assist them in the area of security, fencing and other requirements, because the new cattle market will go a long way in boosting the council’s revenue generation.

Earlier, the chairman Miyeti Allah in fact, Alhaji abdullahi Adamu expressed gratitude to the council chairman and Gawu community for providing the land space for the market.

Adamu solicited for the cooperation of the host community, in order to boost other commercial activities in the market.

The market is open five days a week.

•2015 Hall pilgirms boarding a flight at Kaduna airport during the flag-off of pligrims airlifiting from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia.

PHOTO: ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE

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HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Federal Capital Territory has suffered a major setback as one of the its stalwarts, Hon. Yahaya Alhassan Gwagwa has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with over 600 supporters from the six Area Councils of FCT. Gwagwa, who was the immediate past Mandate Secretary of Area Council Service Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration was received by the APC executives and other stakeholders of the party in his Gwagwa ward office.

Though, he did not elaborate much on why he is quitting the PDP, there were speculations that his movement to the ruling APC might not be unconnected with the forthcoming Area Councils elections scheduled to hold next year.

Gwagwa told our correspondent after the ceremony that he decided to move from his former party to the APC to contribute his quota to the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, “I have found integrity, honesty and competence in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and I cannot

Pupil beats them all

‘I have found integrity, honesty and competence in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and I cannot stay aloof and watch things from the sidelines’

By Gbenga Omokhunu

stay aloof and watch things from the sidelines”.

Gwagwa who is believed to be a grassroots politician and the Sardaunan of Gwagwa used the occasion to call on his numerous supporters to vote for the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming FCT Area Council elections, even as he noted that the present administration will lead the country and FCT to the promised land.

Earlier, the ward chairman of the party, Hon. Mohammed Apula de-

scribed the movement as a vote of confidence on the leadership of APC, assuring that the party will capture the six Area Councils in the next year elections.

He described the event as a major landmark, while tasking the defectors to be resolute in canvassing for votes.

Apula assured all members of the party who are aspiring for various political position of equal opportunity, stressing that the party will be fair and just to all aspirants in the forthcoming Area Council elections scheduled for April 2016.

Council chief cautions residents on flood

By Gbenga Adanikin

T

T

HE Junior Engineering Technicians and Scientists (JET) competition organised for private and public schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ended, with Master Essien of Stella Marris Schools walking away with the top prize.

Ibok who was this year’s overall Best Graduating Student of Stella Marris, beat other winners from the six local councils in the FCT. He is to represent the nation’s capital in the national JET competition scheduled to hold next month ýin Port Harcourt.

The Head Teacher, Stella Marris Nursery and Primary School, Area 1, Mr. Bitsu Zamani Bitrus said that if Ibok eventually wins the national contest, he will represent the nation in North Korea where the final edition of the competition will take place.

Bitrus said the competition was organised by Universal Basic

Mass defection hits FCT PDP

•Ibok with his plaque and teacher

Education Commission (UBEC) to develop pupils especially in science-related subjects.

The contestants were tested in Maths, Physics, Science, Basic Technology and Computer.

HE chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba has advised residents and the entire Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to resist the temptation of dumping refuse in drainages, in order to allow free flow of flood as the raining season gets to the peak of the season.

Jiba who re-echoed the advice yesterday while speaking with journalists, said that due to metrological prediction last month that about six states in Nigeria are at the risk of massive flooding, there is the need for residents to be careful on how they dispose their refuse.

According to Jiba, who is also the President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) it is important to continue to advice Nigerians on how to live their lives in respect of their environment, so that they will not fall victims of any natural disaster.

“We are blessed people in this country that is why we do not witness anything like earth quake or

From Gbenga Omokhunu

any other natural disaster like hurricane and sunami that happen in other developed countries like China and America.

“The only challenge we have in Nigeria is that of flooding, where houses are collapsing in some part of Nigeria, but we can control the flooding from our individual environment if we want to do it. That is if we learn to manage our immediate environments.

“If you go to some areas in the FCT, you will notice the way people dump refuse in drainages, mostly during when it is raining. They do it because they do not want to spend little money to dispose their refuse properly at a designated dump site.

“We should learn to dispose our refuse properly and not in drainages. By dumping our refuse properly, we will definitely avert any negative occurrence or disaster as a result of flooding. We should not allow any massive flood to take us unaware,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

A

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organi-sation (NGO) Civic Duties Awareness Initiatives (CIDAI) has faulted the Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee’s suggestion that President Muhammadu Buhari should not waste his time fighting corruption alone.

The Executive Director of the group, Benjamin Oyekunle said that the suggestion could distract the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari administration.

He said: “It is in this light that we cannot support the recent call by some elderly, respectable and eminent citizens on the President not to waste his time on fighting corruption alone.

“It is our informed view that given the resources available at the moment no developmental project or administrative area has suffered neglect under this government.

“We believe and rightly so that there is no time spent on fighting graft that is not worth it. The President is on the right path. Anti-graft war is needed, it is needed now.

“For Nigeria to develop, corrup-

NGO faults National Peace Committee From Dele Anofi

tion must be eradicated. All hands must be on deck in this just cause”.

Oyekunle warned Nigerians on the capability of corrupt persons to do everything to stop the anti-corruption, including fighting integrity crusaders.

“It has been noted that when you fight corruption, corruption fights back. Vigilance is therefore of utmost importance against all reactionary tendencies. The people who have emptied our collective purse are still bent on diverting the national resources to their private pockets. They are ready to spend huge sums to truncate the anti-graft war. They are the ones alleging partiality and selectivity.

“They can use anybody as their mouthpiece even without the person being aware they are being used for a wrong cause.

“There are those who would also want to make nonsense of this jus-

‘It has been noted that when you fight corruption, corruption fights back. Vigilance is therefore of utmost importance against all reactionary tendencies. The people who have emptied our collective purse are still bent on diverting the national resources to their private pockets’ tifiable cause by attempting to make caricature of it, shouting wolf where none exists.

“They want to manipulate the process to their favour through mob action and smear campaigns aimed at pulling down public ser-

vants who are above board and have been impediments to dipping their hands into the public treasury.

The group likened the allegations against the Director-General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Dr.

N351m properties saved from fire T

HE FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has saved N351.5m worth of properties from going up in flames between June and July.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the agency, Josie Mudashiru provided the information in a press statement, adding that the properties were residential homes, business premises and institutional structures.

She stated, “In furtherance of its mandate to ensure that disasters are reduced to the barest minimum, the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has saved proper-

By Grace Obike

ties valued at Three Hundred and Fifty one Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only in the months of June and July, 2015.

The Director General of FEMA Alhaji Abbas Idriss said that out of the 13 fire stations situated within the FCT, only three, namely, Abaji Fire Station, Kaura and National Judicial Institute did not receive stress calls.

The D.G. urged everyone to cooperate with FEMA and help it to respond promptly to distress calls.

“The properties saved cut across residential, business and institutional buildings, the D-G said, adding that the residential buildings represent 64% of the total fire incidences recorded in the two months under review.

“Alhaji Abbas Idris called on FCT residents to implement the Fire Code that stipulates amongst other requirements, that public and private buildings should install smoke detectors and fire alarms. This implementation, according to the Director General, will ensure that properties and lives are saved due to the early warning system that the gadgets provide.

The TCT boasts of Thirteen Fire Stations and they are as follows: Asokoro, Abaji, Games Village,and Garki Market. Others are Gwarimpa, Kuje, Kubwa, Kwali, Kaura Market, Karu and National Judicial Institute.

TheDirectorGeneral said the public should call any fire station closer to them in the event of an emergency or call the three (3) digit toll free emergency number 112.

He urged FCT residents to cooperate with the Federal Capital Territory Administration in reducing emergencies by being safety conscious at all times.

Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko to such moves by the corrupt to tarnish the image of the just.

“We view this as a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to rubbish the modest achievements recorded by her since assuming office in 2014.

“The fund was alleged to be enmeshed in corruption prior to her becoming the DG. There are those who had been feeding fat on the fund who she blocked. Her transparent management of the fund was said to have boosted the confidence and garnered support from the stakeholders.

“Mrs Onaeko is a young mother of two and a dutiful wife. Her competences and ability were recently recognised by no other person than President Muhammadu Buhari when he included her in his lean entourage to the United States of America.

“Some have reasoned that her enviable feat in the course of her duties might have endeared her to the President who might have penned her name down for a higher appointment.

“They opined that the above reasons could be why some who want her position as DG of ITF or scheming to get a ministerial slot are fighting her for.

“The allegations against Mrs Onaeko and some others that are already fighting corruption should be dismissed for what they are, concocted and fabricated lies based on hearsay against innocent public officers”.

While commending the efforts of President Buhari in tackling corruption, the group urged opinion leaders, professionals and the media not to allow themselves to be tools in the hands of evil forces.

‘Suspend Centenary City project’ S

OME indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Lugbe/Iddo District Community Youth Forum have urged the federal government to suspend all overt and coverts actions or steps with regard to the Centenary City Project pending the constitution of standing ad-hoc committee to complete modalities of compensation and resettlement of affected indigenes.

The natives who are indigenes of Toge, Dayisna, Kpaipai and Barwa communities, also advised the Managing Director of the Cente-

By Gbenga Omokhunu

nary City Plc, Dr. Ike Odinigwe to thread with caution in actualising the project, and not to infringe on their fundamental human rights as bona fide citizens of Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the natives, the Chairman of the Forum, Emmanuel Gade, faulted the comment made by the Managing Director of the Centenary City Plc, Dr. Ike Odinigwe in July 24 edition of the Daily Trust Newspapers in respect to the acquisition of vast land for the resettlement project, that

671 bulidings would be constructed for the affected indigenes and that N1.237Bn has been spent on compensation and ressettlement project.

Gade said that it was amazing that the authority acted in contrast to their earlier agreement, after series of consultative meetings between the authority and the concerned communities who are both critical stakeholders in the centenary city ressettlement scheme.

“It is worthwhile, that we draw the attention of the authorities to the earlier compromise strucked between them and the affected

communities. This was in effect that after the payment of compensation to the original inhabitants with respect to their farm lands, in favour of road networks within the centenary city, which was concluded accordingly.

“The next step was to constitute and inaugurate an adhoc standing committee with membership drawn from the authority and concerned communities of which its terms of référence is to design and fashion out modalities and the module operandi with respect to the relocation and resettlement of the affected communities.

“We like to state that, no committee of such magnitude was ever constituted and we wonder on whose mandate the Managing Director of the Centenary City Project is making those pronouncements.

“We the entirely affected communities in strong term vehemently and in totality rejected the publication made by the Managing Director regarding the centenary city project, but instead demand the authority to tender an unreserved apology to the affected communities via an advertorial by this same medium or any other means as praticable,” he said.

•Medical personnel attending to patients during a free medical outreach and inauguration of •Some of the ox-drawn ploughs for distribution to small-and medium-scale farmers in medical equipment donated by Jos Tin-City Rotary Club to the community’s Primary Healthcare, in Jos Gombe State

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

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HE wind of change is not only sweeping across the economy; even the Presidential Villa is changing too.

A lot of things that used to happen at the seat of power, especially under the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, have given way to change.

Only those with genuine business with the government have been visiting the Presidential Villa under Buhari.

All those hangers-on who normally visited the seat of power under Jonathan have all disappeared.

In the past two months of relocating to the Presidential Villa, more than 70% of guests and visitors to the President during the daytime have been government officials, especially Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

They have been trooping in to update the President on their Ministries activities.

One of the changes, as pointed out by some visitors to the seat of power who normal visited the State House under Jonathan, was in the area of entertainment for guests and visitors.

Under Jonathan, guests and visitors were often entertained with tea or coffee, other light drinks, snacks, sweets and on special occasions, meals.

This appears to be fast changing as noted by some recent visitors to the State House, Abuja.

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Eze Duru Iheoma, at the State House a fortnight ago noted the changes while answering questions from State House correspondents on anti-corruption stance of President Buhari.

He said: “Let me tell you, the truth is I don’t think any rightthinking person in this country is comfortable with the word ‘corruption’. So, that the President has declared war against corruption should please every good-thinking Nigerian. I think it is a very good effort. For taking up that challenge and meeting it head-on, we thank him because, in fact, my colleagues pointed out something I didn’t take note of: the atmosphere in the Villa is a far cry from what it used to be in the past.

“We were there at the reception and in the past you find tea and all that you know. But now you see a conscious effort to cut cost. And that is part of the fight. So, we commend Mr. President.” He stated Another area where the changes were recently noticeable was during the commemoration of the 2015 International Youth Day at the old Banquet Hall of the State

New face of State House House, Abuja.

It was obvious that mainly those that have business with the event attended the function unlike any function held at the venue under former President Jonathan’s administration.

Under Jonathan, such function would have attracted all dick and harry with up to seventy percent of guests not necessarily having any relevance to the function.

Other things were absent at the 2015 International Youth Day event, which was the second major function to be attended at the venue by President Buhari since his relocation to the Presidential Villa.

Then, long queues of vehicles of those trying to gain entrance to such function will line up from the old Banquet Hall gate to as far as the front of the Fire Service building outside the State House gate.

That was the hallmark of any function at the old Banquet Hall under Jonathan.

While there were unusual free flows of traffic to and from the venue, the Banquet Hall car parks were not half filled throughout the duration of the event.

This prompted a passerby who arrived the car park after the function have started to say loudly to his friend: “Are you sure the function has not ended and guests gone back?”

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya But entering the hall, more than 80% of those in the hall were members of the National Youth Service Corps and other youths.

While those who don’t have business with the seat of power may not have easy access, some staff who do not normally have access to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa close to the President’s official office now have easy access.

Most of them who belong to the Muslim faith now easily join the President at the State House mosque for prayers.

Huge production hours and costs are now saved by the staff who prior to the new administration normally go to the National Central Mosque,

Abuja for their Friday Jumaat prayers.

The State House mosque was virtually under lock and key under Jonathan, who was Christian.

Crackdown on racketeers Racketeers have been in the system over the years extorting money one way or the other from job seekers who are mainly youths.

There have been several stories of those in charge of such recruitment exercise either directly or through their cronies and middlemen get up to N500,000 from each job applicant.

Many of the applicants have fell into fraudulent hands and never got the desired job after parting with such huge amount of money.

Some of them in the process of the recruitment exercise have also lost their lives.

A recent case in point was the failed Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise, which was said to be hijacked from the recruitment board by the then Minister of Interior under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Similar stories were also said then about recruitment exercises in the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and many government agencies.

But the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday has sent a warning note to all government agencies that it will no longer be business as usual for staff recruitments.

A test case before the government now is the coming recruitment of 10,000 personnel into the Nigeria Police Force.

Only time will tell if those in charge will heed the new administration’s warnings or device new system to beat the directive.

Okorocha hails FCT on cleanliness

I

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has praised the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Obinna Chukwu for ensuring cleanliness and sanity in the capital city despite the absence of a substantive minister.

Okorocha who gave this commendation during a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. John Chukwu, further explained that he was at the FCTA to see what the Permanent Secretary is doing in the territory.

According to the Imo state governor, the capital city is looking quite neat, due to the recent reinvigorated efforts of the administration to clean up the FCT.

By Gbenga Omokhunu

He however noted that despite the achievement, there is still room for improvement and expansion in the FCT. While responding, the FCT Permanent Secretary said he was elated over the Governor’s visit, adding that it shows leadership and humility of the number one Imo citizen.

He therefore pledged commitment of the FCTA to support the state government and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

“I assure you that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be a world-class capital city like those in America and Europe,” Chukwu added.

•A vehicle passing thruogh an improvised bridge constructed by villagers near Kala Village in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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LAW & SOCIETY Being a paper presented by Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN) during the Nigerian Bar Association young lawyers’ yearly summit, which held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Free movement of legal practice within ECOWAS states 1.0

Introduction

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HE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established at the time civil society and the business community were striving to understand and rise to the challenges of globalisation, posed by World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements, European Union (EU) and African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Regional Economic Agreements, the African Union and New Partnership on Africa’s Development (NEPAD). There was a growing enthusiasm for economic integration, which led to the ultimate goal of regional economic unions. Many countries that were close neighbours or had common problems of economic development strived to maintain some degree of economic cooperation. Thus, ECOWAS came into being as a result of the manifestation of the desires for cooperation among the peoples of West Africa.

The treaty establishing ECOWAS was signed in Lagos, on May 28, 1975, comprising 16 countries of the West African sub-region. They were: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Following the withdrawal of Mauritania in December 2000, the membership dropped to 15.

The primary purpose of ECOWAS is to integrate the fifteen West African markets for goods, capital and labour so that the community can advance harmoniously as one region in its search for sustained economic growth and development. Since the community became operational in 1977, trade development has been central to the cooperation programmes adopted by the decision – making organs of ECOWAS. As early as 1976, the first protocol relating to the concept of products originating from member states of the community was signed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government. Three years later, in 1979, decision on the liberalisation of unprocessed products was signed by the council of ministers followed by decision of the Authority of Heads of State and Government relating to trade liberalisation in respect of traditional handicrafts in 1981. Another decision relating to the adoption and implementation of a single Trade Liberalisation Scheme for industrial product originating from member states of the community dated May 30, 1983 was signed by the Authority completing the scope of products covered by the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme. It is certain that the success of West African integration efforts will be judged by the volume of intra community trade and by the degree of interaction between the citizenry and also between the business communities.

It is instructive to point out that the undercurrents of regional integration that were generated internationally made the formation of ECOWAS a fait accompli. In fact, the United Nations Commission for Africa, (UNCA), generated tremors of regional integration in Africa that soon saw the formation of the East African Economic Community,(EAEC), established by the Kampala Treaty signed on June 6, 1967, which consolidated and legalised the East African Common Services Cooperation and Coordination that existed informally since 1984.

The success of the EAEC motivated the UNCA to turn its attention to West Africa. When the ECOWAS treaty was finally signed it was described in London as “one of the most ambitious projects of its kind in the world” and in West Africa as by far, the most momentous and far-reaching economic treaty.

Article 2 (1) of the Treaty provides thus: It shall be the aim of the Community to promote cooperation and development in all the fields of economic activity… for the purpose of ... fostering closer relations among its members and contributing to the progress and development of the African continent.

To achieve the above purposes, Article 2(2) of the Treaty requires Member States to, by stages, ensure, inter alia, the abolition as between Member States of the obstacles to free movement of persons, goods, services and capital. The removal of obstacles to free movement was meant to provide the foundation upon which a borderless region was to be achieved. The ECOWAS Community envisioned the transformation of the Union into one “massive borderless region, an ECOWAS of peoples, not countries”.

In the words of the pioneer ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade, the late Alhaji Mohammed B. Daramy, at the 3rd West African Investment Forum in Abuja, February, 2008, “The ECOWAS Commission ... has developed a vision to have an ECOWAS of peoples and a borderless region...” The Commission is also committed to ensuring that all the stages of integration, including the creation of a single monetary union are completed in a sustainable manner. This is with a view to realising the ECOWAS vision of moving from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of peoples through the creation of a single economic space in which the people transact business.

2.0 Cross border trade in services A lot has been written on the increasing importance of cross border trade in services including legal services at the international and regional level. The World Bank, writing generally on the internationalisation of trade in services which includes legal services, notes in one of its publications, ‘’Negotiating Trade in Services: A Practical Guide for Developing Countries’’, (2009), that in the last twenty years the growth in trade in services has been phenomenal mainly as a result of advances in technology to the extent that trade and services have attracted the attention of policy makers. The study further notes that in the years before the 2007 financial crisis, trade in services grew as much as the trade in goods, at an average rate of 12 percent and that the trade in business services (such as engineering, legal, health, accounting, and management services) grew even more quickly, at 14 percent over the same period.

This view that trade in services is gaining importance is supported by a number of authors and institutions such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Lawyers and Economists against Poverty (ILEAP). The WTO in one of its publications notes that services represent the fastest growing sector of the global economy which account for about 70 percent of world gross domestic product (GDP), one third of global employment and nearly 20 percent of global trade.

In further support of the WTO’s position; ILEAP in one of their publications entitled Harnessing Services Trade for Development: A Background and Guide on Service Coalitions in Africa and the Caribbean, notes that the services sector plays an integral role in the functioning of any modern economy and has earned the status of being the cornerstone of all economic activities as a result of the impact on development.

As highlighted by the World Bank, negotiations on service agreements increasingly feature in modern trade agenda. The growing importance of trade in services has translated into the prominence of services in trade agreements. According to

‘The ECOWAS Community envisioned the transformation of the Union into one “massive borderless region, an ECOWAS of peoples, not countries’’’

•Ogwemoh

the World Trade Organisation (WTO), its members have ratified 263 regional trade agreements. Of these, 74 cover trade in services.

Since the entry into force of the WTO in 1995, service agreements have been actively negotiated by developed and developing countries alike. As noted by the World Bank, the entry of WTO into the International Trade Arena in 1995 marked the turning point for trade in services agreement since that year the marathon negotiations for the General Agreements on Trade in Services (GATS) was concluded and for that first time a general framework for negotiating services was made available.

The international trend to have a frame work within which to negotiate service trade agreements influenced by the promulgation of GATS appeared to fuel efforts to establish regional arrangements between themselves using the framework provided by GATS. Thus in a space of few years after GATS, other regional blocks such as the European Union (EU); North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), The East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) engaged in cross border agreements in services.

The European Union, in an effort to liberalise cross border legal services, notes Florence Liu, (‘’The Establishment of a Cross-Border Legal Practice in the European Union’’), has embarked on a number of implementation stages under the framework provided by the Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community (Treaty of Rome), which established as a primary goal of the EU, the creation of an internal market without internal frontiers, where goods and services are traded freely and easily by granting every EU national the “Freedom to provide Services” and the “Right of Establishment” in another Member State.

As noted by Liu, the freedom to provide services envisions the gradual abolition of restrictions on the free supply of temporary services within the EU while the Right of Establishment includes the “right to take up and pursue activities as self-employed persons”on a permanent basis in the host Member State.

•To be continued next week

NBA Aba chair seeks lower cost of litigation

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HE new Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Aba branch, Kenneth Nwakanma, said he would ensure that the high cost of litigation was reduced during his term.

Speaking with reporters after being presented with his Certificate of Return, he regretted that the cost of litigation in the state has denied many people access to justice.

He said: “We shall continue to offer legal aides to people who cannot afford legal services. There is in place what we call, free legal aide. It is in place and we offer that help to those who may not really afford what it takes to go to court and actually express their feelings when their rights are infringed upon.

“We are also going to ensure that as much as possible that the cost of litigation is reduced because come to think of it, the courts are not only for the rich, they should even be more friendly to those that are indigent or impoverished ones.’’

He continued: “We will make sure that we fight the cause in ensuring that the cost of litigation is reduced so that it can be affordable to everybody. Otherwise what it means is that we are going to continue either by act or by some kind of omission encourages the deprivation of those who ought to approach the court to seek redress; we discourage them by allowing high cost of litigation to continue to prevail. We are going to ensure that all these things are reduced so that

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

everybody shall have access to court when the need arises”.

Nwakanma, who said his desire to ‘sustain the tempo’ set by his predecessors, said the branch would partner and dialogue with the state government.

He added that he would dialogue with the Nigeria Police to ensure that bail was free, stressing that bailing a suspect doesn’t mean setting the person free but to allow the person to prepare to face litigation.

“We are going to have meeting with the police hierarchy and discuss with them because I believe that sometimes, dialogue can also solve problems and not about throwing banters and mudslinging all the time, sometime you can dialogue.

“We will make them understand that the issue of bail being free is a constitutional right, nobody should pay for it, people should not suffer before they get bail and come to think of it, the issue of bail doesn’t mean that you have set an accused person or a suspect free. ‘’What it means is that you are giving him the chance to make sure that he prepares himself properly to face his trial, that is what the constitution says that any man who is accused of any offence shall have access to his lawyers and all the things legitimately available to him in order to ensure that he goes to court to defend himself appro-

priately and come to think of it, anybody who is accused of any manner of crime whatsoever, is presumed innocent until a court finds him guilty,” Nwakanma added.

While appealing for members’support, he added that his administration would ensure that lawyers in the commercial nerve of the state have a conducive atmosphere to ply their trade, disclosing that they also have programmes and activities that would expose and help younger lawyers in the branch enhance their skills.

Out-gone chairman of the branch, Chidozie Ogunji, thanked the members for their support, enjoining them to extend same to the new regime.

He further said he would assist Nwakanma and the branch.

Others sworn in with Nwakanma were Perfect Okorie, vice chairman; Onyekachi Nwagbaoso, financial secretary; Queenderlin Ubani, treasurer; Ijeoma Emeku (social welfare), Charles Nsobundu Oluchukwu (secretary), Chukwudi Chibuzo, asst. secretary, Ngozi Anthonia Onuorah, welfare and Friday Ohajuru (publicity secretary).

The event, which was witnessed by some of the past chairmen of the branch, also featured the presentation of certificates of return to the newly elected exco members also witnessed the official inauguration of young lawyers association, Aba branch.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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LAW & SOCIETY In this article, Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) examines the basic provisions of new Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015

How to make Administration of Criminal Justice Act work Introduction

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PON the restoration of civil rule in 1999, the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration ensured that the ICPC Act was enacted to deal with the menace of corruption.

Following the decision of the commission set up under the law to arrest some officials of the Ondo State government for alleged corrupt practices, the constitutional validity of the ICPC Act was challenged at the Supreme Court. Under the pretext of awaiting the decision of the apex court, the various counsel defending accused persons who were charged with corruption at the various high courts successfully applied for a stay of proceedings.

In its verdict delivered two years later the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the ICPC Act. At that juncture the defendants filed preliminary objections to challenge the competence of the corruption charges pending in the trial courts. The objections were heard and dismissed because they were all designed to stall or frustrate the prosecution of the defendants. The proceedings were further challenged by the defendants who appealed against the rulings of the trial courts and filed applications for stay of proceedings pending appeal. which were curiously granted either by the trial courts or the Court of Appeal.

When the Court of Appeal equally dismissed the interlocutory appeals, the accused persons approached the Supreme Court for redress by filing notices of appeal together with applications for stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal. That was how the procedural practice of suspending trials via stay of proceedings was smuggled into the Nigerian criminal justice system by senior lawyers and judges. The practice has since continued to frustrate the prosecution of criminal cases involving politically exposed persons and other members of the ruling class .Through such dilatory tactics one of the interlocutory appeals filed at the trial court in a particular corruption case was determined 14 years later by the Supreme Court.

Based on the frustration encountered by the ICPC in the prosecution of corruption cases section 40 of the EFCC Act has clearly prohibited stay of proceeding during the trial of any person charged with economic and financial crimes. But in violation of the law judges have been granting orders for stay of proceedings filed by criminal suspects. Out of frustration President Jonathan was compelled to task the leadership of the judiciary to arrest the undue delay encountered in the prosecution of criminal cases in the trial courts. The challenge was taken as the 2013 practice directions were issued for each of the federal courts. Under the said practice directions the trial of terrorism and corruption cases shall be conducted day by day while appeals arising from them are to take precedence over other matters pending in the courts. But for some inexplicable reasons, the practice directions have not been applied by any of the courts!

The intervention of the ACJA It was the virtual collapse of the criminal justice system

which led to the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 . In a rather comprehensive manner, the Act has provided for the administration of criminal justice in the courts of the federal capital territory and other federal courts except courts-martial which have separate rules of procedure. Even though it is a federal enactment some of the provisions are of general application throughout the country.

In particular, arrests and detention of all criminal suspects shall be regulated by the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the system of administration of criminal justice in Nigeria promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of the society from crime and protection of the rights and interests of the suspect, the defendant and the victim. The Act has 495 sections with detailed provisions on arrest, warrants, investigation, trial, conviction, imprisonment, plea bargain, community service, parole, suspended sentence etc. The Act which came into force on May 13, 2015 is expected to revolutionise the criminal justice system.

Rights of suspects arrested by the police Except when a suspect is in the actual course of the commission of an offence or is pursued immediately after the commission of an offence or has escaped from lawful custody, the police officer or other persons making the arrest shall inform the suspect immediately of the reason for the arrest and the rights to remain silent or avoid answering questions until after consultation with a legal practitioner or any other person of his/her own choice. The suspect is entitled to consult a lawyer of his/her choice or free legal representation by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria where applicable. Provided that the detaining authority shall notify the next of kin or relative of the suspect of his/her arrest.

Arrests of innocent persons in lieu of suspects or on a civil wrong or breach of contract are prohibited.

Every suspect is entitled to make a statement in the presence of their lawyer or in the presence of any other person of choice. To check the prolonged pre-trial detention of suspects by law enforcement agencies, the recording of personal data of a suspect shall be concluded within 48 hours.

The Act provides for electronic recording of confessional statement of a suspect on a retrievable video compact disc or such other audio visual means. It will eliminate the incidence of trial within trial which is always ordered when a defendant objects to the tendering of confessional statements.

In line with section 34 of the Constitution which has guaranteed the fundamental right of every person to dignity of their person the Act has prohibited the torture of suspects by law enforcement officials.A suspect may not be handcuffed, bound or be subjected to restraint except: (a) there is reasonable apprehension of violence or an attempt to escape; (b) the restraint is considered necessary for the safety of the suspect or defendant; or (c) by order of a court. Any default by an officer in charge of a detention facility to

•Falana comply with the provisions of the Act shall be treated as a misconduct and shall be dealt with in accordance with the Police Act.

Record of arrests An officer in charge of a police station or any other detention facility shall, on the last working day of every month, report to the nearest Magistrate the cases of all suspects arrested without warrant whether the suspects have been admitted to bail or not. The Magistrate shall forward them to the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee which shall analyse the reports and advise the Attorney-General of the Federation as to the trends of arrests, bail and related matters. The Attorney-General of the Federation shall, upon request, made the report available to the National Human Rights Commission, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria or a Non-Governmental Organisation.

The Chief Magistrate shall, at least every month, conduct an inspection of police stations or other places of detention within his/her territorial jurisdiction other than the prison.

An officer in charge of a detention facility shall make the report available to the visiting Chief Magistrate. The High Court judge having jurisdiction shall visit such detention facilities operated by other Federal Government agencies authorised to make arrests.

The Comptroller-General of Prisons shall make returns every 90 days to the head of the court in which the prison is situated and to the Attorney-General of the Federation of all persons awaiting trial held in custody in Nigerian prisons for a period beyond 180 days from the date of arraignment.

•To be continued next week

Ogun East: Anxiety as tribunal decides Kashamu’s fate

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HERE is anxiety in Ogun State as the people await the verdict of the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal in the petition filed by Prince Oladapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the election of business tycoon, Prince Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Senator representing the Ogun East Senatorial District.

The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Ebiowei Tobi also has Justices Adekunle Lawal and Justice Quadi Adamu Usman as members. The tribunal had on August 3, after taking arguments from parties, reserved the matter for judgment.

The petitioners, Abiodun and his party (APC), filed an 81page petition, challenging the PDP candidate’s victory in the March 28 senatorial election, praying the tribunal to nullify the election of Kashamu as Senator representing Ogun East.

Other respondents with Kashamu are PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the state Resident Electoral Commissioner.

The petitioners’ team of 18 lawyers headed by Yusuf Ali (SAN) includes Ricky Tarfa (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN).

But, Kashamu through his lawyers, Alex Izinyon (SAN) and Ajibola Oluyede, in a 29-page document, prayed the court to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit.

The petitioners are challenging the election of Kashamu on the grounds that there were alleged wide-spread irregularities and malpractices that characterised the election in various parts of Ogun East Senatorial District and the alleged non-qualification of Kashamu over his purported indictment by a United States’court.

They prayed the tribunal to declare that Kashamu was not qualified to contest the election as at when he did and that he did not win the majority of the lawful votes cast in the election to warrant his being declared winner.

Consequently, Abiodun prayed the tribunal to declare him

By Precious Igbonwelundu

as winner and duly elected senator for Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun, having scored the highest number of lawful votes cast at the March 28 election.

In the alternative, the petitioners prayed the tribunal to cancel the election on the grounds of substantial noncompliance with the electoral laws guiding the conduct of the election and direct INEC to conduct a fresh election.

It is the contention of the petitioner that Kashamu, having been allegedly indicted for criminal offences by a Ground Jury in the United States, had a burden to clear his name of the indictment before he could be eligible to contest any election.

The petitioners drew the attention of the tribunal to the provisions of Sections 65 and 66 of the Constitution and submitted that Kashamu ought not to have stood as candidate of PDP in the disputed election.

Besides, the petitioners claimed that all efforts made by Kashamu to have his indictment quashed failed submitting that on September 25, 2009 the judge of the United States District Court, Illinois, Eastern Division, Charles Norgle, in case 94 refused Kashamu’s application to quash the charge.

“The first respondent appealed the above mentioned decision of the US District court, but the appeal was dismissed and the judgment of Charles R. Norgle affirmed by the United States Court of Appeal for the Seventh Circuit in case No 102782 on September 1, 2011,” the petitioners averred.

They added that on January 1, last year, Kashamu filed another application to quash his indictment and to void the warrant of arrest issued against him, but the application was refused by the court in its ruling on April 23, in suit No: 94CR172-15.

On the widespread irregularities and malpractices, the petitioners argued that the result of the election as declared

by INEC was invalid by virtue of the fact that the total 209,722 votes cast were higher than the number of accredited voters (201,327).

The petitioners stated: “The elections in the wards and polling units being challenged and listed above were vitiated by substantial non-compliance with the mandatory requirements of the Electoral Act which substantially affected the validity of the aforesaid election such that the votes credited to the first respondent ought to be nullified as unlawful in the determination of the election results.”

The petitioners had alleged that the election was affected ballot stuffing, multiple voting, voting by under-aged persons and persons without valid voter cards, ballot box snatching, intimidation, inflation of results, bribery, under supply of voting materials, threats, falsification, impersonation, buying of votes, among others.

The petitioners, among others, listed included Ijebu North Local Government Area, Sagamu Local Government Area, Ijebu East Local Government Area, Ikenne Local Government Are and Ogun Waterside Local Government Area as areas where the alleged malpractices were prevalent.

However, Kashamu contended that the petitioners were not entitled to any of the reliefs sought and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition with substantial and punitive costs.

Specifically, Kashamu argued that the claims of the petitioners that the first petitioner scored the majority of lawful votes during the disputed election lacked basis insisting that the exercise was peaceful as there was no case of harassment or intimidation, contrary to the claim of the petitioners.

Kashamu contended that he won the disputed election in all the local governments where the petitioners alleged widespread malpractices based on his popularity and philanthropic gesture to the masses in the area.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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LAW & SOCIETY

EFCC appeals Atuche’s discharge

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has appealed against the judgment of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, which discharged a former Managing Director of defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche of the N25.7 billion theft charge preferred against him.

Also discharged of the theft charge alongside Atuche were his wife, Elizabeth and a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

The trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, while delivering judgment in the matter on June 22, this year upheld the submissions of the defence team, including Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and Sylvia Ogwemoh (SAN), that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit and that the prosecution’s case lacked merit.

“I find no merit in the prosecution’s application. It is hereby dismissed. The defendants application dated November 27, 2013 succeeds and I hereby make the following orders: “The criminal charge in this suit is hereby struck out and the accused persons namely; Francis Atuche, Elizabeth Atuche and Ugo Anyawu are discharged. The complainant’s notice of plenary objection dated December 3, 2013 is hereby

By Adebisi Onanuga

dismissed,”Justice Lawal-Akapo had declared.

But the EFCC in its appeal filed by its counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), is seeking an order of the Court of Appeal setting aside the order of Justice Lawal-Akapo striking out the counts contained in the amended information dated June 1, 2011.

Other reliefs sought by the EFCC include an order allowing its appeal and an order directing a continuation of trial and defence before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the High Court of Lagos State sitting in Ikeja.

In its five grounds of appeal, the EFCC told the court that the trial judge erred in law for striking out the amended information when, by the unambiguous and plain provisions of Section 252(3) of the Constitution, no exclusive criminal jurisdiction is conferred on the Federal High Court (at least to the exclusion of the Lagos High Court) on the matters provided for under Section 251(1).

The commission contended that it was wrong for the court to strike out counts 1 to 24 and 26 in the amended information against the third defendant when the order of the Court of Appeal against which he claimed the lower court as-

sumed jurisdiction over the charge was in respect of the appeals initiated by the first and second appellants only, stressing that the third defendant was not a party to it.

He said neither the third defendant nor his counsel made any application before the court seeking to have counts 1 to 24 and 26 of the amended information struck out.

He said the court, by so doing, has become charitable by granting relief and order not sought for by the third defendant.

The EFCC submitted that the defendants pleaded separately each of the counts contained in the amended information to the main suit.

It explained that counts one to 10 dealt with the alleged stealing of money belonging to the bank while count 11 to 27 dealt with the allegation of conversion of the money to personal use.

It said the court ignored the provisions of Section 152 and 153 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2011 by striking out all the counts against the defendants.

The EFCC contended that the trial judge erred in law by holding that it was bound on the principle of stare decisis by the decision in Okey Nwosu Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria and Akingbola Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria.

•Vice _President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) (left) and Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Law Faculty alumni meeting in Lagos.

Three jailed for obstructing police

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HREE men have been sen tenced to six weeks’imprisonment for obstructing a police officer from performing his duties.

The defendants Muhammed Yusuf, Usman Idris and Lawal Hassan were among 11 accused persons arraigned before Chief Magistrate M.O.A. Ogunsanya of an Ogba Chief Magistrate Court, Ikeja.

They were charged with three counts of conduct likely to cause

By Vivian Anabar

breach of peace, for unlawfully obstructing an officer from performing his duties and disorderly behaviour.

Police procecutor Femi Alabi said the accused persons committed the ofence on August 10, 2015. The eight others, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, are: Ibrahim baba, Bashiru Abdulahi , Salisu G a m b o , A b d u l a h i

Usman,Kayode,Abbass Salisu Rufus and Hamed Lawal.

The convicted persons, were, however, given an option of N10,000 fine.

Those who pleaded not guilty to the charge where ordered to be remanded in prison custody pending when they would perfect their bail c o n d i t i o n s . C h i e f Magistrate Ogunsanya imposed bail condition of N50,000 and two sureties like some for each of the accused persons.

‘How I was defrauded of N2.522m’

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DEPOSITOR of Aims Asset Management Limited (AAML), Silas Chukwuma Ugwumba, has accused the financial house of allegedly defrauding him of N2.522 million.

At the resumed hearing of the matter last week, the claimant, who is also the Proprietor of God Dey Graphics Supply Limited, told an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba and presided by Chief Magistrate Mrs E. Kubeinje how the fraud was perpetuated.

Led in evidence by his counsel, A.K. Sanni, the claimant said he was told by the managers of the AAML to invest some money in the company and that a after some time, the money would have yield good interest.

By Vivian Anabar

“I asked the manager how many years such an investment would take and he told me that there is the one for five years and 10 years; so, I did the one of five years for me and my family at an agreed interest rate,”he said.

Ugwumba said he invested N1million on behalf of himself, his wife and children and was to collect the principal and N1.522million as interest on his deposit after five years but that nothing was paid to him at the end of the tenor, making a total of N2.522million.

“After the period of five years, I called the managers and they said that they no longer work there. So,

I went to the company and they told me that the money had reduced to N1.5million, but they still refused to pay me.

“So, I said instead of the N1.5million, give me the amount I invested but I have not seen anything till today. It was in 2008 that I invested N1million into the company.”

When asked by the trial Chief Magistrate the details of the investment, the claimant said he was not aware of the kind of investment the company does but insisted on having invested N1million in the company.

However, counsel to the claimants, Sanni said to date, the defendant had not shown any concern, remorse nor defended the allegation.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Corruption: Confession or conviction

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HOSE who have had the impunity, to steal audaciously, from our common patrimony, in the recent past, must be laughing at the misery, of the rest of us. They will be happy that our elite,are locked down in battle, over who to prosecute, how to prosecute, where to prosecute, when to prosecute; while the looters association of Nigeria, whose membership dates back in time, celebrate their unbelievable respite, in the early reign of their old nemesis, President MuhammaduBuhari (PMB). But it is hoped, that this orchestrated din of confusion, is not allowed to suffocate what shouldbe, a national emergency.

For the avoidance of doubt, what is at stake, is how to recover, as much of our common patrimony, as is possible, from a rapacious elite.

Of course, the first step is to determine, who and who, were involved in the stealing. The proper process would involve the auditing or probe of relevant agencies or officials of government; except where there are clear cases of stealing, which can immediately be referred to a law enforcement agency, for investigation and prosecution. Ordinarily, this should not raise any dispute, but unfortunately many are already up in arms, with this first process.

There is the dispute, between those that want the probe to be restricted to the President Goodluck Jonathan’s era and those that insist that the probe should go back in time, to 1999. The protagonists on both sides of this argument cut across the country, but for reasons that have not been properly canvassed, eminent legal icon, Professor Ben Nwabueze, claiming to represent an Igbo interest group, argues that to restrain to the probe to only the Jonathan era, would amount to a witchhunt. While Prof is a preeminent Igbo son, I think it is unfair, unless he said so, to represent the view of his group, as the view of the Igbos, as some commentators have claimed.

However, the issue of who the group represent, should not detract from the substance of their argument. For in conducting a probe or an audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), for instance, it has to stretch back to the last audit. And it will ridiculous, an abuse of office, and a criminal connivance, for any official of the state, to gloss over, cover, ignore or condone, a criminal infraction, just because they like the face of the President, who presided, at the time,any suspected sleaze, took place. But it is will unfair to argue for, and expect, that were glaring cases of humongous stealing has been established, against an official,who helped himself under the immediate past regime, that no trial should take place, unless a similar indictment and trial, of an official of the previous era, is also afoot.

So, what Professor Nwabueze, and all lovers of due process of law, which incorporates fair and equitable treatment of all persons, should be on the watch out for, is any unfair and unequal treatment of all citizens, by the government of PMB, in the fight against corruption.

That love for due process, must however, not involve, a premeditated obfuscation of the real issues; which is, how can Nigerians encourage and support the recovery of as much of our stolen common resources, as is possible, under PMB; who clearly got a democratic mandate, from Nigerians, to wrestle corruption to the ground. Unless the procedure is manifestly unfair, it should not matter, the tongue or tribe, of those who may be caught in the web.

The attack on Bishop Hassan MatthewKukah, for daring to ask PMB, to take it easy, with the officials of former President Jonathan, even when all that has taken place are mere threats, has shown what majority of Nigerians, would ordinarily love to do to the looters. Mob action. In the past few days, the reputation of the nationally acclaimed cleric, has been shredded. As if his advice, can be equated to the 6 billion US dollars, allegedly stolen by one Minister, under the government of President Jonathan, the armada of our national opprobrium, against those that have perpetually placed our nation among the list of failing states, in the last three decades, have been unleashed on one of our national icons.

Perhaps Bishop Kukah, was merely living up to his professional calling, by intervening on behalf of the regime of President Jonathan. As a priest of the Catholic Church, when a sinner confesses his sins, he is asked to make some restitution, not necessary in full measure, as the priest determines, the measure of atonement. But if indeed,half of the report in the media, concerning the enormity of the financial brigandage that took place under the regime of President Jonathanis true, then, then the type of contrition, which the Bishop by his vocation is used to, would not be enough. Short of a mob action, the type of restitution needed, would be a near complete restitution.

But would the brigands who have ran a circle around our national life, give up without a serious fight. The chances are that, they won’t. That perhaps explains the tactical manoeuvre of PMB, to find the best possible way, to corner the rats that have eaten deep, into our national treasury. The challenge faced by this government, as to how to go about this national emergency, underscores the critical incompetence of our criminaljustice system. Most likely, PMB, appreciates this fundamental challenge. That may have informed his inauguration of a Presidential Advisory Committee, led by eminent Professorof law, Itse Sagay, and populated by fecund minds, to wriggle Nigeria, out of the quagmire. What PMB therefore needs, is our national support, not orchestrated confusion.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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LAW REPORT

Deceased’s constitutional right to life can be enforced IN THE COURT OF APPEAL IN THE LAGOS JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT LAGOS ON TUESDAY, THE 28TH DAY OF JULY, 2015 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS AMINA ADAMU AUGIE, J.C.A. SAMUEL CHUKWUDUMEBI OSEJI, J.C.A. JAMILU YAMMAMA TUKUR, J.C.A. CA/L/493/13 (2015) LPELR-25581(CA) BETWEEN: MRS. PRECIOUS OMONYAHUY & ORS ...............................…. APPELLANT AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE & ORS ………….......…………. RESPONDENT

LEAD JUDGMENT DELIVERED BY AMINA ADAMU AUGIE, J.C.A.

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HIS Appeal involves a matter brought pursuant to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, in respect of two members of staff of Multiple Covenant Investment Ltd., Endurance Omonyahuy [Chief Driver] and Sikiru Amusa [Assistant Driver] who were killed by the 4th Respondent. The 1st and 2nd Appellants, i.e. wife and father of the deceased Chief Driver respectively, the 3rd Appellant, who is the father of the deceased Assistant Driver, and the 4th Appellant filed the Application for Order enforcing fundamental right (Order 2 Rule 1) at the Lagos State High Court wherein they sought for an Order from the Court granting some reliefs.

The 1st to 3rd Applicants are the respective family members cum dependants of late Mr. Endurance Omoyahuy and later Mr. Sikiru Amusa who were brutally, callously and unjustifiably (extra judicial) murdered in the early hours of 15/2/2012 by the 4th to 6th Respondents. The said Endurance Omonyahuy was at all material times under the employ of Multiple Covenant Limited as the Chief Driver while Sikiru Amusa was under same employ as Assistant Driver. Both men reported to the 4th Applicant, who Superintendents over them as Supervisor. On 15/02/2012, at about 6.00am, Endurance and his assistant driver, Sikuru Amusa set out for their place of work on Omonyahuy’s motorcycle bike. In the course of their journey to the office, along LASU/Igando Expressway, some Policemen, including the 4th to 6th Respondents (of the Anti-Robbery Team attached to the Igando Police Station mounted an illegal roadblock/checkpoint. The 4th to 6th Respondents demanded for money from Omonyahuy at the road block but he bluntly

refused to part with his money and then continued on his journey. Two of the Policemen who were part of this illegal roadblock took exception to Omonyahuy’s audacious refusal to give them money and consequently went after him on a motorcycle. Omonyahuy had a brief stop at Ologuro bus-stop and unfortunately though, as Omonyahuy zoomed off from this spot (with Amusa seated behind him), the 4th Respondent alighted from the bike (driven by another Policemen), cocked his A-K 47 rifle gun, targeted and shot at them.

Consequently, the Respondents’ next action in pursuit of his devious plan was to intercept 4th Applicant’s private telephone call to Omonyahuy’s telephone line pretending to be (impersonating) Omonyahuy. The Respondents conversed with the 4th Applicant under this pretense till they were able to trace him to automobile mechanic garage where awaited both drivers. They quizzed the 4th Applicant at the mechanic garage about his relationship with Omonyahuy and Amusa.

The 4th Applicant did not hesitate to identify himself as the Supervisor to both men.

However, because their preconceived devious machination, the Respondents chose to discard his explanation and went ahead to manhandle the 4th Applicant with rounds of slaps and thorough beating before putting him in handcuffs and whisking him away from the mechanic garage like an armed robber and straight into incarceration at their Police Station.

In line with their plan, the Respondent came up with a lot of stories to cover up their hideous act. Sensing that the game was finally up, having been confronted with hard facts adduced from eye witnesses to the crime including vivid description of the shooter (4th Respondent) and coupled with the Solicitor’s direct telephone call to the then incumbent

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State (COP) Mr. Alkali, the 4th Respondent finally confessed to the murder and his weapon (AK 47 Rifle Gun) was promptly retrieved. The 1st and 2nd Appellants, i.e. wife and father of the deceased Chief Driver respectively, the 3rd Appellant, who is the father of the deceased Assistant Driver, and the 4th Appellant filed an Application for Enforcement of Fundamental Right supported by supported by a 54-paragraph Affidavit. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Respondents (hereinafter referred to as the 1st set of Respondents), filed a 32-paragraph Counter-Affidavit wherein they denied the allegations. The Appellants filed a 48-paragraph Further Affidavit accompanied by an “eye withess statement on Oath” that is now an issue in this appeal. The learned trial Judge upon careful consideration of the Application ruled that the Applicant’s action was incompetent as it was wrongly commenced under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009. In the result, the Application was refused, and it was accordingly dismissed. Dissatisfied with the Court’s Ruling the Appellants appealed to the Court of Appeal.

It was the Appellants’contention that the Lower Court’s conclusion is flawed and at variance with the letters, spirit and the intention of Chapter IV of the Constitution dealing with fundamental rights and the said Rules. They submitted that the crux of their Application was to seek civil redress for the extra judicial killings of the deceased men on one hand and redress for breach of the right to privacy, detention, torture and indignity meted on the 4th Appellant on the other hand; by instituting/commencing the matter pursuant to the said Rules, they demonstrated beyond contention their intention to seek only civil redress in damages and public apology for the infractions of their rights and not criminal prosecution or procedure, which admits of no such remedies as compensations or apology but rather punishments whilst vesting exclusive prosecutorial powers in the State, citing Mohammed Abacha V. FRN (2006) 4 NWLR (Pt.970) 292-293.

The 1st set of Respondents cited Odogu V. A.G. Fed. (1996) 6 NWLR (Pt.456) 508; (1996) LPELR-2228(SC) on fundamental rights and Section 33(1) of the Constitution, and submitted that procedure for the enforcement of fundamental rights is a strict and special one, which must be adhered to strictly, citing EFCC V. Ekeocha (2008) 14 NWLR (Pt.1106) 161, Raymond Dongtoe V. Civil Service Commission, Plateau State & Ors (2001) 9 NWLR (Pt.717) 132; (2001) LPELR-959(SC), Ogwuche V. Mba (1994) 4 NWLR (Pt.336) 75; that only actions founded on a breach of any of the fundamental rights guaranteed in Section 33 of the Constitution can be enforced under the said Rules and Article 4 of the African Chapter on Human and People’s Rights; that the principal claim must be a relief for enforcement of the fundamental right or securing the enforcement of the fundamental right of a person, citing Order 11 Rule 1 of the aforesaid Rules; and that the question that needs to be answered here is whether the action commenced by the Appellants and as

formulated by them is competent under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.

In resolving this Issue, the Court noted that it boils down to a question of whether the constitutional right to life of a dead man can be enforced by his dependents, wherein the Court was faced with an uphill task and will be swimming in uncharted waters, since there are no authorities either from the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal on the subject, and so, to guide the Court on the journey through virgin territory. The Court started by careful analysing the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules (FREP) Rules and establishing where it was, where it is, and where it needs to go.

The Court after considering all relevant authorities charted a way to the answer to the question - the constitutional right to life of a dead man can be enforced by his dependents.

In arriving at this answer the Court in line with modern-day pronouncements, stated that it swayed by the mischief rule of statutory interpretation, which is the oldest of the rules; it was established in Heydon’s Case (1584). Under the mischief rule, the Court’s role is to suppress the mischief the Act is aimed at and advanced the remedy. In this case, the Court noted that the 2009 FREP Rules was enacted to cure shortcomings in the 1979 FREP Rules, and decisions under FREP Rules that were enacted thirty years apart, and it cannot be the same, as the law is not static; it moves and pulsates with every generation as different cultures unfold, and as criminal elements find new ways to terrorise and torment citizens. The Court was strengthened in this view by the Preamble to the 2009 FREP Rules, which sets out the overriding objections of the Rules that are far-reaching, and geared towards moving with modern trends in human rights actions. The Court held that the Lower Court was wrong to have dismissed the Application with a wave of the hand without even considering what the said Rules are about. The Court held further that its decision regarding the 4th Appellant is even more perplexing since he was directly affected by the alleged acts. The Court stated the position of the law that for a claim to qualify as falling under fundamental rights, the principal relief must be for enforcement or for securing enforcement of a fundamental right and not by its nature to redress a grievance ancillary to the principal relief, which is not ipso facto a claim for the enforcement of fundamental right. Thus, where the alleged breach of a fundamental right is ancillary or incidental to the substantive claim of the ordinary civil or common law nature, it will be incompetent to constitute the claim as one for the enforcement of a fundamental right – See Abdulhamid v. Akar & Anor (2006) 13 NWLR (Pt.996) 127 SC. In this case, the Court noted that the Lower Court’s mind was fixated on the misconceived notion that the action before it was “founded under a criminal offence of murder” that it failed to see that the 4th Appellant’s claim is one for the enforcement of his fundamental rights, thereby qualifying him to commence the action under the 2009 FREP Rules. The Court held that the Lower Court did not address the merits of the Application, and there is not much that the Court can do except to send it back to the Lower Court.

In the final analysis, the Court held that the appeal succeeds and is was allowed. The Ruling of the Lower Court delivered on 20/2/ 2013 was set aside, and the Application was remitted to the Lower Court for hearing before another judge.

Edited by LawPavilion Citation: (2015) LPELR-25581(CA)

DIARY Law School alumni for luncheon

T •Immediate past chair, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch Mr Alex Muoka; Chairman, ICT Committee of the NBA-Section on Business Law and Managing Partner, Technology Advisors Mr Basil Udotai; Emmanuel Edet of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); President, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON) Sola Salako and Chief Corporate Services Officer, SMILE Communications, Tobe Okigbo at the Technology Times Outlook on Cybercrimes Law Review in Lagos.

HE Class of 1991 of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) will today hold its reunion lunch as part of the ongoing conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) A statement from the class Co-ordinator, Mr. Jibrin S. Okutepa, reads: “Take notice that there shall be a reunion lunch for all lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 both, those in private practice and public offices, including judicial officers.”

Venue is Chelsea Hotel, Central Business Area Abuja. Time is 2pm.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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SHOWBIZ

Yemi Alade, Davido dominate AFRIMA nominees list

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HE International Committee of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in partnership with African Union Commission, AUC, has unveiled the final nominees for its 2015 edition.

At an international media conference which took place penultimate Friday at Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, President/ Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada said that the award ceremony is aimed at celebrating the rich musical heritage of the African continent.

According to him, the five star awards ceremony which takes place on Sunday, November 15 this year will be preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village between November 13 and 14, a two-day festival style outdoor concert of non-stop music, funfair and exhibition from countries in Africa and performances by African artistes.

“There will also be an African Music Summit on November 13, themed

Felabration: Preparations in full swing Jane Kolade

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Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

Reviving the Business of Music in Africa. The one-day conference will be a platform for the music industry stakeholders to engage and deliberate on how the industry can be nurtured and be a major contributor to national and continental economies,” he said.

Among those who made the list are sensational African music acts like Amr Dab (Egypt), Olamide (Nigeria), Davido (Nigeria), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Psquare (Nigeria), Charlotte Dipanda (Cameroon), Sauti Sol (Kenya) and Sakordie (Ghana).

Others are Nigeria’s Yemi Alade, Casper Nyovest (South Africa), Kiss Daniel (Nigeria), Wiyaala (Ghana), Patoranking (Nigeria), Joy Gitau (Kenya), Ruby Gyang (Nigeria) and THT (Madagascar).

Nigeria’s Davido and Yemi Alade emerged the artistes with the highest chances of winning trophies with four

• Yemi Alade and Davido

and five nominations respectively.

Also, respected music video director, Clarence Peters (Nigeria) made it into the Africa video of the Year category for the video of the song Golibe by Flavour and Shekini by Psquare.

He is nominated alongside other directors like Enos Olik (Kenya), Stanley Ajjetey (Ghana), John Njaga Demps and Unlimited L.A (Senegal & Nigeria) as well as Gyo Gyimah (Ghana).

Rukky Sanda dazzles in birthday photos • Rukky Sanda

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OLLYWOOD actress, producer, and entrepreneur, Rukky Sanda added another year on Sunday and for her, there was no better way to celebrate than with photographs of herself looking sultry.

Taking to Instagram to thank God for adding another year, to her age the actress posted the photographs and captioned one of them; “Too thankful… Too grateful… Too happy…Too joyful… Too blessed… Super blessed . . . Tz all by the Grace of the Ever Wonderful, Ever Amazing one & Almighty God, My Only Father, the King of All Kings *** He put me here for a reason, he tells me every day* Don’t Panick*** I’m Super exceedingly blessed & filled with so much joy* everyday wake up Super excited & grateful & happy to have the breathe of LIFE in me. Thank You God for Ur uncon-

Ini Edo speaks on failed marriage

I

N an all-revealing interview on Rubbin Minds with Ebuka, Nollywood actress, Ini Edo talked about her failed marriage to Phillip Ehiagwina.

The actress revealed that she got married early because she wanted to have a family so it wouldn’t seem that she chose career over family, even though her career is also very important.

“Basically there would never be a particular reason. You know how these things work. It’s like I said, differences. I mean, incompatibility. Not being able to reach certain compromises or finding common ground,” she said.

She also spoke on distance as one of the factors affected her relationship with her husband, stating that being together actually helps in understanding.

Jane Kolade

ditional Love & for never taking ur eyes off me for a single second* I’m forever high on your love* Another year added whoop!!! Whoop!!! Double of the years spent waiting ahead * in good health, wealth, happiness, love, favor and every amazingly good great thing in Life Only by his grace*” The Nollywood beauty has come a long way from her humble beginnings as an extra in the 2004 movie Angel and the Beast. Her latest movie Dark will be premiering Cinemas on the 28 of August.

However, a day before, the actress announced her birthday with photos of herself sporting an all white ensemble comprising a halter boob tube atop a loose maxi skirt, and her signature septum ring.

The Ikorodu born actress, who was born Rukayat Sanda, is a graduate of Banking and Finance from the Lagos State University.

• Ini Edo

By Ovwe Medeme

A

By Jane Kolade

Okoroji went on to say that, “He is now very lucid, and speaks intelligibly. I am happy that we did not give up on him, even though many people thought that he was a lost cause. I am also immensely happy, and grateful to Nigerians who responded to the publications we put out, asking for help for him. It is a thing of joy to help a very talented, but troubled Nigerian artiste like Majek. He is a very deep man; immensely philosophical, and we discussed so many things”.

This is good news to fans, and sympathizers of the immensely tal-

Gogowe set to drop I No Send

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“Distance plays a very important role in a relationship, no matter the difference or incompatibility.

If you are together a lot, you can find a way to work things out,” she added.

The actress also dwelt on lessons learnt from her crashed marriage and how it has made her stronger stating ; “I try not to regret my actions so I will say it has been an experience which I have learnt a lot from. It’s made me a stronger person, it made me wiser and I think it has actually made me more matured. So I won’t say that I regret anything; I’ll say that I have learnt my lesson.”

Ini Edo got married to Phillip Ehiagwina in 2008, and divorced him in 2013.

I’m happy about Majek’s improvement, says Okoroji few weeks after making it to rehab, root reggae artiste Majekodunmi Fasheke, aka Majek Fashek, is said to be on the road to recovery by those who have paid him a visit.

Joining the list of Nigerians who are enthusiastic that his condition is nearing a permanent solution is the Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria, (COSON) Tony Okoroji said.

In a phone interview with The Nation, he said; “He (Majek) is doing very well, and I’m very happy to say that. I saw him in Abuja, a week and half ago and he is doing very well”.

REPARATIONS to hold the annual anniversary of the death of Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, tagged Felabration, is in full swing. This year’s event series, according to the organisers, will hold from October 12 to 18.

An annual event, Felabration is a celebration the life and times of the Afrobeat icon, and chronicles his ideals, and everything he lived for.

The brainchild of Fela’s eldest child, Yeni Kuti, fondly referred to as YK, Felabration was conceived in 2008. The event holds during the week of Fela’s birthday. The Afrobeat Musical Festival, which takes the form of a carnival, consists of a series of events which include photo exhibitions, symposia, musical performances, and street parades, and holds at the New Afrika Shrine.

The event organisers on their website announced the theme of this year’s fest as Just like that. The event, organisers say, and promises to have on stage the likes of Wizkid, Femi Kuti, Davido, amongst others.

ented, but troubled singer. Over the years, it was reported that The Rainmaker had been dogged by spells of mental disturbance, drug/alcohol abuse and addiction.

The one-time hit maker who rocked the music world in the eighties and nineties is now in rehab. In the last couple of months, an old back-up singer of his, Monica Omorodion, took up a collection for him.

Nigerians within and outside the country responded to the call until Warri-based billionaire; Ayiri Emami bankrolled the veteran singer’s treatment at an Abuja based rehabilitation center.

By Adewoyin Adeniyi HE Nigerian music scene is about to witness a fresh tune as fast-rising singer, hand, she says, is a song that Ugochukwu Uche Anya, aka preaches unity among all races, faith Gogowe drops her latest effort I no and cultures. It was shot by video send. director, Clarence Peters.

According to the songstress, the Gogowe considers music as one banging track is an Afrobeat in- of the greatest educational tools and spired song that talks about being that is why she makes it a point of oneself and not focusing on the duty to ensure that every song she opinions of other people. The video drops contains a positive message which is filled with energetic dance for the society. moves was shot in Lagos and directed by Mex, • Gogowe Gogowe revealed.

Gogowe started singing at the age of four when her dad enrolled her and her siblings for piano lessons. Although she was not a fan of piano playing, she says that she ended up loving it. The graduate of Theatre and Film at Emory University Atlanta also revealed that she is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Film and Media production at the New York Film Academy.

To her credit, she has recorded over fifteen songs and released three videos; Including Waka, Stand Up and her latest I no send.

She describes Waka as a song that empowers women, telling them to have confidence in their God given abilities with their heads held high.

Stand Up on the other

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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TUESDAY AUGUST 25, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

ANAMBRA POLITICS

Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU writes on the controversial Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress and how the crisis is troubling the party.

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HERE seems to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The leadership battle is between two Princes—Ken Emeakayi and Osy Ezenwa, who are factional chairmen. Many believe that the crisis may weaken the party.

The crisis could be traced to 2003 when former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju cursed the party for denying him a second term ticket.

Mbadinuju’s battle with some stakeholders made former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other PDP leaders to offer the ticket to Senator Chris Ngige through his political godfather, Chief Chris Uba. The former governor rained curses on the chapter, saying that it shall never be well with the party, unless the injustice meted out to him is reversed.

The party is trailing behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in terms of strength and cohesion.

Amid the crisis, many stakeholders are planning to defect to the APC. Allegations of embezzlement, anti party activities and insensitivity against some stakeholders have polarised the fold. Some members are even in court against the party. The litigations have further deepened the crisis.

Recently, the PDP national leadership sent some officers to Anambra State to conduct ward, local government and state congresses to reposition the party, ahead of the 2017 governorship elections.

During the congress, which was conducted by Mr. Ike Abonyi, the leader of the delegation, Emeakayi became the chairman, leading 26 officers in the executive committee.

Emeakayi’s leadership has the backing of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC). But some stakeholders organised their own congress to appoint Ezenwa as the paralled chairman.

As if that was not enough, Another group, led by Ejike Oguebego, laid claim to the party’s leadership.

They tendered a court order to strengthen their position.

Oguebego said the purported congress was a sham, adding that it should not have been held in the first place because his tenure still subsists till next year.

The three factions are being propelled by Chief Chris Uba for Oguebego group, Prince Arthur Eze, Sir Emeka Ofor and others on the side of Comrade Tony Nwoye and Ezenwa, while Chief Olisa Metuh, Senator Uche Ekwunife, Chief Peter Obi and are others on the side of Emeakayi.

The congress was adjudged the most peaceful in the state. There was a huge turnout in the 326 wards and 21 local government areas.

The only difference was that the key chieftains were behind the curtains of the congresses, unlike before when they would be in their various communities organising same.

Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, the leader of the party, is not being carried along on these moves, although the factions claim he had knowledge of every decision taken by their camps.

So far, none of the big wigs has come out to condemn the intrigues going on in the party.

The new moves have led to the suspension of big wigs by the factions. For instance, the Emeakayi group suspended the PDP governorship candidate in the 2013 election, Comrade Tony Nwoye and Ezenwa.

Others affected by the suspension include Chief Ejike Oguebego, Chief Basil Ejidike, former member of House of Representatives, Mrs. Jessy Balonwu, Hon. Kenneth Arinze, Hon Uche Ogbonna, Barr Chuks Okoye and Dr Tony Akachukwu, a former secretary of the party.

The suspension letter was signed by Hon Chief Emma Oguaju, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the group led by Emeakayi, which according to them, was in compliance with Chapter 10, Article 57 (3) of the PDP Constitution 2012 as (amended).

The faction led by Ezenwa has suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, based on allegations of anti-party activities.

The group said it was also in compliance with the constitution of the party as quoted by the other group.

Anambra PDP: One party, two chairmen

•Metuh

•Nwoye

•Emeakayi

‘ Who is in charge of the PDP in Anambra? Who is

capable of taking the party to the promised land.

Who will restore peace to the troubled chapter? ’

Among the allegations levelled against Metuh are that he worked against former President Goodluck Jonathan during the last presidential election. He also castigated the former president and his wife, it was alleged.

The group alleged that Metuh challenged Jonathan to give an account of his stewardship as President after he lost to President Muhammadu Buhari.

These allegations were worrisome to Emeakayi, who banned Nwoye and his group from contesting any elective position in the party for two years.

Ejike Oguebego, who was purportedly suspended alongside others, said that Emaekayi lacked the power to suspend anybody because they are not members of the party based on court judgement.

He described the members of the group as jesters, who are working for their pay-master, Metuh, to destroy the PDP in Anambra State, adding that he was never elected as the chairman.

But, for Emeakayi, the other groups were paid agents of APC who want to kill PDP to give way for the party to take over Anambra state.

Emeakayi said: “We are aware of the plans by the APC to employ every means to distract and to discredit Chief Olisa Metuh and Senator Ike Ekweremadu to deny the

PDP a credible voice in its new opposition role” “We pass vote of implicit confidence on our leader, Chief Olisa Metuh, and urge him to ignore the antics of the APC and continue with his good works alongside other members of the PDP National Working Committee” “Since the APC and their agents have made Chief Olisa Metuh their target, we call on the security operatives in Nigeria to ensure security and safety of Chief Olisa Metuh and members of his family” However, a chieftains of PDP, Chief Chike Anyonu, said that the party was heading to its end in the state because of the macabre dance of the stakeholders.

He said: “We have already failed, some people are paid to destroy this party, PDP is doomed in this state, certainly, PDP cannot go anywhere again”.

“On what offence are you suspending members and at the same time telling them to face panel, it does not go like that”.

Some members believe that it is only Emeakayi, who has what it takes to lead the party in the state because of his doggedness and his mobilisation prowess.

Who is in charge of the PDP in Anambra? Who is capable of taking the party to the promised land. Who will restore peace to the troubled chapter?

• Continued on page 46

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THE NATION TUESDAY AUGUST 25, 2015

If we must meet up with our basic obligation. You cannot owe workers and be ‘paying contractors because they are politicians. That is wrong, that is unpatriotic ’

POLITICS Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson spoke with reporters in Lagos on his second term ambition, the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the cash crunch that has hit the states. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

'No threat to my second term ambition' H OW are you preparing for the governorship election in Bayelsa?

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on ground, and if you look at the statistics, we have three senators out three, five House of Representatives members out of five, we have 21 members of the House of Assembly out of the 23 declared and as a governor who is with people, providing leadership, with councillors and appointees down the line, you will agree that we are on ground. I have not officially announced my intension; I hope to do so very soon. But, if you ask me after announcing my intention, what my chances will be, then, it will be understood. But, right, now I have not announced my candidature. I am working, praying and also doing the people’s work. My chances will be as bright as the northern star.

There can be no threat to us in the way people are looking at it. Most of what you guys heard and what has happened is hype. It is propaganda. I will confirm that people who are with us all these years, who have played the kind of role even in my government, I will confirm that, due to their own ambition, their own calculation for federal appointment, they are going away. It is not an ideal situation because in this game everybody matters. It is not an ideal situation, but you can’t stop people from moving.

The reason they are moving is simple, they are positioning themselves for federal appointments. I and my party the PDP are not in control of the federal government. We don’t have federal appointment to give to any of them. So, we can’t nominate any of them for federal appointment. So, if you are a politician in Bayelsa and your calculation is to have a federal appointment, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the place to go. That is what is playing out, and if you are also a politician, with the intention to contest for governorship, with me as the presumptive candidate, leader of the party, who is entitled to a second term, a governor many of the people in the state believe has done well, therefore, there is the temptation who want to contest to go to another platform, knowing that if they go to the APC, that is in control of the centre, there is this Nigeria expectation of display of power, manipulation of security and the INEC, that is what they are counting on. So, is you want to position yourself for federal appointment, APC may be the place to go now. The PDP has no central government or appointment to give at the federal level. If you want to contest against me, the doors in the PDP are quite narrow, particularly a party that is now in the opposition and particularly governors who are well grounded.

When they look at all of this, and see people gathered here and there, these are the voters, they tend to quake. I have not even been to Bayelsa since they started doing this, two to three days ago. Recently, the endorsement in Alaibe local government, I haven’t gone there to campaign, the situation in Bayelsa is that we are not shaking. And particularly when I announce my candidature and I begin campaign, it will be cleared that the governorship election in Bayelsa is just for the PDP to take.

Many people are defecting, in view of your administrations insensitivity to issues that will make the party stronger, why?

What is happening is blackmail and propaganda. No one has consulted more than me as governor of Bayelsa State. Each of these characters going are state contractors, even as we speak, executing government order has not been well accomplished.

They claim you do not pay them...

Well, if he says I gave him job, he should tell people the amount that was given and the value of the job. What you have been paid and what is left outstanding. And if you are a patriotic person for God sake, you know what is happening in the economy of the country, states are struggling to pay salaries, but incidentally Bayelsa is not paying. We are not owing workers’ salaries, we are not owing pension but for the past one year we have not been able to meet up with our obligation with our contractors.

And it is not just peculiar to Bayelsa, even federal government jobs contractors have moved out of sites. It is because of what has happened.

Bayelsa today receives just about 25 per cent of the allocation that we used to receive. Almost everything we receive go into the cost of running government, which you know in this country is very high. We have over bloated civil service structure and wage bill and all of that, to the extent that three or four months, I even don’t receive any allowance at all. That is a sacrifice we must make, if we must meet up with our basic obligation. You cannot owe workers and be paying contractors because they are politicians. That is wrong, that is unpatriotic, in any case, is someone is saying that we give a job, we have paid and we are owing and that we cannot pay, is the man who give you job an enemy? You can see the ingratitude, what is going on in Bayelsa, is political betrayal of the highest order and a show of ingratitude. That is the kind of things you see. All of them are my contractors, I am not removing anyone.

They did not come begging. We sent for them because they are stakeholders to support them.

I ran a more inclusive government than any other governor in Bayelsa. As you speak, Alaibe has is own nominees in the government at all level. At the commissioner’s level, special adviser lever, even as I speak. It is not just one person, all of them. The local government council chairman we asked the party chairman to produce is still there. His son is an appointee, I feel bad, when I look at what some of these people are doing. This just teaches me more about the capacity of human being for ingratitude and for evil. Individually, I have done nothing against any of them, individually; I have been good to all of them. I have consulted them on government policy on key decisions. So, the picture they are paintings, is propaganda just to justify their treachery and betrayal. Take for example; if a man says I owe him in this type of economy, as a man who gives you a contract, he is not an enemy. A man, who calls you to make inputs into sensitive government position, is not an enemy. When they say leadership and take for example Hon. Stella Dogwu When I left the House of Representatives and became governor, because as the chairman of AD in 1998-99, I made her my candidate, she was nobody and did not even know the way to her work. She had been in America for 30 years.

Now, when I left to become governor, my seat in the House was vacant, I introduced her to our people for the first time and against all oppositions, I garnered support to send her to the House of Representatives. And wanted to go back to the House of Reps and the Senate position was coming to our local government, my local government could not have the Senate and the Reps, but she expressed interest there for the Senate which the gentleman there is a better Senate material. And now looking back, I see that we made the right decision because she has shown us her true colour. But, if I were her, this is time she should have stood by me and by the party that at least gave her the opportunity to be in the House of Representatives. We are waiting to see whether the APC, her new party will give her the opportunity that we have given her.

Beyond the issue of contract money not paid, why is your re-election generating controversy?

Election is political contest, in 2012 election, what I managed is even worse than the present situation, all my colleague at the National Assembly including Senator Lopovo.., all supported Silva. And I weathered a lot of oppositions. All political calculations, present or future calculations was not taken personal. That was why when I became governor, I worked with all of them. Take Senator Lopovo, for example, my senator at that time never supported me. Now, he wanted to go back to the Senate

•Dickson and our people said no, you have done two terms, let others go. That is now a political offence. He said well, you did not support me to go back, I will not also support you. I wanted to become senator, he did not support me, the House of Reps, he did not support me, the assembly you did not support me, so I am not supporting you. So, I am leaving for the APC. That is what is happening. I don’t believe that in Lagos State, for example, I don’t think is such that all the players support one particular person. Elections are a contest. Every serious politician is probably dreaming of becoming a governor, so the stakes are very high. A matter of fact, when chief Alamesiagha wanted to go for a second term, even his first term, the opposition that was mounted from several quarters was even worse than what I am going through.

The only thing that I see is that, now for the first time, we have two parties that are alternative that valuable. In the past, this was not so, but right now, you have a formidable opposition. For the first time PDP in Bayelsa does not have the centre. These are the things that I have seen. As a matter of fact, if not for the type of leadership that we are given in Bayelsa under me, probably there would have been no PDP because my state has not been in the opposition in this dispensation since 1999. In the NPN days, there were aligned to the centre, this is the first time and so suddenly we have lost the centre. I can imagine that there are lots of temptations for people to move to the centre, irrespective of what you do. They say oh, we will hook up with the centre that is where the big contract will come from. And for those who want to contest elections, who knows who INEC and federal security may back up. So, these are the calculations. It has nothing to do with what I do or did not do.

Is it politically expedient to keep in the system, people who are opposed to you?

I have a large political heart. In last three and half years, the detail will come out when I write my memoir, it is only a politician with a liberal mind, with a large heart, who has the grace of God, the experience and tact to manage and survive what I have managed. What I have managed in the last three years, from higher and more dangerous quarters, is far more than all this decamping put together. So, I am not moved because I am used to it. I am used to surviving tempest; I am used to managing storm. What I am getting now will not scratch me inch. Let give an instance, I managed even in those very difficult circumstance I managed an assembly that I did not have one member for three and half years. All the members of the House of Assembly from 2012 till June this year were all put there by Governor Silva. And yet,

My chances will be as bright as the northern star.

There can be no threat to us in the way people are looking at it. Most of what you guys heard and what has happened is hype. It is propaganda

with the incitement, conspiracy, impeachment plan every week from highest political level, you guy saw what I managed. But, there was not even an impeachment notice. So, that should give you an idea to our experience, our tact and capacity to manage tendencies. That is why I run a consultative system, took input from everybody, relieve people only when they did not do well. I give people the opportunity to prove themselves, have their say and support me to do so. So, I don’t have any intention at all of relieving people just because the person who nominated them is on the other side.

In any case, even this people who have decamped are not my enemy. We must at this level, manage to know that even those who disagree with us are fellow citizens. We may disagree with their politics, but they are not enemies. That is why in Bayelsa, you saw the maturity we displayed when we gave state facilities to President Muhammadu Buhari when he came to campaign. In most places, governors were shutting state’s facilities, APC and President Buhari campaign did not request because they took it for granted that it would not be given, particularly in President Goodluck Jonathan home state. But on our own, we offered them the state’s stadium and deployed security to protect them. I spend a great deal of political capital and I felt that was the right thing to do for our country. And just three days ago or the last Saturday rally, at a rally that was organised to undermine me, and campaign to take power from me, I gave them state’s facilities. It is their right to assemble, they are Bayelsans and I am the governor of all Bayelsans including those who do not agree with me. That is the level of my politics, elevating political culture deliberately in Bayelsa State, moving it away from violence like in the days of Silva, Alaibe. These are the godfathers of violence in the Niger Delta. They will send people to shoot, destroy but nobody who is opposed to me suffer any form of molestation, not even a journalist who criticises me. I only interact and explain my perspectives. That is my own level of politics.

What is your relationship with the wife of former President Jonathan?

It is very cordial.

How were you able to manage her excesses?

I don’t know if there were excesses, you are the one saying so.

There are reports that the former President was sponsoring some candidate against you...

I am not aware of that. I cannot comment on that. I cannot comment on what I don’t know.

What I do know is that the former President remains my elder brother, leader and we are working closely. If there is anyone who is supportive and who understands why I should be re-elected, it is former President Jonathan. He believes I have done well and I am doing well.

If the President had won, by now you would not be talking of second term....

Former President knows that I was his number one supporter from the beginning. I don’t want to comment on speculations.

The kind of consultation you did and the support from the President in your first term do still have it now that you seeking a second...

I have said no comment wait for my memoir to come out. Even the very premise of your question may be wrong. Wait and get the real detail of what happen. Don’t jump the gun.

What is your position on the treasury account?

This is a very serious issue; it is the issue of the economy. I keep saying this and people misunderstand me, that I am too supportive of what government is doing. I believe that governors should work closely with the Federal Government, whoever is the President. Elections are over; we should work hand in hand to develop the economy. Without the economy, we will all be in crisis. Democracy and indeed our country will be in danger, if the economy collapses. The second is national security, law and order. We have to forget about political difference and unite behind the leader of the country to address the issue of insecurity. Now back to the question, we are in a state of recession. This is one of the most serious time we are managing, and because we did not diversify our economy, the cost of the international politics about oil, the Middle East conflict and all the tendencies that we don’t control, the economy is in trouble. State cannot even pay salaries, I don’t believe the governors are reckless or they are not prioritising workers welfare. The money they got is simply insufficient, running government is expensive.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

Why more aircraft are using Nigeria’s airspace M

ORE airlines are using Nigeria’s airspace to save flight time en route their destinations, investigations have shown.

Flights across the airspace en route a particular destination is regarded in aviation parlance as over flights or over flyers.

Aircraft from various parts of the continents fly pass the airspace utilising air navigation equipment regarded as space-based or groundbased stations as reporting points before flying to their destinations.

The increasing use of the airspace is predicated on improved air navigation facilities at various ground and satellite stations.

From statistics available to The Nation, over flyers across increased this year compared to last year’s figure.

Over 11,190 aircraft flew across the airspace between January and April, compared to 2014 figure for the same period, which was 10,291.

• ‘Traffic rose from 10,291 flights in 2014 to 11,190 in 2015’ Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

A source at the National Aviation Management Authority (NAMA) said the increase in over flyers could be attributed to a number of factors, chief of which is the safety of the airspace.

Other factors are the confidence reposed in airspace managers by airlines, resulting in the increased number of airlines plying various routes.

The source said: “There is confidence now and people are seeing that our navigational equipment have improved and this has led them to go through here and has cut their travel time. This is good for us and the airlines and it saves them time.

“Even the safe tower project, which is not fully operational, will bring a lot of benefits when it becomes operational.

“There is the possibility of further increase of overflyers, especially from this period to September, which people see as the peak period, as more people will travel for holidays and other things.

“It can only get better and we are hoping to maintain this base and move higher, because in truth more airlines flying through your airspaces simply means users have reposed some confidence in you to do so and it tells you that your navigational equipment is in tip-top shape or else people would avoid your airspace like a gravitational pull.”

In all, 298 airlines flew through the nation’s airspace between January and April this year.

Month-by-month analysis shows that in January, the country’s airspace recorded 2,833 over flyers, February (2,607), March (8,014) while April’s was 2, 736

‘How to float a national airline‘

Emirates launches promo

E

A

N aviation expert, Group Captain John Obakpolor (rtd), has proposed a model on how government could deliver a new national airline which, he said, should not be 100 per cent owned by the government.

He said for the proposed national carrier to operate profitably, the government should not have a controlling share in it.

Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Obakpolor said previous attempts to deliver a national airline failed because the wrong model was adopted.

He said many things went wrong in the past with the attempts to float a national airline.

He listed some of them to include, but not limited to, a lack of interested technical and airline partners, inadequate equipment and improper framework.

On the modalities for the proposed carrier, Obakpolor said Nigerians should participate in establishing it through equity shares.

He welcomed the idea of a new national carrier for the nation, maintaining that it was necessary for the national pride and employment generation.

“This attempt to re-establish a national carrier for Nigeria is correct. There is no nation that doesn’t have a national airline.

The so- called aviation experts have been proffering solutions that should not even be mentioned. The national carrier is essential for national pride.

“People have been greedy, that’s why the national carrier never took off. Let Nigerians participate in the formation of the national carrier and not government. Let people buy into the project and let’s see if it will not move forward. In U.S. some of the airlines, their shares were sold to the workers.

So, when you buy shares, you cannot work lackadaisically.

You know if you do that, there will be no profit for you to share at the end of the year. The airline will work, but the modality is important.

“Personally, I will say government should have 49 per cent equity while the public should have 51 per cent shares,“ he said.

over flyers.

The data also showed that the Air France Group, recorded 1,125 over flyers within the period, with 801 frequencies in January, 255 in February, 294 in March and 275 in April.

Another airline with high frequencies is South African Airways with 914 flights. The breakdown indicate that the airline had 217 in January, same number in February, 247 in March and 288 in April.

Ethiopian Airlines Corporation came third with 816 frequencies with the breakdown as follows: 227in January, February 108, March 248 while April had 288 frequencies.

Royal Air Maroc was fourth on the list with a total of 676 frequencies, January; 177, February; 145, March; 172 and April had 179 frequencies.

Next on the table was Emirates Airlines with 492 frequencies in four months; January 187, Febru-

ary 127, March 115 and 118 frequencies in April.

Also, Asky Airlines with 461 closely followed Emirates. Asky Airlines recorded 70 frequencies in January, 121 in February and 141 in March.

Others are Kenya Airways with 442 frequencies in four months; Ceiba Intercontinental S.A had 389; Privatair (South Africa) had 340 frequencies; Brussel Airline, flying also from South Africa, recorded 321 frequencies; Camair-Co, 291 and Turkish Airlines had 281 frequencies.

Others were Iberia-Lineasaereas De Espana with 266; Etihad 244; Egypt Air, 206; Air Namibia, 205; Government of Niger, 195; Tap Air Portugal, 195; KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, 190; Air Mobility Command (AMC), 178; Trans Air Congo, 175; Air Cote D’Voire, 170; Deutsche Lufthansa AG, 165; Condor Air/ Lufthansa, 134; British Airways Plc, 132; Qatar Airways; 127, Cargolux Airlines, 115 and Cronos Airlines with 104 frequencies in four months, among many others.

• General Manager, Egypt Air, George Wadie (left), presenting a free ticket to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to the winner of the National Travel Essay Competition, Miss Halim Blessing of Princeton College at the airline’s office in Lagos.

MIRATES has announced the launch of a promotional cam paign, which offers up to 25 per cent reduction in air fare for passengers to select destinations in its Economy Class cabins for the Nigerian market.

The special fares apply to all Emirates’ destinations from Lagos, including Mumbai, Guangzhou, Delhi, Dallas-Fort-Worth, Dubai, Houston, New York, London, Chennai, Chicago, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Guangzhou.

The offer is valid for between August 18, and August 24, for travel from September 1, 2015 up to December 10, 2015.

Speaking on the tactical fares, the Regional Manager, Emirates West Africa, Mr. Manoj Nair, said the special fares and the opportunity to stopover in Dubai for shopping and leisure are particular attractions for passengers, with the 96-hour visa in Dubai making the journey even smoother.

“Passengers can experience awardwinning services from the Emirates cabin crew from more than 130 countries, gourmet cuisine and the airline’s

Bi-Courtney partners firm cargo agents training

I

N KEEPING with its policy of regular training and re-training of its workforce, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, has held a workshop for cargo agents in the terminal’s domestic cargo shed.

The workshop was organised in collaboration with Greater Washington Limited (GWL), the concessionaire in charge of cargo operations.

The workshop, which is an annual exercise, focused on the modalities for identifying, classifying and handling dangerous and prohibited items.

The objective is to ensure that activities in the facility are constantly at par with global best practices, especially in the area of safety and security.

Aviation and cargo safety experts from Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA), led by Cargo Safety Inspector, Mr. Augustine Eboigbe, facilitated the workshop.

Other instructors included: Aviation

Safety Inspector, Ground Operations, Mrs. Stella Patrick-Okpara and Aviation Safety Inspector, Mr. Yusuf Chanchangi.

On the exercise, Head, Cargo Section, BASL, Mr. Ayodeji Akinremi, said it was to create continuous awareness among agents and other actors in the cargo section on how they can effectively identify, handle and classify dangerous goods.

He said the exercise did not take anything away from the measures in place at the cargo shed to ensure strict compliance with security and safety standards.

He said: “No doubt we have put various checks and security measures in place. These include the presence of men of the State Security Services (SSS), the Nigeria Police Bomb Squad, Aviation Security (AVESC) personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Airlines’ security officials, Nigerian Customs Service, the military, Nigeria Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among

others” “In addition, we have a dedicated cargo screening machine that is able to identify and analyse the content of every cargo,” he said.

He emphasised the company’s policy of zero tolerance for touting in every part of the terminal, while stressing the fact that “there are strict rules guiding our operations at the cargo section”.

“There is nothing like touting because all the operators are known to us and are duly registered. As such, it is absolutely impossible for any unruly behaviour or sharp practices to take place” .

Other officials of the two companies that witnessed the exercise include, BASL’s Head, Aeronautical Services, Mr. Raphael Uchegbu, Head, Safety, Mr. Charles Aroguma and Head, Corporate Communications, Remi Ladigbolu and GWL’s Assitant General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Aghogban Bright and Manager MMA2 Cargo Shed, Mr. Bright Egbedia.

renowned ice inflight entertainment system, which offers passengers hundreds of audio and visual channels on demand,” he added.

Customers travelling with Emirates benefit from a generous baggage allowance of 30 kilogrammes in Economy Class, 40 kilogrammes in Business Class and 50 kilogrammes in First Class. Passengers on Emirates flights can also stay in touch with SMS, email and phone connections in every seat.

Meanwhile, Emirates Airlines has unfolded a new package for passengers traveling to destinations in the United States (US) .

Under the new package, Emirates passengers, who want to explore beyond the airline’s network of American destinations, now have dozens of options with the Americas Pass.

With one combined ticket, travellers flying to any of Emirates’ 10 US destinations can connect to over 90 cities across the USA, Canada and Latin America through Emirates’ five partner airlines: Jet Blue, Alaska Airlines, Virgin America, WestJet Airlines and Porter Airlines.

IATA, Eurocontrol sign pact

T

HE International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Eurocontrol have signed an agreement to support African countries that are part of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) African Region and their Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) in improving Aeronautical Information Services (AIS), including transition from AIS to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM).

Over 18 monyths, Eurocontrol will assist IATA to improve the provision, consistency, completeness and distribution of aeronautical data in certain states of the ICAO AFI region.

This will be done through a series of workshops that will take place at the AIS premises of the various states.

Signing the agreement with IATA in Strasbourg, Director-General of Eurocontrol Frank Brenner said: “Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the safety of air navigation, is delighted to work closely with IATA to support the development of aeronautical information services across the African region – supporting safety and of course efficiency in our neighbouring region brings benefits to everyone.”

48

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 , 2015

49

e-Business

‘Nigeria’s ICT regulation should support innovation’ HE latest edition of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)'s comprehensive report on global ICT regulatory developments, Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2015, reveals a fast-evolving ICT landscape, as devices and services proliferate, broadband connectivity becomes increasingly pervasive, and the hyper-connected world of the "'internet of everything" becomes a reality.

The report confirms that future network traffic will increasingly be driven by machine-to-machine (M2M) traffic generated by billions of connected devices, products and sensors, with M2M communications over mobile cellular networks already emerging as the fastest-growing ICT service in terms of traffic.

In total, one billion different kinds of wireless internet of things (IoT) devices are expected to be shipped during this year, up 60 per cent from last year's figures, to reach a predicted installed base of 2,8-billion connected devices by end of the year.

As many as 25-billion net-

T

worked devices are predicted to be connected by 2020, driven largely by consumer-connected entities and followed by manufacturing, utilities and transportation.

The major problem with this fast growing information communication technology (ICT) world is the regulations; they are simply not keeping up. In many instance political interference stifles regulators, often to the point that by the time they have agreed on a draft regulation, the ICT world has long overtaken them.

Regulators and businesses alike have to navigate the issues surrounding so-called "fourth-generation" ICT regulations.

The ITU report states that characterised by greater complexity and crosssectoral implications, fourthgeneration regulation attempts to come to grips with the enormous social and economic disruption ICTs are bringing in their wake.

The report recommends flexible, light-touch regulation, and a recognition of the rights of both businesses and consumers in defining new frameworks for an emerging

global digital environment.

In January 2015, the number of global active social media accounts reached over 2,07-billion, with active mobile social accounts representing 81% of that total.

With active social media users spending an average of nearly two hours 25 minutes per day on social platforms, the economic impact of the time spent on social media has not been lost on marketers and advertisers.

But while the blurring of lines between the physical and digital world is creating new economic opportunities, it also raises a host of new social questions and challenges for regulators.

Every hour of every day, over one hundred million photos are uploaded to Facebook: every second, one hour's worth of video footage is uploaded onto YouTube.

Google is estimated to process well over a petabyte of data every single day - equivalent to 100 times the data stored in the largest library in the world, the US Library of Congress.

With the cost of computing (both processing and storage) falling and the

speed and ease with which data can be transferred rising with ever-faster processor speeds, applications that draw on big data are proliferating.

The report outlines eight principles of big data implementation, and recognises big data's power as a driver of innovation.

But it also warns of the potential downside to the dramatic increase in the collection and storage of data, including personal data, and notes that regulators will need to come to grips fast with both the positive and negative applications in order to maintain consumer trust.

It's becoming evident that regulators need to pay serious attention to how they will support innovation and not slow it down.

It is also clear that business needs to play a greater role in regulation and that governments should stand back and allow regulators and business to work as a team to ensure that the benefits of ICT are available to and shared by all.

Source: EngineerIT

Ampion Venture to pitch at DEMO Africa

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HE winner of Ampion West African Venture bus challenge would pitch at the DEMO Africa 2015 edition, having previously partnered with DEMO Africa in 2014.

The Ampion bus will move across West Africa from September 17 and tour Cote D’ Ivore, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. The bus will arrive Lagos on September 23 in time for the DEMO Africa event.

A statement from DEMO Africa 2015, informed that during the seven-day journey, participants would enjoy the oppor-

By Tolulope Lawani

tunity to form teams, create their products/services, test them and receive feedback from local stakeholders.

The Berlin and Nairobi based AMPION operates the AMPION Venture Bus programme across Africa, enabling start-up entrepreneurs a chance to interact with their peers and receive feedback from a wide array of industry players in the countries they toured. Select teams would embark on the AMPION fellowship programme, a six-to-ninemonth incubation programme

that prepares them for their first round of investment.

Co-founder and managing director of AMPION, Ifeanyi Oteh, called upon entrepreneurs “to take advantage of the emerging platforms to enable the creation of stronger products for local and global markets. It is on platforms such as DEMO Africa and AMPION that entrepreneurs’ best receive guidance from players and peers in regards to development of solutions that best meet the existing needs.”

Executive producer, DEMO Africa, Harry Hare, commended the AMPION team. “It’s exciting

to have the AMPION and all venture bus participants taking part in the upcoming DEMO Africa. We believe that it is such joint efforts that will strengthen the call for more stakeholders support,” he added.

DEMO Africa event holds on September 24-25 at the Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos, Nigeria. 30 start-ups are scheduled to launch their products on the platform to an ecosystem of VCs, investors, tech acquisition specialists, IT buyers and media from across the region and around the globe.

OLX, Mandilas partner on vehicle valuation, diagnostic

O

LX has announced its partnership with Mandilas, one of the leading players in the auto industry in a strategic relationship that will offer users on the OLX platform free vehicle valuation and diagnostic services. In addition, Mandilas will list its vehicles on the OLX platform in an effort to attract buyers from across the country.

OLX Country Manager, Lola

Masha said: “The partnership between two trusted brands in Nigeria - Mandilas and OLX - is truly one of a kind. It reinforces OLX’s commitment to enhancing its users experience on the platform and also provides a nationwide reach for Mandilas.

“This collaboration with Mandilas validates the effectiveness of OLX as a platform with a wide range of vehicles where buyers can find great car deals

and trade with trusted sellers.”

The partnership will offer eligible users who post their cars for sale on the OLX site, an opportunity to have their cars screened and evaluated for free.

At the end of the screening, the user will get an evaluation certificate from Mandilas that will state the current market value of the car as well as the condition of each part of the car. This will benefit both the buyer who is

worried about the worth and condition of the car they want to buy and the seller who is not sure of the monetary value of the car.

General Manager, Mandilas, Stephen Gladwin said: “The partnership with OLX will help build trust among Nigerians who are in the market to buy or sell their used cars because of the certificate they get at the end of the screening process.”

50

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 , 2015

e-Business With the liberalisation of the telecoms sector over a decade ago came the influx of fake/substandard phones into the market. When mention is made about these phones and other products, what comes into mind is China. In this interview with LUCAS AJANAKU, the Senior Marketing Manager, Consumer Business Group, Huawei Technologies Nig. Ltd, Olaonipekun Okunowo, says it is a wrong perception. He says Huawei is a global company with footprints across all the continents. The firm, he adds, believes strongly in indigenous manpower development and has been doing just that in Nigeria. He expresses concern over improper management of e-wastes, saying Huawei will deploy its technology and finances in tackling the menace in partnership with the relevant agencies of government.

‘Huawei does not manufacture substandard products’

H

UAWEI is a Chinese firm and there is a perception that Chinese firms are associated with the manufacturing of substandard products, especially mobile devices. What is your reaction to this?

I would have been surprised if you did not ask this question. My answer to this is that it is completely a wrong perception. Over the years, globally, Huawei has evolved from just being that Chinese company to a global brand with lots of innovative products. Today, Huawei is among top 100 brands in the world and the first Chinese company to be in that cadre. It is number 225 on top global Fortune 500 brands rating. Today, Huawei is also the number one brand when it comes to ICT in the world. In terms of global smartphone sales, Huawei is number three in the world.

Huawei moved to Nigeria in 2000. That itself showed that it is committed to being Nigerian brand. The company came to Nigeria at the inception of the technology evolution after the likes of Nokia and Siemens and when it came, it had the opportunity to work with former state-run telco, Nigeria Telecommunication Limited (NITEL).

Today, Huawei is the market leader and it has its footprints in everything technology in Nigeria from banking, defence, aviation, telecommunication and even educa-tion.

Most OEMs have shown interest only in rolling out products without putting in place a scheme that will help take care of managing e-wastes in a sustainable manner. What plans do you have in this direction?

Huawei as a responsible corporate citizen is not unaware of the hazards improperly handled ewastes pose to human health, safety and environment. Be that as it may, we are relatively new in Nigeria and the volume of our smartphones in the market can certainly not be compared with the likes of the known market leaders in smartphones in the country. That notwitstandaing, as a Nigerian company that has come to this market, not to make money and go away, we are committed to partnering with the relevant agencies of government, both at the federal, states and local government levels to evolve a sustainable way of managing e-waste. We are particularly aware of the frontline role being played by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in this respect and we are prepared to key into its policy directions.

Huawei is associated with telecoms equipment vending. Can you speak more about your foray into mobile phones?

Yes, you are correct. That makes us even masters of the technology. Our innovative equipment conforms with that of the all the operators globally. In 2014, Huawei led the platform of patent technolo-gies filing globally. It is number one patent; you know, you develop software yourself and you file it. It is recognised globally and we have been doing it for years. I will say for every Huawei phone, over 90 per cent soft-ware on the phone is manufactured by Huawei itself, which is also used by other phones. We are in a business of innovation; we are masters of the craft. We are ICT platform provider. All over the world, 45 of top global Telco companies are on Huawei platform and equipment. So it is quite easy for us to first address the issue of connectivity with our phone because for every setting, we must conform to this number one.

When your phone can easily identify a net-work, it saves your battery, so it doesn't have to work extra just to get the network. Again, what makes a Huawei phone the best is that it is made with best materials. For example, the Mate 7 phone is steel, metal body, which stands in the class of the top brand phones in the world. Put them side by side in class with Phone 6, Samsung S5, S6, and what makes it different is the Emotion interface (EMUI).

The interface is made that if you are the type that has never used a smartphone before, you can simply put it to standard and you will navigate yourself. You can't have a Huawei phone and be calling someone to do it for you all you need do is set it to standard.

Moreover, because of our strength in the ICT world, we are able to bring the best phone as a premium phone at affordable prices because when compared with other high-end smartphones in the market. The value of phone we sold for N102,000, when you check the same phone in the same class in another brand, you see that they are 45 per cent more in price and you ask yourself, if your phone has so much quality, why is it more affordable. It's not that it is cheap but what we do is to give the

•Okunowo

consumer the best at the most affordable price.

Because we own the technology, so we can offer much more value to consumers in terms of pricing.

Globally, we have 16 R&D centres situated in the United States, Japan, China, India and Europe, if you want to talk about technology; it's not a case of it being made in China. Globally, we have Huawei Design centres in America, Japan, Europe, United Kingdom and China, so it's not like everything that comes from Huawei is from China. No. China is just one of the places; it is provid-ing the equipment for the platform. When it comes to designs, software basically go to Europe, America, Japan and Russia. This is where you get them and we are well established there. So for the phones, you have something global that comes into the phone so it makes it more competitive in many ways. As a matter of fact, if you go online and search for Huawei mobile phones,. You will see all the accolades the phone has received. It's even the smartphone that so far helped Huawei to be one of the top 100 in the world last year. It is the same smartphone that helped to push Huawei to become one of the top global Fortune 500 brands in the world. And for me, the accolades are unlim-ited, and that is what has made the phone.

And specifically, for the Mate 7, four key factors that made it the best include its high definition screen (six-inch); its battery is 4100 MA, which means for a smart phone it lasts for 48 hours. If you use a smartphone, you need to charge it probably for every five minutes or hours but for this smartphone, it has a large battery of 4100MA and you can actually use this phone to charge another phone because the battery space once you charge it you can use it to charge another phone.

Now, the interesting part of it is that this phone has a finger print security; so when you install your fingerprints, you don't have to go through a pattern. To unlock your device, all you got to do is

touch it the fingerprint sensor and it unlocks within a space of seconds and it can allow five fingerprints for different functions on the device. You can use it to launch software, probably you want to check your internet, you stored one of your fingerprints, so once you touch it, it launches that directly. You can pay your bank, instead of using password just use fingerprint as a password for it.

It is highly secured because it is biometric, so if someone is not you, it can-not open. So once I put my fingerprint, I don't need another password.

One of the reasons is that if you can use it for payment online, it has to be secured. When it was launched last year, it was recognised as the number one secured smartphone for that fingerprint because everything it does is just to make things easy. Most importantly, the speed of connectivity is marvelous. It's a CAT6 and 4G LTE enabled smartphone and CAT6 actually in terms of downloading is 300MB per seconds. So if you are on 4G LTE platform and you want to download a film of 1G, you download in less than 4 seconds.

Once you are on 4G LTE its quite fast and that is what has made the phone the fastest.

What are Huawei's long term plans for the Nigerian market?

Huawei is not in Nigeria just to do business, but to transfer its global strength, enterprise and expertise to Nigeria as a country as one of the most important countries in Africa because we believe that if you are a Nigerian, you have a say in Africa.

Huawei has been in Nigeria for this period of time and has invested so much because many ICT companies will take their workers to be trained in Dubai, France and other parts of the world. At Huawei, we really don't do that. We believe in Nigeria and the dream of her founding fathers The first training we did was in 2004. What Huawei did was to build a training centre in Abuja and equip the place and brought in ex-perts from

As a Nigerian company that has come to this market, not to make money and go away, we are committed to partnering with the relevant agencies of government, both at the federal, states and local government levels to evolve a sustainable way of managing e-waste. We are particularly aware of the frontline role being played by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in this respect and we are prepared to key into its policy directions.

wherever they are to train Nigerians to be the best in the ICT industry and as a matter of fact this training centre accommodates 2,000 plus trainees yearly.

So you discovered that in Huawei, it's not about bringing expatriates from outside; it is about training Nigerian engineers to be the best, and over the years, the company has invested so much. In 2004, we launched the courses for global system for mobile communication (GSM) in Nigeria at our training school. In 2005, we added courses for the code division multiple access (CDMA) segment of the industry and courses in transmission switch and fixing of phone. We train people in Nigeria rather than training them abroad. In 2009, we launched courses for the WEMAX, and in January 2013, over 6,000 graduate engineers were trained in our school in Abuja. That is to say that since 2000, we have seen Nigeria as a place we need to be part of, not a place to come and reap and go. It is a place you need to invest in and if you want to invest in an economy, you need to invest in its manpower development. Aside bringing equipment, you need to invest in the resources that are avail-able; that is what Huawei has done.

Huawei is doing so much even with private companies, government. We are also doing a lot in the area of sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We have a lot of programmes for young students in the univer-sities on ICT who are on scholarship. We have youths from Niger Delta going to Malaysia, many big countries that are experts in ICT, taking them, in partnership with government to train them on a yearly basis. We have a lot of people that have been sponsored by Huawei to companies in relation to ICT because we believe this is our area of core competence and that is what the world is talking about today. Today you talk about the global village. It comes about with the help of ICT so when you empower the people and you let them know you don't have to get someone abroad to do it, you have people even coming with genuine innovation as to what will address their own environmental issue and we are investing more.

Globally for us as a com-pany we invest so much in research and devel-opment (R&D). We are a company that is not so much particular about profit making. We do re-invest 10 per cent of our yearly income into R&D so that we can invest for the future and this is what has been keeping us and that is what has made us stay in Nigeria.

You have just launched the P8 into the Nigerian market. What is it about this device that makes it unique?

The Huawei P8 takes beauty to the next level, striking a flawless balance of advance technology, artistry and creativity. Based on a deep understanding of human-machine design, the Huawei P8 delivers a new level of usability for applications impacting everyday life - at work and at play.

With craftsmanship that pushes the bounds of possibility and new revolutionary light painting modes, the Huawei P8 provides consumers with an inspiration for creativity.

The Huawei P series introduced in 2012 has redefined style. The P1 marked the debut of Huawei's journey, taking the stage with a new ethos based on beauty. The P2 built on the momentum of the P1, breaking new boundaries of processing speed; the P6 brought out a new and elegant sleekness; and the ultimate craftsmanship of the P7 stunned the market.

The Huawei P8 design is deeply rooted in literary tradition, combining elements of ancient manuscripts, illuminated books and the essence of sunlight in stained glass library windows. It is inspired by the best of human design from different cultures across the centuries and embodies the human spirit of exploration and beauty.

The design details of the Huawei P8 evoke the pages, bindings and hard covers of traditional books. The one-piece aluminium body with the diamond shape blasting craftsmanship highlights the texture of the metal. The phone comes with four elegant colour options: silver, gold, black and grey. The devices come in a translucent package and the unboxing experience is like taking a book from the shelf.

The Huawei P8 embodies the ultimate in elegance, craftsmanship and durability, the phone is 6.4mm thin, with dual SIM cards, and works seamlessly with a 4G network (where the service is available), the body's sleek back cover is constructed of steel, for reinforced structural rigidity.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 , 2015

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e-Business FEEDBACK Tips on managing data, airtime on smartphones

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OOD day sir, I would like to commend you on your e-business column that features every Tuesday in The Nation newspapers.

Great job sir. Your column, which I find very informative, is always the favourite part of the Tuesday’s paper as I am a tech enthusiast myself.

However I observed that people complain often through your column’s Complaints Box about their smartphones, Android devices particularly consuming their data subscription and even their airtime as well as putting all the blame on their service providers. This shouldn’t always be the case.

Here is a little write-up, a sort of techtips that will help your readers reduce data usage on Android devices.

How to manage your smartphone’s data subscription Smartphones generally consume a lot of data as most of their features are internet-dependent but users can still manage to control their device data usage.

You can however control your smartphone’s data subscription by:

Turning off auto sync data Auto sync data is a feature that allows your smartphone to automatically synchronise data from your phone to your email and google accounts which in turn consumes internet data.

Auto sync can be turn-off by going to settings> general> accounts and sync and then unmarking the auto sync icon.

•Computer Village, Ikeja

Relocation of Lagos Computer Village divides traders

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RADERS in the popular Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, are divided over the plan of the state government to relocate the market to Katangowa, a suburb of the state.

While the traders, acting under the aegis of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), said the development will free up traffic along the way which incidentally leads to Alausa, the seat of the state government and offer sellers and buyers more room to do business, some of the traders say the relocation will dislocate their business.

CAPDAN Secretary, Mr. John Oboro, said the rationale behind the relocation is to increase business and build a modern ICT centre that anyone would be able to compare with the likes of Silicon Valley in the United State (U.S).

Mr. Oboro, who lamented that Nigeria is not into production, said: “We are a buying nation,”adding that the relocation would make a difference in Africa.

He said; "Our plan for Katangowa is a place you would see factories producing products for Nigerians consumption. We would produce soft and hard wares, computers, phones and all accessories such that we will no longer import ICT products.

Mr Oboro who made reference to some Nigerian companies, including, Omatek and Zinok that are already into production of computers, said the country has what it takes to manufacture ICT

By Olatunde Odebiyi, Modupe Elegushi and Tolulope Lawani

products but space has been the hindrance.

“The government has been talking about African Content; we are trying to develop a concept that would be African driven, it would be in such a way that we would produce ICT products for our own use and even for exportation, he said, lamenting that the enabling environment for this to happen is non-existent “Computer chips, motherboard, and other accessories are not produced here. All the parts produced here are sub-standard. There is no factory in Nigeria that does production. What they do is mere assembling of f knock-down components. But we can have those facilities here if we have a sincere government, ready to drive the will of the progress of ICT. “Anywhere in the world today, ICT is the fastest world growing economy; there is no dispute about that, even more productive than oil. Today we see new dimensions of systems, there is an evolution in the ICT, and government has to sit up," he added.

He urged Governor Akinwumi Ambode to revisit the issue with a view to giving the market 'a human face,' saying the project would not only create jobs within but also extend to the West African sub-region. He said this will make the country to become ICT hub for the sub-region.

But a dealer in phones, Christian Chukwu, disagrees with Oboro on the benefits of relocating the market.

He said: "I don't support the idea because a lot of people have invested in Otigba Market, some have bought plazas, and some have paid hundreds of millions of naira to buy shops, so for you to say you want to move them is destroying their plans, “Lagos Computer Village is an opportunity for the state government to have an edge in the ICT world, moving to Katangowa, a land between Lagos and Ogun would hinder Lagos State from having that edge in the ICT world.”

Another phone dealer who identified himself simply as Obina, agreed no less with Chukwu. He said the government has no justification to relocate the market, stressing that buyers are closer to Otigba Market and considering the traffic, distance and stress of traveling to Katangowa, especially with bad roads.

According to him Katangoa is not as spacious as Otingba Market in terms of the landscape: "It is not as big as this place, not even as broad as here, it is a narrow way and i don't think it can accommodate what we have here except the government wants to spend all their allocation on that space, which means it will have to buy other portion of land and start building complexes. The movement will be negative, because the harm it will cost us is more than the benefit we will get from it."

By Ibitoye Feyisara

Turning off automatic update Turning off automatic updates of apps and switching to manual update allows you the freedom of choosing which essential apps you wish to update and saves you more data by preventing the frequent and unnecessary update of less important apps.

Restricting background data By restricting background data, you prevent background apps and services on your phone from eating your data.

So unless you open an app, it can’t use your data. Restrict background data can be turned on by going to settings>network>mobile data>options and then marking the restrict background data icon.

Data conserving apps Data monitoring and conserving apps can help you to monitor and conserve your device data usage. Some good apps such as my data manager or dataeye would do the job.

Also some browser apps consume more data than others. Recommended browsers such as operamini and uc browser minimise data usage but still offer great browsing experience.

It is however noteworthy that it is always advisable to turn off mobile data when not in use so as to conserve data and battery usage.

Feyisara, a graduate of physics and electronics awaiting the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployment, wrote from Lagos.

Dear Sir, My number is: 08187580759 I write to express gartitude to this platform that has facilitated solution to my data problem.

I had earlier complained about my data getting wiped off in the speed of lihthning and appealed to to my service provider to do something about it.

Over the past three weeks, I have noticed an improvement spent in my data service. The speed has not only increased, it is no longer wiping off.

The minimum number of weeks my data lasts now is four.

This is significant because the same amount of money I was spending and was disapperaing in two days now lasts for so long.

I commend my service provider for acting proactively to address my problme and enjoin other service providers to borrow a lfrom it.

COMPLAINTS BOX Feyise Akeeb Kareem is my name; my number is: 08098245620 Sir, help us tell Etisalat that its data runs out too quickly. All the MNOs should be told to stop sending us unsolicited messages.

Also, assist in drawing the attention of MTN, Airtel,Etisalat and Glo to the poor coverage of their networks in Ogwashi Ukwu town, Delta State. There are areas in the town where there’s no coverage at all. This is very worrisome to the residents.

My number is 08023254106 About two months ago, I travelled to Dubai for an official engagement.

When I checked my airtime account, it was too low. I asked somebody in Nigeria to load my phone with N6,000. I am not sure if I received more than two short calls and in less than three hours, my N6,000 got depleted. Back to Nigeria, I have been loading the phone with N2,000 and N3,000 regularly and I watch my service provider ‘steal my credit’ instalmentally. My operator waits for me to buy airtime, and as soon as I do that, it gets depleted. I got the rude shock of my life when I took time out of my busy schedule to visit the Ilupeju, Lagos care centre of my MNO. A lady that attended to me was rude, and not giving a hoot about my age, she said: “From what I can see here, you have not been recharging this number. There is no truth is all your claims.” I will consider porting out of this network if my challenges are not addressed.

My phone number is 08033242256.

I always receive unsolicited text messages from my service provider .

This SMS can come anytime of the day including weekends! They come through coded numbers such as 5201, 5031 ,3021 ,3031 and others. They normally command me to subscribe to one thing or the other

like health tips, sports, music, wise sayings ,proverbs and all sorts of stupid distractions! I normally delete these SMS but am getting tired and frustrated ,pls ,advise them to stop all these rubbish or else I will be forced to tear their SIM card into shreds! I don't need the messages at all! There are lots of problems in this country and it is unfair that my service provider should be adding more through numerous and high provoking and insulting unsolicited and vexatious messages!

My number is: 08165255703 Each time I buy airtime on my phone, it disappears with the speed of lightning.

Kindly use your good offices to ask my operator what has happened to my line.

08035735383 is my number: My problem has to do with data. I use a Blackberry phone and naturally I subscribe to a data bundle plan. My worry is that each time I intentionally deactivates my internet connection at the expiration of my data plan, I noticed that my service provider kept deducting my money for data usage. I am shocked that this could still be happening to me because the data icon had already been deactivated. Or does it mean that so long as one uses a smartphone, data subscription becomes automatic?

My service provider should not auto-renew my data subscription. It is courtesy to ask if I was interested in continuing with the data bundle plan.

•Send complaints lukajanaku02@gmail.com

to

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 , 2015

INTERNATIONAL

e-Business

Samsung launches Galaxy S6 Edge+

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BlackBerry Venice ‘ll come with BB10 features

HE upcoming BlackBerry Venice slider has leaked several times and based on previous leaks, the handset appears to be running a close-to-stock version of the Android OS. However, all is not as it seems as the handset could marry the stock Android interface with some of the features from the BlackBerry 10 operating system.

Another leak from perennial tipster Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) has dumped a list of APKs that are run-

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ning on the BlackBerry Venice and as you can see in the picture below, BlackBerry is porting the best bits of Blackberry 10 to its Android device.

Looking at the list of APKs, there are a few that stand out and one in particular that could be very appealing; BlackBerry Hub is the company’s unified notifications centre and one of the most impressive things about the BlackBerry 10 OS; it’s a simple way to have all your emails, contacts, calen-

dars, messages, notes, IM and even BBM all in one place.

What the leak does show is that BlackBerry isn’t going to be just another Android OEM and instead, will show that the modern BlackBerry smartphone experience is about more than the company’s in-house OS. Will the BlackBerry Slider draw people back into the BlackBerry ecosystem? It remains to be seen but I can’t wait to see the Venice slider in the flesh.

Airtel, Uber seal internet deal

HARTI Airtel and taxi hailing service Uber have announced a first-of-its-kind partnership in India, where riders across the country would now be able to pay for their trips using Airtel’s mobile wallet service — Airtel Money — while enjoying free high-speed internet powered

by Airtel 4G. The service was launched in Mumbai today and it would soon be rolled out for Uber riders across the country.

“You will be able to access free 4G internet, all cities, all riders, (there are) no exceptions. The service will be rolled out in a phased manner soon,” said Amit Jain, president of Uber India.

“As part of the commercial agreement, Airtel will install Wi-Fi de-

vice in all its contract cars and will provide devices to its driver-partners. Additionally, Uber will accept money through Airtel Money as a mode of payment,” said Srini Gopalan, director, consumer business of Bharti Airtel.

Apart from Airtel Money, Uber will continue to accept all modes of payments, including credit cards, debit cards, Paytm and cash.

The US-based company has currently around 1,50,000 driver-partners across 18 cities. The taxi firm, which recently got close to $100million investment from Tata group, is aiming a millionth ride by the end of March 2016.

This integration will provide riders with another hassle-free payment option and will make Uber the first technology platform to of-

AMSUNG Electronics at the weekend in Lagos, launched its newest flagship device, the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. The device, which is the most attractive in its category in the market, has sleek ergonomic edge design, and a stylish, slim and light body made from metal and glass. It was unveiled at an unpacked event in New York, August 13, 2015, and in Nigeria at a media event in Lagos.

According to the firm, the look and feel of the S6 Edge+ design portrays sophistication and excellence. The sleek phablet has a gorgeous, curved design and the beautiful harmony of metal and glass combined for durability. The glass includes a reflective surface to highlight color characteristics, which creates unique effects and depth definition when reflecting light. The device is available this week in White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum and Silver Titanium.

Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, who spoke during the unveiling said dual edge display technology has been taken many notches higher with the new Galaxy S6 Edge+.

"At Samsung, we pride ourselves at being the first in developing the newest technology that improves the way we live, communicate and shape the world. We pioneered large display phones and then led the way with curved glass technology. Today, we are bringing these two technologies together, by offering a device that is intuitive and efficient with a bigger screen, allowing consumers achieve more with their smartphone," Kim added Another exciting feature of the device is the Live Broadcast, which allows users share or broadcast a video in real time over YouTube. With this feature, users can easily share special occasions as they happen with family and friends. The thrilling thing about this feature is that broadcasts can be sent directly from the camera app and friends and family can be invited to watch via text messages, e-mail, and social networking platforms.

S

•Bharti Airtel Group CEO Sunnil Mittal

ficially launch Airtel Money. For a limited time, new Uber riders who top up their Airtel Money wallet will earn up to Rs 500 for free.

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significant opportunities for both the private and public sectors.

Ericsson has been supporting innovation globally and locally with a number of initiatives, including the Ericsson Innovation Awards. We believe the Ericsson AHUB will create a platform that will try and fill the gap that exists between innovation and funding.”

With the absence of conventional structures to provide young people with access to sponsorship opportunities, and in getting start-ups off the ground, the Ericsson AHUB will help create a platform to help techstartups present their solutions to a range of investors.

Innovative companies grow where there are ecosystems in place, as this is what most guarantees a return on investment (RoI).

Through the innovation station, Ericsson is playing a part in creating an environment conducive to innovation that will address specific African challenges.

Africa has embraced a number of innovations that are tackling Africa’s common challenges. Inventions which harness the power of mobile have empowered farmers to access important agricultural information, students to attend online universities via smartphones, nurses to share maternal health information and fight Ebola, and consumers to access financial services via mobile phones.

Ericsson drives innovation across the communications spectrum.

Through an annual investment of $5 billion in research and development (R7D), Ericsson has been at the forefront of some of mobile technology’s most significant advancements.

According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, the total number of mobile subscriptions in Q1 this year was around 910 million for all of Africa, including 21 million new subscriptions. The increase in mobile ownership has led to the rise of

Another exciting video feature is the video collage, where Samsung took the photo collages a step future into videos. Users can combine multiple short videos and make them into one single video, giving each video a different look and feel-one can be slow motion while another black and white in a single video giving users exhilarating collage of videos that can be uploaded to different social media platforms.

The Fast Wireless Charging is an impressive feature that takes just two hours to fully charge a discharged battery and compatible with most wireless chargers available.

With the super-fast charging feature, once the device is connected to the fast-charging power adaptor, the device is fully charged in 90 minutes when the battery is completely out.

The device combines the exceptional features of the Galaxy S6 Edge including the People Edge, Edge Lighting and Information Stream.

One of the biggest improvements is the addition of app shortcuts to the Edge Screen. Users can now add shortcuts to five favourite apps and access them with just a swipe, saving you a tap or two.

Its Director of Hand Held Products, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, described the S6 Edge+ as an entertainment power-house, intensifying multimedia experience with a big beautiful screen.

"Two years ago, we took a decision to deliver a superior display technology, great camera and best-in-class design, which led to the coming on stream of the S6 Edge. The dual edge design was like nothing else out there and the curved display resonated with our customers," he enthused, adding: "Now, we are bringing everything you love to a big screen by improving on the features and design. The display is sharp, brilliant and the curve creates an added sense of depth. Due to the high definition screen, the colours are deep, rich and vibrant.”

App tackles spam messages, shows caller identity

EARCH technology firm, Truecaller, has launched Truemessenger, an app, aimed at making the short message service (SMS) experience smarter and more social. The app, which is now available for download on Google Play, is an SMS replacement app that puts a name to any number.

Another unique feature of the app is its ability to filter and block spam SMS by tapping into a vibrant community of more than 150 million members who help protect one an-

Ericsson’s AHUB to connect innovators, angel investors RICSSON has said it will be hosting an innovation station named “Ericsson AHUB” in partnership with Informa at AfricaCom 2015, Cape Town, 17- 19 November. The innovation station will bring together Africa’s leading entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and angel investor communities to encourage investment and showcase talent in the technology sector.

This initiative extends Ericsson’s commitment to driving the Networked Society in Africa through innovation.

Its Vice President for Strategy, Marketing and Communications in sub-Saharan Africa, Tumi Chamayou said mobile penetration on the continent has given rise to innovation which presents for private and public sectors of the continent: She said: “The mobile penetration in Africa has led to an emergence of innovations and presents

By Tolulope Lawani

•Chamayou

innovative solutions in different sectors, from education to transportation, from healthcare to farming.

The Ericsson AHUB aims to ensure that innovative ideas from the region are recognized and supported for the better growth of the economy.

other from annoying intrusions.

The app pulls information from social networks and automatically assigns photos, nicknames, and other contact information to incoming texts. With the app, mobile phone users are able to establish SMS spam rules, a functionality which was only available on the email. SMS spam is then either filtered out of the inbox or blocked, thereby keeping the inbox clean.

According to statistics, spam accounts for 15 per cent of all SMS messages sent globally, representing 1.2 trillion spam messages each year.

Nigeria has a high mobile penetration rate, with SMS being one of the easiest ways of reaching a large number of its citizens. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all mobile network operators to charge a flat rate of N4 naira for SMS to other Nigerian networks. This does not only make SMS a cost effective medium of message dissemination, but also an attractive medium for telemarketers and fraudsters to reach a wide audience. Their messages come in the form of free gift card offers, marketing promotions and phishing scams, and often lead to more serious misuses of personal information and identity theft.

The app aims to attack this problem head-on. With the new app, users can take advantage of an organised inbox where a name can be assigned to a number, and spam SMS messages are seamlessly blocked and filtered. As a result, the mobile phone user now has the option of avoiding messages from unwanted numbers and contacts.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-08-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-08-15

Downtrend bites harder as equities open FTER losing N283 bil values lost, especially within lion last week, Nige with N228b loss the highly capitalised stocks

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rian equities opened this week on a stinging depressive note with a whooping loss of N228 billion in the five-hour trading session. Average decline stood at 2.22 per cent as relatively higher losses by 46 stocks, including market’s largest stocks, overwhelmed modest gains by nine stocks.

The opening downtrend pushed the negative average year-to-date return at the Nigerian stock market to -15.71 per cent. The negative market position appeared to be increasing unnerving the more optimistic investors, lowering demand and increasing openorder supply, which has virtually turned the market into a discount window.

Market analysts were negative on the market outlook in the short-term, although there were almost unanimity on the good prospects of Nigerian equities in the medium to long terms.

“We anticipate another round of bearish trading at tomorrow`s trading session (Tuesday) as there are no catalysts in the horizon to spur

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

positive sentiments. The tumbling in global oil prices at the international markets may also be taking its toll on the market,” SCM Capital, formerly Sterling Capital Markets, stated in post-trading review.

Aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) almost dropped below its psychological N10 trillion position to close at N10.013 trillion as against its opening value of N10.241 trillion, representing a loss of N228 billion or 2.22 per cent.

The All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted equities, shrank to 29,214.13 points as against its opening index of 29,878.33 points, a dayon-day decline of 2.22 per cent.

With market’s largest stocks such as Dangote Cement, Nigerian Breweries, Guinness Nigeria and Total Nigeria heralding the losers, the market position was worsened by both the spread of the losing streak as well as the relatively higher

group.

Seplat Petroleum Development Company topped the losers’ list with a loss of N12.26 to close at N233.04.

Dangote Cement, NSE’s most capitalised stock, followed with a loss of N7 to close at N170. Guinness Nigeria and Total Nigeria dropped by N3 each to close at N116 and N152 respectively. PZ Cussons Nigeria, which at the weekend declared a dividend of 61 kobo per share, declined by N2.90 to close at N26.93. Nigerian Breweries, Nigeria’s second most capitalised stock, lost N2.02 to close at N118. Mobil Oil Nigeria dropped by N1.20 to close at N150.

Okomu Oil Palm lost N1.08 to close at N20.63 while GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria and Presco lost N1 each to close at N35 and N31 respectively.

Total turnover stood at 257.74 million shares worth N2.78 billion in 4,252 deals.

Zenith Bank was the most active stock with a turnover of 75.76 million shares worth N1.1 billion in 569 deals.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-08-15

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

GIABA seeks support to tackle money laundering

D

IRECTOR- General, International Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Adama Coulibaly has stressed the need for countries engage in partnership to check the rising cases of money laundering and terrorist financing in the West African sub-region.

Speaking yesterday at a three-day regional sensitisation workshop on anti-money laundering/ combating financing of terrorism for civil society organisations in Lagos, he described money laundering as global problems that not only threaten security but undermine economic prosperity of countries.

He said such partnership will make it possible for countries to significantly enhance understanding of various mechanisms designed to combat these

Stories by Collins Nweze

crimes. “The ultimate goal is to help create in the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) region not only a strong bulwark against those scourges but also create a conducive environment for investment, as well as for job creation for the benefit of the youth in particular,” he said.

He said GIABA was established by the Authority of States and Government of ECOWAS in 2002 with the mandate to protect the national economies and financial system of member states from abuse and the laundering of the proceeds of crimes.

The Director-General, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Bola Akinterinwa said money laundering and terrorist financing are impedi-

ments to growth of world economies, adding that over the years, government and law enforcement agencies are struggling to handle illicit trafficking of arms and persons, trans-border theft and armed robbery, drugs, narcotics among others.

He added that the international community is determined to deprive persons engaged in illicit traffic of their criminal proceeds. He urged countries to collaborate with other states and international bodies in sharing information.

Prof Akinterinwa recommended that banks and financial institutions should know their customers reasonably well; maintain records of their transactions for up to five years and also engage in financial activities as a commercial undertaking be required to disclose information relating to their clients.

MTN scraps debt payment amid currency shortage

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TN Group Ltd. has abandoned plans to repay about $500 million debt held in Nigeria, saying it can’t get hold of dollars in the African wireless carrier’s biggest market.

“We had looked to do the early resettlement but currently we are not able to. In Nigeria there is limited availability of hard currency,”Nik Kershaw, head of investor relations, told Bloomberg.

MTN, which has more than 230 million mobile phone customers in 22 countries, said it was in talks with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) about the early repayment of borrowings to reduce exposure to the naira, which has weakened against the dollar this year. The Johannesburgbased company sees the naira deteriorating further, Kershaw said.

Declines in emerging mar-

ket currencies against the dollar, including the South African rand, will hurt the business, Kershaw said. The cost of importing handsets into South Africa could rise, for example, with the difference to be passed onto the consumer.

“If the handset pricing goes up because the currency weakens, it’s going to cost the consumer more,” Kershaw said.

The rand tumbled to a record low yesterday on concern plunging global commodity prices will worsen the country’s economic outlook.

The currency traded two percent weaker at 13.2340 against the dollar as of 12:54 p.m. in Johannesburg. MTN shares declined 4.9 per cent to 168.50 rand, compared with a 2.5 percent fall on the FTSE/JSE Africa Top 40 Index.

MTN will take time to consider how to respond to the rand’s weakness in terms of

• CEO, MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoki cost controls and investment plans, Kershaw said. “When we do the next budget cycle we’ll review that. We’re not going to have a short-term, knee jerk reaction to the currency moving, you need to see how things play out over the next couple of months,” he said.

FCMB Microfinance Bank promotes wellness

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IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Microfinance Bank, a subsidiary of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group Plc, has reiterated its commitment to the wellbeing of its customers. The lender, has through its micro credit platform, offered free health check to over 500 people in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The health check which is the first organised by the microfinance bank in Ibadan, drew different categories of micro credit beneficiaries from several part of Ibadan to Dugbe market where the programme was held last weekend.

In a statement, the lender said health check covered health talk, blood pressure checks, stress test, body mass index,

Hepatitis B &C, malaria test and dispensing of drugs and also cancer screenings like breast, prostate and cervical among others.

The FCMB Group Head, Mass Market Banking, Adetunji Lamidi, said the lender realised the importance of letting its customers know more about their health and most importantly, understand their health status especially their blood pressure.

He said the programme was organised to allow some of the customers to benefit.

“This is one of its kind and our expectation is that every quarter, we will be giving them the opportunity to know their health status. We have brought a team of highly experienced medical person-

nel to carry out free blood type, hepatitis B, blood pressure test, blood test, among others. We are starting from Ibadan, by the time we have finalised with licensing, it will be a national affair. Intending customers can also benefit,” he said.

Speaking on the partnership with FCMB on the health check, the Chief Executive Officer, Live Well Initiative, Mrs. Bisi Bright said: “We are running a community health outreach today for the FCMB Micro Finance Bank because they have clients in micro finance bank that are subscribed to them and they feel if they are able to secure the health of their clients, they will be able to enhance the totality of the economic life of such a client.”

Heritage Bank advises youths on financial literacy

H

ERITAGE Bank has organised a financial literacy programme for children and youths in Lagos.

The programme followed a mandate by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for all banks, to educate children and youths on money and its values.

Heritage Bank launched the Financial Literacy Programme for schools in February last year, where it unveiled its brand ambassador, Zuriel Oduwole.

According to Mrs. Amarachi Iheagwan, the bank’s Customer Engagement Analyst, who was the lead facilitator at the event, the goal of the financial lit-

eracy programme is to empower Nigerian children and youths to make informed decisions about finances and wealth creation so that they can improve on their present and long term financial wellbeing.

She said: “The programme is aimed at educating children and youths on managing money effectively.”

56

THE NATION TUESAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

NEWS ‘Include safety, security studies in schools’

By Precious Igbonwelundu

TO safeguard children from criminals, governments have been urged to include safety and security studies in the basic curricula.

A group, Project Secure, made the plea at the weekend at a safety and security education summit for children.

Noting that the over-200 abducted girls of the Government College in Chibok, Adamawa State, might have escaped if they understood basic security tips, the group said children fall prey to rapists and other criminals daily because they were ignorant of basic security.

Project Director Richard Amuwa said children were the most vulnerable concerning safety and security, urging parents to educate their wards rather than imprison them.

Amuwa called on private concerns and individuals to assist in securing the children, noting that government cannot not do it alone.

He spoke of plans to start a security club with school children and mentor them till adulthood.

“Nigerian children know nothing about security and safety; they do not know how to protect themselves from harm or criminals.

“As a result of the security challenges in the country, parents now imprison their children by not allowing them live in their world. They are hardly allowed outside their parents’ flats and barely know their neighbours.

“Children have become prisoners in their world; they are not allowed to do things they ought to because their parents are afraid.

“I urge the government to include safety and security in the curricula.

Let these children, from a tender age, learn the tips that will save them.”

“If our over-200 abducted Chibok girls know the basic safety and security tips, many of them would not have been kidnapped.”

Christ Apostolic church marks anniversary THE yearly anniversary of the Christ Apostolic Church, also known as Christ Authority, Ikorodu district, has begun.

A revival started yesterday and will continue till Thursday, August 27, by 5pm. An all-night session will hold on Friday, August 28, by 10pm. The programme ends on Sunday, August 30, by 10am.

The programme is themed: God of Provision (Olorun Olupese). The venue is 1, Bisiriyu Enifemi Street, behind Abiodun Ogunleye junction, Solomode, Ikorodu.

Host Prophet Ojumu Kim said the anniversary would afford faithful and attendees the opportunity to listen to the undiluted word of God, soul winning and effective prayers.

•Children of the Archbishop Valerian Okeke Music Academy performing at the academy’s 2015 music cantata at the Basilica of the most Holy Trinity, Onitsha in Anambra State... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Fed Govt poised to improve economy says Osinbajo V ICE President Yemi Osinbajo has assured that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring the effective management of the nation’s resources.

The Vice President said the government would plug leakages in every aspect of the economic value chain He said the government would improve infrastructure, food production and power generation.

Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday at the annual conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), noted that there was need for the justice sector to support government’s objectives.

He stressed the need for the sector to work with the

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

government to deal with “theft, corruption and the privatisation of public resources” to promote the attainment of national growth and development.

“We should be able to hold people to account; to ensure that people cannot escape justice. The self-seeking ways of a few should not be allowed to stall our national enterprise,” Osinbajo said.

The Vice President, who identified insecurity, slow pace of justice delivery as disincentives to investment, assured the people of govern-

ment’s commitment to reversing the state of affairs for the better.

He noted that with “the continuous and relentless pillaging of resources that characterised governance in the last few years, unless we are able to deal with corruption, it may be difficult to get much work done.

“We have to deal with integrity in our judicial system, even as we deal with corruption. If we don’t handle corruption squarely, if our justice system is so degraded, it will be impossible to get much done or to encourage

anyone to come into our environment.”

Ex-NBA President, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), who expressed optimism about Osinbajo’s remarks, noted that this was the first time in the country’s history that a government would make a conscious effort to address the economic principles as contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution.

He saidalthough the provisions of Chapter 2 were non-justiciable (cannot be enforced by court order), Nigerians would no longer need to approach the court for the enforcement of their economic and social rights if the government implemented its policies as presented by the Vice President.

11 die in Abia road accident

E

LEVEN persons have died in an accident in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.

They were said to be returning from a traditional marriage at Osah.

The accident, involving a mini-bus and a truck, happened about 9 pm on the Enugu/Port Harcourt ex-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

pressway.

The mini bus, XM 935 KJA, was said to have collided with the truck, KUJ824XB, loaded with fertilizer, which was said to be travelling from Port Harcourt to the North.

It was gathered that the

driver of the truck disappeared.

The driver of the minibus survived but others did not.

Unconfirmed reports said nine persons died on Sunday, while two others died yesterday at an undisclosed hospital.

The Public Education Officer of the Abia State Com-

mand of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwosu, said: “We rushed 26 persons to the Federal Medical Centre before moving the dead bodies to the mortuary. We were there all through the night, together with the police, to prevent further accidents and to clear the wreckage.”

Committee on National Carrier under way

A

MINISTERIAL committee on the establishment of a national carrier has been inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Hajiya Binta Bello.

Hajiya Bello explained that the committee became imperative following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that the ministry commenced the process of establishing a national car-

From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

rier.

She noted that the establishment of a national carrier would create jobs.

A statement by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Affairs, James Odaudu said: “The committee is expected to review previous consultants’ submissions and recommendations on a national carrier,

review the report on the failure of the defunct Nigeria Airways and other failed private airlines.

“The committee has the mandate to consult with stakeholders on the establishment of a national carrier, including interested international partners, on the grounds of Public Private Partnership.

“The committee should also invite the Assets Man-

agement Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to determine the debt profile of domestic airlines to guide its recommendations and to develop the optimum model for a national carrier”.

The committee, to be headed by the former Managing Director of Discovery Airlines, Captain Mohammed Abdulsalam, has four weeks to submit its findings.

Okorocha: Southeast governors’ll partner Buhari From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

I

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said a cordial relationship exist between the Southeast governors and President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that this will keep the zone on the same page with the Federal Government.

Governor Okorocha spoke at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri, noting that as the only APC governor in the zone, he could not alone establish a strong relationship between its leaders, governors and the Federal Government.

He said the governors met with the President and were determined to work with the administration, irrespective of political affiliations.

The governor said: “We are determined to work with the President. We have established a wonderful relationship with Mr. President and we have been assured that the Southeast would not be left out.

“Whatever other zones enjoy, we will also enjoy. The President is a thorough Nigerian; he knows the country well having been on the seat before. Nigerians are happy he is their President and the Southeast wants to be part of the whole thing.

“I cannot be the only governor from the Southeast; I cannot be there alone, so I appealed to Mr. President to extend the same love he has for me to my brother governors because I cannot be a lone player.

“I am grateful to my colleagues for their understandin, which is the beginning of the relationship between the Federal Government and the Southeast. We are not talking about political parties now; we are talking about development and good governance.’’

Cleric seeks citizens’ support for Buhari in anti-graft war

T

HE Presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has solicited support for President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption and insurgency.

Bishop Oke spoke yesterday when he addressed reporters ahead of the 33rd

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Holy Ghost convention, which will hold between Sunday, August 30, and Sunday, September 6, at the church headquarters in Olaogun, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The cleric blamed the perceived failure in the fight

against corruption and insurgency on Nigerians, noting that the fight against the two evils should be a collaborative effort, which cannot be left for the Presidency alone.

According to him, President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osibajo are God’s

chosen leaders to save Nigeria but they need the support of all to succeed.

“The figures accrued through corruption are worrisome and the Boko Haram insurgency is disturbing. For us to progress from poverty, we need to join hands and fight corrup-

tion as a nation. God has raised President Buhari and Osibajo to fight this ugly trend but Nigerians must be patient,” Oke said.

Bishop Oke said the eight days convention would be used to pray for peace, righteousness and success for leaders in the fight against corruption and insurgency.

57

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

NEWS

Lalong in Aso Rock to plead for suspended Immigration boss

P

LATEAU State Governor Simon Lalong yesterday met President Muhammadu Buhari on the suspension of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), David Parradang.

Parradang was suspended last Friday and directed to handover to the Deputy Comptroller-General, Martin Abeshi.

The suspended Immigration boss, who was seen at the Presidential Villa in company of the governor, however, kept away from reporters.

When Lalong was briefing reporters, Parradang, who wore a blue kaftan, hid in the aides-de-camp waiting

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

room, close to the President’s office where he waited for the governor.

Addressing State House correspondents after meeting President Buhari, Lalong said although investigations into the issues that led to the suspension of the Immigration boss had begun, it was necessary for him to show concern and that was why he visited the President.

He said: “I came to see the President on some issues affecting my state.

“I feel comfortable with the response I got and this is why I am smiling. I told him what we are doing on insecurity.

“I also came because of the suspension of the comptroller-general of Immigration, who incidentally is from my state. When you have issues as this in a political period, you must find ways of looking for reasons.

If anything affects any part of your body, you must show concern.”

Lalong added: “Paradang’s case is still under investigation. A man was suspended and he is from Plateau State. It is my concern because I’m the governor.

For every appointment, we must show concern, no matter how small.

“The President is handling it. At the end of the day, whatever is the outcome, I will

agree with it. But I also need to get some explanations as the governor.”

On insecurity, the governor said: “There are pockets of crises in Jos, especially between the Fulani and the Berom.

“Because of this, I set up a 13-man committee and I put credible people in the committee. While the committee was still sitting, crisis erupted again in some parts of that area.

“We still have cases of cattle rustling and farm destruction in the southern part. But in the last one week, we have taken good measures. Security agencies are working well in terms of arrest.”

•Basic 6 pupils of Goldvalley School, River Valley Estate, Ojodu Berger with their teacher, Mrs. Linda Okereke during their graduation.

Mark refused to enter witness box, APC candidate Onjeh insists

T

HE senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue South, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has faulted Senator David Mark’s claim that he was never invited to testify from the witness box.

The Nation had reported exclusively that Mark, who was taken to the Election Petition Tribunal in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, by Onjeh following the outcome of the National Assembly election, refused to testify from the witness box when he appeared at the tribunal on August 18.

But Mark, reacting to the story through his media aide, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said he was never invited.

The Director-General of the Onjeh Campaign Organisation, Mr. Matthias Omikpa, said the former Senate president was not telling the truth.

He advised him to be truthful, to avoid misleading his followers and the public as an elder statesman.

A statement by Omikpa

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

yesterday wondered why Mark and his team did not counter the story when it was first published that he would be appearing at the tribunal to defend his fifth term victory.

The statement said: “To say it was not the intention of Mark to appear in the witness box to testify at the tribunal is merely an afterthought. Their belated reaction to this glaring fact betrays their sincerity on the subject.

“Through a motion on notice for additional witness statement on oath, David Mark deposed to an affidavit on his written statement as a star witness. At the sitting of August 13, Mark’s counsel, Kenneth Ikonne, to the hearing of everyone, including reporters, told the tribunal that his client, the first respondent, Senator David Mark, was coming to testify at the adjourned date, which was August 18 and accordingly, Mark appeared at the adjourned date for the first time

since the tribunal started sitting on Onjeh’s petition.

“It’s a fact in law, which Senator Mark as one-time number one lawmaker should know that to give life an effect to one’s written statement on oath, it must be adopted before the trial court from the witness box, and the deponent is consequently cross-examined.

“Whether by joke, Mark’s counsel at the sitting told the tribunal why he would not allow his client to be crossexamined, saying he wouldn’t want the petitioner’s counsel, Tunji Oso, to harass Mark.

“If one may ask, why did Mark depose to a written witness statement on oath in defence of the petition against him by Comrade Onjeh? Was it for fun sake?

Of all the sittings, why was it the only one his counsel announced that he would come to testify and be cross-examined, David Mark appeared? But did he testify?

“We were right inside the tribunal at the sitting Mark attended; he already took

position at the witness bench in readiness to enter the box.

As we all awaited the entry of the panel of judges into the open court, the tribunal secretary and other officials of the court dragged in about nine big ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bags loaded with Onjeh’s evidence that were tendered and admitted by the tribunal as exhibits against the three documentary evidence, which were newspapers tendered for Mark.

“On sighting them, suddenly we noticed this strange uneasiness by Mark, then his younger brother, Igoche and his counsel went to sit by him, obviously to encourage him, but it appeared that failed before the tribunal chairman and other members of her panel appeared. It’s obvious Mark declined entry into the witness box for fear of being grilled and the attendant embarrassment. The society today is not as gullible as they thought. Our advice to Mark and his camp is, rather than this distraction, they should concentrate on their defence.”

Row in Kwara varsity over unionisation

A

UTHORITIES of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, in Moro Local Government and academic workers are quarelling over a plan to form the institution’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The academic workers recently inaugurated KWASU’s ASUU Caretaker Committee, preparatory to the beginning of ASUU activities.

The Chairman of the committee is Dr. Dauda Adeshola and the Secretary is Dr. Shehu AbdulGaniyu Salau.

The institution management described any form of unionism as illegal.

Dr. Adeshola urged members to be resolute in their determination to bargain for better conditions of service.

He assured that the association would not contravene laiddown rules and regulation of the institution.

The committee later officially informed the management of the formal inauguration of KWASU ASUU. A letter dated August 17 and signed by Adeshola said: “This is to officially inform the university management and the academic community that ASUU, KWASU chapter was inaugurated on August 13. A Caretaker Committee was set up for the take-off.”

The letter entitled: ‘Inauguration of ASUU, KWASU chapter,’ was addressed to the registrar.

It added: “The inauguration held at E-place Plaza, Malete had five protem officers after a keenly-contested election.

They were elected to run the affairs of the union until a new exco is elected.

“We pledge the loyalty of the union to the university authorities and the Kwara State government. KWASU, established in 2009, is about to witness union activities after a fiveyear waiting period stipulated by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

KWASU Condition of Service and Regulations.”

A circular by the Principal/Protocol Officer, KWASU, Hamidat Yusuf, described the meetings, which resulted in the emergence of the Caretaker Committee, as “illegal and combative unionism.”

The circular reads: “This is to inform the university community that the management is aware of groups of KWASU workers holding clandestine meetings in odd venues in Malete in the name of cultism or combative unionism.

“The university warns all concerned that this is illegal under KWASU rules. No nefarious, clandestine group, no matter by what name it disguises itself, will be recognised by the university.

KWASU only recently attained five years of peaceful and purposeful academic calendar.

“An acceptable legal unionism for students, academic and non-academic workers will be ushered in within an open framework with the participation of management and all concerned. No amount of effort by the handful 17 workers, who met outside the campus and held cultists’ meeting to create chaos in the school will succeed.

“The police, office of the university safety and other security agencies have been put on the alert to monitor these nefarious individuals and each of the 17 officials or any other who may be misguided is hereby warned.

“A timetable will be published at the appropriate time for a peaceful unionism.

Some gangs are obviously sad about the peaceful nature of KWASU in the face of national difficulties and seek to cause disaffection with the government.”

Kogi prosecutes man for putting stepdaughter, 12, in family way

K

OGI State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajia Bilkisu Momoh yesterday announced the arrest of a man for allegedly putting his 12-year-old stepdaughter in the family way.

The commissioner spoke when children from Osara and Osaragada communities visited her office in Lokoja.

The visit was facilitated by the European Union (EU) Project on Promoting Rights of Children, in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria.

The government, she said, inaugurated a task force in each of the 21 local governments for the enforcement and implementation of the Child Rights’ Act. Hajia Momoh added that her ministry was taking care of the girl, ensuring she received medical attention.

She said the task force, to function with the Child Rights Implementation Committees (CRIC) and Child Protection Network (CPN), was in the councils to enhance prompt report of violation and rights abuses.

The commissioner, who was represented by Mr. Stephen Ojo, the director of Administration in the minis-

From James Azania, Lokoja

try, said the government was set for the prosecution of those, who abused or violated children’s right.

She said: “At present, we have a case of a man who impregnated his 12-yearold stepdaughter. We ensured his arrest and prosecution and we are taking care of the girl, making sure she gets medical attention.”

The Director, Women Affairs, Mrs. Salome Okibe, represented by the Deputy Director, Mrs. Elizabeth Adegbola, stressed the need for children to know their right and prevent abuse.

She said the ministry’s resolve to ensure that no child’s right was trampled on was hampered by the dearth of human resources, urging synergy with nongovernmental organisations for the implementation of the Act. Masters Wahab Audu and Miracle Sheigaba, representing the children of Osara and Osaragada communities, presented a seven-point ‘Charter of Demand’ to the commissioner.

58

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

NEWS UN seeks release of Chibok girls Continued from page 4

the Nigerian people and government and the affected families and victims, he said: “I express my solidarity again with the Nigerian people. The UN will work together with Nigeria to address and counter extremism and terrorism.

“Terrorism knows no boundaries and no bounds.

Today, I laid a wreath in memory of the Nigerian and other victims. Now, more than ever, collaboration is indispensable in addressing these crimes.

“The president has made regional engagement efforts and I am hopeful for the rapid operationalisation of the regional task force.” He said Noting that President Buhari in his inaugural speech recognised human rights as important part of counter insurgency response and operations, he said that the war against the terrorists should be conducted with a full respect for human rights, humanitarian and refugee law.

He also pointed out that the military approach alone will not be sufficient in the war against terrorism.

According to him, the efforts to tackle the causes of the grievances in the Northeast was also discussed with President Buhari.

He said: “President Buhari and I discussed also efforts to address root causes by tackling socio economic grievances in the northeast, in particular the need to expand educational and employment opportunities for young people.

“The recent agreement by UN member states on a due sustainable development agenda and on the Addis Ababa action agenda will provide further financing vehicles to help Nigeria achieve its agenda for change.

“The humanitarian situation in the northeast is particularly worrying. We are working with partners on the ground to scale up humanitarian operations.

“We congratulated President Buhari on the efforts to protect and uphold the rights of displaced persons.” He added Ki-Moon commended President Buhari for prioritizing insecurity, anti-corruption and unemployment issues in the country.

He said: “My message is simple; the UN supports your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable development and human rights in a comprehensive way. I’m convinced that when you change Nigeria, you will also change Africa.

“Nigeria has been a source of stability in West Africa and the wider continent. You are a key contributor to UN peacekeeping operations including successful missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“Nigeria is once again playing a crucial role in the UN security Council over which Amb. Joy Ogwu is now presiding this month as president of the security Council.”

He said.

On 2015 Presidential election in Nigeria, he said: “I hope that this example will be emulated by many countries around the world and this message of hope that could be spread to far and wide around the world.

“Mr President, I am here at your moment of complex challenges but also time of promise and hope. I want to commend the people of Nigeria on the peaceful, free and fair elections.

“I salute the statesmanship of example of both President Buhari and for President Goodluck Jonathan. For the first time in Nigerian history, a sitting president peaceful ceded power to an opposition candidate in a democratic election.

“The elections sent a strong global message of respect for democracy and the rule of law.

“Once again Mr President and ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to be in Nigeria and to preach the full support of the UN to advance the shared and universal call for peace, development and human rights.” He stated President Buhari thanked the Secretary General for his depth of the appreciation of Nigeria’s problems.

He said: “It shows genuine interest and the humanitarian approach to our problems which he correctly and eloquently described in terms of security, the economy and how the international community and the UN in particular, which here are present in time to help us to solve this problems.

“We have discussed with him the difficulty time Nigeria finds itself; the destruction of infrastructure, especially in the northeast, the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the over 1.5 million internally displaced persons that have to be morally, physically and materially rehabilitated.

“And the efforts we think the UN secretary general can convey to the UN so Nigeria can be helped in the identified problems that we have.”

He said President Buhari also thanked the Secretary General for inviting him for the 27th and 28th of September’s UN general assembly meeting billed to discuss issues globally on security and economy.

•From left: Kathy Pearson, Professor of Management, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States of America (The Wharton School); Bolaji Agbede, Head, Human Resources, Access Bank Plc and Suzanne Wharton, Senior Director, The Wharton School, during the Middle Management Programme organised by Access Bank in conjunction with The Wharton School, for Access Bank's middle management staff at the Bank's Head Office in Lagos ... yesterday.

Continued from page 4

“The PDP leadership in the Senate is not against any committee of the Senate performing its oversight duties and or functions but we feel that this is not the appropriate time to embark on this most important assignment, particularly since this same action was mooted and has failed at previous plenary session.

“We therefore urge the committee to suspend its public hearing on this particular matter until further notice.

“The PDP Senate leadership reassures the Nigerian public of its support for the war against corruption by the Federal Government of Nigeria but hastens to add that such fight against corruption should be total and not selective.

“Nigerians need peace at this period of economic challenges precipitated by the falling oil prices and actions that will overheat the polity and generate unnecessary friction between the Executive and the Legislature should be guided.”

The intending probe of Lamorde caused a split among senators.

A Senator said: “The socalled petition came through an ambush procedure because it did not follow due process.

“If there is any petition, it ought to be sent to the President of the Senate and not an

PDP Caucus disowns senator individual senator.

“We are suspecting that some people are trying to use the Senate to settle scores. This is not the type of process we voted for on June 9.”

Another senator said: “It is an abuse of the Senate rules after the same plot had failed at a previous plenary of the Senate. Certainly, some fifth columnists are at work.”

The EFCC yesterday described the allegations against Lamorde as “infantile” and “fabricated”.

It said the EFCC since its inception had not earned up to N1trillion.

A statement by the commission’s Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report captioned, Alleged N1tn diversion: Senate to probe Lamorde’s alleged diversion of N1tn, which appeared in a newspaper of Monday August 24, 2015 containing salacious claims of corruption against the person of the chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde.

“The EFCC should ordinarily not dignify the publication with a response as the motives of the promoters and their media allies are to im-

pugn the integrity of the EFCC boss with fabricated stories of corruption.

“However the Commission is constrained to respond, to expose the motive behind the sinister plot.

“In the first instance, claims of a N1trillion corruption in the EFCC is infantile and assaults the sensibilities of all reasonable stakeholders in the anti- corruption fight.

“Even if the EFCC had not returned a kobo of recovered assets in its 12 years existence in addition to the yearly appropriated funds from the federation account, it will be nowhere near a trillion naira.

“This clearly exposes the mission of the so called petitioner as nothing more than mischief, designed to smear Lamorde. ”More sinister is the discovery that the so-called petition did not follow the procedure for consideration by the Senate. It was sent, not to the Senate but to a member, Senate Peter Nwaoboshi, a first term senator from Delta North.

“Under the Senate rules, petitions meant for consideration by the red chamber are sent to the Senate, not to a member of the Senate.

“Also, petitions meant for the Senate are tabled at the

plenary, before they are referred to the relevant committees for further consideration.

In this instance, the Senate has been on recess and there is no evidence that the so called petition was considered at plenary and referred to any committee.

“The EFCC as an agency that is founded on transparency is not afraid of any ‘probe’ or request for information regarding its activities by individuals, groups or organs of government; so far as such requests followed due process of law.

“The EFCC under Lamorde did not need the prompting of anyone, when it commissioned a reputable international audit firm, KPMG, to carry out comprehensive audit of exhibits and forfeited assets of the Commission from 2003 to date.

“The report of the audit will be made public once it is ready. Were the Commission to be jittery about its records, it would not have embarked on such audit.

“The EFCC however warns that those who peddle false information with the intent to mislead should be reminded that there is a subsisting law on false information and the consequence for violation is grave.

Nigerian equities lose N228b as China crisis goes global Continued from page 4

equities, shrank to 29,214.13 points as against its opening index of 29,878.33 points, a dayon-day decline of 2.22 per cent.

China’s benchmark index has now lost all of its yearly gains after a relentless ascent that saw its valuation rise to record levels earlier this year. Asian markets crashed on the news, with

Japan’s Nikkei closing down 4.5 per cent and entering official “correction” territory.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng sanki 5.2 per cent, its steepest sell-off in 30 years.

Emerging markets, most exposed to a waning Chinese economy, saw their currencies continue an abysmal summer rout. Russia’s rouble fell to an

all-time low of 70.74 to the dollar, despite desperate attempts by the Kremlin to prop up its value.

Contagion quickly spread west, decimating European indices, which all suffered record post-crisis losses. The FTSE 100 dropped 4.7 per cent, wiping £74 billion off its market capitalisation and capping its

worst one-day performance since March 2009.

The index staged a minor rebound, having lost more than £55 billion in the first two hours of morning trading. Britain’s benchmark index has now collapsed by 17 per cent since hitting a high of 7,104 in April and is slipping towards official bear market territory, defined as a 20

per cent decline from its peak.

Europe’s FTSE EuroFirst300 stocks endured a 5.6pc loss that erased •450bn from the continent’s biggest companies.

Italian stocks led the falls, down 6pc, while France’s CAC 40 suffered a 5.4pc decline, closing at 4383.46. Germany’s DAX also entered correction territory, bleeding 4.7pc.

$1b loan, $466m jets top as Buhari probes arms contracts Continued from page 4

In February, The Nation reported that whistleblowers in the defence industry raised the alarm over a massive fraud of $466.5 million about to be executed at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) with some arms dealers, using the United States’ refusal to grant export permit for military hardware to Nigeria as pretext.

A letter to the government aroused the suspicion. An arms procurement company wrote that in view of the refusal of the U.S. to give export licence to Nigeria, it had reached an agreement with NAF to substitute the initial

order for Cobra AH-IV with alternate attack platform, which it claimed has greater fire power.

The letter detailed the alternate equipment to include six upgraded armed Puma Helicopters with the equivalent attack capabilities of the Cobra; four SU-25KM upgraded ground support/ attack aircraft;2 EU 25 UB for the purpose of qualifying and training NAF pilots for specific mission.

The company on the same day initiated a second correspondence with the NAF from its representative office at 1c Barnes High Street, London SW 13 9LB, United King-

dom titled “Additional Critical Armament Requirement for NAF”. The company put the cumulative charges for the various equipment, including shipping, at $466.5million.

Whistleblowers were shocked that in a government agency known for slow moving mails and deliberations, the NAF recommended the pitch by the military hardware supply company to the higher echelon of government within 16 days of submitting the proposal.

In its recommendation, NAF wrote: “The NAF hereby confirms the letters from the firm (name withheld) regard-

ing platform amendment and additional armament requirement for the NAF. This arrangement became necessary because the United States of America failed to endorse the sale of Cobra AH-IV attack helicopter to Nigeria.

“Accordingly, NAF has agreed that the said firm (name withheld) replace the Cobra helicopter with six upgraded armed Puma helicopters, four upgraded SU-25KM and two upgraded SU-25UB attack aircraft.”

The NAF stated that the technical specifications and scopes of work for the aircraft types, required upgrade, training and support package

as well as the additional armament requirements had been signed by both parties.

Stridently painting the urgent need for the supply, the NAF urged the approving authority to consent to the request immediately to address current national security challenges as the equipment were needed in the short term.

Curiously, the NAF letter admitted that the equipment being procured was not the appropriate hardware to meet the needs. It noted that the acquisition of new Mangusta 129-Attack Helicopters were actually needed to enhance the Force’s operational capabilities.

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FOREIGN NEWS

Three Americans, Briton, decorated after train attack

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HREE days after they subdued a gunman aboard a packed train headed to Paris, American childhood friends Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos have received the Legion of Honour — France’s highest recognition.

The Americans, who reportedly met in middle school in California, planned on spending the summer sightseeing together. It was Sadler’s first trip to Europe, and National Guardsman Skarlatos was on a monthlong break after serving in Afghanistan. Stone is an Air Force serviceman.

They will return to the United States celebrated for their courage and quick action, and for exemplifying teamwork and friendship.

Emanuel Skarlatos, Alek’s father, told The Oregonian newspaper that he’d been working in his yard Friday when he got a call from his son.

“He said he and his friend took down a terrorist on a train heading to Paris. Just like that, like it was no big deal,”

Emanuel Skarlatos recalled. “I said, ‘What?’ “ British passenger Chris Norman, who helped tackle the gunman, also received the French award during Monday’s ceremony at the Élysée Palace.

“By their courage, they saved lives,” President François Hollande said. “They gave us an example of what is possible to do in these kinds of situations.”

The four stopped a potential massacre Friday aboard a high-speed train that had departed the Netherlands and was bound for the French capital.

“Three Americans and one Englishman ... you risked your lives to defend an ideal, the ideal of liberty and freedom,” Hollande said.

Back in the States, Everett Stone praised his brother.

“He pretty much sums up the definition of what it means to be a warrior,” he told CNN affiliate KOVR-TV. “He should not be alive at all, and he saved every single

person’s life on that train. ...”

Spencer Stone, who was wounded in the head, neck and almost had his thumb cut off by the gunman, still managed to help a man who had his throat cut. Stone applied pressure to the man’s neck to help him avoid bleeding out, his friends said.

Another passenger, a French national whose name has not been released, also confronted the gunman and will be honored at a later date.

Napoleon Bonaparte established the Legion of Honor in 1802 to recognize exceptional leaders and unusual achievements.

The four men were in the same train car when gunfire erupted. Shortly afterward, a shirtless man appeared with a gun slung over his shoulder.

“He never said a word,” said Sadler, a student at California State University in Sacramento. “At that time, it was either do something or die.”

They charged at the gunman, and a fierce struggle ensued.

“He kept pulling more

G

dent said.

"I will not resign and will fully submit myself to the legal process."

Mr Perez Molina's comments followed a late-night cabinet meeting held behind closed doors at the presidential palace.

Anti-corruption protesters have held daily demonstrations in the capital calling for the president to step down.

On Friday, former Vice-President Roxana Baldetti was arrested on corruption charges three months after she was forced to leave office.

She is accused of taking part in the same bribery scheme.

Nearly 30 other people have been detained, accused of taking millions of dollars from businessmen who paid bribes

S

• Perez

in order to avoid higher import duties.

Presidential elections are being held in early September, but electoral law bars Mr Perez Molina from standing for another term.

The elections are expected to go to a second round of voting, later in October.

Burundi police tortured protesters

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URUNDI's security forces have tortured suspected opponents of President Pierre Nkurunziza's third-term bid, Amnesty International says.

The rights group details how people arrested for allegedly taking part in dem-

• Nkurunziza

onstrations have been mistreated to extract information.

The government has not yet responded.

Burundi has experienced months of turmoil following April's announcement that the president would run for a third term.

Dozens of people died following clashes between police and protesters and many were arrested.

Clashes between police and demonstrators have left at least 70 people dead Amnesty International alleges that some were beaten with iron bars and burnt with acid.

One man said that he had a five-litre container full of sand tied to his testicles.

Another says that he revealed the names of other

demonstrators after he was deprived of sleep and threatened with violence.

The rights group has called for the beatings and torture to stop and wants an "independent and impartial investigation".

Mr Nkurunziza was reelected in July after taking nearly 70% of the vote in a poll boycotted by the main opposition parties.

The African Union did not send observers - the first time it has taken such a stance against a member state, while the US and the European Union expressed concern that the elections were not free and fair.

In his inauguration speech last week, the president promised to end the violence within two months.

Deal to reduce the Koreans rift reached

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OUTH and North Korea have agreed a deal to defuse tensions after a series of recent border confrontations, South Korea's Yonhap news agency

says.

Both country's militaries have been on alert after a brief exchange of fire at the border last Thursday.

The North had threatened to use force to stop

weapons left and right,” said Stone, his arm in a sling from injuries suffered in the struggle.

“He seemed like he was ready to fight to the end. So were we.”

They punched the suspect, choked him and hit him with his own weapons. They finally restrained him before the train pulled up in Arras in northern France.

Stone tackled the attacker first. He was hospitalized and released.

“It is clear that their heroic actions may have prevented a far worse tragedy,” said President Barack Obama, who phoned the three Americans.

Stone is a trained medical technician, Stone’s friend Airman First Class Sean Murphy told The New York Times. It was Stone’s “second instinct” to do what he did, but Murphy told the newspaper he was still shocked by what happened.

Norman, the Briton, said he was honored to receive the

medal and ecstatic to be alive, along with all the passengers on the train.

“I am happy that no one got hurt,” he said. “Spence and Alek are the two guys who we should really thank the most because they were the first ones who actually got up and did it.”

When they took action, Norman jumped in as well.

“That gave me the impetus to get up and do it,” he said.

“They galvanized me to go.”

Sierra Leone discharges last Ebola patient

Guatemalan president resists calls to resign UATEMALAN President Otto Perez Molina has said that he will not stand down over corruption allegations.

In a televised address to the nation, Mr Perez Molina dismissed claims that he had received money from a customs bribery scheme.

He insisted that his conscience was clear.

Eight members of his government have resigned over the allegations and a former vice-president has been arrested.

On Sunday, the agriculture and health minsters became the latest to resign.

President Perez Molina held a late-night cabinet meeting "I categorically reject any link" to the scandal, the presi-

• From left, British businessman Chris Norman, Anthony Sadler, a senior at Sacramento University in California, French President Francois Hollande, U.S. Airman Spencer Stone, and Alek Skarlatos a U.S. National Guardsman from Roseburg, Oregon pose at the Elysee Palace, Monday in Paris, France.

PHOTO: AP

propaganda broadcasts by the South, started after two of its soldiers were injured by a landmine.

High-level negotiators have been meeting since Saturday to agree a deal.

IERRA Leone has released its last known Ebola patient, according to the World Health Organization.

35-year-old Adama Sankoh was discharged from a treatment centre in the northern Bombali district on Monday morning.

The country hasn't reported a new infection for more than two weeks, according the the National Ebola Response Centre (NERC).

However, a small number of cases are still being reported in neighbouring Guinea.

The milestone comes 15 months after the outbreak was declared in Sierra Leone.

Almost 4,000 people have died of Ebola in that country since then.

The country's President Ernest Bai Koroma attended the celebrations at the clinic run by International Medical Corps.

Vanessa Wolfman, the Medical Director at the facility, said: "Today is a day of hope. People hope this is the beginning of the end. We have fought for so long."

But the celebrations are tempered with caution. The country still has 28 people in quarantine. They will continue to be monitored until the end of the week in case they develop symptoms.

OB Sisay, Director of the

situation room of NERC, said: "We might have hidden cases, so we have to continue to be vigilant, continue our surveillance, maintain our discipline of hand-washing and temperature checks, screening and avoid overcrowding."

The outbreak won't be declared over until 42 days after the last Ebola patient either dies or is discharged.

That 42-day limit is twice the incubation period of the virus.

While there have been no new cases in Sierra Leone for the past 17 days, according to NERC, neighbouring Guinea reported three new infections in the week up to 19th August.

South Africa convicts Czech 'mafia boss'

A

South African court has found Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir guilty of attempted murder and kidnapping.

Krejcir and his co-accused, two of whom are part of the Hawks elite police unit, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

This is the first conviction against Krejcir, 46, who faces four separate trials in South Africa.

Local media have described him as a "mafia boss" but he denies links to the criminal underworld.

Krejcir was accused of or-

dering the kidnap and torture of Bheki Lukhele, whose brother had allegedly disappeared with 25kg (55lbs) of drugs.

He was arrested by South African police at his home in Johannesburg in late 2013 over the incident.

In July 2013, he made local and international headlines when he survived an attempt to kill him using guns hidden behind a car number plate operated by remote control.

Radovan Krejcir survived after his vehicle was shot at using remote-controlled guns A number of his associates

have been killed in separate incidents over the years but Krejcir has repeatedly denied any involvement with local organised crime syndicates whose operations are reported to also include drug dealing.

The businessman is also wanted in the Czech Republic, where he was convicted in absentia last year on tax fraud charges.

Krejcir moved to South Africa in 2007, where he is applying for asylum.

He says he will be killed if he is forced to return to the Czech Republic.

Syria's famous temple blown up by IS

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SLAMIC State militants have destroyed Palmyra's ancient temple of Baalshamin, Syrian officials and activists say.

Syria's head of antiquities was quoted as saying the temple was blown up on Sunday. The UK -based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that it happened a month ago.

IS took control of Palmyra in May, sparking fears for the site.

It is considered one of the ancient world's most important cultural centres.

The ancient city, which is a

Unesco World Heritage site, is famed for its well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins, and the Baalshamin temple, built nearly 2,000 years ago, is one of the city's best-known buildings.

The Islamic State group has destroyed several ancient sites in Iraq. The militants believe any shrines or statues implying the existence of another deity are sacrilege and idolatry, and should be destroyed.

Palmyra is a large site, visited by millions The oldest parts of the Baalshamin temple dated to the 1st Cen-

tury AD Palmyra sits in the desert, some 200km (125 miles) north-east of the Syrian capital, Damascus Many smaller statues and artefacts were moved from the city before it fell to IS IS "placed a large quantity of explosives in the temple of Baalshamin today [Sunday] and then blew it up causing much damage to the temple," Syrian antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim told AFP news agency.

"The cella (inner area of the temple) was destroyed and the columns around collapsed," he said.

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CITYBEATS Police forced us to confess, say Ikorodu robbery suspects

T

HE suspects in the Ikorodu banks robbery have told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the confessional statements they made to the police were not voluntary.

Their lawyer Olusegun Akanbi prayed the court to order the police to produce them if they were still alive.

He said the suspects “made confessional statements to press out of duress”.

He argued that it was illegal for the police to parade criminal suspects and have them grant interviews under compulsion.

The lawyer prayed the court for an order compelling the police to produce the four suspects in court because their families were denied access to them.

They are Agbojule Bright, Promise Abiwa, Monday Omoboye and Monday Ikuesan.

They were paraded on July 6 in connection with the robbery at the Ipakodo branches of two banks in Ikorodu.

By Joseph Jibueze

The police said they were part of an 18-man gang, which made away with about N80 million on June 24.

The four suspects had reportedly confessed to playing various roles in the alleged crime. Three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) allegedly bought with the proceeds were recovered from them.

Akanbi claimed that the police violated the suspects’ right to remain silent or to avoid answering any questions until after consulting with a lawyer in line with Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

According to the lawyer, the suspects might not get a fair trial since they had “suffered prejudice due to unfair publicity and unprofessional acts of the defendants.”

He claimed that the police refused to allow him or the suspects’ family to see them in detention.

“The applicants’ counsel were not allowed to see the applicants or even to have a brief interview with them when they visited the defendants on July 15.

“The applicants’ constitutional rights under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution are at stake because the defendants had taken a biased position by denying the applicants’ family or their counsel their right of visiting them in police custody.

“It will be in the interest of justice if the applicants are brought before this court so that the court can ascertain whether the applicants are still alive.

“It will be in the interest of justice if the applicants can be charged by the defendants to court since they have already spent over 24 hours in custody.

“Failure to do this will amount to usurpation of the constitutional powers of the judiciary,” the lawyer argued.

He claimed that the suspects were entitled to N5 million damages for what he described as their unlawful detention.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned to September 7 to enable the Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase respond to the suit.

•The scene of the fire ... yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

One injured as fire guts Police Barracks shop

A

14-YEAR-OLD girl, identified as Ada was yesterday injured in a fire that razed a shop attached to the Police Barracks in Surulere, Lagos.

Ada, an Senior Secondary School II pupil of St. Nicholas College, was buying home videos Compact Disk (CD) when the incident oc-

By Basirat Braimah

curred.

A trader, Toheeb, said one of the workers was filling an electricity generating set with fuel while the engine was still running and in the process, it exploded.

“The shop number is 5 and they sell audio and video CDs. The owner wasn’t around when the incident occurred. As the electricity generating set exploded, men of the Federal Fire Service, Surulere Division,

were contacted and the girl was rushed to a nearby hospital because her legs and arm were affected,” Toheeb said.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as John said he was sleeping on a sofa when people shouted fire.

He said: “My shop is two shops away. I almost urinated on my body when I heard fire. Even the woman who sells phone accessories beside the shop wasn’t aware it was burning. She sat comfortably attending to cus-

tomers. Ahh! I pity the owner of the shop because he lost a lot of goods to the fire.

We haven’t witnessed such incident here before and I pray nothing of such happens again.”

He said the fire fighters had to remove the cars packed close to the shop to avoid explosion.

“The fire fighters tried and I thank God they are close to us. If not, it would have affected so many shops,” he said.

Lagos Assembly Clinic matron dies

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HE Chief Matron of the Lagos State House of Assembly Clinic, Mrs Caroline Oriola, was found dead in her office on the Assembly premises by cleaners early yesterday.

The Nation learnt that Mrs Oriola was in office on Saturday to get some drugs. She was said to have switched on the air conditioner in the office and locked the door from behind.

The security men on duty were oblivious of the incident though she signed the movement register before she picked the keys to the clinic.

The matron’s body was discovered yesterday by a cleaner.

“It is indeed a sad news; nobody expected that she would die, when she did. We were told that she was in the clinic to pick some drugs only for her dead body to be found on the floor by a cleaner,” said a source.

Another source said the

•The late Mrs Oriola

By Oziegbe Okoeki

late Mrs Oriola’s husband, who had waited for her to return home, had gone to check her in the Assembly, but that he could not find her car in the park, adding that

he was unaware that she parked at the lawmakers’ park.

The remains of the deceased were conveyed to the morgue by some staff of the House led by the Clerk, Mr Segun Abiru.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

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NEWS •Vice President Osinbajo (middle), Mr. Ban Ki-Moon (second left), National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired Maj.Gen. Babagana Mongunu (left), Sultan Abubakar Sa'ad (second right) and John Olorunfemi Cardinal Onaiyekan of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese at a meeting ...yesterday.

•Ki-Moon, immunising a child when he visited the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Abuja ...yesterday .

PHOTO: NAN

•Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (second right) with the United Nations SecretaryGeneral Mr. Ban Ki-Moon (second left) at a reception for Ki-Moon in Abuja...at the weekend. With them are Governors of Gombe and Ogun states, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo (left) and Ibikunle Amosun.

Corruption responsible for huge revenue loss, says Osinbajo

V

ICE PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday that official corruption and privatisation of public enterprises have led to huge losses in public revenue.

Osinbajo spoke at the 55th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.

According to him, the penchant for graft was high and Nigerians spent a lot of time meant for creativity to pursue wealth.

He said: “Official corruption and privatisation of public resources have caused massive losses in public revenue.

“Indeed the truth is stranger than fiction in this matter of corruption in the public service. Dysfunctional government bureaucracies, waste and misallocation of resources.

“A great deal of talent and enterprise that should focus on creativity and innovation is concentrated in wealth seeking activities,” he said.

The Vice President also urged lawyers to find means of changing the public impression that justice could be bought and also remove the legal profession from all sorts of compromise.

He noted that enforcing contracts and the general area of dispute resolution in the country were bugged down by “judicial process that is slow, burdensome and notoriously open to dilatory tactics.”

Osinbajo went on: “Perhaps even more damaging to attracting investments is the largely and compelling narrative that Justice can be purchased.

“This is a major problem

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

of perception in our justice system and of cause a major problem of bringing business in the country. Even local investment suffers when there is a sense that the Justice system can be compromised.”

The Vice President said that it was absolutely important that integrity in the judicial system is dealth with, just as the overall question of corruption is dealth with.

He pointed out that if corruption is not handled squarely, the justice system will be so degraded that it will

be practically impossible to get very much done or to encourage anyone to come into Nigerian economy.

He advised the NBA members to find ways of ensuring that authentic dispute resolution were not caught up in the slow moving justice system.

“Applications of all types in the civil courts to stop or delay arbitrary processes run their slow course in many business disputes. An economy that must provide jobs for 80 per cent of graduates from our universities and a youth unemployment popu-

lation of 40 per cent cannot afford destructive delays in creating these wealth opportunities.” He said The Vice President said it was the plan of the administration to initiate consultations at the highest levels of government to re-write the story of the nation’s business environment.

He listed some current challenges in power, infrastucture, employment, and monetary policies as he assured that the administration was committed to finding lasting solutions to them.

A former President of the

NBA, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, (SAN) said that the citizenry needed more action from the government to demonstrate the need for change in the country.

He said the NBA was glad that government was talking tough on corruption and that the Association was ready to key into the programme.

“One of the challenges we are posing to government is that we have had so much of talking on different issues.

What we would now like to see is action.

“So, if for instance you say you want to fight corruption,

in what way? How will you be able to recover all the loot because access to that is easy?

I think the essence of the conference is that when we leave here government can begin to take action that we can measure.

“If you want to turn around poverty we can see so. If you want to see new jobs, NBA is demanding action from our government.’’ he said He said that it was not true that counsel were deliberately slowing down legal processes and said it was the responsibility of judges to speed up all legal matters.

Why Boko Haram is on the rampage, by Ki-Moon

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NITED NATIONS Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon blamed yesterday the lingering Boko Haram insurgency on mismanagement and injustice despite efforts to curb it.

He called for proper communication between the leaders and the led.

Ki-Moon urged Nigerians to unite behind President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against terrorism.

He spoke in Abuja at a dialogue held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

“Chibok girls’ whereabouts are still unknown and there are thousands of many other girls and boys and school children that had been kidnapped

by Boko Haram.

“Why this insecurity and extremism has been able to take the root among the people? I think that comes from mismanagement, bad governance and injustice. When you are absolutely in despair, when

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

you have absolutely no hope for your own future, when the leaders do not care about their own people on inclusive governance, the people find some other means. ”Because leaders have not been paying attention, they are not speaking with the people that makes the extremism to take the root. We have to prevent this. That is why I highly commend President Buhari. In his inaugural speech he said he will get rid of inequality, and he will get rid of corruption and run an inclusive government.

“When people are marginalised, they revolt. You should not let your own people be marginalised and you should respect the human rights and human dignity.

This is what we have to pay attention to.

He said that no country can tackle terrorism all alone.

Ki-Moon said: “Ladies and gentlemen, no country can

tackle this kind of threat alone; However powerful or resourceful one country cannot, the Europeans or Americans cannot do it alone, all hands must be on deck.

“This is what I have to say. I hope that these meeting will be of great opportunity for respective ambassadors and all the representatives of the Nigeria society. we have a common fight, a sense of unity; purpose of unity that we are one, we are one human being.”

He appealed to Nigerians to work with the government to ensure better service delivery and for Nigerians to maximize her potentials.

He said: “As Secretary General of United Nations, I am appealing to you to also work with your government, work with your people. Let us work together and make this world better for all.”

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, who also agreed with the summation of the UN secretary blamed

world leaders for not taking action to check the activities of the Boko Haram sect before it degenerated.

He noted that the world leaders failed the country as they sat back and watched rather than giving helping hands.

He also debunked the report that the country is facing religious crisis, saying that in Nigeria we really don’t have problem between Islam and Christianity but a situation where some criminally-minded people in the society misbehave.

He stressed that such people should be looked at as criminals and terrorists and should be dealt with in that regards.

On corruption, the Sultan pleaded with the UN scribe to help repatriate stolen funds from abroad.

He told Ki Moon to assist the present government drive to locate and return looted money.

“Please help us bring this

money back,” he added.

Ban Ki-moon who also spoke on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a successor programme to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which will come to a close later in the year, said the initiative is to take care of all spectrum of the society with the main purpose of eliminating poverty by 2030.

Apart from eliminating poverty, Ki-moon also declared that there should be gender parity by the same year 2030.

On climate change, he said that the world may be in danger as those who are supposed to take action have been abusing their prerogatives.

He warned that the human race do not have any other planet apart from the earth, hence the need to protect it.

He also noted that sustainable development goals will be seriously hampered and destroyed unless the issue of climate change is addressed.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Oshoala out for two months R

EIGNING CAF African Women’s player of the Year, Asissat Oshoala will be sidelined for at least two months by a knee injury, according to officials.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons caretaker coach, Christopher Danjuma disclosed that Oshoala’s English club, Liverpool Ladies have communicated to them as regards the star player’s injury situation.

“The Liverpool doctor has informed us that Oshoala is nursing a knee injury and she will be sidelined for at least

•Oshoala

two months,” said Danjuma.

The injury caused Oshoala to miss a crucial 2016 Olympics qualifier against Equatorial Guinea, which Nigeria lost. She will not also be available for next month’s 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

Meanwhile, D a n j u m a disclosed that four overseas-based pros would join the team for the tournament in Congo including Desire Oparanozie and Esther Sunday.

AFROBASKET 2015:

We will bounce back - Olaseni Lawal

A

S the D'Tigers wait for their opponents in the round of 16 at the ongoing 2015 FIBA Africa Basketball championship. Barcelona Basquet power forward, Olaseni Lawal said the team is looking ahead to face their next round game after the disappointing 59-70 loss to Tunisia on Sunday.

"We didn’t play like we normally do, but we have taken the lessons and we are ready to right all the wrong not just for us as a team, but for Nigeria."

Lawal who played through a slight illness before the game, managed six

points and six rebounds in 27:16 minutes on the floor.

Also expressing believe in the team’s ability to bounce back is Lagos Islanders’ Ben Uzoh, who had 13 points and five rebound against Tunisia. He said he was looking forward to the next game because the loss was an eye opener to the team.

"Losses are part of a championship. I guess we needed to be humbled, because we took it for granted.

I can't wait for the next game because we are going back to regroup and move on ".

Nigeria finished second in group A and will meet the

third placed team in group B that has Senegal, Angola, Mozambique and Morocco today at the Olympic City in Rades.

Despite a below par performance from the D'Tigers against Tunisia, head coach William Voigt said he was proud of the character his boys showed in the encounter.

"We started really poorly because of a number of things, but I believe it is a good learning experience for us. Now we know those areas we need to pay more attention to if we are going to win the Afrobasket,” he added.

Ambrose backs Oshaniwa for SPL title

C

ELTIC defender, Efe Ambrose has told AfricanFootball.com that Scottish Premier League newcomers Hearts,

•Ambrose

•Oshaniwa

who parade compatriot Juwon Oshaniwa, will give Celtic a run for their money in the title race this season.

Hearts are leading the table after they remain unbeaten in five games and are two points ahead of Celtic. "I think Hearts will challenge for the league title. They deserve the position they occupy at the moment, but Celtic and are ready to fight for the

title till the end of the season," Ambrose said.

He further said he was not surprised Oshaniwa has fitted in so well at Hearts. "I am happy for him (Juwon) and I thank God for making him sign for Hearts. He is a friend and a brother.

“I am not surprised that he has fitted in well because he has all the qualities to be one of the best here," Ambrose remarked.

Preparations for Africa Games gain momentum

N

IGERIA’s preparations for the 11th Africa Games taking place in Brazzaville next month gained momentum yesterday, when the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhassan Yakmut made a presentation to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mallam Yakmut was at the presentation with a number of chairmen of sports federations, most notably the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick.

The Africa Games, Africa’s version of the Olympic Games, will take place September from September 3 to 19 in the Congolese capital.

Nigeria will take part in 21 sports at the quadrennial, multi-sport fiesta, with football featuring in both men’s and

women’s category. The Dream Team and Super Falcons were missing at the last fiesta in Maputo, Mozambique.

However, this year, Samson Siasia’s team brushed aside Gabon and Zambia to qualify for the Games, while the Super Falcons walloped Mali to book their place.

Both teams have been camping in Abuja for the Games, and will travel with the rest of the Nigerian contingent next week.

The Falcons won the gold medal at the 9th All-Africa Games in Algiers in 2007, while the Eagles won gold when Nigeria hosted the 2nd All-Africa Games in 1973.

Nigeria emerged overall winner of the Africa Games when it hosted the eighth edition in 2003.

Sharks defender Akas wants permanent Eagles shirt

S •Olaseni

HARKS defender, Chima Akas has expressed his desire to earn a permanent spot in the Super Eagles team.

The left-back has been called to the team on several occasions, but he is yet to feature in competitive games and said he is looking forward to being in the Super Eagles on a more permanent basis.

"My dream is to be in the team regularly," he told News24. "I want to be in the team and play games. This is not my first time of being here, but I am yet to

make an impact. I hope I can use this opportunity and the game against Tanzania to establish myself," he said.

He admitted that he has to work hard to earn a more permanent place on the team. "I know I have to work hard and I have to do what the coaches want. If I play well I am sure they will give me a chance.

"It is already a big opportunity for me to be called to the team, but I have to work even harder to remain in the team. It is not going to be easy, but It is something I can do," he added.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10

NO. 3317

‘Ooni Sijuwade was not the angel his co-elite piped at his passage. Neither was he the devil many in the streets would swear he was. He was rather an embodiment of his age, warts and all’.

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

H

OW I wish I were playing the proverbial fly-on-the-wall when President Muhammadu Buhari received a delegation from the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission the other day in Abuja and warned his visitors that it was “totally unacceptable” for applicants to pay bribes, as was the case in the past, before being recruited.

Media reports have it that the President told his visitors that the police board must be above board and eschew every form of extortion or underhand dealing in the coming recruitment of 10,000 officers.

I would have scanned every muscle on the face of Mike Okiro, the chairman of the Police Service Commission, as Buhari delivered that poignant charge. For it was under Okiro’s watch as inspector-general of police that a recruitment scandal broke.

Taking unconscionable advantage of desperate job-seekers, the police charged a fee of N2,000 per applicant, presumably for handling and processing. To be fair to the police, it has to be stated that other government ministries, departments and agencies were also charging application fees.

The practice was illegal through and through and the police, more than any other institution, should have known that. But that was not the most troubling aspect of the matter.

The police authorities said N1.6billion from the N2 billion realised from the application fee had gone into paying the consultancy fees to an IT company identified only as Bharmos Ventures Nigeria Limited, widely believed to be a front. The names and identities of its owners were never disclosed.

Nor was this again the most troubling aspect of it all.

The most troubling aspect, as I saw it, was that in this digital age, the Nigeria Police Force lacked the capacity or the will to develop a computer programme to handle a procedure as elementary as recruitment, and instead outsourced the task, at a price that should have gone into making life better for its ill-paid, ill-clad and ill-housed personnel.

Nigerians have long been conditioned to expect nothing but the worst from their rulers and leaders. Hence, on any given day, damning allegations of sleaze proliferate about them even in the more responsible newspapers. In the less discriminating newspapers and the misnamed social media, the public gets little more than a steady diet of actual sleaze and rumours of sleaze, at the centre of which are the men and the women we have been conditioned to regard as persons of great consequence.

This may well be the case with Mike Okiro Still, few in the attentive audience can have failed to notice what appears to be an

RIPPLES

STOP BEHAVING LIKE A DICTATOR –Afenifere tells Buhari

Hmm...’COUNTERFEIT AFENIFERE’

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

A top cop and tales of sleaze

affinity between former police InspectorGeneral Mike Okiro and allegations of sleaze since his days as the top cop to the present, quite apart from his uncanny capacity for multi-tasking long before that term entered popular usage.

Only such a facility could have explained how Okiro hounded former EFCC chair Nuhu Ribadu out of the anti-corruption agency so as to get him off the back of sleaze grandmaster James Ibori, now serving time in a British jail with his wife and his mistress and his lawyer; how he worked tirelessly to ensure a PDP victory under the most improbable circumstances; how he chased contracts for his pipe-laying company, raked up huge non-performing loans for his many businesses, and how he cranked out a book on policing in a democratic Nigeria - all this while holding down a fulltime job as a senior police officer.

For these and other services, Okiro was at his retirement rewarded with an appoint-

ment as chair of the Police Service Commission by former President Jonathan Goodluck, a position he holds to this day, and the capacity in which he was received by Buhari and handed a terse admonition.

Just several days later, that curious affinity between Okiro and allegations of sleaze surfaced again, big-time, and in copious detail.

Aaron Kaase, an official of Okiro’s Police Service Commission, had filed a petition with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICRC) linking Okiro to acts most unbecoming, following which ICPC operatives had grilled him and several officials of the Commission in their Abuja offices and thereafter granted him “administrative bail”.

In the complaint, Kaase asserted that Okiro had obtained N350 million, purportedly for the training of PSC staff due to be deployed to monitor the performance of the police in the 2015 general elections. Of the prospective trainees, 500 were to be selected from PSC staff in Abuja, 200 from Kano PSC staff, another 200 from PSC Lagos staff, for a total 900.

Based on Okiro’s projection, the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPE) had duly cleared the project and approved payments to designated contractors in the following amounts: N95.3 million for training the 500 Abuja participants, N93.5 million for training the 200 Kano participants and N85 million for training the 200 Lagos participants.

I must digress again, for the last time. Why is Lagos, our Lagos, always being shortchanged at every point?

To return to what is now likely to be a significant entry in the annals of official sleaze in Nigeria, actual or rumoured, Kaase stated that the entire staff of the PSC number no more than 400. It is his contention that Okiro misled the BPE into approving a dodgy dis-

HARDBALL

H

IMSELF, the Incomparable Ebora Owu, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has a new love: the delectable Lady TINA — There Is No Alternative!

Like a troubadour sworn to the cause of his lady, Baba serenaded TINA, at his enchanting Abeokuta hilltop haven, to a visiting delegation of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), restless souls come, perhaps, as they say of Paris in those days, to “see the magical hilltop chambers and die”!

But the Ebora made the visit all the more alluring: he waxed poetic in TINA’s praise, but made it clear that TINA’s patron saint is incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“God forbid that this present democratic dispensation should fail,” Baba intoned, all holy, all sacred, “because we have no alternative ... There is no alternative to democracy. The alternative to democracy,” he insisted, “is even worse than the imperfection of democracy”.

On democracy and alternatives, Baba was spot on; though not a few would stress there is always an alternative, if the searcher searches enough. In a way, however, the former president spoke from the popular mindset of either democracy or military rule, which itself is a function of not-so-rigorous thinking.

Military rule itself ought not have been

bursement of N275 million out of the N350 million the Commission had obtained from the National Security Adviser.

How Kaase arrived at his figure for the dodgy disbursement is not clear. But there is no imputation in his deposition, and none in this space, that Okiro personally profited from it.

It is, however, instructive that, at the end of its investigations, the ICPC directed Okiro to remit the sum of N133 million to the Federal Government, being the difference between the N350 million the PSC obtained from the National Security for training 900 staffers nationwide, and the N217 million it actually expended in training 391 staffers in Abuja.

The deposition goes personal when Kaase asserts that back in 2013, Okiro obtained N4.6 million for a first-class airline ticket for a trip to the United States that he never made, and that he routinely used fronts to collect allowances from the PSC at various times.

In what seems to establish a pattern, Kaase charged in his deposition that Okiro collected travel grants for two conferences scheduled for the same time frame in Orlando, Florida, in the United States, and Dublin, in the Irish Republic, but attended only the latter meeting.

The ICPC’s report does not dispute the fact. But instead of taking a dim view of it, the Commission recommends that Okiro return the grant for the Florida conference only if the Federal Government rejects his offer to apply it to another conference coming up in October.

Meanwhile, Kaase has been suspended from his duties in the press and public relations department of the ICPC , allegedly for leaking his deposition to the media.

Compared with the trillions being casually tossed round in recent and ongoing allegations of Jonathan-era sleaze, the figures Kaase cited in his deposition amount to no more than a pickpocket’s haul on a good day.

But what counts is the principle, not the sum. And the principle here is that the chair of the Police Service Commission should live and be seen to live above the merest suspicion of impropriety, financial or otherwise.

The cumulative evidence suggests powerfully that Okiro has not done so. If he does not know it, his friends must tell him that his continuing tenure as chair of the Police Service Commission is incompatible with the temper and tenor of these times.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

TINA, Baba’s latest romance an alternative for any thinking country: not in the past, with the military’s disastrous record in governance; not in future, when every patriot must snap “never again!”, and certainly, not in the present, with the grim irony of pretending to run a democracy without democrats!

And to those who would sap Obasanjo with near-idolisation of the presidential incumbent, in the leadership promise of President Buhari, especially when the issue is transparent governance, Baba Iyabo entered a caveat, navigating a middle course from his infamous “Abiola-is-no-messiah” punch line of yore, a punch line that would not only help to frustrate the presidential mandate of MKO, but nearly drew Obasanjo himself to Sani Abacha’s gallows.

If Obasanjo had not contributed to MKO’s subverted mandate, there probably would not have been an Abacha. Without Abacha, there would not have been this Fourth Republic, of which Obasanjo was first president and under whom the decay started, a decay that Goodluck Jonathan brought to its nadir, necessitating Buhari’s second coming.

Hear the Baba’s revised view: “There is no angel, for me there is no messiah, except Jesus Christ, but there are leaders who are con-

cerned about what is happening in this country; leaders that are so passionate about this country, and who are ready to stick out their necks for this country; and God has given us such an individual as the president of this country.” There, you have it!

But wasn’t this also true of Jonathan, once upon a time, particularly at the height of the zoning debate?

Give the devil his due (and Baba is certainly no devil!): The Ebora, with equal passion and vengeance, promoted Jonathan (when he thought the Ijaw man would make good) and demoted Jonathan (when he thought the Ijaw man was damaged good). But at the end, it’s back to square one.

But God, in His infinite mercy, has preserved Baba’s life to witness the debacle he helped create from his presidential days. He has even given the Ebora Owu the vigour, to be an active agent in the correction process, leveraging all on President Buhari —good!

But the president, while savouring Obasanjo’s praise showers, should focus on his work. He may well save Obasanjo’s power elite from themselves. That, Hardball thinks, is the A to Z of Obasanjo’s love affair with TINA.

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