The Nation July 07, 2015

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Buhari approves N713.7b for states to pay workers Bank loans to be rescheduled Deduction of allocations stops From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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ASH-STRAPPED states got a breather yesterday. President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of N713.7billion intervention funds for them to pay workers’ salaries.

The bailout is part of a three-pronged relief package that will end the workers’ plight.

In the package are N413.7billion special intervention funds and the balance of about N250billion to N300billion, which is a soft loan to states.

Also, N413.7b( $2.1b) is sourced from the recent LNG proceeds and the remaining N300b is a Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund.

The Debt Management Office(DMO) is expected to assist states to restructure over N660billion commercial loans.

With the development, President Buhari has stopped deductions from monthly allocations to states at source.

Instead, the Federal Government will “use Continued on page 2

INSIDE •Bailout will reflate economy •It’s time to boost SWF •SEE •Intervention timely PAGES 4&5 •Beyond Buhari’s package

•IN THE NET NET:: The suspects...yesterday

PHOTO: PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

How we robbed banks in Lekki, Ikorodu, by suspects

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OUR suspected members of the gang that attacked two commercial banks in Ikorodu, Lagos State, relived yesterday their bloody exploits, claiming responsibility for other bank robberies.

Monday Omoboye, 39, aka Alarm Blow; Bright Agbojule, 25, Monday Ikuesan, 37, and Promise Abiwa, 20, were parad-

‘

We planned the operation from Ishawo creeks.

Million and his men came to us and told us about the operation. Million brought guys from Warri

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Ebele Boniface

ed by Police Commissioner (CP) Kayode Aderanti.

Their arrests came after soldiers

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intercepted one of the gang members who had mint notes with bank seals on them.

Following a tip-off by the soldiers in Ondo State to the Lagos

CP, the four suspects were rounded up. Two Lexus Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and an Infiniti SUV with registration numbers KRD29DA, 642DQ and EKY641DB were recovered from them.

The suspects claimed that their 18-man gang, aside raiding the banks in Lekki, Ijede and Ebute Continued on page 2

51 Boko Haram blast victims buried in Jos

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O fewer than 100 people are feared killed in the Sunday night twin explosions in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The state government put the death toll at 44 and 48 injured. But the magnitude of the blast and the burials that took place yesterday showed that the death toll was higher.

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS EVER RETURN?

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

No fewer than 51, mostly Muslims, were buried yesterday, according to Muslim community lawyer Ahmed Garba.

Sixty-seven people were injured, stated Abdussalam Mohammed, the coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) The explosion at the Yantaya Mosque came as cleric Sani Yahaya was addressing the worshippers, survivors said.

Continued on page 2

•A 10-year-old boy, one of the victims, in hospital in Jos...yesterday.

PHOTO: YUSUFU IDEGU

•NEIGHBOURS RECOUNT PLIGHT OF ABANDONED MOTHER OF TRIPLE TWINS P56

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

NEWS 51 blast victims buried in Jos Continued from page 1

•Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Mr. Ekpo Nta (left), a Member of ICPC, Mrs. Julie Onum-Nwariaku; Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB) Prof. Dibu Ojerinde; and Director Quality Assurance, National Universities Commission, Dr. Noel Saliu, during a workshop on academic procurement integrity for PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE universities in Abuja...yesterday

How we robbed banks in Lekki, Ikorodu, by suspects Continued from page 1

(both in Ikorodu), also engaged in pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

Giving an account on the operation, Agbojole, who said they were boys in the gang, told reporters that their leaders were Million and Kakado.

Agbojole claimed that he was contacted a week to the operation, adding that he joined because of poverty.

According to Agbojole, he was a timber worker at EbuteMetta before joining the group.

Asked about the woman, was who was said to have led the gang, Agbojole said: “There was no woman in the group.

Our leaders are Million and Kakado.

“We planned the operation from Ishawo creeks. Million and his men came to us and told us about the operation.

Million brought guys from Warri.

“It was from the creeks that we planned the whole thing and this is my first operation with them. I was among those who kept watch along the road.

I was given a Pump Action gun. We had eight guns and two Pump Action rifles.

“I am a student of College of Education, Ekiadolor. I did not

follow them to Lekki or any other robbery but I know it was the gang that attacked those banks.

“We left very early for the Ikorodu operation and it was some of Million’s boys who went into the police station; I did not go with them.

“Million and Kakado brought the dynamite used to open the bank doors and the guns. They were the ones who also taught us how to use the guns.

“I do not know how much was gotten because it was the leaders who counted and shared the money. My share was N2million from where I bought a Lexus jeep for N1.

5million; I bought jerry can for my brother to start oil bunkering; gave my wife N30, 000 for her JAMB exam and also gave my friends money.

“I was arrested in Ikorodu, where I live. My friend Akpan called me and I didn’t know that it was because the police were looking for me.”

Omoboye, a boat operator, said he usually ferried the gang for their operations.

He confessed that he had participated in all the robberies, adding that he received N400,000 for the Lekki robbery, N400,000 for Ijede and N2million for the Ogolonto at-

tack, totalling N2.8m.

He said the group usually lodged close to their targets, noting that for the Lekki attack, they camped in Epe. “We went to Epe area and lodged there. I was the boat operator and I drove them in all the operations. I don’t usually leave the boat and one or two men are left to stay with me because the gang will contact them and they will alert me when it’s time to move.

“I was contacted about one month after the Lekki operation and informed of the Ijede attack, I got N400,000 each from Lekki and Ijede. But for the Ebute business, I was given N2million.

“I was not the one they called on the telephone. It was one of their men before we rode to the jetty side to carry them. My boat is a fibre boat. I usually take them to the creeks in Ishawo but they don’t allow us close to where they share money.

“Our business in the Creek is illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and armed robbery.

I took part in all the robberies because I was their boat operator.

“Yes I am married with five children but my wife does not know what I do,” he said.

Ikuesan, another boat operator, said his only role was ferrying the hoodlums after their boat broke down when they robbed the banks in Lekki.

He claimed that he operated a gun boat, whose owner contacted him to carry the armed robbers when their boat broke down in February.

“I am not a member of the group but I know I have carried them once. I was contacted by the owner of the gun boat to carry them because their boat broke down in the water.

“The owner was given N400,000 but he gave me N180, 000 and Baba Ibeji added N10,000, making N190, 000. I have never followed them for any operation.”

Briefing reporters, Aderanti said: ”So, on June 26, one of the armed robbers, Promise Abiwe, was traced to Igbokoda in Ondo State where he was arrested.

“On June 28, one of the key members of the gang Monday Omoboye (aka Alarm Blow) was arrested in his hideout in Ikorodu.

“The said Monday is the boat operator who drove their speedboats in both the Lekki on June 1 and the robberies on Continued on page 61

Yahaya is the national chairman of the Jama'atu Izalatul Bidia organisation, which preaches that all religions should peacefully coexist.

Garba said the gunmen also opened fire on the mosque from three directions.

Survivor Danladi Sani said he saw a man dressed in white take aim at Yahaya, and then blow himself up. Yahaya was unhurt, Sani added.

"He is a great Islamic scholar who has spoken out against Boko Haram, and that is why we believe he was the target," Sani told The Associated Press.

Another bomb exploded at Shagalinku, a restaurant often patronized by top politicians for its specialties popular with Muslims, witnesses said.

Sabi'u Bako was picking up a takeout meal when he heard a massive explosion as he walked away with friends.

"The restaurant was destroyed, and we saw many people covered in blood," he said. "We can't believe that we escaped."

The blast was the second of such in the Plateau State capital after the one that occurred on May 20, 2014.

The attack in Dilimi market is the second of its type, the first in 2013 left over 50 traders dead. The second of the attack was the one targeted at Muslim worshippers.

The explosions which were detonated within ten minutes interval happened at about 9pm. The first bomb went off at a Mosque in Yan Taya (Tire Market) section of Dilimi Street, Jos North Local Government of Plateau State. The number of deaths in the mosque attack could be as high as 100, according to survivors.

Another eye witness Yahaya Musa said: "We were listening to the Islamic sermon been delivered by Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingre, whose preaching attracts no fewer than 300 worshippers.

"The sermons was almost over and the Sheikh was about to say the closing prayers, then all of a sudden, we heard gun shots in a sporadic manner from some gunmen. We

rushed out of the Mosque to discover that we were under attack; the next was to think of escape. Initially, we all lay down, but after a while when the gunmen were coming too close we decided to get up and run as fast as we could. I’m even surprised that I escaped, so many of my friends could not escape."

A member of First Aid Group, Zekeri Mahmud, said: "What happened was the gunmen came in a Hilux van, we had mounted serious security to check whoever that is coming for the sermon. But these gunmen came in a Hilux Van and stopped by the road side, three people came out of the car and opened fire on the security guard to dismantle the security at the entrance, then they headed straight for the mosque, shooting at worshippers. Some security guards decided to confront them, worshippers decided to rush them not knowing the gunmen carried explosives which they threw at the crowd.”

The second attack at the restaurant close to Bauchi Road Motor Park near main campus of University of Jos was said to have claimed about 20 lives, including guests who came to patronise the restaurant and the young girls serving their customers. Three of the restaurant attendants were among the dead at the morgue of the Plateau State Specialists Hospital.

A lucky man who left the restaurant two minutes before the explosion said, "There were up to 20 people in the restaurant that have already been served and were already eating, more than ten people were waiting to be served their food, so I left in annoyance to find an alternative place to eat. But as soon as I stepped out, I heard a very heavy blast, the impact of the blast threw me on the ground because I was very close, and when I recovered from the shock, I realized that only one person survived from the people that were inside. I could not believe when I saw the same people taking their food few minutes ago laid dead in Continued on page 61

Buhari approves N713.7b for states to pay workers Continued from page 1

its influence to guarantee the elongation of the loans for the benefit of the states”.

The beneficiaries of the relief package include workers in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) who have remained unpaid for many months.

According to sources, the President took the decision to boost the purchasing power of Nigerians, especially average and low-income earners, and to reflate the economy.

The sources said: “In his resolve to put an end to the lingering crisis of unpaid workers’ salaries in the country es-

Fed Govt, states, councils to share $1.7b from ECA

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HE Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) will on Monday share $1.7 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) among the federal, states and local governments.

Accountant General of the Federation Ahmed Idris stated this after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. With him was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia.

Idris said the committee met in the account

pecially in many states, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a comprehensive relief package designed to save the situation.

“Specifically,the President

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

between $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion, contrary to the $2b balance announced by Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole last week after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

The AGF said: "Even today, we are going to meet. The FAAC is going to meet, and we are going to distribute as agreed and directed during the NEC meeting last week and the position is very clear, what we met

has okayed a three-pronged relief package that will end the workers’ plight.

These are: •The sharing of about $2.1b (N413.7bn) in fresh allocation between the states and the Federal Government. The money is sourced from recent LNG proceeds to the federation account, and its release okayed by the President; •A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from between N250b to N300b. This would be a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries; and •A debt relief programme

on ground is what we are going to distribute.

"It is hovering between $1.6 to $1.7 billion; that is what we are going to distribute among all the three tiers of governments, the federal, states and local governments, based on the approved formula."

On his plans in his new role as AGF, he said: "The general message is clear, Mr. President had a clear direction which we

proposed by the Debt Management Office (DMO), which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660B, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

The sources said the bailout will take immediate effect from this week to ensure stability in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The sources said: “While the over $2b, which is sourced from LNG proceeds to the federation account would be shared among the states, using the revenue allocation formula, the CBN will also make available the special interven-

Continued on page 61

tion fund to states and then negotiate the terms with individual states.

“The packages that have now been approved by President Buhari is expected to go into effect this week as the President is said to have directed that release of the funds should be made as soon as possible to assuage the plight of thousands of Nigerian workers in the federal and state governments.”

The sources said with the rescheduling of states’s debts, their allocations will no longer be deducted at source by commercial banks.

The sources added: “This third option, by extending the commercial loans of the states,

would therefore make available more funds to the state governments which otherwise would have been removed at source by the banks.

“The Federal Government will use its influence to guarantee the elongation of the loans for the benefit of the states.”

Government sources explained at the weekend that this package, which was considered at the National Economic Council( NEC )last week, had been designed specifically for workers.

“Furthermore, President Buhari has now reviewed and approved the package in his bid to intervene and alleviate the suffering of workers some of whom have not been paid for over ten months,” the sources said.

The bailout will be extended to workers in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“There are also workers in the Federal Government’s emContinued on page 61

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NEWS

Bailout for states…

Finacially-distressed states may have found a way out their predicaments with the N713.7 billion bailout approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. The states’ helmsmen must however, avoid the pitfalls of the past, writes Assistant Editor NDUKA CHIEJINA.

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•Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc., Mr. Phillips Oduoza (middle) flanked by Divisional Head, IT Project Management, Mr. Lanre Bamisebi (left) and Director, Information Technology, Mr Rasheed Adegoke at the press launch of the bank's simplified solution for Biometric Verification Numbers (BVN) registration in Lagos...yesterday.

•From left: Relationship Manager, International Remittances, Personal & Business Banking (PBB), Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akintolu; Head, Franchise Collections, Mr. Solomon Olufemi; promo winners, Mr. Yinka Fagbohun and Mrs. Maureen Okonkwo and Assistant Marketing Manager, Western Union, West Africa, Mr. Ebere Nwaolikpe at the prize presentation of Western Union’s 20th anniversary promo in Lagos.

•From left: Publisher, TW Magazine, Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe; Senator Chris Anyanwu; former House of Representatives member, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Group Head, Corporate Communications & CSR, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mrs. Uchenna Mojekwu and the convener of Women in Journalism Conference, Mr. Yomi Owope at the conference in Lagos...at the weekend.

•From left: Head, Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Koye Sowemimo; Overall Best Graduating Student, Samsung Engineering Academy, Class of 2014, Sunday Oyelami; Head, Lagos Eko Secondary School Education Project, Mrs Folasade Fasehun and Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim at the Samsung Engineering Academy graduation.

FTER weeks of being on pins and needles, relief finally came the way of some states yesterday. Workers, in the states hardest hit by cash crunch, are being owed arrears of their salaries. No thanks to shrinking resources.

The dwindling allocations from the Federation Account due to tumbling oil prices at the international market have compounded their headaches, forcing governors, under the Governor Abdulaziz Yari-led Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to go capin-hand to President Muhammadu Buhari for a bailout.

But, there were hopes yesterday that the distressed states will breathe a sigh of relief, courtesy of President Buhari, who approved a comprehensive package to save the governors from the financial mess.

The bailout will help the states to pay arrears of workers’ salaries after working out the modalities.

President Buhari endorsed a threepronged relief that will end the workers plight by ordering the sharing of $2.1 billion (about N413.7 billion) in fresh allocation between the states and the federal government.

The 413.7 billion is to be sourced, with presidential approval, from the recent Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) proceeds remitted into the Federation Account.

Also approved were a N250 billion soft loans with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guarantee and debt rescheduling by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Yesterday’s deft political maneuver came as a great relief as getting such intervention from the immediate past administration would have been difficult than squeezing water out of the rock.

However, this presidential directive has its other side.

The federal government cannot be seen to be playing the Father Christmas to state governments that have refused to diversify their revenue sources and their respective economic bases at a time of severe oil price volatility, thus further depleting the national treasury instead of shoring it up.

The move, by President Buhari, may encourage state governments to be lazy and perpetually dependent on allocation from the Federation Account to the detriment of being creative with Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and harnessing the natural resources in their territories and create jobs and more sources of taxable income for the states.

Many states’ governments have over the years shunned repeated appeals to diversify their revenue sources and be less dependent on allocations from the federation account.

It is believed that the withdrawing $2.1 billion from the Federation Account, arguably from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), will leave that particular account literally empty.

The other leg of the bailout is a directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to come up with a “packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from between N250 billion to N300 billion.

It is in a form of soft loans that can be accessed by the states for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.

“The CBN will also make available the special intervention fund to states and then negotiate the terms with individual states,” the directive stated.

The CBN has several intervention funds applicable to different segments of the economy. Most, if not all, are designed as soft loans with single digit interest rates.

Besides government guarantee, the CBN also guides beneficiaries of the facilities on how best to apply the fund so as to make the repayment stressful.

The apex bank, as government’s bankers, may demand to know how benefiting states will pay back the soft loans if such facilities will be used to pay salary arrears.

So, the question the CBN will have to answer is how it hopes to recoup the loans from the states, in the event that they find it difficult to pay. Will the CBN have the courage like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to withhold partial accruals to these states from the Federation Account?

The third and final leg of the bailout as directed by President Buhari is a debt relief programme to be “proposed by the Debt Management Office (DMO) which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 billion and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.”

By extending the commercial loans of the states, the third option will make available more funds to the states, which otherwise would have been deducted from source by the banks.

Under the new arrangement, the Federal Government will use its influence to guarantee the elongation of the loans for the benefit of the states.

Getting the DMO to help the states secure an extension of their commercial loans from Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) may be easy. But, postponing the commencement date for repaying state loans will not wipe off the loans.

The DMBs will factor this into their books with the attendant interests that will accrue to them. Interestingly, since the Federal Government will be guaranteeing these loans, the nation’s debt profile will also take a significant leap, especially the domestic component of the debt profile. This in turn might increase the country’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio out of its current comfort zone.

With commercial banks and the CBN pulling the debtor states out from the tight corner, the governments may soon buckle in the knees and run cap-in-hand to the president for another round of bailout.

The intervention was considered at last week’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting and designed specifically for workers. This knee-jerk reaction to the problems of the states looks like a workable short-term plan but with dire long-term consequences for the states that refuse to be proactive in their IGR drive and the exploration of the natural resources in their domains to insulate them from future doom.

President Buhari’s intervention is to alleviate the sufferings of workers, some of whom have not been paid for over ten months.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina confirmed the development.

He said: “A special package is on the way for the workers because the President is deeply concerned about the plight of the workers who have

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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NEWS

s…Beyond Buhari’s N713.7b intervention

‘

•President Buhari

•Omotowa

•Yari

•Mrs. Okonjo -Iweala

A special package is on the way for the workers because the President is deeply concerned about the plight of the workers who have not been paid for many months

The cash-cow called NLNG

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The Federal Government yesterday initiated a bailout package for states owing their workers. The bulk of the N713.7 billion package said to have come of proceeds from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, based on Bonny Island, Finima, Rivers State. OLUKOREDE YISHAU tells the story of this cash-cow.

I

T was incorporated 26 years ago. Its first cargo of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) did not leave the Bonny Port in Rivers State until ten years later.

And once it took off, it appeared there was no stopping it. It rose so fast that it became the fourth largest supplier of LNG. The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, whose six-train plant produces about 22 Metric Tonnes Per Annum (mtpa) of LNG for export and five MTPA of natural gas liquids (NGLS), has made over $25 billion from a $2.6 billion investment.

The NLNG has six-train plant worth over $15 billion and contributes four per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It operates six liquefaction units (LNG trains) producing 22 million metric tonnes of LNG per year (mmtpa). Trains 1, 2 and 3 have production capacities of 3.2 mmtpa, whilst trains 4, 5 and 6 have capacities of 4.1 mmtpa each. The Final Investment Decision (FID) on the train 7 has not yet been made.

The NLGN owns 24 ships and six additional ships are underway from Samsung and Hyundai dockyards. The six new ships will increase NLNG fleet to 30 ships. There are spiraling effects to this as the facilities will need more seafarers and ship officers to man them.

Through its second subsidiary, the NLNG Ship Manning Limited (NSML), the NLNG is the biggest employer of Nigerian seafarers on board its 13 LNG carrier ships.

Also, the company has a wholly-owned subsidiary set up in 1989, Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) Limited, which provides shipping services for NLNG. The BGT was set up in Bermuda with an ordinary equity holding from NLNG Limited and preferential equity holding from the sponsors, NLNG’s shareholders. Another wholly owned subsidiary of NLNG Limited is the NSML, which was set up in 2008 to provide, develop and manage high-calibre personnel for NLNG’s maritime business.

The NLNG is an incorporated joint venture owned by four shareholders, namely, the Federal Government, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) — 49 per cent, Shell Gas BV (SGBV) — 25.6 per cent, Total LNG Nigeria Limited—15 per cent and Eni International—10.4 per cent.

years after work began on sand-filling of the site, there is no definite decision on when real construction work would start.

As a result of this, the NLNG, once the fastest growing facility in the world, has lost grounds to Qatar and Australia. Qatar has moved its output from 20 million metric tonnes to 80 million metric tonnes. Australia, from its previous 20 metric tonnes, now churns out 81 metric tonnes annually. NLNG is stuck at 22 million metric tonnes. Australia has 10 LNG projects, with 20 trains and $215 billion worth of final investment decision. Yet, Australia has only 60 percent of Nigeria’s gas reserves. Nigeria has gas reserves estimated at over 160 trillion cubic feet.

The United States (U.S.), formerly a major LNG export destination, plans to become a net LNG exporter by 2016, with 1.1 billion cubic feet per day, projected to rise to 2.2 billion cubic feet per day in 2019.

China, with an estimated gas reserve of 1,275 trillion cubic metres, is also planning big for the LNG market. Mozambique too is set for a fair share of the market, with plans to build a two-train facility at advanced stage.

NLNG Train Seven project will raise the liquefaction capacity of the Plant to 30mtpa, consolidating Nigeria’s position as one of the largest producers and exporters of LNG.

What really is the problem?

So far, the company’s story reads well, but it could be better if its expansion plans are approved. The failure to take the final investment decision on its Train Seven has made it lose its pre-eminence in the global LNG market. There are imminent fears it will still dip further if its expansion plans are not concretised soon.

As at the time it celebrated the export of its 3000th cargo on January 6, last year, a large expanse of land, close to its Train Six in Finima, Bonny Island, was waiting for further action to house the Seventh Train of the plant. But

Some have wondered if the company, which contributes 4 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), does not have the financial wherewithal to see the project through.

But checks have revealed that the company’s challenge with expansion has nothing to do with money. Industry sources say for this Train Seven to become a reality a FID has to be taken.

The only person who can take this decision is President Muhammadu Buhari.

His predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, failed to take this all-important decision. Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi once quoted Jonathan as telling him that NLNG’s expansion has to wait until the Brass LNG in Bayelsa State takes off.

Instructively, seven years ago, the NLNG signed sales and purchase agreement for its seventh train. Observers are of the view that building the seventh train of the NLNG plant will bring in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) estimated at over $8 billion and help reduce flared gas, and improve the country’s revenue profile.

With Train 7, the NLNG, said industry watchers, would provide about 10,000 jobs. Since it opened shop in Bonny, NLNG Limited has provided over 2,000 jobs each construction year and 18,000 jobs at the peak of construction. The government, they said, will also reap an additional $2.2 billion annually in dividend.

not been paid for many months.”

In his speech while inaugurating the NEC penultimate Monday, President Buhari asked the Council, which is a constitutional advisory body to

ers across the country, a situation he observed has brought untold hardship to the workers.”

The packages that have now been approved by President Buhari is ex-

The other side of the story

the president and comprising of state governors, the CBN and the Accountant-General of the Federation, to, “as a matter of priority, consider how to liquidate the unpaid salaries of work-

pected to go into effect immediately as the President is said to have directed that the release of the funds should be made as soon as possible to assuage the plight of thousands of

workers on federal and state governments’ payroll.

At least 12 of the 36 states of the federation were having challenges paying their workers’ salaries. The debts were, approximated at more than N110 billion.

The figure represents the salaries being owed by governments of 10 of the states, including: Osun, Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Plateau, Benue and Bauchi. In the past five years, state governments have been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over the sharing of savings in the ECA. There have been claims and counter claims over the management and eventual sharing of proceeds of the ECA by the former administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration.

There are also federal government employees, whose salaries have been unpaid for months. Such workers will also partake in the presidential intervention.

Experts say the bailout will boost the purchasing power of a good percentage of the local consumers and thereby reflate the economy.

While the Buhari administration might continue to guarantee and bailout erring state governments, another government might take a different view and leave the states to their creativities as allowed by law.

In its recently released report on poverty findings, ActionAid alleged that “state governments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and local governments have mismanaged public funds, while money laundering has become a major means by which the country’s wealth is siphoned and stashed abroad.”

The report, also noted that “the private sector is involved in corruption through kick-back, under-declaration of profits and non-performance, while operations in the oil and extractive industry was still opaque and prone to corruption.”

Some of the recommendations made by the report included the creation of “special programmes for areas with high incidence of poverty through geographical targeting; social protection policy; strengthening of state-citizen relations; making corruption a development issue; compliance with the FoI Act by all MDAs; autonomy for all anti-corruption agencies, (ACAs,) to enable them discharge their mandate in fighting corruption; public reward system; and increased support and commitment to NEITI to ensure accountability in the extractive industry.”

The states must, however, not see the bailout as a free meal. It is a loan, no matter how soft, they have to repay. They must also learn from the pitfalls of the past by being prudent in the application of resources at their disposal.

What the presidential relief will do, by experts

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HERE were reactions yesterday to the approval of a comprehensive relief package

by President Muhammadu Buhari to bailout some financially distressed states.

They said the intervention will bring relief to embattled governors and calm the workers, who have been warming up for showdown with the states’ helmsmen.

Bailout will reflate economy The former Executive Director, Keystone Bank Limited, Richard Obire said the system will be reflated after the cash hits the accounts of the affected states.

On the implications of the bailout, Obire predicted that demand for goods and services will rise, thereby helping the economy back on its feet when the workers get paid the arrears of their salaries.

He, however, advised the Federal Government to spell out the repayment terms for the soft loans,

By Collins Nweze and Chikodi Okereocha

describing President Buhari’s decision to bailout the states as good news for the economy.

Obire called on different state governments to boost their Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) to forestall sliding back into further debts.

On what the affected states can do, the banker said the governments can also re-negotiate worker’s salaries with unions based on the elasticity of the IGR, even as he pushed for more investment in capital projects.

Besides, Obire advised states to find ways of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and boosting local production of goods and services.

Intervention timely Managing Consultant, Nesbet Consulting, a Lagos-based finance and management, a consultancy firm, Mr. Alaba Olusemore, described

the $2.1 billion bailout to fiscally distressed states “as a right step in the right direction.”

According to him, the intervention was timely as the Federal Government can ill-afford an industrial crisis by workers in the affected states at the beginning of a new administration.

Olusemore believes the bailout will have multiplier effects on the economy of the benefitting states.

He said: “It will reactivate economic activities in those states. However, there must be conditionality attached to the bailout fund and the states that are the beficiaries must involve labour unions and other stakeholders to ensure judicious use of the funds.”

Olusemore urged the states to plug all leakages in the system and avoid over-invoicing by contractors handling ongoing projects.

“The state governments must carry out staff audit, not just the usual head count, but to ensure that jobs are clearly defined to avoid du-

plication of responsibilities,” he said.

He also canvassed a temporary embargo on employment until the fiscal situation in those distressed states witnessed improvement.

“There is urgent need for aggressive diversification of the states’ revenue base through the exploitation of abundant mineral resources in their domains”, he urged.

It’s time to boost SWF Also reacting, a teacher at the Pan Atlantic University, Dr. Austin Nweze said more attention should be given to boosting the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) by encouraging states to put more money into the Fund.

He said such step will enable states to rely on such funds at difficult times.

He also agreed with Obire on the need to build more industries to widen the IGR base.

Nweze urged states to reduce bureaucracies and tackle institutional corruption.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

6

NEWS PDP governors, Ohanaeze back Deputy Senate President

P

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governors have warned against “the intimidation and harassment” of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu by the police allegedly on the orders of the Federal Government.

The governors expressed their position in a statement

UCTH’s CMD decries resident doctors’ strike From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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HE Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Dr. Thomas Agan, yesterday said the strike by residents doctors was taking its toll on the hospital.

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors of the UCTH last week embarked on an indefinite strike following alleged management’s negative response to their demands.

The association’s president, Dr. Ukweh Ikechukwu, said the strike followed a 21-day ultimatum, which ended on Wednesday, July 1.

Their demands include better working conditions, the implementation of the sponsorship arrears from 2012, upgrading and automatic stepping up of training and patient care and skipping salaries for doctors.

Agan, who addressed reporters in Calabar yesterday, said the management was doing everything possible to ensure the system works well.

He said most of the demands of the doctors were not within the management’s capacity as they depended on funding from the Federal Government, which had not come yet.

“There is no point pretending. The effect of the strike is heavy on the patients. The consultant doctors are around, but would not be able to provide the maximum attention the patients would require,” he said.

The CMD described what was happening in the health sector as embarrassing and added that once funds are released in the next few days, the issues would be sorted out.

by forum chairman, Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The governors also declared support for the PDP’s criticism of the appointment of the acting Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Amina Zakari.

Also yesterday, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo vowed to resist any attempt to harass Ekweremadu.

The organisation also pledged to defend the senator over his election as the Deputy Senate President.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary-General Dr. Joe Nwaorgu said: ”We are watching closely what is happening at the national level and we want to let the world know that we are solidly behind our son, Ekweremadu.”

•From left: Senator Osita Izunaso; Chief Executive Officer, Fesadeb Communication Festus Adebayo; Chairman, Jaiz Bank Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab and Senator Isa Galaudu at the Ninth Abuja Housing Show in Abuja ... yesterday. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Police quiz Ekweremadu, National Assembly Clerk for alleged forgery A

TEAM of policemen yesterday interrogated Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, for an alleged unwholesome alteration of the Senate Standing Rule.

It was learnt the police operatives arrived at the National Assembly complex around 2p.m. and departed after over two hours.

The officers, who were led by a Commissioner of Police, went to the office of Ekweremadu after which they also went to the office of the clerk.

Others who were also invited by the police, it was gathered, include former Senate President David Mark, former Senate Leader in the Seventh Senate Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Clerk of the Senate Mr. Benedict Efeturi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules in the Seventh Senate Senator Ita Enang and secretary of the committee.

This was contained in a letter addressed to Maikasuwa, entitled: “Letter of Invitation: Re: Forgeries/Fraudulent use of Senate Standing Order/ Rules 2015 (as amended) by the 8th Senate.”

The letter was dated July 1and signed by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Abuja, DIG Dan’ Azumi J. Doma.

The three paragraph letter

•Mark, Ndoma-Egba, others for interrogation ‘We’ll protect independence of parliament’

D

EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday said his life and liberty were being threatened by desperate politicians.

But he assured Nigerians and members of the international community that everything was under control.

The deputy Senate president spoke in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Uche Anichukwu.

Ekweremadu, former Senate President, David Mark, former Senate leader in the Seventh Senate, Senator Victor NdomaEgba, former Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Senator Ita Enang and his secretary were invited for interrogation by the police for alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rule 2015.

The statement reads in part: “The deputy president of the Senate has received numerous calls and messages from well meaning Nigerians, elder statesmen, governors, distinguished senators and honourable members of the House of Representatives across party lines, concerned members of the international community, youth and women organisations, royal fathers, and civil society organisatons, From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

reads in part: “This office is looking into the complaint of the above subject matter, brought before the InspectorGeneral of Police by the Senate Unity Forum.

“You are kindly requested

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

among others, who have continued to express utter dismay and concern at the unfolding drama in which his life and liberty are being threatened by desperate politicians.

“Ekweremadu wishes to assure that everything is under control and that all democratic steps are being taken to preserve the nation’s democracy and protect the independence of the legislature. ”The deputy Senate president further wishes to assure Nigerians that necessary steps are being taken by the security agencies to strengthen security around him. ”He appreciates the nation’s security agencies for their professional handling of the situation so far, and acknowledges with a deep sense of gratitude numerous youths across the country, who have volunteered to provide additional security around him. ”In all this, however, let it be known that no amount of intimidation or harassment will deter Ekweremadu from carrying out the constitutionally prescribed duties, which on June 9, PDP and APC senators willingly elected him in the full glare of the world to perform.”

to ask the under mentioned key officials of the Seventh Senate to have an audience with the undersigned on or before July 6, 2015.

“While anticipating that you will give the request the urgent attention it requires, please accept the warm and

high regards of the InspectorGeneral of Police.”

Also the petition of the Senate Unity Forum, endorsed by its secretary, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North), to the police over the alleged forgery reads in part: “We write to bring to your

attention, the existence of the fraudulent introduction of a 2015 Senate Standing Rules, as amended.

“We wish to attach the original and authentic Standing Order for 2011 that was used by the Seventh Senate, (Annexure A) “We again annex hereto a purported amended Standing Orders 2015, which was used by the Clerk to the National Assembly (along with the Clerk of the Senate) in inaugurating the 8th Senate on June 9, 2015, Annexure B. “The so-called new Standing Orders purports to allow for secret instead of the open ballot system that has been prevalent in all Senate elections as permitted by the extant rules.

“These infractions, among others, arise from the fraudulent production of the Rules without an approved consideration by the Seventh Senate.

“At no time was the Standing Orders of the Senate amended during the entire life of the Seventh Senate neither has the Eighth Senate sat for long enough to produce the rules now being circulated and in use.

“We, therefore, appeal that you use your good offices to investigate and bring to justice all persons who may have been responsible for this fraud, which has led to the undue political crises and abnormalities in the politics.

“While you carry out your job in sanitising the system, please, be assured of our esteemed regards.”

N12b currency scam: EFCC lawyer accuses defence counsel of delay tactics

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HE lead prosecution counsel in the trial of the accused in Central Bank’s N12 billion currency scam at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), yesterday accused defence lawyers of tactically delaying prosecution.

A visibly angry Jacobs said he was tired of the way service of processes and other technical issues were explored by defence counsel to delay the trial.

The senior lawyer spoke when his plea to counsel to argue orally on an application was turned down by the judge.

After announcements of appearance was made by the lawyers, Mr. Olalekan Ojo,

•Hearing of application for judge’s disqualification today who was the counsel to two of the accused persons, Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Toogun Kayode Philip, reminded the court that he had filed an application seeking a stay of execution on the ruling denying his clients bail as well as for Justice Nathaniel AyoEmmanuel’s disqualification for alleged bias.

The prosecution lawyer informed the court that he was yet to be served a copy of the process. Though Ojo affirmed service, he later apologised for what he described as a “mix up.” He thereafter served the pros-

ecution.

Sensing that the need for adjournment to enable him reply to the application might come next, the senior advocate urged the court to allow counsel make oral arguments on the application to save time, but the judge and defence counsel rejected the idea.

Jacobs said: “I’m taken aback by this delay attitude that an accused person denied bail will be delaying proceeding.”

Later, Ojo received another counter-affidavit, to which he said he needed time to respond by way of counter-af-

fidavit and reply on point of law.

The defence counsel sought an adjournment till today to file the processes.

He had filed an application on June 26, seeking a stay of execution on the order of court, which denied his clients bail pending the determination of the case.

He averred in one of the grounds for his application that by the use of some words in the Justice AyoEmmanuel’s ruling, he was allegedly biased, and therefore, could not be trusted to give the accused fair hearing.

The defence lawyer is seek-

ing the disqualification of the judge to enable his clients enjoy fair hearing.

Six workers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and 16 other of commercial banks are on trial for allegedly colluding to re-circulate mutilated currency of about N12 billion in the economy after pretending to the apex bank that the currencies had been destroyed.

They are being tried in seven cases in the two chambers of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

When the three cases being handled by Justice Ayo-

Emmanuel came up for hearing yesterday, only issues bordering on service of processes were discussed.

At the end, the judge adjourned hearing of the application for stay of execution and disqualification till today, after which all processes are expected to have been served.

The other two cases were also adjourned till today because Ojo’s clients appear in them.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel referred to the three cases as joint trials.

He, however, warned counsel against serving processes on court on sitting days, stressing that he would no longer accept it.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

7

NEWS

Army chief to soldiers: defeat insurgents to honour your dead colleagues C HIEF of Army Staff Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimah has called on soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents to win the war as a mark of honour for their fallen colleagues.

Lt.-Gen. Minimah spoke to soldiers at the cemetery of the fallen heroes in the war against insurgents during a wreath-laying to mark this year’s Army Day celebration in Maiduguri.

He said: “The only way to honour our fallen officers and men is to ensure that this war is won and I promise that we will win.”

To the families of the dead soldiers, he said: “I will also want to assure the families of departed colleagues that they will not be forgotten. All statutory requirements and privileges for children and families they left behind would be honoured and be executed.

“The Army is the strength of any nation and it is used to rate a nation in the international arena.

“I want to thank the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima for his continued support to the Nigeria Army in pursuance of ‘Operation Zaman Lafiya’ and for also

Military frees 182 Boko Haram suspects

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HE military authorities in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday freed 182 people arrested by security agents on suspicion of having links with Boko Haram.

Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen Kenneth Minimah, who handed over the suspects to Governor Kashim Shettima at a military base, said the suspects had been cleared by the military authority of not having any links with the insurgents.

“We have over 100 detainees who were suspected to have link with Boko Haram. They are 100 men, 24 women, 40 underage boys and 18 children.

“They have been cleared; we have decided to hand them over to the Borno State government.

“They have been thoroughly investigated and acquitted of any involvement in the activities of Boko Haram or connected with the group,” Minimah said.

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

hosting the Nigeria Army Day celebration. This has come with a cost and logistics, which the governor has undertaken.”

Acknowledging the solemnity of the ceremony, the Army chief said: ”It is a sad ceremony, but it is also a ceremony that we must undertake for we have to honour the dead. Nigeria Army Day Celebration as it is for the living,

it is also for the dead; and today we are honouring the dead.”

Shettima, who was among the dignitaries at the ceremony, hailed the Army for keeping Maiduguri safe.

“Believe me, at the risk of exaggerating issues, Maiduguri is as secured as Lagos or Kaduna or any other city in this country. They all face the same challenges that Maiduguri is facing and we

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

The release of the detainees was one of the highlights of the Army Day celebration marked in the state yesterday, which the Army chief with other top military officers attended.

Lt.-Gen. Minimah said the event was “to project the achievements, capabilities and prospects of the Nigerian Army, as well as boost the morale of troops fighting Boko Haram in the Northeastern states”.

Shettima asked the freed suspects to take advantage of their freedom and promised to assist them to return back to normal life.

He hailed the military for respecting the fundamental human rights of the suspects and displaying a high sense of professionalism in their activities. want to pay tribute to the gallant officers and men of the Nigeria Army, who have laid down their lives for this country to remain one indivisible entity.

“Hundreds of our soldiers have died in this counter-insurgency war. We have to respect our fallen soldiers and pray for the repose of their souls. But most importantly, we have to make their families realise that they did not die in vain.

“This singular act of coming down to Maiduguri to celebrate the Army Day and coming to identify with us shall be written in gold.

“There is psychology in warfare and the fact that the top hierarchy of the Army are here in Maiduguri convey a lot of message to the soldiers and to the rest of the world that Maiduguri

is safe, accessible and secured,” the governor said.

He hailed the military for respecting the fundamental human rights of the suspects arrested during the battle against the insurgents.

Medals were awarded to injured soldiers and those that were killed in the battle against the insurgents were also posthumously recognised with medals for their gallantry.

But Maiduguri was locked down for the celebration.

The Army authorities, it was learnt, decided to mark the day in Maiduguri to boost the morale of troops fighting the insurgency.

Many residents of the metropolis were turned away by security agents as they try to access some roads to their offices.

Most of the major roads in the city were either barricaded by the military or reduced to one lane, which caused a gridlock.

Lt.-Gen. Minimah and other top Army chiefs arrived in Maiduguri on Sunday to participate in the grand finale of the celebration.

NAF to partner airlines on airport security

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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•President Muhammadu Buhari (right) speaking during breaking of Ramadan fast with some top government officials at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

IGERIAN Air Force (NAF) has pledged to partner the nation’s airlines on ways of improving security at the airport.

The newly posted Airport Commandant, Group Captain Idi Sani, said this yesterday when he visited Arik Air, where he said the NAF was committed to partnering the airline on improving security.

Sani said the visit to Arik Air was part of proactive measures to engage the operating environment on ways the Air Force could assist to close existing gaps in security at airports nationwide.

He said security was a collective responsibility that required the input of all stakeholders.

Sani called on Arik Air management to invite the Air Force any time there was an issue that requires their intervention.

The airport commandant said on assumption of office, he thought it wise to embark on a working visit to Arik Air to have first hand information about their operations.

The Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, praised the airport commandant for his visit , which, he said, was novel, being the first time a senior Air Force chief would be visiting the airline to seek ways of partnership.

Ndulue said there was need to manage security well around the airport with close collaboration with the military.

He said: “There are many security challenges around airports nationwide, and we are calling on the Air Force to always come to our rescue. We are looking forward to areas we could explore training possibilities to forge relationships that are robust and enduring.”

AGF backs out of negotiation on $3.2b judgments against Fed Govt

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HE Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, has backed out of the planned settlement talks with beneficiaries of two judgments worth $3,188,079,505.96 given against the Federal Government by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The judgments were given in 2013 by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in favour of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), its consultant, Linas International Limited and some others in relation to the debts settlement agreement between the Federal Government and the Paris Club.

Also listed as beneficiaries of the judgments are some firms and two lawyers.

They are Phil-Tech Nigeria Limited, Riok Nigeria Limited, XI Nigeria Limited, Snecou Group of Companies Limited, Wells Procurement Services Limited, Systematic Engineering Limited, Prince Orji Nwafor –Orizu and Bello Olaitan Busayo.

The companies are those ALGON purportedly awarded contracts to for the provision of healthcare and security services in all local governments.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

But a recent investigation report commissioned by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) raised doubt about the legitimacy of both judgments.

The report queried the conduct of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Minister of Finance and the former Accountant General of the Federation, who were defendants in the case.

It revealed how the AGF, the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation allegedly neglected to defend both suits, which sought to deprive the country large amount of money. It raised questions about the actual motive behind the suits.

Yesterday, at the resumed hearing of the garnishee proceedings initiated by ALGON and its consultant, Linas International, to retrieve the judgment money from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), lawyer to the judgment creditors, Joe Agi (SAN) said the AGF has opted to allow the court decide the case.

“We took a date before today with a view to holding a

meeting with the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF). However, on the day we were to meet, another AGF was appointed by the Federal Government.

“He (the AGF) subsequently called off the meeting and advised that he will rather await the decision of the court. So, we have come today, ready to conclude the cross-examination,” Agi said.

A. A. Muhammad, a lawyer, who represented the Accountant General of the Federation, did not confirm or deny Agi’s position.

Lawyer to the CBN, Ahmed Raji (SAN), denied knowledge of the development as reported by the creditors’ lawyer.

“We did not know the meeting has been called off. We are not aware of this development.

The AGF wrote to us formerly about this meeting. We have no further information that the meeting will not hold.

“Our understanding is that the meeting was postponed because of the handover proceedings between the immediate past AGF and the new one,” Raji said.

He sought an adjournment to

enable him confirm the current state of affairs. He said parties were willing to attend court during the court’s vacation, beginning next week.

Agi did not object to Raji’s request, following which Justice Ademola adjourned the case. He said parties will be informed about the new date during the vacation.

A lawyer to the CBN, Ozeigbe Omo-Egharevba, on June 30, told the court that representatives of the CBN, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the judgment creditors met the previous day on the issue.

“Representatives of the CBN and the Accountant-General of the Federation met with the representatives of the plaintiff yesterday (Monday) to see how we can explore an out of court settlement of the case,” Oziegbe OmoEgharevba said, but was silent on the details of the meeting.

Lawyer to the judgments’ beneficiaries Chief A. Akunebu, however, said he could neither confirm nor deny what the CBN’s lawyer said.

He said the plaintiffs’ lead lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN), who

would confirm whether or not such settlement effort was ongoing was not yet in court, following which the judge adjourned to yesterday.

ALGON and Linas had challenged the alleged Federal Government’s unilateral withdrawal of funds from the Federation Account to fund the London Club debt buyback of 1992 and London Club debt exit payment of 2006.

They had argued that the Federal Government’s deployment of the funds for the payment of foreign debt without the consent of the other tiers of government contravened the provision of Section 162(1), (3), and (5) of the Constitution.

The plaintiffs urged the court to order the refund of $3,188,079,505.96 to them; order the defendants to pay 20 per cent of the money to Linas through its lawyers as consultancy fees; and that the court should order the defendants to pay 15 per cent of all amount due to the local governments “for utilisation on security and healthcare delivery all over the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Defendants in the suit were

the Federal Government, the AGF and Minister of Finance and Accountant General of the Federation.

Linas, however, filed a separate suit against the AGF, the Minister of Finance and Accountant General of the Federation, ALGON and 180 local governments (who were part of the plaintiffs in the initial case).

The company claimed it was entitled to N1 million per local government and another 20 per cent of the $3,188,079,505.96 being claimed by the plaintiffs in the case over the foreign debt deduction, as its consultancy fees.

Since the defendants did not defend the case, Justice Ademola granted the plaintiffs’ prayers in both cases in the judgments given on December 3, 2013. The defendants also failed to appeal, prompting the plaintiffs to begin garnishee proceedings against the Federal government. So far, the court has granted four garnishee orders nisi against the government.

The current proceedings will result in the court making the garnishee order nisi absolute or otherwise.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

8

NEWS Ex-Ekiti PDP chairman joins APC

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ORMER Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Ekiti State Ropo Adesanya at the weekend joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijan-Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government.

At the ceremony at Ijan Ward secretariat were hundreds of his supporters, who were received by the party’s Ekiti South Senatorial Chairman, Kayode Babade.

Adesanya, who said his conscience would not allow him to remain in the PDP, which “promotes impunity, brigandage, thuggery and deceit”.

He said: “Ekiti people have seen enough deceit and PDP’s planlessness as exemplified by the current administration.

“I have my name to protect. That is why I am joining honest and decent Ekiti people to chart a new course

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

for the development of our dear state.

“Any political association you can’t find Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Asiwaju Segun Oni, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Chief Dapo Awojolu, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, Ayo Arise, Senator Tony Adeniyi, Aderemi Ajayi, Bimbo Daramola, Femi Ojudu, Opeyemi Bamidele, Bisi Egbeyemi, we should know that such a political party exists for motives different from Ekiti development.”

The two-term former PDP chair assured Ijan people of mass mobilisation and participation for the success of the party in Gbonyin Local Government and in the state.

N534m loan for Ogun cooperatives

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HE Ogun State government, in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI), has given loans worth N534 million to cooperative societies.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun said this at the celebration of the International Cooperative Day, co-organised by the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives and the State Cooperative Federation Limited (OGSCOFED) with the theme “EQUALITY” Choose Cooperative, Choose Equality”.

Represented by the Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle, Amosun said about 108 cooperative soci-

eties in agricultural, nonagricultural as well as small and medium scale businesses have benefited from the loans.

The governor has approved N500,000 annual subvention to OGSCOFED, she said.

The President, State Cooperative Federation Limited, Abdulrazaq Ola Balogun, said the celebration was in recognition of the International World Cooperative Day, recommended by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the United Nations (UN) to showcase the benefit of the cooperative movement.

Ondo approves obas for Uso, Igbindo

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HE Ondo State government has approved the appointment of Prince Ademola Adebiyi Oyinbade as the Oloba of Uso in Owo Local Government Area.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said the approval followed Oyinbade’s nomination by kingmakers.

Other contestants are Prince Adeniyi Akinola, Prince Dada Folayan and Prince Emiowa Adebiyi Albert.

The Oloba stool became vacant in September 2011 at the demise of Oba Albert Adebayo O. Olanipekun.

The selection began last year.

The government also approved the appointment of Prince Ogundoju John Olaniji as the Akinuwa-elect of Igbindo in Ondo West Local Government.

He emerged oba-elect ahead of the other contestant, Prince Fashola Adetutu.

The Igbindo stool became vacant in October 2011 at the demise of Oba Aderinlowo Pius Bosede of the Otutubiosun Ruling House.

Police search for fraud suspect

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HE police in Ogun State are searching for a man, Adewale Alatise, who allegedly scammed the public using the name of the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson.

Alatise, founder of Pinnacle Global Education, is accused of circulating leaflets calling for training, recruitment, online registration and free visa advice in conjunction with Alaba Group of Schools owned by Mrs. Lawson.

It was gathered that the suspect allegedly opened a website, e-mail and an account with a new generation bank, where unsuspecting applicants are to deposit N24,500 per person.

The report by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan, showed that the suspect secretly opened an e-mail: alabalawsoncollege@gmail.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

com.

The report reads: “An indepth investigation showed that the suspect, Fatai Adewale Alatishe, impersonated Mrs. Iyalode Alaba Lawson.

“The suspect’s actions thus exposed him as a criminally-minded individual, who deliberately chose to forge the school documents.

“The suspect’s action impinged on the image of the school and character of the proprietress.

“In view of the foregoing, it is clear that the suspect has committed an offence and he will be prosecuted.”

Mrs.Lawson said:”I have a name, and I don’t want anybody to tarnish my good name and character. My schools do not have any alliance with anybody or group.”

Chairman, Planning Committee, Adegoke Adelabu Centenary Birthday, Oloye Lekan Alabi flanked by Mrs. Alolade Adelabu (left) and Mrs. Adetayo Oladapo at a meeting in Ibadan... yesterday.

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

Panel chairman’s absence stalls Ladoja’s suit

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HE absence of a new tribunal chairman yesterday stalled hearing in the suit by Senator Rashidi Ladoja against the election of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Ladoja, who was the governorship candidate of Accord in the April 11 election, claimed the election was rigged in Ajimobi’s favour.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were joined as respondents.

The former Chairman, Justice F.C Obieze, retired last month, having attained the age of 65 years.

At the resumed hearing in Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday, a member of the panel, Justice Mohammad

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Karaye, said the president of the Court of Appeal directed him to act as chairman, pending the arrival of a substantive chairman.

But lead counsel to the petitioners (Ladoja and Accord) Richard Ogunwole argued that paragraph 24 of the Electoral Act did not make provision for acting chairman.

He said: “There should also be a formal letter to that effect to make you the acting chairman. We are now at a dilemma with the directive that you should be the acting chairman of this panel bearing in mind that time is not on our side again.

“Meanwhile, a letter for you to be in the acting capacity

cannot amend a gazetted provision of the law that does not permit acting capacity.

“This pre-hearing session was adjourned two weeks ago due to non-availability of the chairman. The law does not permit the chairman to be on acting capacity and we do not want to build on a faulty foundation because anything done on a faulty foundation will collapse and that is why we are pleading with the tribunal that the chairman should resume.”

The respondents - APC, Ajimobi, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Rufus Akeju and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were represented by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Rotimi Akeredolu

(SAN), and Adeboye Shobanjo, who is standing for Akeju and INEC. Olanipekun said: “If the petitioner’s counsel is not comfortable with you being the acting chairman and is asking for an adjournment, then I do not have any objection. I am ready to continue the case and cooperate with him whenever he is ready.”

The acting chairman agreed to an adjournment as requested by the petitioner’s counsel.

Justice Karaye promised to inform the president of the Court of Appeal about the submission of the petitioner’s counsel.

The pre-hearing conference was adjourned till Friday.

Ekiti APC to PDP: murder charge against Awe hypocritical

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said President Muhammadu Buhari did nothing wrong in hosting its Chairman, Olajide Awe. The party criticised the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for raising eyebrows over Awe’s appearance at Aso Rock.

It said: “Nigerians know the difference between murder charge and contrived cases of alleged murder to hound political opponents.”

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC said the PDP’s insistence that Awe should not be allowed entry to the seat of power

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

“was hypocrisy taken too far”.

The party recalled that shortly after President Buhari made a public declaration to probe unresolved murder cases, Governor Ayodele Fayose was jolted into official reaction, urging the President not to play politics with investigation of murders.

Explaining that Fayose and the PDP contrived the crisis that led to the death of a PDP member, Olatubosun said Awe could not be blamed for the death that happened when he was not in town.

The APC spokesman said: “All Nigerians knew when Fayose unleashed his thugs on Ekiti people with the alleged support of security agencies aided by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, which believed that Fayose represented the suppressing machine needed to win Ekiti State.

“Awe’s alleged murder charge was the making of Fayose to put him out of circulation. This politicallymotivated case was investigated and the accused were discharged by a court, until Fayose assumed office and reopened the case for political reasons.

“We are aware that PDP is

Lawyer seeks removal of Ondo Deputy Governor

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, have been sued at a Federal High Court in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for backing the alleged illegal resumption of Deputy Governor Lasisi Oluboyo.

The Akure Division of the Federal High Court, last week, struck out a suit, challenging the impeachment of Ali Olanusi as the deputy governor for lack of jurisdiction.

It noted that no federal agency or official was in-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

volved in the case and therefore referred it to the state High Court.

But a fresh suit by an Akure lawyer, Femi Emmanuel-Emodamori, joined the attorney general of federation (AGF), the police, Department of State Security (DSS), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the chief judge, House of Assembly, Attorney-General/Justice Commissioner as co- defendants.

Emmanuel-Emodamori asked the court to nullify Oluboyo’s appointment and

assumption of office for being wrongly sworn-in by Attorney- General Eyitayo Jegede, instead of the chief judge as recommended by the 1999 Constitution.

The lawyer prayed the court to prosecute the deputy governor for violating the constitution by not declaring his assets before assuming office.

The court was urged to direct the police and the DSS to withdraw the security personnel attached to Oluboyo and to order his prosecution No date has been fixed for the hearing.

planning a press conference to allege that Awe killed Madam Jeje and Ayo in Erinjiyan just to blackmail President Buhari.”

Olatubosun expressed indignation at this dishonest arm-twisting in the face of many alleged unresolved criminal cases hanging on the governor’s neck.

He said it was hypocritical for Fayose to be allowed to contest election while criticising Buhari for allowing innocent Awe into Aso Rock.

“Fayose must be prepared to defend himself, instead of a devious scheme to blackmail the President,” he said.

CAN thanksgiving

By Adeola Ogunlade

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ICE President Yemi Osinbajo and Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will attend a special thanksgiving organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State, on Thursday at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The CAN Chairman, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, said the people have reasons to thank God for peaceful elections and a smooth transitionin Lagos State.

He said: “Our God Jehovah has been so faithful to us.

Contrary to the expectation of many, elections in Lagos were peaceful.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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NEWS Onanuga takes charge in Ogun From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun will today leave for Saudi Arabia to observe Lesser Hajj (Umrah).

Deputy Governor Yetunde Onanuga will take charge for the one week the governor will be away.

The Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, in a statement yesterday, said Amosun in a “notice to the House of Assembly mandated his deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, to take charge of the affairs of the state”.

Osun APC rejects planned protest

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•Fayose pressenting the certificate to Adu and his wife ...yesterday

Soldiers take over Ikere as Fayose A installs Adu as Ogoga DETACHMENT of soldiers and riot policemen took over some parts of Ikere-Ekiti yesterday as Governor Ayo Fayose installed Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado as the Ogoga.

The soldiers were in four pick-up vans at Post Office and Odo Oja Roundabout.

There was tension in many parts of the town, following the dramatic announcement of Adu as the monarch.

The soldiers were joined by riot policemen, who stood guard at major junctions to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

The deployment of security forces came barely few hours after Fayose made the announcement on state media.

The governor stunned many when he presented Adu with the certificate of appointment and staff of office.

The practice is to present a new monarch with instrument of appointment initially while the staff of office is presented after traditional rites might have been performed.

At the Holy Trinity

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

Anglican Primary School sports field in Odo Oja, venue of the ceremony, Fayose presented Adu with the certificate and the staff of office at 3.03 pm.

The governor reiterated his stand that he had no candidate among the contestants.

Adu succeeds Oba Samuel Adegoke Adegboye, who died on August 22, last year, after 43 years on the throne.

The governor noted that in every contest, only one person will emerge winner.

Fayose said he re-ordered the election process because he wanted due process and fairness in the selection process.

The governor advised aggrieved parties to take their grievances to court.

He urged the monarch to abide by the court’s directives, if his opponents seek redress.

Fayose urged Adu to learn from his (Fayose’s) experi-

ence in which former Governor Kayode Fayemi congratulated him after his electoral victory, even though the All Progressives Congress (APC) later went to court to challenge his victory.

The governor urged the Ogoga to have a large heart, be magnanimous and accommodate his opponents.

Fayose also advised Adu to be humble and reach out to his opponents.

Shortly after the installation, the governor invited the chiefs to pay homage to the monarch.

The double presentation runs contrary to the directive of the head of kingmakers, Chief Michael Shittu.

On Sunday, Shittu met with the ruling houses, aspirants and kingmakers to unfold the “valid processes and procedures to be followed in the nomination and installation of a new Ogoga”.

The presentation also contradicts the decision at a meeting between Fayose and the kingmakers on Saturday,

where the governor gave them a 14-day ultimatum to produce a new Ogoga, who will be accepted by the people.

Shittu, who is the Sapetu of Ikere and the second-in-command to the Ogoga, told our reporter on phone that he was surprised and shocked that the ultimatum was yet to expire before the government made the announcement.

The Sapetu explained that the meeting was held to brief the ruling houses, princes and princesses on the outcome of the meeting with Fayose and the valid procedures followed by their forefathers.

Shittu insisted that there was need to follow due process to prevent chaos in the town.

At the end of the meeting, the ruling houses, aspirants and kingmakers unanimously agreed that the rightful guidelines should be followed, until yesterday morning when the government announced Adu as the Ogoga.

day stalled the arraignment of Seun Oladapo, the suspected killer of a Lagos community leader, Kunle Fadipe.

At a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija, told the court that they were ready to begin trial.

However, there was no counsel to defend the suspect.

When Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye questioned the defendant , Oladapo told the court that he had no counsel as he did not know he was going to appear in court.

“I will call my family. I did not know I was coming to court,” he said.

Justice Ipaye ordered the DPP to send his case file to the Office of Public Defendant (OPD) and notify it of the adjourned date.

By Adebisi Onanuga

She ordered the defendant to make arrangement for a lawyer as the court cannot wait endlessly for him.

“Because of the nature of the charge against you, the court cannot wait till eternity.

“You should make arrangement for a lawyer but if you cannot afford one, you can get one from the Office of Public Defender,” the judge directed.

Justice Ipaye ordered the Office of the DPP to forward a letter to the OPD so that a counsel could be made available before the next adjourned date.

The DPP is also to furnish the OPD with the advice from the directorate and proof of evidence to enable it prepare its defence.

Fadipe was stabbed to death on July 3, last year, at his house in Harmony Estate, Ifako Ijaiye.

It was gathered that at 11:30 pm, the victim sent his son to switch on the electricity generating set.

As the boy came out of the house, an assailant ordered him to take him to his father.

It was alleged that as soon as the suspect got to Fadipe, he stabbed him in the neck and back.

Fadipe’s mother-in-law, daughter and son were also allegedly stabbed before his daughter ran out of the house, shouting for help.

The suspect was overpowered and shot in the leg.

He was first arraigned at a Yaba Magistrate’s Court before the matter was transferred to the State High Court, Ikeja.

OAU workers protest

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ORKERS of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday protested the non-payment of their 64 months hazard allowance.

The aggrieved workers, whose protest paralysed academic activities, alleged that they had not received the allowance since 2013, when the Federal Government approved it.

The protesters under the aegis of Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) shut down facilities on campus, including the Senate Building and the Library.

They also blocked the two major entrances, preventing vehicular movement in and out of the institution.

Addressing the protesters, NASU Chairman Wole Odewunmi said: “After this, if the management refuses to respond to our demand, we

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

will begin our strike. This is just a notification..

“We met with the prochancellor but his response is not soothing. After I took the report of the meeting to our members, they decided that we should make our agitation known to the management and the public.”

The university’s Public Relations Office, Biodun Olarewaju, said the workers would get the allowance as soon as the Federal Government pays.

In a statement, Olarenwaju said: “No federal university has paid earned allowances to any member of staff.

“The university administration wishes to reiterate that as soon as the Federal Government releases the second tranche of the earned allowances, payment will be made immediately.”

‘No grudge against Buhari’

By Emmanuel Oladesu

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Counsel’s absence stalls arraignment HE absence of a deJustice Ipaye adjourned the of suspect matter fence counsel yestertill July 22.

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has condemned the planned rally calling for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s impeachment.

The Civil Societies’ Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEO) said over 20 civil and faith based societies are mobilising their members for the mass rally.

The party called on security agencies to hold the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyiola Omisore and his party responsible for any breach of peace.

The party, in a statement by the Director of Media and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, said it was aware of plans by a group of profiteers, who are being sponsored by Omisore and his party ,to unleash violence on the state using workers’ salaries as a camouflage.

The statement said: “We must alert the world to a threat by Omisore on June 14 at the PDP secretariat in Osogbo, where he promised party members that he was prepared to make the state ungovernable for Governor Aregesola.

“We are using this medium to inform the public and the media to be wary of the activities of these opportunists.

“The APC government under Aregbesola has had very fruitful negotiations with Organised Labour and we can therefore say without any contradiction that Labour has no hand in this proposed protest.

“It is high time the world read through the selfish agenda of Omisore and others, who are cashing in on the national wage crisis.”

•Oladapo in court...yesterday

HE Southwest All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday reiterated its support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party refuted reports that the zonal chapter had a grouse with the Federal Government over perceived injustice arising from the distribution of appointed offices by the President.

It said the report was malicious, spurious and in bad faith.

Southwest APC Secretary Ayo Afolabi said in a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State, that the chapter did not direct its six chairmen not to recognise Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, until the National Assembly crisis is resolved.

He said the six chapters will always support the push for party supremacy and discipline by the party leadership.

Afolabi added: “There was never a meeting where our chairmen- Henry Ajomale (Lagos), Gboyega Famodun (Osun), Roqeeb Adeniji (Ogun), Jide Awe (Ekiti), Akin Oke (Oyo) and Isaac Kekemeke (Ondo)- resolved not to recognise Saraki as the Senate President and Dogara as Speaker.

“But, our chairmen and indeed, members in our zone, believe in party supremacy and party discipline. It is in the interest of the party.”

The zonal secretary said the Southwest APC is deeply concerned about the escalation of the National Assembly crisis, urging the leaders to resolve the issues amicably.

He also said the region will always put its house in order as it forges ahead in the unfinished business of liberating the zone from marauders.

Afolabi stressed: “We, members of the APC in the Southwest, face the future with hope. We are conscious of the history of the progressive movement and the realisation that the region is the bedrock of the onslaught against the conservative government at the centre. “

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘A lot of malpractices have been cut down because of full disclosures. If you are disclosing fully, there will be no room for too many maneuvers.

And IFRS closed that gap. If you are building your financial statement using high quality financial stands, there will be a lot of disclosures’ •CEO, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), Jim Obazee.

NAICOM confirms Samuel as NICON MD

EU’s support for Africa to hit 1.1b euros

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HE European Commis sion said it would sup port the West African region with about1.15 billion euros, approximately $1.27 billion between now and the year 2020.

In a statement issued by the Commission in Brussels, the EU said ‘the programme’ under the 11th European Development Fund would focus on peace and security, regional economic integration and trade, and sustainable development of natural resources and biodiversity.

It quoted European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, as saying that the signing of the funding agreement was the “ambitious starting point for preparing new, concrete projects.”

It said the new funding doubled the support from the last programming period.

The previous regional programme which ran between 2008 and 2013 for West Africa had a budget of 595 million euros.

According the press statement, 16 countries benefit from the EU-West Africa regional indicative programme, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana and Guinea.

Others are Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Service vulnerable people, CBN urges MFB From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged operators of Micro-finance institution to devise strategies to accommodate vulnerable groups, such as women, youths and disable persons in the design of their financial products.

It said the apex bank is already collaborating with stakeholders such as Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) on producing a road map for the provision of financial inclusion services for people Living with Disabilities (PLWD) in the country.

Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, made this known in Benin-City while delivering a keynote address during the 2015 LAPO Institute’s annual conference with the theme, ‘Microfinance Development and Challenges of social inclusion in Nigeria,’ Emefiele who was represented by CBN Director, Development Finance, Olaitan Mudashiru, said the roadmap would entail ease of access to financial service providers, supportive transaction processes and service channels.

•From right: The Zonal Head, Port Harcourt 2 of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Chime Aliliele; Group Head, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Uchenna Mojekwu; incoming Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Professor Ndowa Lale and the Branch Manager, UNIPORT Choba, Mr. Barnabas Stanfast, during the bank’s courtesy visit to Professor Lale in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Help diversify economy, Dangote urges local investors

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RESIDENT of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has urged private investors in the nation’s manufacturing and agriculture sectors to help build the nation’s economy.

Dangote who lamented over dependence of the economy on oil to the detriment of other viable sectors, called on Nigerian and international businessmen to lead in the task of diversifying the economy, say doing so is the only viable option to the current economic quagmire.

Addressing a select group of business executives in Lagos on the new initiatives of his Pan African conglomerate, Dangote saidit has become apparent that Nigeria needed to move away from a monolithic economy that thrives only on trading of oil and gas.

He said a situation in which state governments could not meet their obligation to their workforce, and

By Simeon Ebulu

the Federal Government is not having enough resource to meet its obligations, calls for drastic steps to be taken to move the economy away from its present one sector dominance to other areas like agriculture, mining and manufacturing.

He said apart from building a refinery and a petrochemical, the Dangote Group is also veering into fertilizer plant construction to help the agric sector, while on the other hand,it has also invested heavily in rice cultivation.

He explained that all these ventures are capital intensive, but with prospects for massive job opportunities which Nigeria needs at this time.

He urged Nigerians to see the current challenges as a passing phase, adding that it would make the country to be e economically stronger in

the future.

He expressed his abiding faith in Nigeria as an economically viable nation, saying that Nigeria remains the destination of choice for investments despite the challenges.

Said he: “I have always said it that Nigeria is a good place to investment. God has given us in Nigeria which many other countries don’t have and they keep searching for it. We have got fertile land for agriculture, we have the minerals resources and we have oil. All we need to do is to harness them for our good.

“The present challenges we are facing should not deter us from growing our economy. It shouldn’t stop us from investing. It’s just a passing phase. Other countries that we refer to as developed started from somewhere. They all experienced some of these challenges in the past. So I want us to see

•Dangote

these challenges as obstacles towards attaining greatness.”

Dangote told the Business executives that it was for this reasons that he had continued investing in Nigeria’s economy because “If Nigerians do not invest in their country, other people would not come. They will want to see our success story before they can come,” he stated.

HE National Insurance C o m m i s s i o n (NAICOM), the apex regulatory authority in Nigeria’s insurance market, has named Mr. Bayode Samuel as the Managing Director/ CEO of NICON Insurance Limited.

The confirmation was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NICON Insurance Limited and signed by Mr. Pius Agboola, Director (Authorisation and Policy) on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance.

NICON Insurance Limited’s Senior Manager (Corporate Affairs), Mr. Ade Adesokan, in a statement, said Mr. Samuel appointment was part of the Board of Directors’ resolution and its desire to reposition the company for better service delivery to her teeming esteemed customers and the insuring public.

The NICON boss is poised to re-establishing the presence of NICON Insurance Limited as a value creating world player in the Insurance Universe on more by delivering superior financial performance to all its stakeholders, he said.

According to him, Mr. Samuel, a renowned technocrat and insurance professional of over 30 years experience was until his new, appointment the Executive Director (Technical) of the Company.

He was also the former Chief Operating Officer (Branch Acquisition, Network and Operations) of the Company, he added.

“Mr. Bayode started his insurance career in 1984 with the Leadway Assurance Company Limited, where he rose to become the Head of Pensions Department in 1992 before joining Industrial and General Insurance PLC, as pioneer Head of Life and Pensions Division”, he said.

In 1993, he set up and became the pioneer Managing Director of First Universal Insurance Brokers, a subsidiary of Universal Trust Bank of Nigeria (UTB), a position he held before his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of Jones Simplix & Company Limited.

‘Stop playing politics with national budget’

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HE Abuja Chamber of Commerce and In dustry has called on members of the National Assembly to stop playing politics with the nation,s budget, saying timely and realistic budget will save the nation a lot of loss.

In a statement, its President, Tony Ejikeonye said there will always sharp disagreement between the Executive and Legislature in the area of budget benchmark, urging that theleaders should stop playing politics with the country’s budget parameters.

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

He said: “One of the problems we have is that the government usually sets these budget benchmarks based on political considerations.

“So when the interest of the country is paramount, realistic budget benchmarks will be set. It is high time our leaders stopped playing politics with budget parameters, there should be reduction in cost of governance at all levels.

“Government should dicentralise some of the

ministries which services are needed at the rural area, but which are concentrated in the capital. Most civil servants are concentrated in the urban areas but we equally need their services in the rural areas and so it is just to spread them out.

He lamented a situation for instance, a ministry where the bulk of its workers are supposed to be in rural areas, a lot of them are in Abuja. So we need to redeploy our work force effectively and efficiently.

Ejikeonye, said to avoid

budget failure, government should be realistic and draw up a timely budget, adding that this is one of the best ways to address the challenges in the nation’s budget formulation and implementation process. If the budget is not well structured, it will fail, he added.

The President pointed out that some of the figures that are inputted into our budgets are not realistic, pointing out that one of the major reasons for budget implementation failure is because of the over-bloated expenditure of government.

“This is where we always give government knocks.

Usually, our budget is supposed to be ready long before January 1. In other economies of the world, their 2016 budget has already been passed. If you don’t have a financial plan that you will work with, it’s a key to failure.

He said the Chamber’s advice to the government is to make sure that the budget is ready on time, adding that they should always use adequate benchmarks to guage revenue inflow.

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

Unlocking the Apapa traffic gridlock The Apapa, Lagos traffic gridlock seems to have defied all solution. With a sea port and 57 tank farms, Apapa attracts heavy duty trucks, which during fuel scarcity, constitute a menace on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, throwing residents and motorists into panic. ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE and MIRIAM EKENE-OKORO examine the Lagos State Government’s efforts to address the problem.

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O many motorists, Apapa has become a nightmare. They are subjected to traffic gridlock caused by trailers and petrol tankers trying to access the port and the tank farms.

The situation has worsened in the last three years, forcing many residents and businesses to relocate from the area. The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) claim to have lost over N7 trillion to the traffic lockdown.

Giving Apapa a proper traffic traction was one of the headaches of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola. Daily, his phone number, which he made public, was inundated with calls, text messages and emails from motorists, complaining about their hardship in moving in and out of Apapa.

Fashola’s visit to the area on a Sunday, few months back, left him speechless. Scores of trucks and tankers were parked indiscriminately on the road for days, with their drivers nowhere to be found. Several times, the tankers were ordered to vacate the roads, but the ultimatums merely brought temporary reprieve.

In no time, the tankers would return, and in full force. Soon, Fashola’s Sundays were dedicated to on-thespot assessment of the situation but it yielded no fruit.

At the climax of the general elections, Apapa became a dead end. Businesses were threatened. Those who could not withstand the nightmare relocated. Some workers were forced to work from their homes, while others looked for greener pastures. Car owners dumped their vehicles.

The situation was not helped by fuel scarcity. Petrol tankers from various parts of the country who had made their way to Lagos to lift the product were stranded.

Lillian Emmanuel, who has worked in a new generation bank in Apapa for over eight years, told our reporter that during the period, she had to engage a commercial motorcycle operator, otherwise known as okada man, to take her to and fro her place of work for an agreed fee.

“I spent over half of my salary on transportation. I have no choice because that is the only way I could get to the office and return home on time,” she said.

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode’s baptism at Apapa wasn’t palatable either. When he visited Apapa penultimate Thursday, the governor and all his aides who were visiting major traffic points in the area, had a taste of the nightmare.

Twice, the convoy had to retreat and seek escape routes as the trailers and petrol tankers had virtually taken over the roads.

When he alighted from his vehicle, the look on his face showed his disdain for what has become of Apapa, a once-viable commercial hub and, arguably, the main artery of the nation’s economy.

Ambode there upon appealed to the Federal Government to pay the contractor awarded the construction of the road to enable him return to site.

He was disturbed by the traffic gridlock residents and motorists face daily, which is largely due to the indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks by drivers attempting to access the port and tank farms within the axis.

He said: “What we have done in the last three hours is trying to find out

• Traffic lock down in Apapa

the issues peculiar to Apapa. We’ve all seen that the gridlock in Apapa is multifaceted and we observed that they relate to activities of trailer and tanker drivers on the road.”

Alluding to the fact that the network of roads in Apapa belong to the Federal Government, he lamented that the Tin Can Bridge, which has been under construction for about six years, was abandoned, noting that this has given rise to tankers parking indiscriminately on the road.

“It is totally unacceptable that we would be having tankers and trailers on our bridges. It is also not acceptable that they would decide to block all lanes that lead to Apapa. We’ve also seen that we must do something immediately to alleviate the challenges that the residents and businesses are facing.

“But again, you’ll also realise that the roads that lead to Apapa Wharf and Tin Can Island actually belong to the Federal Government.

It is unacceptable that the Tin Can Bridge, has been under construction for six years. We’ve also seen a trailer park that can actually contain about 500 trailers, that has been abandoned by the Federal Government.

“What we want to do now is firstly to appeal to the Federal Government and, most especially, Mr. President that the contractor working on this particular bridge should come back to site and once we are able to open the trailer park, we would be able to allow other trailers and tankers to use the park.”

The governor also expressed concern about the activities at the 57 tank farms in the area, saying they

constitute great security challenge for the state government, adding that their owners will be summoned for a meeting soon.

“The greater part of this challenge is posed by the tank farm owners. As we speak, we have 57 tank farms around Apapa alone; that’s a major security challenge for the government.

“We have to start to look at the security issues relating to these tank farms. All trailers across the country come to these tank farms and the tank farm owners would be summoned to a meeting. They must tell us their remedy for the traffic menace in Apapa.”

As a palliative measure towards ensuring free flow of traffic, Governor Ambode said a task force would be immediately set up to ensure 24- hour surveillance of traffic flow, stressing that the Lagos Road Traffic Law will be strictly enforced.

“Right now on our part, the immediate palliative is that we would set up a task force that would involve most of our security agencies including the police and we would do a 24/7 monitoring of the area and free up traffic.

“We would pay more attention to enforcement. From this evening, you would see that there would be more attention on enforcement and we would also fund that enforcement. We are going to give incentives to our law enforcement officers to ensure that the Lagos Traffic Law is obeyed,” he added.

The governor also assured that there would be regular road repair to address the deplorable state of some of the roads.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, who was at the event, before he was deployed last week, said the concern of the Police was to nip in the bud the rising crime rate in the area.

“What we have observed in the last one year, due to the poor road network, is that most of these trailers always collapse and when this happens, you see a lot of hoodlums coming around to steal the items meant to be freighted to other parts of the country.

“By the time we have very good road network in Apapa area, it would lead to free flow of traffic and less criminality. An improved partnership between the police and the state government would enable us to reduce all forms of criminality around this axis. It would boost the national and state’s economy.

For Commodore Daniel Ikoli, Commander, NNS Beecroft, Apapa Naval Base, “We are partnering under OP MESA. We are supporting the state government and the police in ensuring security within Apapa area. Under that same platform, we have also been actively involved in ensuring the traffic flow in Apapa, we try to ensure that everybody that moves into Apapa have free flow of traffic.”

Less than 48 hours after the governor’s visit, the General Manager Lagos State Traffic Management

‘It is totally unacceptable that we would be having tankers and trailers on our bridges. It is also not acceptable that they would decide to block all lanes that lead to Apapa. We’ve also seen that we must do something immediately to alleviate the challenges that the residents and businesses are facing’

Authority (LASTMA), Mr Babatunde Edu, led a team of LASTMA, the Police and Navy on the rescue mission aimed at making the road accessible to all road users.

Edu said over 50 trailers were removed from the area in accordance with the government’s zero tolerance for gridlocks and indiscipline and also to checkmate tanker drivers’ excesses and restore sanity in Apapa.

He said the government would sustain the onslaught to ensure that every citizen has a right to use the road and ensure that the road is not closed up and used only by tankers or trucks again.

He recalled that several efforts had been made in the past to restore sanity and the old glory of Apapa, but that these have always been truncated by recalcitrant drivers.

He said: “This time round, the enforcement will be continuous as the agency is out to ensure that all tanker drivers comply with government’s directive.”

According to him, series of meetings have been held with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of the National Union of Petroleum and the Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to educate their members and ensure that they desist from indiscriminate parking and indiscipline as these could pose danger to other road users.

He urged tanker drivers to adhere strictly to the new directive, as the government would not hesitate to enforce traffic rules and regulations to the latter whenever they violate the law.

Edu called on the public to take possession of the cleared roads, and not hesitate to inform the agency of any broken down or abandoned tankers and trucks on the expressway as LASTMA has been empowered to respond promptly to such distress and remove them to pave way for uninterrupted traffic.

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e-Business

What technology will do to your professions • Continued from page 15

system had prepared 350,000 doses of medication without error.

Another company providing a similar automated system is Pillpack, which delivers medication to patients for a monthly fee. Pillpack’s robots are packed with a variety of drugs, and dispense them into plastic packets based on patients’ prescriptions before they are shipped off.

T

HIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Goodie Kolade’s dream is to become a pharmacist. Now in Senior Secondary School (SS1) in one of the very expensive private schools in Gowon Estate, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, his parents may start rethinking what other course he could study to assure him future happiness and job security.

Kolade is not alone in this condition.

As a student, picking a career could sometimes be challenging because, not only do you have to know which professions are in demand, you also will bear in mind the one that will pay you a decent salary and are suited to your ability.

You also have to figure out if the job will even exist in the next decade According to a recent report by the United States Department of Labour, 65 per cent of the jobs that people will be doing in 10 year’s time have not been thought of yet, mybroadband report noted.

Of more concern now is that many of today’s professions are being taken over by computer programmes or systems which are popularly referred to as“robots.”

A 2013 study by Oxford University predicts that 45 per cent of American jobs are at “high risk” of being taken by robots within the next two decades.

Information technology (IT) professionals, engineers, and jobs requiring creativity and good social skills are safe for the foreseeable future – according to the study – while agricultural and postal service workers, sewing machine and switchboard operators, data entry clerks and word processor typists were at the highest risk of being swept off by the storm of technology.

Therefore, if you are deciding which career path to follow or move to, then you need to know which jobs are being or will be taken over by robots and which are safe, at least, for now.

Professions nearing automation:

Pilots This may shock you but the reality is that despite the fact there are often two or more pilots in the cockpit when you get on a plane, they do very little in terms of controlling the aircraft.

A recent article in The New York Times revealed that surveyed Boeing 777 pilots spent seven minutes controlling their planes during a flight, while Airbus pilots spent half that time.

“Commercial aviation is already heavily automated. Modern aircraft are generally flown by a computer autopilot that tracks its position using motion sensors and dead reckoning, corrected as necessary by GPS. Software systems are also used to land commercial aircraft,” the article stated.

An aviation expert in Nigeria told The Nation that what pilots do no mostly is cockpit management because of the advancement in technology. He said technology does not only facilitates a seamless landing of an ircraft but also their take-off. The next step is for flights to be completely automated, or at least remotecontrolled, experts are not resting on their oars in this direction.

The US Air Force and Boeing are currently testing that option, flying remotecontrolled F-16 fighter jets and using the aeroplanes as target practice for groundbased missile defence systems.

But would any sane man willingly get onboard an aircraft without a ‘human’ pilot?

Chefs A replacement may have come the way of your cooks with the development of Moley Robotics’ robochef.

The robochef was unveiled on 14 April this year in Germany, and consists of two robotic arms fixed atop an oven. The robot cook works by recording human ac-

Chauffeurs, cab drivers In February this year, Uber announced it had partnered Carnegie Mellon University to develop driverless cars.

The plan, ostensibly, is to remove the need for a driver to be in the vehicle when you use the location-based Uber app to pick you up and take you where you need to go.

Google is also working on self-driving cars, with working models already on the road, while Nissan and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) stated in January they were working on autonomous vehicles.

The video below shows a GPS-based system driving an Audi RS 7 around the Hockenheim race track better than most qualified drivers could.

Soldiers

•Vsat

tions through motion capture, then repeating the movements to make a meal.

Moley plans to bring a consumer version to the market in two years time. This •Vsat will include a vast recipe and cooking methods database, and an incorporated dishwasher and refrigerator.

Combine this with the fact that IBM’s Watson learning computer has now applied its talents to coming up with unique recipes based on a list of ingredients – Cognitive Cooking with Chef Watson it’s called – and an angry head chef is no longer required to run a successful restaurant.

A company called Knightscope is building what some have referred to as a lite version of RoboCop. The prototype machine, dubbed the K5, is designed to detect and monitor criminal activity and is fully autonomous.

At five feet tall, the K5 drives around neighbourhoods, parking lots, or similar areas and tries to predict when and where criminals will strike.

It doesn’t come with missile launchers or a machine guns, but has multiple sensors – including thermal imaging, license plate reading, and facial recognition.

Butlers, hotel workers What’s better than a butler bringing you a fresh towel? A robot butler bringing you a fresh towel is what you may begin to experience each time you lodge in hotels.

Savioke’s SaviOne robot is a step towards removing the need for human ho-

tel workers and butlers, with the small, mobile machine able to deliver 4.5kg of items to your room on request.

The SaviOne is currently in service at a few Silicon Valley hotels, delivering food, towels, and other items to guests.

Farm labourers Self-driving machinery and flying robots will make their way onto farms, growing the food our replaceable race needs to survive.

A recent article in The Conversation explored the opportunities automated farming would bring, including: GPS-based systems which drive tractors more precisely than a human driver, robots which harvest vegetables and fruit, and drones which will survey crops and fields. “[The robots] use sensor technologies, including machine vision that can detect things such as location and size of stalks and leaves to inform their mechanical processes,” the article stated.

The endangered species:

Pharmacists The UCFS Medical Centre in the United States made headlines when it launched automated pharmacies, opening roboticscontrolled dispensaries at two UCSF hospitals in 2011.

Computers receive medication orders from physicians and pharmacists, and robots pick and package the pills for dispensing. After operating for one year, the

‘An aviation expert in Nigeria told The Nation that what pilots do no mostly is cockpit management because of the advancement in technology.

He said technology does not only facilitates a seamless landing of an aircraft but also their take-off.

The next step is for flights to be completely automated, or at least remote-controlled, experts are not resting on their oars in this direction’

As of January last year, according to reports, the U.S military operated just over 10,000 unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones.

The drones are mostly used for offensive strikes and reconnaissance missions, and have played a role in decreasing the need for human soldiers to engage with the enemy.

Between 2007 and 2012, it is estimated that the U.S and Britain executed 1,200 drone strikes in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq during periods of unrest.

The U.S Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is also working on a humanoid robot called the Atlas. The machine stands at 6’2" and is initially being developed for disaster relief work, but experts say it could be equipped with weapons.

Sports, financial writers The Big Ten Network, partly owned by Fox Cable, got sports writers worried when it implemented a Narrative Science system that generates baseball and softball articles. The reason for removing human writers: it’s cheaper.

At the end of a game, scorekeepers email game data to Narrative Science which plugs the information into a computer.

The relevant story is then produced.

In January this year, the Associated Press (AP) also bypassed feeble humans by putting up a story about Google’s Q1 financial results, which was written and published by an automated system.

The system – developed in partnership with Automated Insights – is versed in the publication’s style guide and currently publishes 3,000 financial stories every three months. If needs be, the system can produce 2,000 articles per second.

Telemarketers That voice asking you if you are happy with your home security system is not a person, it’s a rather convincing piece of software.

One system helping companies “outsource without the accent” is Avatar Technologies, which puts together systems which don’t mind if you shout at then hang up on them.

The Avatar software lets an agent send pre-programmed questions and responses to a client, in the accent of the client’s country, based on a script developed by the company.

“After training and certification, Avatar agents commence dialing and pitch perspective clients using the soundboard to advance the sales,” the company states.

•Additional reports from mybroadband

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e-Business

Activists accuse MTN of terminating Nigerian contract A A

GROUP, Consumer Rights A d v a n c e m e n t Organisation (CRADO), has accused MTN Nigeria of planning to terminate the service of an indigenous outsourcing firm, CNSSL and Mactay with a view to engaging the services of another South African firm as replacement.

Its President, Deolu Ogunbajo, said if the telco is allowed to implement the plan, it will lead to job loss and breach the local content initiative of the Federal Government.

But in a swift reaction, MTN said a new vendor emerged through competitive bid/tenders in its outsourcing of certain parts of its business including the call centre which it said is in line with global best practice in the industry “It has been alleged that MTN (South African telecom company) is in the process of terminating the services of a Nigerian outsourcing company - CNSSL and Mactay.

“This situation when effected will give way to the engagement

•MTN: Vendor emerged via competitive bidding Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

of a South African company – ISON DPO Limited. This will deny Nigerian businesses the local content rights and privileges.

“With the benefit of hind-sight, some few years ago, a Nigerian company - MainOne tried everything to invest in the South African economy, but was given unfavourable business investment conditions which led to the re-situation of MaiOne to Nigeria. Nigerians must rise up against this injustice and stop MTN,” CRADO alleged in a statement.

Its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Funmi Onajide, said a change in vendor is not synonymous with staff rationalisation or retrenchment, adding that Nigerians who work at the call centre will continue to keep their jobs.

She said: “As part of the MTN Group’s continuous efforts to drive further efficiency towards improving the quality of customer

service delivery across its footprints, a competitive bid was held for the call centre business across English speaking Africa. Further to the conclusion of the bid process, in which several local and international companies participated, a new vendor has been contracted to manage our call centre.

“Please note that competitive bid/ tenders and outsourcing of certain parts of our business including the call centre is in line with global best practice in the ICT industry.

“A change in vendors is not a staff rationalisation/retrenchment exercise. Call centre staff are at the front line of our operations and they are highly trained Nigerians who are valued by us. The jobs in the call centre remain in the hands of Nigerians.

“At MTN, we remain committed to delivering quality of service that our customers deserve, guided by a strong culture of best practice people management.”

Airtel unveils UnlimiNet package for social media

IRTEL has launched the UnlimiNet product that gives customers the choice and freedom of winning smartly and executing brightly in their talk and chat engagements while remaining connected to the internet.

The new bundle package which offers voice, data and short message service (SMS) affords all Airtel customers with smartphones the convenience and freedom to utilise several social, professional and family networks wherever they are.

Vice President, Digital Services at Airtel Nigeria, Nitin Anan, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said the product was introduced because the telco has been a customer-centric network since it commenced operation in the country and will continue to offer innovative products and services.

“As a customer-friendly network, we are offering our numerous subscribers the opportunity to enjoy the best of social networks. We are concerned about the need of our customers. That is why we always do our best in finding out what our customers need and offer such accordingly.

The new product we are launching today will definitely be exciting to our customers. We believe that it will be extremely successful just like every other product and service we have launched in the past,” Anan said.

Subscribers on UnlimiNet offer can have full and speedy access to Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, GooglePlus, Pinterest, Yahoo, Skype and many others.

The unique product also offers subscribers flexibility and affordability and the freedom to make a suitable personal choice from a range of daily, weekly and monthly bundles.

Senior Manager, Data Services at Airtel Nigeria, Uduak Ekpo-

•CEO, Airtel Ogunsanya

Nigeria,

Segun

Ufot,, who did the product presentation on the occasion, said the objective behind the introduction of the product is to give open room to the network’s customers to chat.

He said: ”The essence of UnlimiNet is to give more access to our customers to chat with anyone around the world. Every time and anywhere, people will always need people; and chatting is the major thing most social media patrons do to achieve this need. This is why we believe that this product would excite our customers. Apart from access to wide range services of the product, it is also very affordable.

“To enjoy the UnlimiNET bundles, subscribers need to simply dial *489# from their Airtel phones and choosing their preferred bundle. “ For those who want to opt out of the service after subscription, ä notification for renewal cancellation would be sent from the network’s customer care line.

Lagos hosts Tech+ confab, exhibitions

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From left: Kruger; Chief Information Officer, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Ruby Onwudiwe; Okere; and Executive Director, Business Support, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Wole Adeniyi, during the visit of Standard Bank team to the Lagos Corporate Head Office of CWG.

Tech solutions: Standard Bank promises stronger ties with CWG

T

HE Chief Information Officer of Standard Bank, PBB Rest of Africa, Klaas Kruger, expressed his excitement about its working relationship so far with CWG on the bank’s upgrades and support of its Finacle system.

Kruger, who led a team from the bank on working visit to Computer Warehouse Group (CWG Plc) headquarters in Lagos, also said the lender is looking forward to extracting more value from the latter version of Finacle banking solution.

The visit was aimed at strategic discussion on technology solutions that CWG Plc offers and the value it can add to the bank’s operation.

In his presentation at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, explained the firm’s solutions offering with the key ring concept. The concept shed light on the firm’s ability to provide the entire information technology (IT) needs of

organisations’ end-to-end to assure the customer of a single responsibility partner across the IT solution stack and thereby significantly minimise risk.

Okere said the firm has world class IT facilities and capabilities as well as strong relationships with global technology brands and esteemed clientele spanning over two decades, and is poised to replicate the unique value pan-African wide to meet the growing requirements of her global customers, who want a consistent service level across their Africa operations.

He said: “Facility, Capability and Relationship are the three factors that have given us an edge in providing IT services and support in various industries in our countries of operation especially telecom, oil & gas and banking. About 50 per cent of mobile calls in Nigeria are routed through enterprise servers and storage managed and supported by us while 40 per cent of Telecoms Infor-

mation Systems Managed Services are also provided by CWG. “Same applies to the banking industry, about 30 per cent of Automated Teller Machines’ (ATMs) transaction pass through CWG’s Wincor-Nixdorf ATMs while about 35 per cent of ATMs installed base in Nigeria are supplied and supported

by CWG.” Its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Mr. James Agada, said: “Sixty per cent of banking transactions in Nigeria happen on our Finacle Core Banking system, installed in 10 of the 21 banks, and about 20 per cent of bank branch transactions on data links are carried out through CWG’s Network Infrastructure.

CWG Plc and its partner, Infosys, have also extended the Finacle Core Banking System to other African countries where we have physical presence, with CWG’scertified technical staff handling both the implementation and support.”

IGERIA’s pioneering technology conferences and exhibition, Tech+, is billed to hold in Lagos.

According to the organisers, the event will showcase the future of technology in Tech+, planned with the theme, Leadership in digital technology holds between July 24 and 25 at Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event is powered by MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. Connect Marketing Services, Nigeria’s leading marketing services and consumer engagement company, which is organising Tech+ alongside a rich partnership ecosystem in the technology sector, announced said in a statement.

Tech+ will be a gathering of all things technology and it is positioned to enable all participants appreciate and experience the transformative power of technology.

Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, MTN, Olubayo Adekambi, described the two-day technology and exhibition conference as an innovative annual platform for consumers and businesses to maximize their technology experience. He explained that as a leader in the emerging digital ecosystem, MTN is proud to show how the new digital economy is evolving and how consumers and businesses can take advantage of the evolution.

He said: “Tech+ is a landmark event that seeks to offer the platforms for engagement and new experience in the world of technology. It is unique because of the range of benefits it holds for all, including investors, exhibitors and individuals who participate in it. Technology has come of age, but sadly, not many amongst us understand what they can actually achieve for themselves or what windows of opportunities they can maximise using technology.”

Concept Nova sells Ti-kon tracker offline An IT solutions firm, Concept Nova, has established partnership with Ebeano–a major chain of supermarkets in Lagos on the sale of its car tracking device Ti-kon, which is said to be capable of giving speed and location updates on vehicle.

Head, Strategic Partnership Team of Concept Nova, Okoronkwo Kanno, describes the move as one of the company’s effort to make its products and solutions more accessible to its customers, and to offer more consumer-centric engagement in a retail environment.

He said: “The partnership is kicking off with the Ebeano Supermarket store located at Chevron drive, Montgomery Road, Sabo-Yaba, Lagos and will extend to the other outlets in Lagos.

“Concept Nova’s tech gurus will

By Tonia ‘Diyan

be available at the store at weekends to interact with customers and educate them on how to use the product. ”The device offers extra peace that comes with knowing the exact location of a car especially when it is conveying loved ones in ones absence. If a person is suspicious that his driver takes his car to unauthorised destinations, or wants to know why his fuel tank returns empty after his car goes to the mechanic.”

The device, according to the Head, Strategic Partnership Team of Concept Nova, has a powerful self-service nature and uses GPS as well as GSM technology, to monitor the location of a vehicle at all times. It can be accessed from an internet enabled device like a mobile phone, a Tablet or a computer.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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e-Business

How to bridge Nigeria’s IT skills gap, by Cisco U

NITED States multinational technology company Cisco Systems Incorporated has said governments urgently need to deploy policy and training programmes to help fix global fastest-growing gap in networking professionals.

The global shortage of skilled internet protocol (IP) networking professionals will be at least 1.2 million people this year, according to INSEAD Business School’s Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2014 co-written by Cisco.

Specifically looking at Nigeria, Cisco estimates that between 30 000 and 70 000 skilled information technology workers are needed, however tertiary institutions are not producing enough information communication technology (ICT ) graduates to meet this demand.

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

According to the latest Cisco Visual Networking Index, Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast: 2014-2019 forecast, mobile data traffic is expected to grow 11-fold over the next five years in Nigeria, which is a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 63 per cent - two times faster than expected fixed IP traffic growth. This highlights that connectivity is accelerating at a fast pace in the country therefore creating a growing need for skilled ICT professionals. The lack of young ICT professionals is not limited to just Nigeria increased connectivity, the Internet of Everything (IoT), rising digitilalisation of all business activity, globalisation of trade and travel, and economic growth globally has created the same problem in a number of coun-

tries globally.

General Manager, Cisco, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mr. Dare Ogunlade, urged the government to take steps to address the situation.

He said: “Specific programmes and targeted policies are needed to expand the total pool of qualified people in Nigeria, as well as globally. More effort is particularly needed to expand the pool of qualified networking talent by: increasing the number of new Networking employees (graduates); encouraging and enabling mid-career professionals to transition to ICT and Networking; and increasing a country’s total talent by encouraging immigration.”

According to him, the policies and programmes created to achieve these results should integrate more technology training into educational

curriculum. Expand efforts to increase the number of trained ICT professionals from universities, vocational programmes and technical training centres, particularly by integrating elements of computer science (CS) and IP networking into general education curricula at the primary and secondary levels.

Ogunlade said an increase mentorship opportunities is also vital, adding that mentoring students provides opportunities to experience and learn about careers in technology related fields.

He urged reduction limits on the number of temporary and immigrant visas for skilled workers, stressing that current immigration policies directly impact the immediate supply of skilled networking employees.

•President, Information Technology Systems and Security Professionals, Mr. Rogba Adeoye; Chairman, Conferences Committee, NCS, Moses Braimah; Deputy President, NCS, Prof Adesola Adewounmu and President, Prof David Adewumi,during the press conference in Lagos.

Nigerian teens build Africa’s fastest web browser

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WO Nigerian brothers have stamped their mark in the tech world. The 13 and 15-yearold brothers Anesi and Osine Ikhianosime from Lagos designed a web browser called the Crocodile Browser Lite 3.0. It is supposedly faster than Google Chrome.

The teenagers have a special gift for technology.

At seven and nine, they launched a technology company called Blu Doors (a name inspired by Bill Gate’s Windows). The self-taught programmers decided to build their browser out of boredom. “We were fed up with Google Chrome,” they said. They learned how to code in just two years, thanks to tutorials such as Code Academy and Code Aveng-

•Osine

•Anesi

ers.

The Crocodile Browser Lite 3.0 is what Africans need.

According to the two teens, Google Chrome is built spe-

cifically for a certain type of smartphones. While Chrome is a great option for high-end smartphones, it does not cater to the local demand.

Many African cellphone users still rely on lower end phones to browse the internet from their mobile.

The Crocodile Browser Lite 3.0 is the answer to all troubles. Anesi and Osine Ikhianosi created the browser specifically for smartphones that experience slow browsing speeds.

The Crocodile Browser Lite 3.0 has already gotten more than 1 000 downloads on the Android app store, and the reviews have been stellar.

The brothers plan to continue improving the app with updates and new layouts. Their mother hopes that they get a chance to pursue their studies at the prestigious university of MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

The NNPC, ECA probe •The job is better done by professionals

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ISING from its inaugural meeting last week, the National Economic Council (NEC), mandated the governors of Gombe, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Kaduna states to probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who addressed the media on behalf of the NEC, gave the reasons why the probe had become necessary. He referred specifically to the submissions to the NEC by the NNPC and officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation that showed that the NNPC earned about N8.1 trillion between 2012 and May 2015, out of which N4.3 trillion was paid by the corporation into the Federation Account.

‘Asking the governors to sift through the thousands of pages of documents in addition to taking testimonies from dozens of witnesses seems to us a needless and gratuitous addition to the job brief of their Excellencies at this point in time. We advise NEC to turn over the assignment to professionals; the latter in our view would do a far more credible job than the quartet would be able to deliver’

Aside seeking answers to how the huge differential of N3.8 trillion withheld by NNPC was spent, he also disclosed that the quartet will seek to unravel the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of another $2.1 billion allegedly withdrawn unilaterally by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in the last six months of its tenure, without the authority of NEC. Merely by the depth of the fiscal crisis across most states of the federation, a good part of which can easily be blamed on the spendthrift accounting of oil revenue by the immediate past administration of President Jonathan, we can understand the urgency and earnestness of the NEC to deliver results – and more money to the treasury. Yet, as important as that element is, it is only a minor part of the more complex, exacting task of stripping the NNPC of its opaque practices that continue to deny the country value for money, as a first step in the process of its overdue restructuring.

We start on the basic premise that the governors are perfectly in order – and that Nigerians are entitled to know how the funds, right down to its most minute details, were spent. We also accept as given that there can be no revenue without costs. What Nigerians would like to know is how a corporation that has never successfully drilled a water aquifer let alone an oil well, an entity globally renowned for playing the collecting agency could justifiably claim to spend nearly 47

percent of its entire collection on itself?

As far as we know, financial activities of entities, whether public or private, are supposed to be captured in the relevant budget instruments. Why should the NNPC continue to be an exception? Does the current practice of collect and spend –almost without restrictions – have basis in law? How does one measure if indeed value was delivered? Could NNPC as the collecting agency for the Federation Account on its own determine what it spends for whatever reasons without reference to the states?

These are questions for which Nigerians have long sought answers to no avail.

But then, a panel of four governors to undertake the probe? This is where our misgivings derive from. As professionals in diverse fields in their own rights, we have no doubt that the governors would be able to prise through the complex maze designed by NNPC to escape scrutiny. The real issue is whether they would have the energy and time to undertake a thorough job in view of their busy schedules. Asking the governors to sift through the thousands of pages of documents in addition to taking testimonies from dozens of witnesses seems to us a needless and gratuitous addition to the job brief of their Excellencies at this point in time. We advise the NEC to turn over the assignment to professionals; the latter in our view would do a far more credible and thorough job than the quartet would be able to deliver.

Off the mark •Neither Sulaiman nor Monye answered Buhari’s question on empty treasury

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WO former officials in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Dr Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, and Prof. Sylvester Monye, goofed in their reactions to the claim by President Muhammadu Buhari that he inherited “virtually an empty treasury.”

Sulaiman is former Deputy Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) while Prof Monye was special adviser on monitoring and evaluation.

There is nothing wrong with people who should know putting the record straight, especially if they were active participants in the government or institution being wrongly criticised. But it is a different thing if those reacting to criticisms resort to mischief, which is what, to us, the two former aides to President Jonathan have done.

In the case of Dr Sulaiman, he said, contrary to President Buhari’s claim of meeting an empty treasury, the Jonathan administration left behind $2bn in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and another $28bn in the external reserves, making a total of $30bn.

He however began to go off the mark the moment he attempted to make the past administration look holier than it was.

“Are we saying the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and related agencies had not in the last one month been generating revenue? Until they are able to prove they had no receipts from these government agencies in the last one month before Nigerians can now buy into Mr. President’s claims of an empty treasury” he said.

Now, who is fooling whom? Even if those agencies have been generating money in the last one month, how does that form

part of what the Buhari administration inherited? Secondly, Did the inputs from the parastatals amount to much, given that they avoided lodging earnings in the federation account? Thirdly, even if all such monies were paid into the Federation Account, what is the percentage, given that crude oil is the country’s economic mainstay?

Furthermore, going by Dr Sulaiman’s logic, the new government could not have inherited an empty treasury with Nigeria’s economy adjudged the largest in Africa and the 26th largest in the world in the Jonathan years. What is the correlation between this claim and the treasury?

Again, his position that civil servants were not owed in the Jonathan years in spite of the drop in oil revenue is also false and misleading. Despite the robust income made by the Jonathan government, civil servants’ salaries had started being in arrears before his government was sent packing on May 29. If Dr Sulaiman had forgotten, we would like to remind him that the Federal Government and commissioners for finance had been having issues with revenue sharing long before the government left the stage. We should not forget that former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confessed that the the Federal Government borrowed to run its business in the first quarter of this year.

Finally, like Prof Monye, Dr Sulaiman too believed that there should not be an issue with a government incurring an empty treasury because all monies made by government are supposed to be spent.

Hear Monye, “… It is not the issue of meeting empty treasury. The fundamental issue is, was there supposed to be anything in the treasury? That is the fundamental

thing”, he added. He said the constitution stipulates that all monies made must go into the Federation Account and then shared among the tiers of government.

True, but was this not obeyed more in the breach by that government?

If Dr Sulaiman and Prof Monye had nothing to say, they should have kept quiet instead of exhibiting ignorance or mischief in response to President Buhari’s claim. The president was apparently referring to the reckless spending of the Jonathan government which made it impossible for it to leave something reasonable for its successor. Even if the Jonathan government ensured that all the monies due the government were brought into the Federation Account, what did the government do with the money? These are the issues. Unfortunately, neither Dr Sulaiman nor Prof Monye clinically addressed these. Rather, they merely launched into the realm of mischief or simply put facts on their head.

‘If Dr Sulaiman and Prof Monye had nothing to say, they should have kept quiet instead of exhibiting ignorance or mischief in response to President Buhari’s claim. The president was apparently referring to the reckless spending of the Jonathan government which made it impossible for it to leave something reasonable for its successor’

CBN should end slavery in banks

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IR: I am not exactly sure of the origin of banking especially commercial banking in Nigeria. All I grew to know in the late 40s and early 50s of the last century is that there were BBWA (Bank of British West Africa), Agbonmagbe Bank, ACB (African Continental Bank), New Nigeria Bank, National Bank of Nigeria Limited and Barclays Bank. These banks served the elementary requirements of savings and withdrawals mostly by market men and women around whom the banks were located anyway.

Very little was known of the personnel outside the banking circle. They were either headed by expatriates or highly skilled Nigerian professionals. At these early times we only knew of ‘manager’, ‘accountant’ and ‘clerk’, none of the plethora and hierarchies of today. The economy was compact and banking customers were few. One feature of banking at this time was that customers took their cash physically to their banks for deposit either at the current or savings level. The customer was given a document in which its banking transactions (deposit and withdrawal) and liquidity position were clearly stated.

In the last 50 years, most especially in the last two decades, banking operations have changed dramatically. For example, it’s no more necessary to carry bank documents (Savings Book for example) to and fro banks each time you want to pay or withdraw from your savings account although you still write cheques to collect money from your current account. The growing phenomenon now is that bright, educated and spritely youngsters, men and women, are hired by commercial banks and are designated as ‘marketing officers’ and thrown out to the world to look for customers. Desperately, these youngsters invade homes, offices, entertainment centers, etc to look for depositors and other customers. You will think they are newly recruited salesmen and women for goods and articles manufactured by local industries. They hardly have a seat at the branch bank office.

One can see the level of desperation and anxiety to keep their jobs in the face of these young Nigerians. When you tell them you have no fund to invest in their bank, they will try to persuade you to transfer your money from your present bank to their own, even for a period of one month.

This is to persuade their indefatigable boss back in office that you are doing well. Some indeed travel out with their bosses at weekends to be able to retain their volatile jobs!

It would now appear that the Nigerian banking industry has been infiltrated with negative practices that were originally unknown to commercial banking – an otherwise elegant, elitist calling. The question now is what is the role of the Central Bank of Nigeria as a regulator of the banking industry in Nigeria? Also is organized labour unaware of the treatment given to these young people which border on slavery and certainly of exploitation?

CBN should not be seen to be concerned only with the safety of the depositors’ funds or returns on investment by the banks. The regulatory body should also look into the ethics of the profession especially between the mighty managers and the vulnerable ‘marketing’ officers. Some level of security of job and the sanctity of the human dignity are necessary in banking operations as they occur in more endowed climes. While each member of the industry should continue to have freedom to organize its own operations – the CBN should ensure some minimum comportment by the banks.

On the other hand, Labour as a defender of the dignity of labour has responsibility not to allow a sector of the workforce to be engaged as slaves and be assigned vulnerable or derogatory role in their offices. Sure, the labour market is full to the rim but we as a country should ensure minimum standard of behavior from management and staff both of whom are regarded as drivers of the economy.

•Deji Fasuan, MON, JP Senior Citizen Ekiti State

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Mobolaji Sanusi’s piece on why the president is slow in appointing Chief of staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and delaying in the selection and presentation of his ministers to the National Assembly is well posited but untimely.

The eagerness behind the asking of these questions can be understood from the point of view of the unarguably high hopes of the electorates who invested their votes in. causing change in governance so that the challenges that have plague this country can start to be fixed differently without delay.

There is definitely a thin line between the personal virtue of the president and his performance which is not an end in itself but a means to achieving the end of honest, effective and efficient service delivery. In the circumstance in

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Re: Questions from Nigerians for PMB which the APC has found itself as a result of reward expectation fight-back, which was never envisaged, it has been difficult to send the list of ministers already selected to the National Assembly which presently is divided against itself. With the appointment of people into the principal offices of the two chambers of the National Assembly, against the zoning formula sent to the assembly by the party and barring any reconcilia-

tory concession to vacate already filled offices, there will be a need to readjust the ministerial list in consideration of the unexpected emergency. Unless the party and the president know those who will finally be retained in offices or those that will thread on the path of party discipline and yield position from their already occupied positions, there cannot be a standing list of ministers because there will be need to balance the selec-

tion of ministers already selected, so as not to over concentrate appointment in a zone while others are denied opportunity.

As it is now, the president would seem to be combining diplomacy with conciliation to make peace the cornerstone of all action he might intend to take to prevent this from happening. This obviously is the main reason why all the appointments mentioned in the questions are being delayed. Those who have

Buhari and renewed Boko Haram offensive IR: Aside his renowned firm anti-corruption posture, the military background of President Muhammadu Buhari, was perhaps, partly responsible for his wining the March 28, presidential election. Apart from the slide in the fortune of the nation’s economy due to the dwindling global price of oil, national insecurity, especially the one occasioned by the dastardly activities of the Boko Haram sect in the northern part of the country, has become a major source of threat to the corporate existence of our dear nation. Hence, most Nigerians, either rightly or wrongly, were convinced that with a tested army general of President Muhammadu Buhari calibre at the helms of national affairs, Boko Haram insurgency in the country would soon be comprehensively routed.

The way things have recently turned out have, however, dashed this hope, at least for now. Rather than diminish, the devilish activities of the group have gained unbelievable momentum in the past few weeks. A few hours after President Muhammadu had referred to the

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group “godless” and “mindless”, during his inauguration as Nigeria’s new president, the sect struck with nauseating audacity, characteristically leaving in its trail sorrow, tears and blood. In the past few days the sect has launched a renewed attack on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, perhaps to defiantly rubbish President Buhari’s directive that the military high command be relocated to Maiduguri.

The recent renewed offensive of the Boko Haram is instructive in many ways. One, it goes to confirm that the group is in no way a religious group and as such could, by no means, be championing , as it has been erroneously proclaiming, the promotion of Islam. The fact that the sect has particularly chosen the revered month of Ramadan, when the Muslim faithful seeks to maintain peace with all men and their God, to launch criminal attacks on renowned Muslim locations is a pointer to the reality that the group is , indeed, a ‘godless’ and ‘mindless’ sect. No sane group, purporting to promote religious

cause, should take recourse to bloodletting when it is common knowledge that God abhors such tendencies.

Also, the fresh Boko Haram renewed offensive readily rubbishes earlier ploy in some quarters to give the group a political colouration. In the thick of its dastardly attacks in the country, especially during the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan, attempts were made to politicize the activities of the group.

The truth of the matter is that the Boko Haram sect is a terrorist group.

In the first half of 2014, Boko Haram killed more than 2000 innocent and hapless civilians, in about 95 attacks.

In the last three years, more than 3000, people have lost their lives as a result of Boko Haram operations.

A recent research claimed that Boko Haram attacks have left at least 12,000 people dead and 8,000 crippled in the last three years while hundreds of thousands have fled their homes for the fear of the insurgents.

Therefore, we need to stand up together and act decisively against

terror. Those who are waging war against our nation have demonstrated that they care less about mundane dividing factors such as ethnicity, religion and politics. Religion, ethnic and political affiliations means nothing to these agents of death.

Consequently, the various security agencies in the country need to be encouraged to do more than they are presently doing in the management of the country’s security situation. In as much as it is true that terrorism is becoming a global challenge, our security bodies need to exhibit more decisiveness and professionalism in their handling of prevailing security condition in the country. One primary duty of government, all over the world, is the protection of the citizenry. The present trend that exposes Nigerians to unhindered horrid attacks and premature deaths is, to say the least, intolerable.

• Tayo Ogunbiyi Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

shared position in the Houses come from certain geo-political zone and need to be balanced with appointments to other zones when the party is sure that no further changes would be made in the list of those appointed. All these have made it impossible for the appointments to be made in just 30 days.

The president with his endowment of honesty, courage, passion, and commitment to deliver on promise can never be confused. He knows the direction he wants to go and understands what his party mantra of change stood for in the life of the people hence he cannot afford to offer excuses for failure.

The President is too experienced and exposed to be misdirected when talking about fixing the problems of 16 years of unproductive, fraudulent and clueless government of the PDP. Reasonable Nigerians know that kick-starting a good government should follow on the foundation of due process built over the rubble of the old order left behind by the PDP and need not be rushed in other not to play into the waiting hands of the same opposition that is bent on discrediting the new government on every step it takes to expose the government and present it as a non-starter and inexperienced.

The President needs not be stampeded into taking actions at the prompting of the PDP which has been thoroughly discredited by its own failings in strong leadership and good governance.

Granting the desired patience, it is certain that Nigerians within a short period of time will start seeing, feeling and enjoying the positive effects of the efforts presently being made by the president to reposition the country and re-order its priorities especially when the teething problems being encountered in the National Assembly is finally resolved.

•Comrade Mashood Erubami Ibadan, Oyo State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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COMMENTS

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restructuring, is deliberate misT had got to be the limit — Bayelsa diagnosis, which has nothing to senator, Ben Murray-Bruce’s attempt offer but mischief. at wannabe activism. He had “doIn the heat of the crusading nated” his anticipated wardrobe allowpassion, Aregbesola became the ance to feed hungry Osun workers — and irredeemable Satan, not a few Bayelsa widows.

Goodluck Jonathan; under Hare-brained activism never made a whose presidency the national more hare-brained start! purse became a sieve, putting Homeboy, Iyiola Omisore, also made most states in the present bind. a quiet rumble: doing his little bit to feed Olakunle For instance, the Jonathan the hungry Osun multitude. However, lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola presidency declared daily stolen had he wanted to cause a stir, he would 400, 000 barrels, from the 2.6 have parked trailer load of grains at the million produced each Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secday. Though that should have retariat in Osogbo; and invited the starvtranslated into some 15 per cent ing plebs of Abere, the state reduction, states suffered a 40 per government’s secretariat, to come have etiquette! cent drop from Federation Account (FA) takings — without any their fill!

Besides, if that apologia held, then the Chief Justice of Nigeria cogent reason.

In Mr. Omisore’s world, charity and politics co-mingle for (CJN), writing as a citizen, could well gift himself the liberty to Then, the global oil price crash. The cumulative effect of devastating effects! write the National Assembly for the president’s impeachment, Jonathan’s leaking purse and the price dip, crashed Osun’s revWhy, the controversial Buruji Kashamu, Omisore’s deep ideoshould the Federal Government falter on salaries! You see how enue by some 55 per cent. Now, Aregbesola’s only blame here logical soul mate in democratic feudalism, also sent in his own misguided judicial activism could easily court anarchy? appears his huge appetite for developmental projects, financed words of hope: trailers, creaking under loads and loads of victBut something should be clear. Between friendly and hostile with sundry loans and bonds, invested in social and physical uals and myriad provisions, were snailing and snaking into camps to the Osun governor’s salary odyssey, there is no high infrastructure. That tenuous balance left the state heavily Osun! moral ground. Both are driven by the logic of public policy leveraged. The shock, from this sudden financial storm, smashed Has the SOS caravan arrived? analysis, a media activity critical to democratic deepening.

Osun’s monthly FA taking below the N3.6 billion monthly civil O, the media also weighed in; in the Osun wage So, what is Ripples’ angst at the stand of Justice Folahanmi and servants’ wage bill. That explains the salary default. hysteria. Abimbola Adelakun (The Punch, June 11) intervened co? Good question; but before an answer, another caveat: other Even then, Osun’s internally generated revenue (IGR) for 2014, with a piece that betrayed structural split-personality. The headfrom National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) figures, was N8.5 bilthings being equal, salary delays are degrading and line, “Ogbeni Aregbesola, pay your workers” was a cynical lion, placing 11th out of 25 states. Compared with Akwa Ibom’s indefensible. Their ripple effects can make a family really, retaunt, in the classical Yoruba traditional sense. But it ended N15.6 billion (seventh placed, though Nigeria’s highest FA ally miserable; and it is a path no self-respecting adult wants to with basic reason and admission that Osun’s problem stems drawer), it would appear Osun is using its meagre resources to tread. Besides, even a month’s delay is bad enough. For months’ from a national systemic failure. In-between were emotive and deepen its local economy, while Akwa Ibom, flush with oil delay, one can imagine the anguish on the affected families. neo-liberal snarling against “populist” policies. derivation cash, seems largely content with its FA takings.

So, what is wrong with telling it as it is — as Aregbesola’s Ms Adelakun’s newspaper would later pour cold water on Besides, a global multidimensional poverty index (MPI) surmedia critics have done — and reading out the riot act to the efforts, at the end of June, to start paying the salary arrears, vey of Nigeria, with 100 other developing countries, has introgovernor: pay or quit? suggesting, by its cynical angling of the news, that the efforts duced a fresh perspective to Osun and poverty.

The approach. While compassion is noble, emotion-milking were too little, too late. Of course, between The Punch and The MPI is based on a 10-point indicator, based on three broad is vile, wilful and cruel. It can only create two victims: the govAregbesola’s government, there appears no love lost. poverty criteria: education (years of schooling and school attenernor as demon, useless and uncaring; and hurting workers, fed Still, the very limit would come with a crusading jurist, endance), health (child mortality and nutrition) — both gauging on the daily diet of gubernatorial loathing. Both can only work sconced in the Osun judiciary, inflicting great violence on judithe meeting of a child’s social infrastructure needs — and a sixup emotions; but hardly solve the problem. cial reticence and the separation of power doctrine. point indicator under “standard of living”: assets, cooking fuel, Besides, the skewed attention on Osun, when more than a half Justice Oloyede Folahanmi, an Osun high court judge, wrote a floor, water, sanitation and electricity. of the 36 states are involved in the salary meltdown, suggests a petition calling on the Osun legislature to impeach Governor Under MPI, quoted from an Oxford University document media roasting most bizarre, with the media becoming part of Aregbesola, over the salary arrears. Her tone suggested the called Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (2015), Osun the problem, instead of navigating the polity towards a solugovernor wilfully held salaries back to punish and intimidate placed second, only to Lagos, among Nigerian states least aftion. workers. But logically, why might he do that? fected by poverty, via a pile chart tagged ”Headcount of the Of course, such unconscionable muddying of waters suits nicely A few have defended Justice Folahanmi’s unprecedented conratios of MPI poor and destitute”.

Aregbesola’s political traducers.

That is where Omisore and co duct, insisting she wrote in her personal capacity; and not as a That means that despite all the salary hoopla, Osun has somebelong; and to the amoral political class, all is fair in war. judge. Still, the notorious fact (as her constituency would say) is how devised ways to improve its poverty level.

But the media, becoming ready and merry tools to fight these that she is a sitting judge, sworn to some service ethos and Still, many newspaper commentators thunder, from their unholy wars, is tantamount to the media becoming smashed heights of raw passion, that Aregbesola should scrap ‘Many newspaper commentators thunder mirrors, from which only skewed images of society can emerge. Olympian his high impact developmental programmes, because of the And for a serving judicial officer to unthinkingly barge in, is Aregbesola should scrap his high impact develsalary hoopla. equivalent of dancing naked.

The Ogbeni, to his peril, would listen to such Mephistophelean opmental programmes. The Ogbeni, to his peril, theButjudicial the most tragic consequence of this politics-of-the-belly though he should try his best possible to clear the salwould listen to such Mephistophelean counsel’ approach to a serious crunch, which calls for radical financial counsel; ary arrears.

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epublican ipples

Osun’s politics of the belly

“No matter what anybody says, we have a complete fiscal system breakdown; we can’t pay salaries; we can’t pay wages; we can’t pay our debt. And we don’t even know how much we owe, and how much deficit we have...I have said it before and I have heard people say with some authority, that when we started, deficit was about N1.3 trillion; by the time we finished people were talking about N7 trillion”.

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HOSE were the words of elder statesman Ahmed Joda in a recent interview with Thisday published June 28.

Those statements were made shortly after the handover over the report of his transition committee to President Muhammadu Buhari. Now, if you thought that the old man was given to exaggeration by his sweeping allusion to the collapse of the fiscal system, you will need to read newspaper accounts of the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) which although focused on the financial crisis facing the three tiers of government, was an opportunity for the council to beam its searchlight on the criminal mismanagement that has been the lot of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

While the saying may be true that there is nothing new under the sun, this time around, Nigerians would hopefully get to see the monstrosity of their national oil corporation in its truest element – a government within a government, an octopus that is neither encumbered by the niceties of financial regulation, nor bound by the strictures of parliamentary control – in short, an outlaw corporation.

You think yours truly is hasty to have drawn such harsh conclusions? Let’s go back a bit in time. Once upon a time, we had a Funsho Kupolokun in charge of the leviathan. Those were the days when the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) could not be said to be short in activism. Against the grain of conventional wisdom, the then Engr. Hamman A. Tukur-led body insisted that the entire proceeds from oil sales be paid first into the federation account before any withdrawal is made. The argument then was simple: the NNPC as the collecting agency on behalf of the three tiers of government can only draw its sustenance from the pool after the entire rendition is made. In this, the revenue body merely drew strength from the 1999 Constitution which made it clear that all revenues accruing to the three tiers of government be paid first into the federation account. Paragraph 32, Part I (a), of the Third Schedule in fact specifically empowers the RMAFC to “monitor the accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account”.

Like now, the puzzle then was – how do you guarantee fair accruals without a sound basis for establishing what is taken as costs? Ordinarily, the answer would seem as simple as getting NNPC to prepare a budget. It never did. More than a decade and half after, no one can be sure that the NNPC ever did anything near preparing that financial instrument!

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Slaying the beast

I recall Engr Kupolokun’s ready-made answer to the raging controversy: “You cannot talk about revenue without mentioning costs...” In other words, there could be no issues as to what constitute the cost elements – it is what the NNPC says it is!

Several years on, the nation unfortunately would seem far from resolving the puzzle. The result is that we are still effectively at the mercies of the principalities and powers at the NNPC; the only difference this time around is the hope that the correct questions are finally being asked with the governors not surprisingly picking the gauntlet.

I need to make myself clear here. I am not writing about the $2.1 billion said to have been withdrawn by the Goodluck Jonathan administration from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) which NEC stumbled upon at their inaugural meeting last week. Given the highwire politics surrounding the operations of the ECA, I guess the governors are perfectly entitled to make all the noise about the wierd incomprehensible accounting practices the stuff of which can only be found in the NNPC Towers.

That is not the subject today. I am rather interested in the ‘undeclared’ revenue – the differential of N3.8 trillion retained – or if you like withheld – by NNPC over the 2012 – 2015 period as alleged by NEC last week.

Nigerians are of course familiar with the image of the corporation as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for executing all manners of schemes under the sun – except its principal rationale as a state oil corporation. Now, the marvel is that the earn-and-spend image is being presented in such living colours by the governors! While there will be a lot of drama in the coming days as the actual probe kicks off, Nigerians will do well to take seriously the import of their latest ‘discovery’.

Just imagine; NNPC, a collecting agency for the federation

account which also doubles as an agency of the federal government setting aside a whopping 47 percent of the entire oil earnings only because it lies in its power to do so! You think that is outrageous? Think about a corporation permanently awash with cash yet suffers the perenial inability to meet up with Joint Venture (JV) obligations; a corporation that can’t or wont fix its ageing pipelines, an outfit that does better collecting rents than go after new oil finds. That is NNPC for you!

It seems to me that we may have focused too much on the owners of the distributive pool, the throng made to assemble monthly at the conclave to share a remnant of 53 percent; a group which suffers the strictures of appropriation, as against the outlaw corporation which insists on living only by its own rules. It is about time we paid serious attention to what the corporation does with our money and the process through which it is expropriated.

If you ask me, I will just say that the governors, like Pa Ahmed Joda in the referenced interview in Thisday, have helped to raise the right questions. Yes, the nation has a fair idea of what has accrused into the federation account. After all, isn’t that what the Abuja monthly conclave for sharing all about? We also know that the ritual of appropriation – no matter how farcical – still goes on accross the different tiers of government if only to fulfil all righteousness. The same however cannot be said of the NNPC which insists on puting the lids on funds illegally retained. For once, Nigerians truly want to know if truly the NNPC has what it can refer to as working budget. How is it appropriated? They deserve to know the quantum of value delivered with the three-point something trillion naira spent. Surely, that can’t be asking for too much? The same would apply to its kiths –Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as indeed others whose running costs not only exceed those of states but which more often than not, escape parliamentary appropriation. This is after all, the season of change.

‘We may have focused too much on the owners of the distributive pool, the throng made to assemble monthly at the conclave to share a remnant of 53 percent; a group which suffers the strictures of appropriation, as against the outlaw corporation which insists on living only by its own rules.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

COMMENTS

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LBERT Einstein it was, who posited that if an individual is persistently maligned or persecuted while on a salvaging mission, his traducers do so purely out of envy. To them the unattainable grape is sour. That may perhaps explain the recent tactless tirade by Abubakar Baraje, one of the defectors from the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party, PDP made against revered APC chieftains in the persons of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the prime mover of the coalition of the progressive parties and Chief Bisi Akande the former interim chairman of the APC. Baraje, we recall was amongst politicians who jumped ship to avoid being swallowed up by the then imminent electoral storm.

By his political antecedents, Baraje like the current Senate President, Bukola Saraki cannot lay claim to any progressive political ideology. As hard core conservatives they have never been on the side of the people, but have always angled for power for self-serving reasons. Though he successfully ditched the PDP for the APC, Baraje thought, but erroneously so, that he could import that individualistic mindset against the sway of party supremacy that the progressive parties such as the CPC, ACN and ANPP have been known for.

It is within this context that one could best situate his recent unfortunate remarks. Baraje, a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described as ‘unfortunate,’ a statement credited to the party’s former interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, where he alleged that principal officers of the National Assembly enjoy the backing of some oil business interests and anti-Buhari elements.

Baraje, in a press statement described Akande’s comments on the crisis as hypocrisy and reminded him of a meeting, which had an unnamed governor from the Northwest and a leader of the party from the Southwest and the latter was admonished about the crisis in the party.

He also reminded Akande how he sup-

‘Nigerians who massively voted APC for change should be wary of politicians who find it difficult to subject themselves to party supremacy and discipline’ “I know only two ways in which societies can permanently be governed –by public opinion and by the sword” –Thomas Babington Macaulay.

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ORD Thomas Babington Macaulay, British author and historian, even at 24 had carved a niche for himself as an advocate for ‘good governance’. At 30 he was elected to parliament; but even at that, he did not believe ‘democracy’ was sufficiently selfregulating to be left all on its own to function. In fact, in a letter once to a Jefferson biographer, he jived the American Constitution as being “all sail and no anchor”.

Lord Macaulay seemed to suggest that ‘democracy’ even as it is a guide, must be guided to achieve the effective management of the affairs of societies. And just as it is dangerous for the ‘ship of democracy’ to be left anchorless, without harbour, so it is that it should be left adrift without a rudder!

Many philosophers have argued that the ‘due democratic process’ alone may not always take democratic societies to the Eldorado promised by ‘democracy’, and that left on auto-pilot, the process may even be a ‘spanner’ in the works rather than the ‘lubricant’ at work to breathe life to the system.

Thus a little moulding of the ‘democratic process’ by ‘public opinion’, some interference by the ‘party’ in loco parentis or even the occasional intervention of a fatherly-President, may be necessary from time to time to ease ‘swallow’ and to facilitate ‘digestion’ in the complex system of democratic governance.

This may be why although Lord Macaulay was “against government by the sword”, yet he argued for “assertive -meaning ‘forcefully strong’- leadership”, which he said would be legitimate if it “earns the support of the people”. Thus ‘democracy’ –like ‘law’- is not averse to the application of reasonable ‘force’ where such is approved or condoned by the very ‘people’ in whom ultimate sovereignty lies.

Meaning that a little tinkering -when necessary- with the ‘democratic process’ by political leaders imbued either with conventional or constitutional powers, is not the enemy of democracy. Rather it is democracy

Baraje’s tirade against Akande and Tinubu

By Alfred Omolewa ported the governor against the South-west leader’s antics and described Akande’s statement as “fabrication.” Baraje said he was disappointed that Chief Akande, who had led the party and served as a governor, authored a statement where he sought to divide the nation by setting the North against the Southwest.

Baraje went further:”I do not know where Chief Akande and his cohorts are getting this unsubstantiated information they are circulating. We challenge them to provide proof and let Nigerians make their judgment...”

“Akande and co believe that they have exclusive right to determine who occupies what position in today’s Nigeria and whoever tries to challenge their position must be subjected to savage attack in the media. That tactic is definitely undemocratic. ”My worry has been that President Buhari is being fed with lies and stories that are dangerous to the polity. My fears have now been confirmed with Akande’s statement. It is my prayer that the President should strengthen his information gathering network, so as to have a clear and true picture of what is happening. I am sure they just wanted to poison the minds of the people before that meeting.

Akande sure does not want reconciliation and they already have an agenda they are pursuing. Yet, they accused others of different sins.

We pray that reason will prevail and they will join others to move the party forward”, he said.

But on his part, Akande has reiterated his position, based purely on the party’s supremacy. This was his response in a recent media interview, when asked why he considered Saraki and Dogara’s emergence as a rebellion.

“The party took a position. They did a primary and somebody won. Anybody who goes against the democratic position of the party is rebellious. Don’t you see it as a rebellion?

I know that Nigerians don’t know discipline anymore; everybody does things they way they like. You didn’t get there by yourself

but by the grace of your party. That is why you can go to the party to say that I want to be this and they would say oh, they are many of you who want to too, come and do election. And somebody won and somebody stood by that person. Once you go against that party, you are committing rebellion. It is an act of indiscipline. I support all of them, they are my colleagues, but I don’t support indiscipline.”

In another press interview he made a poignant observation. He described Senator Saraki and Honourable Dogara as being all out to foist the fortune of their former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the new ruling party through their “rebellion” which, he said, killed the PDP. He said the backers of the “rebellion” as insinuated in his letter, which was made public on Monday, paled in comparison to the “criminal act” which, he said, the action of Saraki, Dogara and others against the party symbolised.

“The cardinal thing I emphasised in that statement was discipline, obedience to your party. It is our party that made Saraki. He cannot disobey our party”.

Viewed from a more holistic perspective therefore, it goes beyond Baraje’s assumption that Akande was setting the North against the South-west. His views are patriotic as it has to do with internal party democratic ideals based on discipline.

Supporters of the rebellion are also at the heart of those accusing Tinubu of obsession with power and being over bearing. They are the ones wrongly accusing him of nominating 19 people as ministers, out of a possible 30. Unknown to Baraje and his cohorts, the duo of Tinubu and Akande have consistently been driven by the patriotic fervour, over the years to seek for what is best for the country. Tinubu, for instance has earned the accolade as a political strategist of no mean measure, across Nigeria’s quicksand political landscape. He was there as an enduring symbol fighting assiduously for the return of democracy during the dare-devil days of military dictatorship. Like other patriots he

exhibited that uncommon courage to stand on the side of his people when it mattered most. He spent his money and provided logistic support during the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) days to fund the famed Radio Kudirat against the Abacha regime.

It would also be recalled that when the PDP rigging machinery bulldozed its way through those South-west, Asiwaju as the governor of Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence became the ‘last man standing’ in that ultimate battle for political survival.

And he is still here now, standing tall as one of the few Nigerians who salvaged democracy from the throes of annihilation. He could not stand aloof to watch Nigeria being besotted by storms of political ineptitude, cluelessness and crass corruption riding high on the wave crests of opportunism. Again, he stood up to say a vehement “no” to it all.

Only a patriot would do that.

His towering political stature still sends shock waves down the spine of crass political opportunists, especially those like Baraje and his co-travellers who love to reap where they never sowed.

Empirical evidence abounds to show that he has been passionately propelled by the principles of equity, fairness, and justice all in the search for the common good. For that he has made a lot of sacrifice; of energy, time, resources and even his cherished freedom.

Yet, he is most painfully being misconstrued as a self-serving politician. But this could not be true. Were it so, he would have been contented with being the chairman, Board of Trustees of the APC or its National Chairman, or put himself forward for a ministerial post. It should be noted that at no point in time has he ever vied for any of these plum political posts in AD, AC or ACN (all defunct).

All said, Nigerians who massively voted APC for Change should be wary of politicians who find it difficult to subject themselves to party supremacy and discipline.

And those, who defected from PDP to APC for self-serving reasons, wanting to dictate to the founding fathers of the APC. Chief Akande and Asiwaju Tinubu are absolutely right; only with discipline can the party fulfil its electoral promises to the people. The earlier the fair-weather politicians sacrifice their inordinate ambitions for the general good, the better for us all.

The awesome power of the President

By Mohammed Adamu in action. And if backed by the very people for whom and by whom the democratic system is brought about, ‘democracy in action’ has the liberty to function even against the grain of ‘its own norms’, –whether those norms are enshrined in the ‘statute books’ or etched in political text of books!

The ‘law’ –both in statute and in action- is only sufficient to regulate the conduct of elected representatives. It has never been sufficient to regulate the revolutionary or majoritarian temperament of the people who have freely elected their governments into office. The people can, even against the grain of law, re-mould, retain or altogether overthrow the governments they have elected to office!

And since the people are their own ultimate sovereigns, they alone determine what is democratic from what is not. What is ‘democratic’ is not necessarily what Constitutional Law says it is or what political scientists say it should be; rather it is what the people chose to live with; - nor is it material that what they choose to live with is not approved by law or that what they choose to oppose is lawful.

Said Lord Macaulay “The law has no eyes; the law has no hands; the law is nothing … till public opinion breathes the breath of life into the dead letter.” And maybe this is the reason philosophers of law like David Ingram argue that “Democratic majorities can (and do) behave tyrannically”, - a privilege which he said “has led many to conclude that democracy does not protect the rule of law”. It cannot; because the ‘free will’ of the people should always be superior to the letter and spirit of the law which it permits.

The ‘rule of law’ is not to be protected in spite of the ‘will of the people’. On the contrary since laws are promulgated to serve the people, any laws inconsistent with the democratic whim and caprices of the people are

sacred only to the extent allowed not by the Constitution, but by the people.

I have related in my previous writings postulations which argue that “in a presidential system, the President –constitutionally- is not only a composite check on the legislature, he even exercises ‘conventional’ powers which are not contemplated by the constitution and yet which are not in conflict with it.”

In fact many other postulates insist that a populist President can even get away with the exercise of conventional powers which are EXPRESSLY IN CONFLICT with the Constitution, provided that such liberty resonates with the whims and caprices of the people.

He can for example blatantly refuse to implement a legislation which he has vetoed but which veto has been overridden by the legislature. Provided he acts in the national interest, the President’s belligerence would be aptly on the side of righteousness.

And because this power is rooted more in ‘democratic convention’ than in the letters of the law, reliance on it is usually contingent upon a vibrant public opinion which not only sides with the President but which is ready to swim with him or to swing for him whenever necessary. Several American presidents including as recently as Bill Clinton had deployed this conventional power to great effect to call especially erring parliaments to order –Clinton exercised this power even at the expense of a total shutdown of government of the United States for months under his administration. In fact in deference to the revolutionary anger of the people, a strong and daring President can even dissolve a manifestly anti-people Parliament –even though dissolution of parliament is not an action supported or even contemplated by the Constitution.

The Adolphus Wabara National Assembly, after President Obasanjo announced in a national broadcast he had caught many of its leaders and rank-and-file red-handed in the infamous ‘Bribe-for-Budget’ scandal, was virtually ripe for such presidential over-kill, - if

only Obasanjo had exploited the anger of Nigerians and the sudden dip in the public perception index of that assembly.

And so since the law need not actually advance the common good to be legitimate, the morale is equally legitimate that elected presidents need not actually be lawful to advance the common good of those who elected them into office! “When the law will do no right” as Shakespeare wrote, “let it be lawful that the law bars no wrong”!

In a presidential democracy, a president whose ‘unconstitutional’ actions or intentions are in total synch with the will of the majority needs not apologize for anything. And although in going against the grain of the law he would be walking right ‘in the valley of the shadow of death’ as the Bible would say, yet he needs fear neither harm nor evil coming to him.

Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, virtually said as much to the APC; and to President Buhari. So President Muhammadu Buhari should take a hint. Let your ‘righteousness’ exalt our ‘democracy’.

‘In a presidential democracy, a president whose ‘unconstitutional’ actions or intentions are in total synch with the will of the majority needs not apologize for anything. And although in going against the grain of the law he would be walking right ‘in the valley of the shadow of death’ as the Bible would say, yet he needs fear neither harm nor evil coming to him’

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

25 Good communication skill is an essential require’ ment for a sound and erudite judicial officer. As judicial officers, you are constitutionally required to make rulings in the course of a trial and to give directions to litigants and witnesses

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

See page 40

About a month ago, the global rights watchdog, Amnesty International (AI), indicted the military for war crimes in a report titled: “Stars on their shoulders, blood on their hands”. Since then, there has been a clamour for a probe of the report.

The Federal Government has since launched such a probe. But some groups, such as Access to Justice (AJ) and Borno/Yobe Forum, are calling for a judicial panel of enquiry into the allegations. Is that necessary? Under what legal parameters will the panel operate and what will be its terms of reference? PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU sought lawyers’ views.

O

N June 3, global watchdog Amnesty International (AI) published horrid details of alleged war crimes by the military which is battling terrorism in the Northeast.

The report sparked mixed reactions. Some hailed the report; others condemned it.

Civil society groups tongue lashed AI for always publishing damning reports whenever Nigerian troops were having upper hand over the insurgents.

The Coalition of Nigerian Election Observers slammed AI for what it called blatant act of irresponsibility. The group, comprising about a hundred civil society organisations, urged the Federal Government to motivate the military to sustain the gains recorded in prosecuting the war against terrorism, calling the report a smear campaign.

But the Borno/Yobe Forum, while demanding a judicial inquiry, said AI’s report was an understatement of the alleged atrocities committed by the military in the Northeast. It claimed that it has consistently drawn government’s attention to the need to make the armed forces respect their rules of engagement in such operations, adding that documented incidences of arbitrary arrests, rape, detention and wanton destruction of lives and property have been secured and presented as proof of the alleged excesses of the military.

AI’s Allegations

INSIDE:

In the report titled “Stars on their shoulders. Blood on their hands: War crimes committed by the Nigerian military”, the organisation accused some military commanders of extra-judicial killings, torture, enforced disappearance, high-handedness and sundry crimes in the prosecution of the battle against Boko Haram insurgents.

It claimed that its report was based on years of research, analysis-including leaked military reports and correspondence, as well as interviews with more than 400 victims, eyewitnesses and senior members of the Nigerian security forces – and called for an independent, impartial investigation into the allegations as well as trial of retired and serving high ranking military personnel found wanting.

The report revealed that more than 7,000 young men and boys died in military detention facilities from March 2011 and over 1,200 people unlawfully killed from February 2012; 47 detainees died on June 19, 2013, at Sector Alpha detention centre (Guantanamo) as a result of suffocation; and more than 500 bodies (those who died from diseases) buried in and around ‘Rest House’, a detention facility in Potiskum, Yobe State.

It alleged that 683 detainees died in custody between October 2012 and February 2013; more than 4,700 bodies brought to a mortuary from a detention facility in Giwa Barracks; and more than 1,400 corpses deposited in the mortuary in June 2013 alone.

More than 20,000 young men and boys arrested, mostly arbitrarily, since 2009 with some of them as young as nine years old; almost none of the detainees have been prosecuted, while all have been without the necessary safeguards against murder, torture and ill-treatment; detainees are held incommunicado in extremely overcrowded, unventilated cells without sanitary facilities and with little food or water; around 300

Ortom moves against criminals -Page 28

?

Is the military guilty of war crimes?

people died in a cell in Giwa Barracks of twodays water starvation; emaciated corpses in mortuaries.

It outlined the roles and possible criminal responsibilities of those along the chain of command – up to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff – and named nine senior Nigerian military figures who should be investigated for command and individual responsibility for the crimes committed.

Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, said: “This sickening evidence exposes how thousands of young men and boys have been arbitrarily arrested and deliberately killed or left to die in detention in the most horrific conditions. It provides strong grounds for investigations into the possible criminal responsibility of members of the military, including those at the highest levels...

“Whilst an urgent and impartial investigation of these war crimes is vital, this report is not just about the criminal responsibility of individuals. It is also about the responsibility of Nigeria’s leadership to act decisively to end the pervasive culture of impunity within the armed forces,” he said.

Although the military debunked the allegations in strong terms and maintained they have followed the rules of engagement and ensured professionalism, President Muhammadu Buhari in upholding human rights of the citizens promised to investigate AI’s claims.

Human rights violation: Businessman drags IGP, others to court -Page 38

However, analysts believe the President should ignore the demand for a judicial commission of inquiry being made in some quarters, because it is unnecessary and diversionary. They have argued that fighting terrorism is not conventional warfare, else, the United States would not have killed Osama Bin Laden the way it did.

The observers have accused the international body as well as all those clamouring for judicial inquiry of a plot to demoralise the troops as well as distract them from the gains recorded so far, thereby empowering the terrorists for more vicious attacks and wanton killings.

Instead of constituting a judicial commission of inquiry at this moment when the priority should be fighting, observers are of the view that government should probe the allegations administratively, without interfering with or obstructing the troops in their national assignment.

Lawyers’ speak

Legal practitioners also believe that the call for judicial inquiry is misplaced and a distraction from the major issue. They believe that the focus at the moment should be containing the monstrous activities of the sect, which have killed thousands of innocents.

The lawyers, who all opposed any independent findings into the allegations for the time

being, urged the government to apply caution, in order not to be deceived by international bodies who benefit from the crisis.

Professor of Law Itse Sagay (SAN) said there was no need for any probe whatsoever, advising the government to discard the report. ‘‘Honestly, I have never taken warmly to the allegations. AI took so much trouble trying to detail the harm done by our troops to Boko Haram and their sympathisers without caring for the thousands of lives lost to Boko Haram’s brutality. ‘‘My attitude is that they are sponsors of Boko Haram. I do not take them seriously and if I was President, I would have shut their offices in Nigeria and deported them.

I do not see the need for any probe whatsoever. There is no need and I think the President should not allow them distract him.”

Senior lawyer Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) said the government should defer any intentions to probe the allegations and allow the military complete its operations.

He noted that though it is proper to investigate in order to indict or exonerate the institution and persons mentioned in the report, the issue is a sensitive one, which cannot just be exposed to the world because of national security. ‘‘This is a sensitive issue that cannot just be exposed to the world. I do not think judicial inquiry is appropriate here because issues that could jeopardise national security would arise and the war has not been completed. ‘‘The government’s machinery is wide and I believe these allegations can be probed administratively, discouraging the military in its assignment. To me, the government should defer any probe intentions because winning the war is our priority at the moment. ‘‘Setting up judicial commission of inquiry would discourage soldiers and endanger more innocent lives,’’ he said.

Similarly, constitutional lawyer Dele Adesina (SAN) advised the government to set up an administrative committee through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to investigative the authenticity and veracity of the claims.

He dismissed the idea of a judicial inquiry on grounds that security matters are treated with caution. ‘‘The allegations are weighty and should not be easily disregarded by the government as mere noise making or irrelevant. I am of the view that the government should investigate, whether it is true or not and to also know the extent to which they are true. ‘‘But I would not support a judicial commission of inquiry. I may prefer an administrative inquiry because security issues are involved. Apart from that, a section of Nigeria is at war and the war has not been concluded. ‘‘The President is the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces and so, he can, in that capacity, set up an inquiry that will answer to him. They will make their findings known to him because the aim is to discover the truth or otherwise of the allegations. ‘‘It is important to note that the armed forces have joined issues with AI and dealso

Public officers and their assets -Page 39

•Continued on page 26

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

26

LAW COVER CONT’D •Continued from page 25

a statement of fact that the territorial integrity of this nation is being challenged by Boko Haram and the country cannot fold its arms while part of its territory goes down. ‘‘This is why we have to be careful.

I would rather advocate for an administrative inquiry headed by the NSA, not a judicial inquiry,’’ said Adesina.

Former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Edo State Dr. Osagie Obayuwana also approved any other method of investigation except for judicial inquiry.

He noted that as serious as the allegations were, they should not be the priority of government, but should rather be probed after the war must have ended as part of the lessons learnt.

Obayuwana however advised the President to make a declaration on the need for the troops to uphold international best practices and stick to the rules of engagement during operations, so as to avoid allegations of human right abuses. ‘‘The government cannot turn a blind eye as long as those issues have been raised. But I think they are distractions and should not be treated like priority. In as much as I am not justifying the allegations of human rights abuses, we have to appreciate that the troops are not fighting conventional war. ‘‘That notwithstanding, there are laws and standards of wars, even when guns are booming. The rules of engagement say there should be no raping of women and children; no killing of unarmed persons or those who have surrendered and no looting. ‘‘I think the substance of the alle-

•Sagay

•Fagbohungbe

• Adesina

Is the military guilty of war crimes? gations is that people who were arrested on allegations that they are Boko Haram members or supporters, which could not be substantiated, were killed on the basis of the allegations that may have been untrue. ‘‘It is true that people can use the terror siege to settle personal scores and communal clashes by falsely indicting their rivals as terrorists. There were also allegations of vengeance killings against our soldiers, if true, this is also wrong because it offends the principle of separation of powers.

There is no basis for a soldier to kill an unarmed suspect or supporter of Boko Haram.

‘‘I think our soldiers should be trained to appreciate the legal standards. However, the barbarism of Boko Haram has conditioned the attitude of the average Nigerian, soldier or not. It makes people believe that subjecting them to trial is a waste of time, but we must discourage wanton killings, including by the state. ‘‘A commission of inquiry right now can only look at the evidence AI has put up, giving that the reign of terror is still ongoing. The war is still raging and more atrocities are being committed. So, i do not support that now. ‘‘Rather, I think the President can make a statement reminding sol-

diers of the law of conflicts. Maybe, when the war is over, we can constitute the panel as part of our learning process,’’ said Obayuwana.

For Lagos based lawyer Monday Ubani, caution must be exercised in dealing with the allegations raised by AI, calling on the NHRC to do their job.

As serious as the allegations are, Ubani said he does not support any Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the matter. ‘‘In Nigeria we have a credible body like Human Rights Commission that is set up for situations like this. It is headed by erudite Professor Anselem Odinkalu, and

has shown credibility in their investigations so far on human rights violations in Nigeria. ‘‘I am not in support of any judicial panel or any other panel for that matter to investigate this allegation. Let the Human Rights Commission carry out its statutory role in investigating this allegation and report appropriately. ‘‘Their findings and recommendations should be taken seriously and implemented. If there are parties who are found culpable, my advice is that they should not be spared by the law of the land. ‘‘Having said this, we must also caution that as a nation we must not fall into the trap of the international bodies whose ultimate purpose is to mislead and distract the present government in vigorously pursuing the goal of ending the present insurgency in Nigeria. ‘‘There may be nations and international bodies who may be beneficiaries of the present insurgency in Nigeria and there is a possibility for them to use Amnesty International to send Nigeria on a wild goose chase. ‘‘Therefore, we must be very careful not to be swayed by these latest statistics of deaths of insurgents whereas the same body has not been very diligent in providing statistics of those that the insurgents have mass murdered over these years. ‘‘Caution should be the watchword. If the evidence of Amnesty International appears credible and incontrovertible, then the appropriate body which to me seems to be the Nigerian Human Rights Commission should be reminded to step in to perform its function as mandated by law.’’

The issue of whether state governorship election petition tribunals can sit in Abuja may threaten the 180-day timeline for determination of cases, writes ERIC IKHILAE.

Tribunals await Appeal Court on jurisdictional question

T

HE President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa thought she had safely addressed the fear of insecurity, raised by some states’ election tribunals, when she directed their relocation to Abuja.

As at last count, about six states’ election tribunals now sit in Abuja, on account of security threat. They include Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Rivers and Yobe states.

Rather than provide a safe and conducive environment for the discharge of their duties, the choice of Abuja as their sitting venue now constitutes a major problem that not only query the PCA’s intention, but threatens the operations of the tribunals.

Those, who felt uncomfortable with these tribunals’ sitting outside the states where the elections took place in April 11 this year, have challenged the PCA’s decision to allow such tribunals to sit in Abuja. They include Governors Emmanuel Udom and Nyesom Wike of Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states, former Akwa-Ibom State governor and now a Senator, Godswill Akpabio, among others While some have gone before the Federal High Court on the issue, others have resolved to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunals to sit in Abuja by filing applications to that effect.

Those pushing for the reversal of the PCA’s relocation have insisted that the issue borders on the jurisdiction, which must first be resolved before the affected tribunals could conduct any business in relation to pending petitions.

While no major steps have been taken in the cases before the Federal High Court, except in the one filed

by Kemka Stanley Elenwo in Abuja, most of the tribunals have taken arguments on the applications, challenging their relocation, but are yet to deliver ruling.

The tribunals have, curiously, proceeded with their preliminary pro-

ceedings, while keeping silent on the challenge to their jurisdiction, believing that the challenge is against mainly their territorial jurisdiction as against subject matter jurisdiction. It is the contention of those, seeking the reversal of the PCA’s relocation directive, that a governorship/legislative election tribunal cannot validly sit and conduct businesses outside the state where the election took place in view of the provision of Section 285(2) 0f the Constitution.

Section 285(2) states that: “There shall be established in each State of the Federation one or more election tribunals to be known as the Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunals which shall, to the exclusion of any court or tribunal, have original jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions as to whether any person has been validly elected to the office of Governor or Deputy Governor or as a member of any legislative house.”

They are relying heavily on the only available Court of Appeal’s decision given about 10 years ago in the case of Ibori vs. Ogboru (2005) 6 NWLR (part 920 C. A. 102, where a full panel of the appellate court held that an election tribunal must sit in the state where the election took place.

In the case by Elenwo, marked: FHC/ABJ/Cs/372/2015, filed in relation to the Rivers State tribunals, the plaintiff went further to query the powers of the PCA to constitute an election tribunals without consulting either the Chief Judge of the state, the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the state or the President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the state, as required under the provision of Paragraph 2(3) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Elenwo and others, who are opposed to the sitting of the relocated tribunals in Abuja, want the relocation voided and the tribunals be returned to their states.

Conversely however, those in

favour of the relocation argued that the Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Ibori vs. Ogboru (2005) did not adequately interpret the provision of Section 285(2) of the Constitution.

To them, things are different now because, security and related matters, which informed the PCA’s decision to direct the relocation of some tribunals to Abuja, were not considered in the Ibori vs Ogboru case.

Wole Olanipekun (SAN), lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwaibom State, Umana Umana, stressed this point in his counter argument in the application filed by Udom before the state’s governorship tribunal on June 22 this year.

“Ibori vs Ogboru is not an iron cast decision to the effect that a governorship tribunal must sit in the state where the election was held. The Ibori vs Ogboru case was decided in 2005 under the unamended Constitution and the Electoral Act (EA),” he said.

Olanipekun argue that not only were facts different, circumstances have also been altered in that, under the new EA, election tribunal is now regarded as a national institution and now captured under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

“When the Ibori case was decided, there was no Section 285(6) and (7).

The Constitution now says 180 days.

The Ibori case was decided almost three years after the election. 52 days are already gone. Under the previous provision, the tribunal could afford to waste time. Now, the PCA appoints the tribunal judges and make practice direction,” he said.

Defendants’ lawyer in the Elenwo case, Professor Yemi AkinseyeGeorge (SAN) , while arguing in similar vein, insisted that time and circumstances of these cases (Ibori and the current cases) are not the same.

He noted that the issue of security was not canvassed in the Ibori case. He

added that had the tribunal, in the case of Ibori given any reason for relocating its sitting out of Delta State, the decision would have been different.

Ruling on June 24 this year, in the case by Elenwo, Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja upheld an application for referral filed on behalf of the PCA and three others and referred the issue to the Court of Appeal for determination.

He said the decision of the appellate court on the issue will guide the lower court faced with similar question as to whether or not the Court of Appeal has already interpreted the provision of Section 285(2) of the Constitution to address the issues which informed the relocation of the tribunals to Abuja.

“To the extent that the issue affects a number of states of the federation, it is to that extent that I believe that the opinion on the question stated will assist courts of first instance to deal expeditiously with cases in which the constitutionality of the 1st defendant’s (PCA’s) decision to direct the governorship election tribunals in the affected states to be relocated to Abuja to be timeously resolved.

“It is a substantial question of interpretation of the provision whether Section 285(2) of the Constitution can be read and interpreted to address the issue of venue for sitting of the governorship election tribunals outside the states for which they were constituted by the 1st defendant,” Justice Kolawole held.

Citing the development in the Elenwo case before Justice Kolawole, the Chairman of the Akwa-Ibom legislative election tribunal, Justice Goddy Anunihu told parties on July 2 this year that his tribunal will await the Court of Appeal’s decision on the issue of whether or not the tribunal could validly sit in Abuja.

The tribunal had scheduled ruling on the issue for July 2, but at the com-

mencement of proceedings, Justice Anunihu, as is the case with other tribunals, said his tribunal will await the Court of Appeal, but will proceed with the pre-trial proceedings.

Although lawyers to Akpabio (on whose application the tribunal was to rule), his party, the Peopels Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) urged the court to halt all businesses until the issue of jurisdiction was resolved, the tribunal held otherwise, insisting that the challenge was against its territorial jurisdiction and not subject matter jurisdiction. He adjourned to July 14.

While it is now clear that the relocated tribunals have chosen to await the appellate court’s direction on whether they could validly conduct their businesses in Abuja observers are concerned about the implication of such “transfer of responsibility” on the fate of the various petitions.

The questions being asked include whether the authorities of the Court of Appeal are aware of the need for timeous determination of this issue in view of the time limit accorded the tribunals by the Constitution?

They also wondered whether the issue will not eventually end at the Supreme Court in view of the fact that the PCA, whose court the decision on the issue has been referred, is a party in the case referred by Justice Kolawole and the other cases before the Federal high Court.

Can the Court of Appeal satisfactorily decide the issue when the PCA and some Justices of the court are parties in the suit? Will any of the party not argue that the affected Justices of the Court of Appeal, including the PCA cannot act as judges in their own case?

How fast can the Supreme Court move when this issue eventually gets to it for determination? Will the tribunals still meet the 180-day deadline? Time will tell.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY Court upholds family’s land title

T

HE Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta has up held the Ilamiro Ilashe family’s claim to a parcel of land at Agbara in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government.

The Ilamiro Chieftaincy family of Igbesa, through the Ajaguna of Ilamiro land, Chief Adele Alayan and Mr Nureni Orokoko sued Mr Segun Sodipo, Rafiu Apesin, Waheed Yusuf and Abiodun Adepoju (for themselves and on behalf of Agbara community), over the land.

Justice A. A. Akinyemi declared that the plaintiffs, who joined Chief S. O Opara and Chief Akanni Soyombo as defendants, were entitled to the land with Survey Plan no. FF/700/OG/89.

He made an order of perpetual injunction restraining all the judgment-debtors from the land.

He held: “I am satisfied that the evidence of traditional history proffered by the plaintiffs is sufficient, on a balance of probabilities, to entitle them to a declaration of title to the land in dispute.”

The judge, in the suit numbered HCT/2007/97, awarded N 100,000 damages to the plaintiffs because Alayan had testified that on June 23, 1995, the defendants led thugs to invade the land and demolish their family house.

“There is evidence, which I believe, showing that the plaintiffs were in exclusive possession of the land and that the defendants entered the land to disturb their possession. Trespass is unlawful interference with land in exclu-

By Joseph Jibueze

sive possession of another and is actionable per se,” the judge held.

The Court of Appeal in Ibadan also dismissed an appeal on the judgment by Sodipo because no records were transmitted from the lower court. In a judgment

by Justice M.B DongbanMensem, the court held: “We agree that the appeal is stale and is liable to be and is hereby dismissed.”

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, on June 17, directed the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State to investigate a petition by the plaintiffs through their lawyer Bode Oyeyemi.

In the petition, the family said the defendants have “flagrantly” disobeyed the subsisting judgment by allegedly moving into the land with over 500 heavily armed thugs who chased the family members away and prevented them from “reaping the fruits of their hard earned judgment while they (defendants) are busy selling our land at the speed of light at the cheapest rates.”

Chief Alayan has warned the unsuspecting members of the public against paying the wrong people for the land. “Buyers have to go to the rightful owner to buy the land genuinely, not the trespasser. If anybody is buying the land without my signature on the land document, he/she has wasted his money,” he said in a statement.

Group seeks probe of journalist’s attack

A

GROUP, the Seme Concerned Citizens (SCC), has urged security agencies to probe the attack of a journalist by suspected smugglers in order to unravel the truth.

It said the culprits should be fished out so as not to give the entire Seme community a bad name and brand them as smugglers.

Executive Director and Editorial Board Chairman of Badagry Prime Magazine Otunba Yomi Olomofe was brutalised by smugglers in Seme.

He had accused the Customs Area Command (CAC) of working with one Alhaji Momoh, popularly known as Basket, to set him up for the attack and to unleash terror on him.

The group, in a statement by its leader, Alhaji Igun Shotunde, said it was informed that some persons who claim to be “journalists” had been in the habit of blackmailing some of the businessmen and extorting money from them.

It said in May this year, a man who claimed to be a reporter for a local magazine showed them a 21-page documented evidence he purportedly had on smuggling activities at the border.

The “journalist”, he said, had earlier come in the company of another colleague and demanded N1million so as not to publish the document.

SCC said it believes a transaction that went awry must have led to Olomofe’s attack. “We were informed that N1million was given to them (journalists), and they later demanded for additional N2million because the initial money was not enough.

“This request made the people angry and they in-turn demanded for the refund of their money. All efforts failed to recover

By Joseph Jibueze

the money hence some of the angry boys saw Olomofe at Seme and requested for the money.

Then an argument ensued.

“We, therefore, call on NUJ and security agencies to thoroughly investigate these developments so as to get to the root of the matter and check those who give the journalism profession a bad name,” Shotunde said.

But Olomofe denied ever demanding or receiving money from anyone over any story.

“May I tell you that that is just bullshit. Well, that is Customs, trying to get back at me. I have never met anybody called Seme Concerned Citizens. It would have been good if the group stated where and how they met me. That is absolute bullshit. I’ve never met any such group in my life.

“I’ve never met anyone by the name Alhaji Igun Shotunde. No such transaction has ever transpired between me and anyone.

“In any event, I was invited to a meeting by Customs, not by Seme Concerned Citizens. There were five of us at the meeting I had with Customs. There is no substance to those claims by the group,” Olomofe said.

The publisher had vowed to bring those responsible for the attack to book and to seek justice.

“It is unfortunate that life can be so meaningless in our society.

I intend to see this to its logical conclusion; I will not relent until justice is done and these criminals are brought to book. These people see themselves as above the law and always publicly announce severally that they need to kill a fellow human being to serve as a lesson to other journalists,” he had said.

The execution of a judgment delivered by Justice Ayotunde Phillips seven years ago has become the subject of another litigation in the High Court of Lagos state, reports ADEBISI ONANUGA

Court rules on property suit Friday

A

LAGOS High court sitting in Ikeja will on Friday rule whether or not it has jurisdiction to stay a writ of execution obtained by a judgment-debtor, Jagal Nigeria Limited in respect of a property.

Seven years ago, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, then a judge of the High Court of Lagos State, had in a judgment delivered on July 11, 2008 in a suit delineated ID/1466/98 affirmed Jagal as the owner of the property located at Plot B, Ikosi Road, Oregun Industrial Estate, Ikeja .

Johnson Products had dragged Jagal Nigeria Limited before the court over the ownership of the disputed property. Joined as second defendant in the suit is Chief Samuel Agboola Akintan, who is said to have earlier leased the property to Wire Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited for 20 years, having had a Deed of Conveyance dated 1971.

The company had averred that a Memorandum of Agreement executed by the two parties on April 17, 1980 “effectively transferred Jagal’s interest in the property” to it upon the payment of N1, 340,000 and that Jagal issued a receipt No.1351 dated June 2, 1982, which stated that the payment is for the assignment of the property in question.

Johnson Products had further averred that Jagal acknowledged its (Johnson Products) ownership of the property in a letter addressed to Ault and Wilborg (Nig) Limited.

But Justice Phillips, in her judgment delivered on July 11, 2008 held that the Memorandum of Agreement transferred no interest in the property to Johnson Products and affirmed Jagal as the owner of the property.

Not satisfied with the decision of the court, Johnson Products Limited,

appealed against the judgment on July 16, 2008 and claimed to have filed its Brief of Argument as at December 8, 2010.

However, the matter assumed a new dimension in February 2015 when the matter slated for hearing by Appeal Court, was struck out for want of diligent prosecution.

Johnson Products claimed to have reapproached the appellate court, asking the matter to be relisted but while the process was ongoing, the defendant (Jagal Nigeria Limited) obtained a Writ of Possession of the court to effect the judgment of Justice Philips against Johnson Products which also affected some inter pleaders.

The development made Johnson Products Nigeria Limited to approach the court presided by Justice Olabisi Odugbesan , praying it to restore them to status quo ante as at April 29, 2015, pending the hearing and determination of its application for re-listing in the Court of Appeal.

During the sitting of the court, the applicant through its counsel, Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN) had told the court that the order of the Court of Appeal upon which the writ of execution was predicated was obtained by deceit. He contended that the defendant mislead the court on the matter.

He argued that as at the time the defendants rushed to obtain the writ of execution, they already had applications seeking for re-listing of their appeal before the Court of Appeal.

The defendants, according to him, were duly served with copies of the application and that they duly acknowledge receipt of the documents.

“We have three applications, including brief of argument, pending before the Court of Appeal and they filed a

counter to every application, which means they have been served”.

He had pleaded with the court that since the averments were not controverted by the defendants in any way, they should be taken as the true positions of things.

But the defendant’s counsel, Qudus Mumuney, had opposed the application on the grounds that the prayers of the applicants had no basis in law.

Mumuni contended that the issue before the court was not only the proceedings of February 5, 2015 when the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal of the appellant but the entire proceeding which dated back to 2009.

He described the application filed by the applicants as an invitation to review the order of the Court of Appeal, adding that it would amount to calamity of the jurisprudence when a lower court would sit to review the order of a superior court.

Mumuni however maintained that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the application and that the court should throw out the application which he described as abuse of court process.

But Olawoyin had insisted on the jurisdiction of the court not only to grant the prayers of the applicants but also to stay the writ of execution obtained in respect of the disputed property.

Olawoyin had also contended that the issue before the court was the writ of execution for which they are praying the court to set aside pending the determination of their application for relisting of their appeal against the judgment of Justice Ayotunde Phillips, now a retired Chief Judge of Lagos State, which in 2008 granted possession of the disputed property located in Oregun Industrial Estate, Ikeja to Jagal Nigeria Limited.

N10b suit: Braithwaite accuses bank’s witness of misleading court

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DEFENCE witness in a N10 billion suit against Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Olugbenga Akinmoladun, has told a Lagos High Court, Ikeja that the error as regards the date on his expert report on when the bank obtained its development permit was a mistake.

Akinmoladun, who was under crossexamination by the claimant, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite said the mistake was a typographical error.

But Braithwaite disagreed with the witness, contending that it was a deliberate falsehood intended to mislead the court.

“I put it to you that you are in error when you said there was approved building permit. The error is a deliberate falsehood to mislead this court”, Braithwaite declared.

The witness had written in his report that the development permit, marked exhibit D5 is dated September 9, 2010 contrary to the actual date of June 2, 2010 on the document.

Dr. Braithwaite is seeking an order declaring as illegal the erection of a 14-storey commercial building and multi-level car park by the bank in an otherwise residential area in Victoria Island, Lagos and for demolition.

He claimed that he is uncomfortable with the bank’s installation of giant industrial generators directly opposite his house, saying that the generator would create fumes and noise capable of shattering the air and the serenity of the environment.

Under cross examination by the claimant, the witness denied that the structure did not have a protective net but insisted on having seen a protective net at the 14th floor when he got to site. He also insisted that the airspace did not fall short of the requirements of Lagos State building regulations.

• Braithwaite

By Adebisi Onanuga

Akinmoladun had claimed in his report that he physically measured the distance between the construction site and the claimant’s residence, adding that it is ‘about the size of a standard plot of land’.

“The distance between the project and the claimant house is the size of a standard plot of land. I measured it. Our measurement is not faulty”, he stated.

But the claimant disagreed and asked the witness why he speculated and failed to put the exact figure, if he actually measured it.

The witness said it was because he didn’t consider it as necessary nor that it would become a bone of contention.

Earlier when led in evidence by defence counsel, Adeniyi Adegbonmire , the witness claimed to be a senior lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and also a registered town planner with more than 25 years experience but that he is yet to obtain a doctorate degree in the pro-

fession.

“I am a lecturer at UNILAG. I am a senior lecturer and the first head of department of Urban and Regional Planning, UNILAG. I have been involved in World Bank infrastructure development project in Akwa Ibom, Niger and Ondo states. I also did the EIA of Diamond bank. I also did the EIA and building approval for City Bank. I took part in the building process and approval in Shoprite in Ikeja. I did the same for American International High School at Chevron drive. I have also been involved in land administration of UNILAG consult in Kaduna state”, he said.

Adegbonmire tendered two reports before the court and the trial judge, Doris Okuwobi through Akinmoladun and they were admitted as exhibits D15 and D16 respectively.

The reports tendered were Advocacy Planning Report in respect of the property situated at 142, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island and the review of claimants reply to defendant’s statement of defence dated July 2013 and August 2014 respectively prepared by Olak Consult.

He said he prepared the report for Standard Chartered Bank in respect of the building approval of the property to counter the claimant’s expert ýreport.

As a result of the development, the claimant said he would be praying the court for physical inspection and measurement by a neutral body. ”The claimant will be bring an application for an order for physical and actual measurement of the project site by either the president of town planning association or surveyor general in view of the manifest conflict in the evidence of both sides on the core issue”, he said.

Justice Okuwobi subsequently adjourned proceedings to October 22, 2015 for further direction.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

28

NATIONAL BAR

Lawyers jostle for NBA Lagos posts A

S the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) prepares to elect new officers to run its affairs for the next two years on Thursday, lawyer interested in succeeding the Alex Muoka-led executive have been engaging in last minute campaigns.

Many of them have indicated interest to contest for different offices in the “Premier Branch” barring any last minute change of events.

The Ayodele Akintunde-led electoral committee will conduct the election.

The offices of the branch secretary and Treasurer seem to be the most hotly contested as most of the other officers are retuned unopposed or have no contestants for them.

By John Austin Unachukwu Legal Editor

Mr. Martins Ogunleye is the candidate to beat for the office of branch chairman while messers Stephen Obajaja, Tochukwu Chukwmerije and Bode Omoboriowo are contesting for the office of Secretary.

Mr. Philip Njetene and Mrs. Joy Nzube are locking horns for the office of the branch Treasurer.

Obajaja holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws Degree from the Universities of Benin and Lagos respectively. He was called to the Nigerian bar in the year 2003.

He was with Kalaro & Kalaro between September 2003 and May 2004 from where he joined the firm of Mbanugo Udenze & Co.

where he was from May 2004 to August 2005 before branching out with three of his colleagues to start the law firm of Conquest: Cradle Du Codes where he was pioneer managing partner from August, 2005 to August, 2006.

Chukwumerije is currently the First Assistant Secretary NBA Lagos. He is also a nephew of late Senator Uche Chukwumerije. He sought the support of the Branch members for his candidacy for the office of the 1st Assistant Secretary. He is most grateful to members because he did not get the support, but he won the election. Over the last two years, he believes that he has discharged his duties as the 1st Assistant Secretary, and also the duties of the

office of Branch Secretary satisfactorily for five months ( March-July 2014),after the passing on of the former Branch Secretary, Mr Babatola Apata, before the election of the new Branch Secretary.

He was called to the Bar in 2004.

Following the compulsory youth service programme, he has been in uninterrupted private legal practice since his call date. He worked for the noble law firm of Chris Uche & Co (SAN) in Abuja, 2005 as well as the law firm of Mike Igbokwe (SAN) amongst others. He established a corporate / commercial and litigation practice firm under the name Bulwark Attorneys Law Firm.

He has been an active Bar Man and has served in several positions such as First Assistant Secretary NBA Lagos, 2013 - 2015; member Human Right Committee of the Branch 2009 - 2011; Secretary, NBA Lagos Branch Human Right Sub-Committee on prisons and welfare 2009-2011; Nigerian Bar Association Accredited Domestic Observer for 2011 General Election; member NBA Lagos Branch 2010 Law summit Committee, among others.

Omoboriowo attended S. S. Peter and Paul, Ilemo, Ile- Ife 19791986.

He attended Oduduwa College Ile –Ife 1986-1991, he was admitted to read law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife from 1995 -2001 and was called

to the Nigerian Bar in 2003, Bode completed his Master of Lwas (LL.M) degree in 2010. H e is currently a part time tutor and has attended a number of conferences. He has served a Assistant Social Secretary and First Assistant Secretary of NBA Lagos from 2007-2009 and 2009 -2011 respectively.

Bode is into active private legal practice and is a committed member of the NBA Lagos branch. Bode has encouraged adequate dissemination of information via modern technologies, he has made meaningful contributions at both general meetings and Annual General meetings of the branch. He organised NBA Lagos law week in 2009, he is happily married with children.

In his 10 cardinal intendments for the branch if elected as the branch Secretary, Bode promised to bridge the gap between the young and senior members of the branch, to keep the secretariat and robbing- room more functional for all members. He also promised to operate with quick and most reliable information methodologies in loin with international best practices for the premier Bar. To ensure proper and timeous and most efficient distribution of conference materials to all members Bode promised to ensure proper and timeous circulation of minutes at the monthly general meetings among others.

Ortom moves against criminals

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• Justice Umeadi (middle) with members of Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) cutting the anniversary cake.

N1.38b tax dispute: Ashaka Cement sues FIRS A MANUFACTURING company, Ashaka Cement Plc, has sued the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) before the Tax Appeal Tribunal, North West Zone sitting in Kaduna over a N1.38 billion tax dispute.

The suit was filed by company before the tribunal chaired by Justice Bashir Albasu.

Other members of the panel are Eberechi Adele (SAN), Joshua Waklek, Khadeeja Halilu and Dr Olumhense Imoisili.

In its statement of claim, Ashaka Cement Company expressed disagreement with the tax assessment made by the FIRS and prayed the tribunal to review the decision.

It said that in December 2014, the respondent (FIRS) commenced a Tax Audit Exercise on the appellant company for the 2013 financial year.

“Subsequent to the exercise, the respondent issued an invitation/demand notice dated December 2, 2014 on the appellant assessing unpaid tax liabilities which the its representatives attended on December 15,2014.

“The invitation/demand notice contained the breakdown of the assessment made by the respondent.

“The appellant received the said letter on the December 4, 2014. The appellant responded to the said notice by an objection letter dated December 22,2014 and served it on the respondent on December 29,2014,”Ashaka Cement said.

According to the company, the service of the objection letter was preceded by a reconciliation meeting

By Adebisi Onanuga

struct its counsel to file an appeal with the Tax Appeal Tribunal but could not do so within the statutory 30 days allowed by the Company Income Tax Act. Counsel to the appellant, Mr A. Dauda informed the tribunal last week that steps had been taken to effect service of the required processes on IRS, the respondent organization.

In a related development, hearing in the tax dispute between the Kaduna State Board of Internal Revenue and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, with respect to unremitted personal income tax of over N6 billion has commenced before the Tribunal.

held between the appellant’s representatives and the respondent’s representatives on December 15,2014.

The appellant claimed that vital issues contained in the respondent’s notice were discussed and ironed out.

Ashaka Cement argued that the grounds of objection raised by in its notice was a reflection of issues raised, canvassed and agreed upon at the reconciliation meeting.

It noted that the company assessed its tax liability on technical fees based on estimate only and all supporting documents were attached in form of appendixes 1-12.

“The relevant regulations require that technical fees computations prepared by an operating entity in Nigeria be reviewed and certified by a qualified chartered accountant. In this instance, the appellant has only made estimate of technical fees payable. This has not been certified or paid,” the company said.

The company said despite the reconciliation meeting held between the parties, the respondent on the January 6,2015 finally issued a notice of refusal to amend the assessment.

Ashaka Cement said it further wrote to FIRS on March 2, 2015 and April 16, 2015, asking the tax agency to reconsider its position by reviewing the assessment of the Tax Audit Exercise for the year 2013.

The company said the request was declined which prompted it to in- • Ekong

ENUE State Governor, Samuel Ortom has vowed to rid the state of armed robbers and kidnappers.

He made the disclosure when the Executive committee of the socio-cultural organisation, Mdzough U Tiv, visited him at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.

The governor said such criminal elements posed a serious threat to residents and investment in the state since no investor was willing to invest in an insecure environment.

He said he was collaborating with traditional rulers, youths, as well as the Civilian Joint Task Force to rout the criminals.

According to him he was happy that peace building efforts between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen had started yielding results with the two groups signing a peace accord in Logo local government area after which they play a football game.

Ortom appealed to citizens to forgive and reconcile with one another so as to create what he described as a new Benue.

The Governor urged leaders of the group to shun partisan poli-

By John Austin Unachukwu

tics and promote unity of all Tiv people irrespective of political and religious affiliation.

President General of the organisation, Chief Engr. Edward Ujege urged the governor to consolidate on peace building efforts between farmers and herdsmen started by the previous administration, the teaching of Tiv language in schools and support for Tiv Day.

•Gov. Ortom

Eatern Bar elects new leaders

T

HE Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has elected new leaders to run its affairs for the next two years.

The election was part of the last EBF quarterly meeting under its former chairman Mr. Ogbonna O. Igwenyi.

The programme was declared open by the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter N.C. Umeadi at the NBA Onitsha Bar Centre.

In a hotly contested election, Mr. E. O. E. Ekong was elected chairman.

Others are Arthur Chukwu (ViceChairman), Basil Aguigwo (Secretary), Emeka Anosike (Financial Secretary), Promise Iwezor (Rivers Representative) and Charles Azubuike (Abia State Representative). Imo, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States are yet to send representatives to the governing council.

By John Austin Unachukwu

Ekong was born August 30, 1963. He hails from Cross River State. Ekong attended Calabar Preparatory School, Calabar 1968-1974, Hope Waddel Training Institute, Calabar, 1974-1975; King’s College, Lagos 1975 -1980, University of Jos 1981-85 where he obtained the Bachelor Of Laws Degree (LL. B. Hons) with Second Class Lower and in 1985-1986 he attended the Nigeria Law School, Lagos where he obtained his Barrister at Law qualification with Second Class Lower.

He was Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Calabar branch (May 2011 – May 2013), Member Council of Legal Education, Member International Bar Association, Member Commonwealth Lawyers Association, among others.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

PAGE 29

INSIDE ‘We spend N3.5m on IDPs daily’

PAGE 30

Reformation boost as el-Rufai frees inmates

•One of many heaps of refuse on the streets of Jos

Plague of Plateau

PAGE 31

Robbers behind taxi wheels

Cholera has been an annual blight, sometimes afflicting the state three times in one year. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports on the cost of this year’s outbreak in Plateau State

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T is a seven-letter disease which residents of Plateau State dread probably as much as Nigerians feared the Ebola virus. In panic, many evade handshakes. They no longer buy fruits the way they used to, and are more careful these days where to dine and even what sachet water to drink.

Except it is absolutely necessary, hospitals are also avoided.

You cannot blame Plateau residents. Cholera, said to be caused by unhealthy water and unhygienic environments, has struck in every of the last eight years, sometimes thrice in one year.

The cost is dire: many lives are lost.

The last two weeks have been terrible, as the plague has been ravaging several parts of the state, including the capital, Jos.

That of Langtang North has claimed at least 15 lives. A team of WHO and UNICEF personnel fought hard to contain the outbreak in Jos. Last year, the state battled the disease more than three times in about five local governments especially Quan Pan, Shendam, Mikang, Jos South, Barkin Ladi as well as Jos North local government areas.

The cases were triggered by overcrowding, poor sanitary conditions and lack of potable drinking water, among other factors. That year, the state government mounted a vigorous public enlightenment campaign to sensitize citizens on preventive measures and what to do in an epidemic situation. But, in spite of that the state continued to witness cases of cholera.

No fewer than 15 persons have died from the disease in the latest outbreak, while several others

PAGE 33

•A cholera patient on hospital bed

Matching word with action

•A boy in hospital, with the disease were hospitalized, some in critical condition.

The outbreak occurred in Langtang North Local Government Area of the state particularly in

Kantam and Filam villages of Langtang North council.

The news of the outbreak was •Continued on page 30

PAGE 36

30

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

‘We spend N3.5m on IDPs daily’ Looking after people displaced by the insurgency is a tough task. Chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency Mallam Grema Terab, in this interview with JOEL DUKU, says it costs about 3.5m to provide for the IDPs everyday and that the daily provision might even be cut due to cash crunch.

Excerpts:

S

•Mallam Terab

IR, what have been your challenges since your appointment?

Our major challenge is the high influx of IDPs into Maiduguri.

When I came on board, we were managing few camps; there were about 13 or 14 local governments displaced by insurgents and we had camps for each of the local governments but now it runs to about 22 different camps.

Surprisingly, where we thought things were getting better; we are getting more people displaced and many more people are trooping into our camps. We found out that the displaced persons who were tak-

ing refuge in the host communities are now coming into the IDPs camps; some of them have exhausted their rent and some of the people hosting them in some of these communities are tired of taking care of them, and the IDPs have nowhere to turn but the camps. This has come to continuously increase the numbers in our camps. We received about 400 IDPs into the Mafa camp, about 300 into Kukawa camp, about 400 into Monguno camp and also a large number of people into Bama camp.

Those that were formerly living with relatives in the host communities are now trooping into the camps

as their host can no longer afford the cost of keeping them. Most of those that were accommodating them thought it was a temporary measure but they later come to find out that days are turning into months and months perhaps turning into a year and the burden just has to be taken off them. Those from Bama have stayed for over 10 months and those from Gwoza for about a year. So it is quite challenging to take care of these IDPs but the government is doing well in providing three square meals but life is not all about feeding. The sanitation is also a priority in the camps, the health care facilities and

the basic needs of IDPs, for instance, the soap and detergent to bathe and wash their clothes; they need the body oil and for the women they need the sanitary pads; all IDPs need clothing, baby foods among others.

It is quite challenging and it is a heavy burden on the state government, this has made us to face a lot of challenges and no matter what the government has invested, it may not be enough and the IDPs have to face one challenge or the other.

•Continued on page 31

Plague of Plateau •Continued from page 29 broken by the member representing Langtang North in the state House of Assembly Hon. Godfrey Lamdip when he raised it on the floor as an issue of urgent public importance.

The lawmaker said, “The cholera outbreak in the local government…has killed at least fifteen people so far with several other victims hospitalised. I have to bring the issue before the House of Assembly so that prompt action can be taken to save lives because several members of these communities are already migrating to neighboring local governments which can even lead to the spread of the epidemic.”

With this alarm, members of the House from neighbouring councils were also not comfortable.

They said their communities might also be affected if nothing was done to halt the spread.

After much deliberation on the incident, the House mandated its health committee to liaise with the state ministry of health and ensure prompt action to stop the spread.

The prompt action actually followed, in a matter of days, the spread was contained. Those on hospital admission, over 50 of them, were treated and discharged. Dr. Raymond Jurit, the state Epidemologist, who led the team of medical experts to Langtang North said, “We immediately dispatched medical team to the communities and we thought them how to handled the victims. The medical team did their best to manage the cases and reduced the level of casualties.

“We have taken samples of the stool and vomits and we are already testing them in our laboratory. We do so to ascertain what the situation is. For now we are only suspecting it is a case of cholera, but one is not sure until we see it in the laboratory test we are currently conducting. But then, from the symptom, it is obvious it is a case of cholera but it has to be scientifically certified before we declare it so.

“But in all efforts, I must commend the contribution of Chairman, Langtang North Local Government, Hon Dan Dul. Since the case was discovered, he never went to his office, he was always on ground with the medical team and really assisted the medical

•A part of Jos team in the management of the cases,” said Dr. Jurit.

On the risk factors leading to the outbreak of the disease, the Epidemologist said, “We went there to discover that the communities have no good drinking water; their water source is just not good for human consumption. That was what caused their own cases.

But we have recommended that something has to be done fast to solve the water needs of those communities, if not, all the efforts of the medical team in containing the cases would be in vain, that will be bad enough, so the state government and the local government have promised to address that as soon as possible” Asked why such cases of cholera are becoming too frequent in the state, the epidemiology said, “You know, Cholera is a water born disease, so where there is scarcity of water, there is a risk factor already.

Another thing is personal hygiene, a lot of citizens don’t heed our warming and sensitization campaigns, coupled with our low level of ignorance. In most of the vil-

‘We discovered that [some] communities have no good drinking water; their water source is just not good for human onsumption. That was what caused their own cases. But we have recommended that something has to be done fast to solve the water needs of those communities’ lages, people defecate in the open, most of them defecate close to their houses, all these are risk factors.

At the moment, apart from Langtang North, some cases has been reported in Jos North and Jos South, but they are not as serious as that of Langtang North. But in Jos, you will relished that the recent strike by labor union contributed to the outbreak. During the

strike, there was no distribution of treated water, so citizens went for other sources of drinking water most of which are not from hygienic sources. But now that workers have resumed work, we are not going to have new cases of the outbreak again.

“In that of Jos North, we are working hand in hand with UNICEF and WHO, so we promptly contained

that and there is no more case in Jos North. But generally if the genera public will heed to all precautionary measure we tell them through our public enlightenment program, them we will not have problem. We told people to watch their hands regularly and properly is as simple as that” said Dr. Jurit.

Few weeks ago when refuse were left to decompose on the streets of Jos as a result of workers strike, it was feared that cholera may break out any moment.

So far, four people have died in Joss city with vomiting and stoking suspected to be cholera. If not for the intervention by UNICEF and WHO, the outbreak in Jos May have claimed hundreds of lives in a very short period.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Langtang North local government, Hon Dan Dul has declared weekly sanitation exercise for the next one month to ensure every community is kept clean. The state government has also intensified public enlightenment campaign using the state media.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

31

THE NORTH REPORT

Reform boost as el-Rufai frees inmates The release of 96 inmates in a 100-year-old prison in Kaduna State by Governor Nasir el-Rufai is a first step in reforming the penitentiary institution, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE

I

T was understandable that 96 inmates of Kaduna Convict Prison or KCP yelled and jumped for joy when Governor Nasir el-Rufai granted them amnesty. They were among 800 awaiting trial at the 100-year-old jail, many of them serving more than the years of their sentence had they been tried and convicted. The joy of freedom from captivity and getting on with their lives came naturally.

There are more fundamental reasons to celebrate the governor’s gesture. One, it was a first step towards freeing up space in the prison so that it can resume offering reformatory services conceived by the colonialists. The KCP, established in 1915, is one of the few jails in the country where inmates could study and learn skills but that reformatory aspect has suffered owing, among other reasons, to overcrowding.

One hundred years ago, the KCP inmate accommodation capacity was 547. That has been overstretched to more than 1000.

Another reason to applaud the El-Rufai amnesty is the sense of justice for the inmates and correcting the error of people who kept the awaiting-trial detainees longer than was necessary. Now, there is hope for the 704 still behind bars.

Continued from page 32 How have you been coping?

Well, we are doing our best but now with the federal allocation not forthcoming or no more regular and with the state government having a lot of responsibilities, it is very challenging and that is why we cherish the collaboration with international agencies. If they had not been collaborating with us, the humanitarian catastrophe on Borno would have better imagined than experienced.

The National Emergency Man-

The Nation gathered that the Kaduna Convict Prison has study centres of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in which two of its inmates are running degree programmes in Political Science and Computer Science. In addition, the prison has 11 training workshops, including leather works, tailoring, knitting, hairdressing, carpentry, welding, plumbing and laundry, among others. But all the training centres are hamstrung by inadequate training materials and lack of space, thanks to the large number of inmates awaiting trial.

It was against this backdrop that Governor el-Rufai visited the prison and released the 96 inmates.

Even though, journalists were not allowed to speak to the inmates, those released were seen jubilating as they were handed their release letters.

There was no doubt that elRufai’s visit brought joy to the inmates, especially those released and gave hope of nearest future freedom to the remaining inmates.

The prisoners screamed his name from their cells as he waved at them and smiled. Some of the inmates were believed to have been in the prison for years for committing different offences ranging from murder, theft, armed robbery, rape and minor offences such as debt and fighting.

•The prison

‘It was a first step towards freeing up space in the prison so that it can resume offering reformatory services conceived by the colonialists. The KCP, established in 1915, is one of the few jails in the country where inmates could study and learn skills but that reformatory aspect has suffered owing, among other reasons, to overcrowding’ Those in the governor’s entourage, including the media, were amazed to hear the prisoners shouting the governor’s campaign

nickname “Mai Rusau” meaning, demolition master.

Although El-Rufai was not the first governor to visit the old

prison, his call surprised the inmates and the prison authorities.

In his address he described as injustice, the practice of keeping awaiting trial inmates on minor offences in the prison for too long.

According to him, his visit to the prison was informed by the briefing of the state Controller of Prison as well as President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to all governors to look into ways of decongesting the prisons.

El-Rufai said after touring the congested prison that he will work together with the prison authorities to revive the facilities.

He said, “We are particularly interested in improving the state of •Continued on page 32

‘We spend N3.5m on IDPs daily’ agement Agency is taking more interest in the case of IDPs in Borno State and they are trying to listen to us; for the first time they are asking what should be done and how much we spend, which food the IDPs consume and what the problems in the camps are.

It is a step forward, for the past four years this is the first time NEMA has

shown keen interest in really knowing our problems and they want to share the problems with us and we have received a high powered delegation from NEMA; we have sat down and we gave them the template of how much we spend and consume in the camps in terms of feeding and other upkeeps, and they said they are going to partake in it.

We hope with the change of government things are going to be better in the near future.

What does it cost to maintain the camps daily?

We spend about N3.5 million on maintenance and condiments apart from the food items on a daily basis for all the camps. What we mean by the condiments is onions, fish, beans, tomatoes, hot and sweet pepper, seasonings, palm oil, groundnut oil, firewood, water and other essential needs of the kitchen. The N3.5 million is also used for logistics like transporting the food items to the various camps and our ambulances, trucks, labourers. The government is trying to reduce it to a minimum of about N1.5 or N1.6 million.

Is this wise when you think of the fact that people are increasing at the camps daily?

As you can see, the government for the first time in 10 years has received so far the lowest allocation from the federation accounts, this is not only affecting Borno alone but the whole country. The Sure-P money is no more there, the money from the ex-

cess crude account is no more there and what we receive is just little above the salaries of our staff. As you can see that a lot of states cannot even pay their salaries but because the government of Borno has saved for the rainy days, this is why news of Borno state government not paying its salaries has not been heard.

How do you intend to balance this shortfall?

We invite all the key stakeholders and actors in humanitarian services and those that are willing to partner with the state government to take care of IDPs. As I said earlier we are partnering with International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC), UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, we intend to receive more international donor agencies. We have met with NEMA and have shown them how much we have spent on a daily basis and what is our requirement in the camps are. We are also trying as much as possible to bring down the cost of running the camps on the Continued on page 32

‘For the first time NEMA is taking more interest in IDPs in Borno State and they are trying to listen to us; they are asking what should be done and how much we spend, which food the IDPs consume and what the problems in the camps are’ •IDPs in Maiduguri

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

32

THE NORTH REPORT Reform boost as el-Rufai frees inmates •Continued from page 31 training and vocational facilities within the prisons and expand that to outside the prison. We believe acquisition of skills is very important, not only to create jobs but also to reduce the rate of crime.

“It is injustice for a person to be kept for a long time in the prison on a minor offence and awaiting trial.”

Earlier, the State Controller of Prisons, Abubakar Garba told elRufai of the challenges facing the inmates, urging him to address them.

He said, “We are happy with this visit by the new Kaduna State governor because the challenges facing our inmates are enormous.

Particularly, the issue of congestion is what we would like you to look into.

“This is because the prison which was built in 1915 was to house about 547 inmates but presently, we have about 1000 inmates with majority awaiting trials, including 114 condemned criminals, with 11 of them being indigenes of Kaduna State including a female.”

The Prison Controller also sought assistance in logistics, saying that the prison has only two

•Governor el-Nasir with the prison officials functional vans for moving inmates, two others grounded.

“This poses as great threat on the citizens of the state since too many inmates are conveyed at a time to and from courts, hence exposing

them to attacks by unsuspecting hoodlums.”

He also appealed to the governor to assist the inmates in the area of rehabilitation through skill and vocational training, saying some of

the training equipment in their workshop are outdated.

On the peace in the prison, the Controller said they have enjoyed relatives peace for a long time.

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge, Jus-

tice Tanimu Zailani in his brief remarks gave assurance that the judiciary will cooperate with the state executive to actualise its objectives of decongesting all prisons in Kaduna State.

‘We spend N3.5m on IDPs daily’

•The governor’s wife Zainab Bagudu (middle) with the visiting inspectors

Kebbi governor’s wife restates commitment to VVF patients

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HERE are reassuring words for patients of Vesico-vaginal Fistula (VVF) in Kebbi

State.

Wife of the state governor Zainab Atiku Bagudu who received a team of fistula-care personnel on inspection to the state, said more attention would be paid to patients. She spoke in the state capital, Birnin-Kebbi where she received the inspectors at her office.

The team, led by Dr Habib Sadauki, Country Project Manager, also included Fistula leaders from New York, Sokoto and Abuja.

After a general overview of the USAID programme and their experience in VVF care in Nigeria, The project manager praised the work done at the Kebbi VVF centrre, the only governmentowned VVF centre in the coun-

From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin-Kebbi

try.

He spoke of the tremendous improvement in service delivery which he attributed to the dedication of the resident surgeon Dr. Abubakar who, he said, introduced Caesarean Sections for preventing reoccurrence of VVF in women who have had successful repairs. So far, he said, 20 babies have been delivered in this pilot programme, adding that all the consumables for the surgeries are free.

Dr Sadauki noted with pleasure the support given to the center over the years by the state government and in particular by Her Excellency Dr Zainab Bagudu. He expressed delight with what is being done, saying he was looking forward to

higher standards of service delivery.

In her response, Dr Zainab Bagudu assured that she will mount a community awareness campaign as well as offer nutritional support for patients. The governor’s wife also spoke of providing jobs and skills for women after undergoing repair.

She equally advised the management of the centre to organise women cooperatives to benefit from government schemes.

VVF is an abnormal hole between the front passage and bladder through which urine dribbles continuously. The most common causes include prolonged obstructed labour, postCaesarean Section, genital tract cancers. It is more prevalent in short-statured and poorly educated young girls from socio-economic backgrounds.

•Continued from page 31 bill of the state government to the minimal level so that government can concentrate on other developmental aspects.

We are not unmindful of the fact that we have the issue of relocating, rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs to their various localities.

We are made to understand that Monguno is now peaceful and accessible and that people can now begin to go back to Monguno, maybe Gubio and Guzamala, we have access there but Bama that constitutes the largest number of IDPs is still not cleared by the Nigeria Army, the government is doing its best to reduce the cost of running the camps and as a transparent government we must be prudent in the management of our resources.

Is the support from some of the international bodies enough or perhaps you need friendly countries to come to your assistance?

Without their contributions and assistance I do not think the government of Nigeria, with the way we have handled ourselves in the last four years can overcome this crisis, in terms of fighting and overcoming these insurgents, taking care of the IDPs, rebuilding, restructuring, rehabilitating and resettling the IDPs to their various localities at the same time is not going to be an easy thing for the government.

Though we have a new and serious government, we believe we are going to do better if the international community especially friendly nations can come to our aid in the shortest possible time.

What the government needs to do is too numerous to mention and that is why the intervention of the international bodies is necessary and timely. Mr. President spoke recently when he was in Niger that a lot of international bodies promised him that when he emerges as the president they would come in to build our blown bridges, build schools, hospitals and a lot of social amenities. If the president of Nigeria is looking for international

assistance, why can’t Borno look for international assistance from anywhere? Even though we had meeting with NEMA and it was trying to take responsibility for the running of the camps, from what we are doing it is not enough so we need help from all quarters.

Does Borno State have a good deal with the federal government so far?

In the past four years, we [didn’t have] a good deal because what we received in the last four years was just N200 million and our counterpart Adamawa that was not as hit as Borno State with about six local governments affected received about N4.5 billion. We had 20 out of 27 local governments captured

by Boko Haram and we are the worst hit. If you go to Bama, you will see how it was destroyed, even N10 billion cannot rebuild Bama.

The activities of NEMA and other federal government agencies like the Presidential Initiatives on the Northeast and many others were brought to participate very well in Adamawa, a state that is not the worst hit. With the coming of a new president I believe we should have a better deal and since the problem started here and much destruction was here we are expecting a better deal. This seems to have been taking note of by the new president who have been drawing Governor Kashim Shettima close where the issue of insurgency is to be discussed. We are now feeling we are part of this country and that the president cares for us. We feel that in the nearest future things are going to go well but in the past we were not carried along.

What might be responsible for that?

Maybe politics or our leaders here in the state have not blown the whistle very well or perhaps the media has not played the needed role. The media should have blown the whistle about happenings here.

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Page 33

•Commuters at bus stops are often lured and robbed by rogue cab drivers

E

VERY capital has them: the wily pickpocket and the itinerant dupe with a phoney accent pretending to be a francophone visitor. Still, the worst scourge of Abuja must be the gangs which specialise in dispossessing their unsuspecting passengers of their cash in addition to putting them in all sorts of danger. Some say all the horrible tales they once heard of Lagos have been replicated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The cab robbers are the scariest of all the criminals. Everyone knows that Abuja residents love their taxis, which are the robbers’ veritable tools of operation. They are also cheap to ride, going for as low as N200 or even lower for N150. This is unlike Lagos where taxi fares are almost a fortune.

You board a taxi, believing all you have for company is the driver. As the ride progresses, the driver finds an excuse to make a detour to a lonely road.

He stops the vehicle pretending to have discovered a serious fault. Suddenly, his accomplice jumps out of hiding, threatens the passenger with a weapon and takes away all he has.

When you seek help or inter-

Menace of taxi robbers

Robbers operating in cabs may well be the worst nightmare of residents of the nation’s capital, Abuja. GRACE OBIKE tracks some of their tactics vention from bystanders as the rogues flee, people often tell you to thank God you escaped alive.

According to most residents of the nation’s capital, the incidence of robbers operating in cars has been on the increase in the last few years, especially along Kubwa Expressway, Jabi, Berger and other parts of Abuja.

The fraudsters have adopted the technique of driving by busy bus stops with sometimes three roguepassengers on board. Without completely slowing down, they mark out people standing alone and wait for the person to ask if they are going to a particular place.

The victim feeling lucky amongst other passengers, boards, feeling safe since there are already people inside, sometimes a female among them.

The occupants of the vehicle will be so friendly and eager to accommodate their victim and give him as much comfort as possible. The

‘You board a taxi, believing all you have for company is the driver. As the ride progresses, the driver finds an excuse to make a detour to a lonely road. He stops the vehicle pretending to have discovered a serious fault. Suddenly, his accomplice jumps out of hiding, threatens the passenger with a weapon and takes away all he has’ car speeds off only to get to an isolated road a few minutes from where they picked the passenger and the first passengers begin to discuss dollars and pounds being in the boot of the vehicle or electronics to sell.

An unsuspecting victim may even join in the conversation which is the easiest way that they can achieve their goal and the vic-

tim will be lucky if they just stop at stealing his money and possessions on them because most go as far as making the victim clear out the accounts for them.

The scariest part in the taxi robbery is that the rogues do not only threaten their victims but hurt them so badly in some cases, some even killed. They operate with such deadly weapons as guns, knives

Residents urge Buhari to restore checkpoints

J

UST weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari or-

dered the removal of military checkpoints from roads across the country, some Abuja resident especially those living in satellite towns have asked that the roadblocks be restored.

Barely two days to last Christmas residents discovered that military security checkpoints had been mounted at various strategic inter-changes and junctions within perimeter of the nation’s capital in addition to

From Gbenga Omokhunu

some existing checkpoints at various entry points to the city.

According to findings, the development was due to the prevalence insecurity caused by the Boko Haram sects.

Throughout the Yuletide and even before the removal of the checkpoints, soldiers mounted roadblocks mounted by soldiers forced motorists to drive at slow speed, while suspicions vehicles were pulled over for checks.

Pedestrians, especially those carrying bags, were also subjected to extensive scrutiny.

A cross section of residents, who spoke with Abuja Review in separate interviews, said there are doubts over the rationale to relax security checks, which culminated in the sudden disappearance of the military check points from the city centre.

The residents argued there is still need for them to continue checking, because of the increasing mass movement of people (old and new settlers) into the city, giving that

the greater percentage of the residents are yet to return from the yuletide break., A resident, Emmanuel Ona who expressed worry over the development, noted that there were still more security threats in the air, as people are still moving into the city with a lot of bags and other things, which may be used to smuggle dangerous weapons into the city.

He said he was shocked and sad when he discovered that the mili•Continued on page 34

and swords. Helpless victims submit to their will but some of the evil ones, after dispossessing their victims of their belongings, throw them out of moving vehicles.

One such case was that of a woman who after being robbed was thrown out of a vehicle. She did not fall off completely and was dragged over a distance by the speeding vehicle. Her skin was said to have peeled off in the ordeal.

Many others have been beaten severely, some scared off at fake shrines where they are forced to swear never to divulge their criminal act to anyone, not their relatives or the police.

To them, it is just plain hustling and trying to make ends meet. A victim, who recently fell into their trap, spoke with Abuja Review, saying that her abductors kept saying that they were hustling just like everyone else. The victim who only spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “As they beat me and took all the money in my bag, one of the men kept saying, I must make it in this Abuja, sebi we are all in Abuja, I must make it, come rain, come shine, nothing will stand between me and success.”

Another resident John Ishaku told Abuja Review how the criminals sent a foreigner running away from her work and Nigeria. Ishaku explained that his Kenyan friend was duped and dragged to a shrine somewhere in Jahi.

“After the incident,” he said, “she came back to tell us that they had not only stolen all the money in her purse, but dragged her to a shrine and made her •Continued on page 34

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

34

ABUJA REVIEW Menace of taxi robbers •Continued from page 33 swear in the shrine not to divulge their act to anyone or call the police.

They went with her to the ATM and she cleared out the account for them. She was so scared, and spent three days in church fasting and crying on the altar. She refused to leave the church even after she had been convinced by the pastor that she was OK and not under any form of spell. She packed her belongings and left Nigeria for good. Something has to be done about these people. Abuja is a place filled with so many foreigners and not just Nigerians. These criminals are spoiling the name of this country.”

Resident of Abuja has a way of handling these criminals when they are caught: instant jungle justice unless they are lucky to be saved by law enforcement agencies. There have been cases of a crowd giving them the beating of their lives. A few years ago, a video went viral of an Abuja crowd that stripped some of these criminals naked and beat them up. The criminals were thrown down from an overhead bridge, which was really gruesome. Another group which defrauded a victim along Area I last year was chased and blocked in the traffic, one of them lucky to have escaped but the second was taught a lesson that if he survived it, he would think twice about embarking on another mission.

However when contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) FCT Command, ASP Anjuguri Manzah said that the cases of one chance in Abuja has actually decreased because the FCT police commissioner CP Wilson Inalegwu has made progressive efforts in curbing criminality in Abuja.

He stated that, “the Commissioner has given directives that crimes and criminal activities in the FCT should be stamped out by all means, we have been working on his directive and the cases of one chance has actually reduced drastically, we are making good efforts to ensure that the FCT becomes crime free and residents can live free and without any fear of intimidation.

“We deal with the cases of one chance often, whenever we catch them or they are reported to our stations, we don’t keep themý, we charge them to court immediately and they are prosecuted. Residents can be assured that the police is making all efforts in ensuring their safety.”

The decline or increase in criminal activities in the FCT especially in cases of the one chance will still have to be left for residents to decideý, a resident who might have encountered this hoodlums frequently may not be eager to agree that it has declined but people will have to be careful, security conscious at all times and be careful of how they board vehicles in isolated parts of town.

A

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation (NGO) under the auspices of Doctors on Call Health Initiative has developed a new innovation, known as Telemedicine, to carter mostly for rural dwellers and address cases of medical emergencies.

The organisation said it has assembled more than 50 doctors aside hundreds of nurses and other medical personnel as part of the team to respond to any emergency from residents of the FCT. The firm’s Principal Consultant and Project Head, Dr. Adeloye Adejobi, said the purpose of the innovation is to bring health care access to rural locations by enabling practitioners evaluate, diagnose and treat patient remotely using the latest telecommunications technology.

He also revealed that their latest discovery was as a result of more than two year research, which he said has received two awards from both the World Bank and the IMF. Adejobi further explained that the new medical technology allows

•The robbers operate in these areas

Firm launches mobile emergency medical care patients to receive expert medical care without having to travel.

“Rural health care practitioners can use telemedicine products to capture and transmit medical data and images to peers and specialists whenever necessary, allowing for cost-efficient expert consultations and improved patient care.

“Telemedicine enables practitioners to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients remotely using the latest telecommunications technology. In many situations, telemedicine offers numerous benefits as an alternative to traditional in-person medical care.

“Many patients find it difficult to travel to clinics, hospitals, or doctors’ offices for any number of reasons. Telemedicine can be a great option for patients with unique challenges or in situations making it difficult to travel to receive tradi-

tional care.”

According to him, the new health care service can be used to monitor discharged patients and track patient recovery and also facilitating communication between doctors and patients.

He added that “Research shows that the use of telehealth technologies results in many positive outcomes is including fewer hospital re-admissions, more faithful following of prescribed courses of treatment, and faster recovery than that of patients not receiving remote intervention.

“Telemedicine allows hospitals to create networks to provide each other with support. By easily sharing their expertise outside their own institutions, doctors can offer incredible value to their medical colleagues and those colleagues’ patients.”

T

HE chairman of Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon Yahya Garba has urged residents to unite, irrespective of their religious and ethnic affiliations in order to achieve sustainable development in the council.

Garba made the call while speaking with youth groups, women organisation, party stalwarts and community leaders when they paid him a courtesy visit after the election petition tribunal upheld his election as chairman of the council.

The council boss said he dedicated his victory to God and the good people of the council for giving him the opportunity to serve, calling on the opposition party to join hands with him as his administration, that doors are open to accommodate every individual in respective of party affiliation.

“Abaji area council belongs to all of us let us put away political difference away and come to-

Council boss woos residents Stories from Gbenga Omokhunu

gether as citizens of the council and think of how we can develop and take the council to the next level,” he said.

He added that his administration is poised to offer quality services to improve the well-being and quality of living through the provision of social basic amenities.

Garba said that the administration has embarked on construction of meaningful projects, like the upgrade of Abaji main market, fencing of I’d praying ground, construction of Give road, electrification in various location, renovation of council secretariat amongst others.

Residents urge Buhari to restore checkpoints

•Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, Mr. Wole Adedeji (left); a comedian, Mr. Ayo Makun and his wife Mabel during AY L ive Abuja edition

•Continued from page 33 tary check points in Kuje and other parts of the city were nowhere to be found.

“I was very sad when I discovered that there were no longer military check points that were mounted before Berger and Apo Roundabouts, along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway and Kuje.

“Because the emergence of the check points gave me and other residents a great sense of security in the city, especially while plying the route on a daily basis. And, most of us had wished that the military checkpoints stay.

“I am appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to bring back the military check points, to help beef up security within the city centre, given the prevailing security challenges in the land.”

Another resident, Peace Omole said although, the check points mounted within the city centre and other parts had brought a lot of hardships on commuters, but the current peace we are enjoying is better.

According to him, the people are ready to pay any kind of sacrifices that would help lessen the current security threats they are faced with, while pursuing their daily bread.

Omole: “It is better to have these military checks on our streets, if it would allay our fears over the rising insecurity in the country, that’s was why am still to come to terms on the reasons for their sudden removal by the government.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

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HE Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold assent to the amendment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act passed by the Seventh National Assembly.

The group argued that Buhari’s assent amendment of the act was counter-productive and would drag the government into an unwanted industrial crisis.

“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari not to assent to this bill for the simple reason that it is not only counter-productive but will drag this government into unwanted industrial crises.”

Speaking at a news briefing in Abuja, ISDMG Executive Director, Dr. Chima Amadi, claimed that the group’s position was in view of fact that the bill will be a set back for higher education development in Nigeria.

Amadi noted that assenting to the bill might impose a greater financial burden and exposure to the

Buhari urged to withhold assent to TETFund Amendment Bill From Gbenga Omokhunu

TETFund much worse than the ETF regime.

He said: “The most bewildering aspect of the amendment is the explanatory memorandum. Once allowed to stand, it will take us back to the old Education Trust Fund (ETF) era which was restructured owing to the limitation brought on her activities as a result of interventions in too many institutions.

This law will bring about the proliferation of institution, which will negate the change from ETF to TETFund.”

He said that the fact that the bill was rejected in 2012 by stakeholders and unions was a pointer to its

Task team warns criminals

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HE FCT Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management has assured that it would do everything possible to safeguard life and property in the territory.

This assurance was given by the chairman of the city cleaning team who is also the Terrritory’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu after an emergency meeting.

The Police Commissioner reiterated that no stone would be left unturned to safeguard all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory; noting that anything that poses danger to the well being of the residents of the Territory won’t be spared.

Inalegwu called for cooperation by partnering with the members of the Special Task Team to weed the Federal Capital City of all environmental nuisances.

The Police Commissioner emphasized that the Task Team has put some viable mechanisms on ground to identify bad eggs within its members.

He remarked that those selling petrol in jerry cans will make the city unsafe and ‘we will go after them’ as well as those operating unpainted taxis, because such can be used for ‘One Chance’ or kidnap purposes.

His words: “We must have

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

records of all commercial taxis operating in Abuja and that is why the Task Team and particularly the officers and men of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) are enforcing it”.

Inalegwu said that commercial motorcycle (Okada) is banned in the Federal Capital City and remained banned; while the Keke NAPEP operators must remain in the restricted designated areas.

He warned that pedestrian bridges are for road crossing and not for commercial activities; stressing that anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.

According to the Chairman, the Task Team was set up to keep the city clean and any unwholesome practices would be kept at bay.

The Police Commissioner assured that the Task Team will never work to inflict hardship or discomfort to any resident of the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, the Chairman paraded two vehicles fitted with about two hundred litres of PMS (Petrol) drums each totaling 400 litres, earlier arrested by the Task Team and therefore used the occasion to advise residents to stop all those illegal activities.

‘We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari not to assent to this bill for the simple reason that it is not only counter-productive but will drag this government into unwanted industrial crises’ unacceptability by the unions and civil society organisations.

Amadi said “The big question is, how come an amendment that was rejected and thrown out find its way into the National Assembly for it to even be passed? Does it mean that the aspiration of Nigerians as reflected in the public hearing does not matter? If it does matter, why waste taxpayer’s money in organizing a public hearing only to do what you thought was right?”

The group also faulted the amendment of the bill to redefine tertiary education to include universities, polytechnics, collages of education and the Nigeria Law School.

He went further: “Have we paused to reflect on the wider implication of allowing this amendment to stand especially in the face of several other institutes that regulate the license of professional? This may just be the opening of the floodgate since they are established by law.”

His word: “the right of the National Assembly to make laws for the nation is not under contention here; it is their responsibility enshrined in our laws to make laws for the country, we are only looking at the implications of some of this laws and the processes we went through in the passage of the law before we got to where we are.”

A member of the group, Mr. Olajuwon Babatunde, also urged the president to shun the bill.

Babatunde said the amendment was aimed at weakening TETFund, which had revamped the tertiary institutions in the country.

“I appeal to the president to shun the amendment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act which was passed by the 7th Assembly.

TETFund is one of the most effective institutions we have in this country which has totally transformed tertiary education and taken it to another level. This bill is bent on reducing the impact that it has. We will no longer feel the benefits of this institution. We should focus on critical issues that will boost our educational system in Nigeria and not seek to weaken TETFund,’’ Babatunde said.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund Bill was among the 46 bills passed by the 7th Senate in a last minute flurry of activities recently.

The bill sought to change the board’s structure to include a representative of the Nigerian Law School; Redefine tertiary education to include the Nigerian Law School; and define university to include the Nigerian Law School and any institution established by law which runs full time programme which leads to formal qualification prescribed by law.

Council chief’s election upheld

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HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) election petition tribunal sitting at Wuse Zone 6 Magistrate Court, has upheld election the victory of the chairman of Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Yahaya Garba, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected chairman of the council in the March 16, 2013 polls.

Chairperson of the tribunal, Chief Magistrate Binta Moahmmed, while delivering a three hours judgment, which was read by Magistrate Musa Jobbo, said the chairmanship candidate of the defunct Action Congress Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, has failed in his petition to prove the allegations of the non-resignation of the council chairman as class teacher before contesting and over voting.

•Managing Director/CEO Transcorp Hotels Plc, Valentine Ozigbo (left); Managing Director, World Travel Awards, Graham Cooke and General Manager Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Etienne Gailliez at the World Travel Awards 2015 Gala Ceremony in Seychelles

From Gbenga Omokhunu

According to him, the allegation of over voting is not proved by virtue of the provision of section 53 (2) of the electoral Act (Supra), which, he said, provides that the basis of nullification of the results of an election shall be when the number of votes cast is higher than the number of registered voters.

He added that the allegation of the petitioner of ballot box snatching/stuffing, thuggery, intimidation, allocation of votes, harassment and security threat are criminal in nature, which, he said, require prove beyond reasonable doubt.

“Finally, we note that the petitioner called only four witnesses.

We also note that there are 43 polling units in the 7 wards complained

of. This burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt has not in our view being discharged by the petitioner, as this petition therefore failed and is hereby dismissed,” he said.

Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to the respondent, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) represented by Barrister Chris Kelechi, commended the tribunal for delivering sound and transparent judgment.

He urged the tribunal to award a cost N500, 000 to the petitioner for the expenses he incurred in prosecuting the case, saying senior advocates were involved in prosecuting the case, which, he said last for two years.

But counsel to the ACN Mr Y.G Haruna, a lawyer, said the judg•Continued on page 36

•Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Sulieman Yusuf Lasun receiving a congratulatory card from the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa at the National Assembly PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

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HOSE who have any skeletons in their cupboards regarding the running of public offices in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan now have reason to be concerned.

This is because President Muhammadu Buhari last week earnestly began probe into some fraudulent practices that have almost milked the nation dry.

Buhari, during his campaign period prior to the March 28 Presidential election, had put no one in doubt as to his determination to kill the corruption monster that has dwarfed Nigeria and prevented it from adequately providing basic infrastructural facilities for Nigerians over the years.

Knowing Buhari as a no-nonsense man and one who means what he says, some of the key actors in Jonathan’s administration, probably out of fear of what they have done wrong in office, did not wait for the May 29 handover ceremony to take place before jetting out of the country.

While many ex-government’s agency heads in this group have not returned to the country after five weeks that Buhari assumed office, many others in Jonathan’s administration, under one guise or the other, have also travelled out of Nigeria since May 29.

Though some Nigerians might have misconstrued part of Buhari’s inaugural speech to mean that the sins of corrupt officers in Jonathan’s administration have been forgiven and that he will only look ahead, signs from the seat of power in the last two weeks have shown that it is not going to be the case.

Buhari, who kept his plans against corruption in the past administration to his heart, at the beginning of his government had stopped immigration and other government agencies from preventing members of Jonathan’s cabinet from travelling out of the country.

Even if he wanted to close his eyes to financial wrongdoings under Jonathan’s administration, what he met in the treasury on assumption in office couldn’t allow him.

What he met on the ground was so bad that his administration could not pick up and move with the speed it wanted to.

Unable to keep calm over the issue, Buhari a forthnight ago raised the alarm that he virtually met empty treasury on assumption of office.

As if the empty treasury left behind by the last administration was aimed at crippling the nation, Buhari then vowed to recover the stolen money.

Seeing the predicament of Buhari’s young administration, the United States and other nations, where most key actors in Jonathan’s administration have relocated to, have promised to help Buhari in his drive to recover the stolen

Matching word with action money.

While these happened two weeks ago, the Buhari’s administration last week Monday put action to its words.

It sets up a four man panel comprising state governors, Edo - Adams Oshiomhole, Gombe - Ibrahim Dankwambo, Kaduna - Nasir el-Rufai and Akwa Ibom - Emmanuel Udom, to probe the oil sales and expenditure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) between 2012 and May 2015.

The panel, which is expected to report back to the National Economic Council (NEC), headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, by 23rd of this month, is also to probe expenses and other payments out of the Excess Crude Account.

Briefing journalists on behalf of NEC last week Monday, Oshiomhole said: “This is the first time we had a National Economic Council meeting in which under the instructions of the President, NNPC and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was compelled to provide information in black and white on issues as it relates to the total sales of Nigeria crude from 2012 to May 2015.

This has never happened before and for us this is profound.

“What we saw from those numbers, which I believe Nigerians are entitled to know, is that whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned about N8.1 trillion, what NNPC paid into the Federation Account between 2012 and May 2015 was N4.3 trillion and NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 tril-

scarcity for long.

No matter what is really causing the fuel scarcity, the masses on the street are fully behind the government in the effort to fight corruption to a standstill for the betterment of the country.

From the Villa

Depleting Boko Haram’s foot-soldiers

By Augustine Ehikioya

lion.

“Which means the cost of running NNPC is much more than the cost of running the Federal Government.

That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged, what is stolen, there are huge figures.

“President Buhari has promised to do that henceforth all monies must go to the federation account. What you need, you budget for. Nigeria cannot continue with you earn the money and spend it. Where is transparency? Where is the role of the National Assembly?”

On Excess Crude Account, he said: “We looked at the numbers for the ýExcess crude account, the last time the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, reported to the Council and it is in the minute, she reported by November 2014, that we had $4.1 billion but to-

day the Accountant General Office reported we have $2.0 billion. Which means the Honourable Minister spent $2.1billion without authority of the NEC.” He added But barely 24 hours after the move

by Buhari’s administration to look at past records, fuel scarcity and long queues, under whatever guise, appeared in many petrol stations across the country.

It is not clear whether the fuel scarcity is a way the marketers, who are mostly used to hoarding fuel in their filling stations, wanted to fight Buhari’s anti-corruption drive in the sector, which may end up with total deregulation of the sector.

Many Nigerians, no doubt, trust Mr. President will not allow the few saboteurs to continue to hold the country to ransom and make Nigerians to suffer the man-made fuel

Besides going all out in military battle against the terrorists, Boko Haram, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is also embracing ways to deplete the sect’s foot-soldiers without firing bullets.

This move is in line with the positions of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some other retired army generals, who believed that military option alone cannot end terrorism in Nigeria.

The Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Department in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has started to disabuse the minds of some Boko Haram members and rehabilitate them back to the society.

Apart from drawing out those already operating within the sect, the department is also concerned with shrinking Boko Haram’s recruitment pool.

The aims of the CVE programme in Nigeria include identifying the underlying causes of radicalization likely to be social, cultural, religious, or economic factor, and developing strategies to tackle them.

Council chief’s election upheld •Continued from page 35 ment passed by the tribunal did not captured the areas as contained in the petition, saying he would challenge the judgment at the Appeal court.

On his part, the chairman of Abaji council, Alhaji Yahaya Garba Gawu, who was in court after the judgment was delivered, commended the tribunal for delivering a sound and transparent judgment.

He said the outcome judgment has proved to his people that he truly won the March 16, 2013 council election, while calling on his opponent to join hands with his administration in order to move the council forward.

“As the outcome of today’s judgment has brought a big relief to me in order to use the remaining one year left to dividend of democracy to the good people of Abaji area council, ‘’ he said.

It would be recalled that the ACN chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Abdularahman Ajiya, had filed a petition to challenge the victory of the incumbent council chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Gawu, of the PDP, after he was declared winner in the March 16, 2013 council election.

Ajiya, alleged irregularities, over voting across the seven wards out of ten wards of the council, alleging further that the chairman did not resign as a class teacher before contesting the election.

•National President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Igwe Achese (left); Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi; Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Obafemi Olawore and Director of Special Duties Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Isa Musa during a stakeholders forum on the solution to incessant crashes of petrol tankers in Nigeria in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

37

LAW & SOCIETY

Activists, clerics petition council over not-for-profit code

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CTIVISTS, Pastors and workers of some Pentecostal churches have petitioned the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria over its plan to promote the “Not for Profit Code 2015” against the religious organizations.

The code seeks to nullify theocracy in the church which is ascendancy of rulership and headship of the church by spiritual means. It sought to impose democracy as preferred means of assumption to the structures of the church leadership in the area of appointment, tenure and succession.

Some of the aggrieved churches are Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); Living Faith International also known as Winners’ Chapel and Foursquare Gospel Church.

They alleged that the promotion of the code was being mooted with active connivance of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

Addressing a news conference in Lagos last week, their counsels led by Bamidele Ogundele said “governance in the church is a spiritual affair and that any attempt to separate spiritual affair leadership from administrative leadership would bring dichotomy, create crisis within the churches of God and create multidimensional contradictions”.

Ogundele argued that the Sections 1.1, 8-40 of the code which impose General Assembly and tampered with the structures in the church “ is anti-Christ, satanic agenda, illegal and a breach and an infringement of the fundamental rights of their clients to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Article 8 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Right (Enforcement And Ratification Act), Law of the federation 2004.

He said that the council has over stepped its powers and functions under Sections 7 and

By Adebisi Onanuga

8 of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria as well as duplicating the functions of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under Companies and Allied Matters Decree, Law of the Federation 2004 which is saddled with the responsibility of registration and monitoring Churches and charitable organiSations.

He said their clients are committed to the defence of rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria and have therefore decided to challenge the new development in court in order to prevent crisis in the church and to enforce their fundamental human rights at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The applicants in the suit number FHC/L/C5/974/15 are Bamidele Ogundele, Busola Ogunyode for themselves and the registered Trustees of the Centre for Rule of Law; Pastor Ayodele Oladeji, Babatunde Adefila, Isaac Opayinka and Bunmi Olawunmi.

Respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.

The applicants among others sought six reliefs from the court including a declaration of the court that the purported Notfor-Profit Sections Codes 2015 muted and being promoted by the second and third respondents is illegal and unconstitutional because it amounts to duplication of the functions of the CAC saddled with the responsibility of registration and monitoring of compliance of charitable organizations/ groups.

They also prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining the respondents, their agents and privies from adopting and given of effect of law to Not-for-Profit sector Codes, 2015 based on their infringement on the right of the applicants to religion under section

38(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 8 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Right (Enforcement And Ratification Act), Law of the federation 2004 and its inconsistence with section 7 and 8 of the enabling law establishing the body i.e. Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act Cap f42, Law of Federation, 2011.

Media Consultant to the Council, Mark Ogbamosa said it was a misunderstanding that the churches see the Code as been targeted at them.

“A committee was set up to work on a corporate governance for different sector of Nigeria. There is Corporate Governance already in Nigeria. In fact, we have six of them. For instance, there is one for CBN and banks and another for the NGO’s and Churches and Mosques fall under this group because they are more or less public organizations. . The truth is that when you have Corporate Governance in churches and mosques, it is not for them to pay taxes. That is wrong because it is not about taxation,” he said adding that the council is also not going to look into the accounts of the churches. That is for Internal Revenue board to do.

He however explained that corporate governance has to do about tenure and succession.

“It is saying that you cannot be in one position for too long.

When you stay too long in one position, you become a dictator. You must give room for other people to cue in because you are committing people’s money. So if it takes one person to stay there for too long, it means there could be dictatorship, there could be mismanagement”.

Ogbamosa said the code has to do with universally accepted system of church administration than of spiritual.

He said the council is aware that the pastors have sued the agency and that they already have the papers.

Rights abuse: Journalist seeks to join Customs boss in suit

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JOURNALIST, Mr Inno cent Nwachukwu, has prayed the Federal High Court in Lagos to join the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and its ComptrollerGeneral Alhaji Abdullahi Inde in his suit against the Department of State Services (DSS) and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation.

His lawyer, Aloy Ezenduka, while moving the application, urged Justice Mohammed Yunusu to join NCS and Inde as third and fourth respondents because they are “necessary parties.”

Nwachukwu, who is the publisher of Tentacles magazine, filed the fundamental rights enforcement action following his alleged arrest and detention by the DSS in an underground cell for 17 days.

He said last December 14, the DSS invited him to its headquarters following a publication in his magazine relating to Inde, and had been harassing him and visiting his homes in Lagos and Abia with a view to arresting and detaining him over the publication.

He said matters got to a head on January 14 when seven

By Joseph Jibueze

heavily armed and hooded DSS officers, in Gestapo style, arrested and beat him and his dependents up in spite of a subsisting court order against his arrest.

The applicant is seeking a declaration that his arrest, handcuffing, being forcibly taken to DSS office at Shangisha blindfolded violated his rights.

He said he was later transferred to DSS headquarters at Abuja by road in hand cuffs and blindfold, and was physically and psychologically tortured.

He is also praying the court to declare that the removal of computers and other documents from his home without warrant “based on the malicious, trumped up and unsubstantiated allegation/petition of one Alhaji Abdullahi Diko Inde” is unlawful and amounts to gross abuse of power.

The applicant is demanding N500million as general damages against Customs and Inde “for instigating the unlawful arrest, public humiliation and detention in an underground cell at the headquarters of the first respondent (DSS) for 17

days and the denial of the consorts of his three young children without any form of care…”

Nwachukwu said the DSS operatives kicked him in the stomach and groin severally and denied him access to his lawyers while accusing him of being a blackmailer and an extortionist, which he said were defamatory and libelous.

He said his arrest was “intended to gag the applicant, disrupt the practice of his profession and stop him from further publishing the dirty scandals surrounding the third and fourth respondents, especially the fourth respondent Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde…”

Nwachukwu was first invited after he published a story entitled: 20 obstacles against Jonathan’s election. Subsequently, the DSS said his arrest was due to Inde’s petition.

DSS has objected to the application seeking to join NCS and Inde, saying the plaintiff’s cause of action does not involve the two.

Justice Yunusa adjourned till October 26 for ruling on the motion to amend the statement of facts.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

38

LAW & SOCIETY

Gravitas Review: A guide to law and policy evaluation

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ET it be stated from onset that as a vehicle for academic and legal scholarship, the law review journals have long been known to be critical and central to the development of law in most jurisdictions. The purpose of law review publications is the detailed and comprehensive treatment of various topical issues in law, ranging from the interrogation of a legal principle, a statutory provision, some judicial decision, a proposed or a piece of legislation, to book reviews. The categories of subject matter open for review are not closed, except, of course, where the journal specifies by itself the ambit of its thematic focus.

The Gravitas Review of Business and Property Law, simply known as the Gravitas Review is a journal that has just returned to hold its place in the corpus of Nigerian legal publications. A return because according to the Managing Editor ‘The Gravitas Review was an influential law journal in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It unfortunately ceased publication in the mix of socio-political crisis of 1993’.

A law journal is made by the quality and content of its text and volumes. The Gravitas Review has aimed to be at the very top with an editorial team and board of advisers made up of some of the finest legal minds within Nigeria and elsewhere in the globe. The journal seeks ‘to be that quality business law journal from Nigeria publishing well researched articles on energy law, corporate law, international commercial transactions, economic crimes and sanctions, capital market and securities, maritime, taxation, tourism, project finance, land transactions and intellectual property among others’.

Doubtless, this commitment to top quality has been demonstrated with the inaugural edition, the March 2015 Volume 6 No. 1 which dealt with various topical issues in business and property law.

Under Intellectual Property, is the piece on page 1 titled: ‘Role of the Court in the Interpretation and Development of Intellectual Property Law: The Nigerian experience’ by Prof Adebambo Adewopo. According to the writer ‘The role of the court in the interpretation and development of Intellectual Property (IP) law is, undoubtedly, pertinent and significant in the dynamics of IP law and practice in the country’. In the piece we find an examination of the classical role of courts regardless of the jurisprudential schools of thought, be they natural, normative or of the positive schools. That is to say, in the exercise of the judicial powers of the court, three things are obvious- courts are responsible for adjudication, courts decisions creates precedents and rule order particularly in the Common law and even the Continental civil law system, finally as we find from the writer, courts are more able ‘to discover and give effect to the underlying policy and legislative intendment of the overall purpose of law.’

Despite having the first IP legislation received in 1900 known as the Trade Mark Proclamation of 1900, how has the courts fared with several other regulations and laws on IP having regards to legal issues in Patents, Copyrights, Trademark protection and enforcement? The writer posits that there is not much to cheer yet. In a country experiencing an upsurge of talent and creativity among the youths and other segment of the population, in the arts, music and sciences, the need to protect intellectual property of individual and groups cannot be overstated. A number of cases were examined such as Microsoft Corp. v Frankie (2005), Omnia v Dykrade (2003), Ferodo v Ibeto (2007) whose positions were not so helpful, but the writer is of the view that MCSN v Adeokin (2007) and Compact Disc Technologies Ltd v MCSN (2008) clearly defines the role of courts as well as provide the authority ‘for the legal status of collecting societies as owner, assignee and exclusive licencee

Title:

The Gravitas Review of Business & Property Law Editor: Professor Joseph Abugu Reviewer: Tony Odiadi, LLM BL Mciarb (Uk) Pages: 90 Publisher: Gravitas Legal & Business & Resources of copyright under the Copyright Act. In the case of Company Law and Practice Enwanta Ehigiato in page 19 offered an equally engaging piece ‘Mandatory Incorporation of Foreign Companies in Nigeria: Some Legal Considerations’. In looking at the regulatory regime of companies law and practice under the CAMA, the writer sought to put in context and interpret the expression ‘carrying on business’ as it applies to local and foreign companies. This is analysed within the specifics of the provisions of Section 54 of the CAMA which makes it mandatory for any foreign company wishing to, or doing business already at the time of enactment of the legislation to be registered. Nonetheless, by virtue of section 60(b) of CAMA as noted by the writer, the foreign company can sue and be sued. This provision is important for international commerce and trade in a globalised economy, a point well captured by the cited case per Pats-Acholonu JCA in Watanmal (Singapore) Ltd v Liz Olofin & Co Ltd (1981). There are also exemptions to the mandatory incorporation rule in section 54 to be found in section 56(1). In the comparative examination of the laws and practices in the United Kingdom and Australia, the judicial positions suggest that the meaning attached to ‘carrying on business’ will depend on regular and repetitive business or having a place of business. Same position with Nigeria, except that a nation eager to be open and attractive for foreign investment must prove less stringent in the regulatory regime for foreign positive business interests.

The third article on Labour Law by Professor Joseph Abugu titled: ‘Nearly Always, A Strike or Lock Out is Unlawful in Nigeria’. The writer set the tone of the piece clearly thus ‘The right to strike is a keystone of modern democratic society.

No society, which lacks that right, can be democratic. Any society which seeks to become democratic must secure that right.’ Following this point, the writer further states that the right of employees to strike hinges on the power of each individual to terminate his or her employment by giving notice. If there is a right to strike and many grand judicial and scholarly expositions hold that view, how does the exercise of that right become unlawful in Nigeria?

This point is at the very heart of the writer’s focus since the 1999 Constitution recognises the freedom of movement and association. In Statutory Constraints, he enumerates and restates the scheme of rigid regulations through several decrees or laws, majorly under the military regime requiring the consent of the Inspector General of the Police, of the Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters or the Military Command. Laws such as Trade Union Act, Trade Disputes Act, Trade Dispute Essential Services Act, Trade Disputes Emergency Provision, Decree 21, etc capture aspects of the statutory constraints. There are also categories of employees totally prohibited from strike, as those in the Armed Forces and Police, Customs, Prisons, CBN, etc called essential services. If downing tools by way of strike is deemed unlawful what is the consideration for employers Lockout of employees? The writer is of the view, and rightly so, that it is unlawful. There are immunities for the protection of union leaders and their members as provided in sections 24 and 44 Trade Union Act 1973. The Nigerian experience as stated by the writer finally is that though unlawful, strike as a weapon in the hands of workers continued to be utilised for bargaining and negotiating.

In page 44, the title under Arbitration section is the piece is ‘The Lagos State Arbitration Law and The Doctrine of Covering The Field: A Review’

by Abdulrazaq Adelodun Daibu. The writer makes the point about the critical importance of Arbitration as well as other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to serve the interest of persons in the industrial, trading and commercial hub of Nigeria which is Lagos as a city and state. Covering the field refers to the situation in which a piece of legislation has dealt with the entire content and jurisdictional ambit of its subject matter typically in a federation and a conflict arises when a state within the federation enacts a similar law. Most Constitutions recognise the superiority of the laws of the central authority over those of the states in a federation and where the two conflicts, the central law prevails or even invalidates the other. This is more so where the matter is either in the exclusive list to the central government or the shared concurrent list. This is the point in the case cited by the writer per Fatai-Williams CJN in AG Ogun State v AG Federation (1982). What then is to be made of the Lagos State Arbitration Law, that is to say, can it be deemed invalid in the light of the dictum of the former CJN about invalidating a similar law at the time by Ogun State to an existing Federal Law? The writer boldly concludes that Lagos State Arbitration Law must be amended to survive the doctrine of covering the field.

The fifth article is titled: ‘A Critical Analysis of the Excess Dividend Rule in Nigeria: Oando Plc v FIRS (Oando IV) Revisited’. This piece is on page 55 under the Taxation section and it reviews the Excess Dividends Tax (EDT) contained in section 19 of the Nigerian Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) 2004. This legislation seeks to control tax avoidance by corporate entities by taxing excess dividends. Excess dividends simply refers to that which is retained by companies for its own expansion or operational purposes. How appropriate is this scheme of taxation? The writer

sought to engage with three models which are, the American model, the Taiwo Oyedele’s model and the Canadian model. The key point against the EDT is that it amounts to double taxation. If the promptings for taxing Excess Dividend in Nigeria is because it is an obvious or disguised attempt to shortchange the state through tax evasion, this point had long been settled as a legal principle in the opinion quoted in the piece of Justice Learned Hand ‘Anyone may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the treasury; there’s not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes.’

This may be the point, yet there is the need to proscribe tax avoidance and tax evasion as the writer put it with laws referred to as General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR). The core issue is that the Oando IV case continues to reinforce a cycle of double taxation and such a rule of tax practice may not be the best for tax administration. We find finally that the American model does not impose EDT but will tax all distributions; Oyedele’s model shields all previously taxed incomes and gains from further taxation, finally the Canadian model under s 83(2) of the Income Tax Act recognises the payment of tax free capital dividends to shareholders of Canadian private corporations.

On page 75 Prof. Nnabue USF and Onyema Otitodiri both lecturers at Imo State University Law Faculty had the article under International Investments titled: ‘Enforcement of International Custom on Expropriation of Foreign Properties and the Plight of Developing Countries’. From the background of sources of international law enshrined in Article 38(1) Statute of International Court of Justice, the writers stated that the ‘rationale for expropriation is based on the doctrine of economic sovereignty which in turn is derivable from the principle of economic selfdetermination. This is to say that states have the inalienable right to determine both their economic system and future without interference by or reference to another state or group of states’.

How can this postulation withstand the trend in a globalised world of mutuality and economic interdependency?

The writers here seek to hold aloft the concept of sovereignty as an inviolable answer. The basis for lawful expropriations as the writers enumerated are clear- public purpose, non-discriminatory, based on due process and followed by compensation. There is a strong sense in this except that hegemons dictate the pace of things in international law. Vested rights and Acquired rights become the predominant consideration at the expense of the rights of developing nations.

Vagts D.F. made this point early in 2001 “Hegemonic International Law (Am. J. Int. Law) contending that ‘In the scholarship of international relations, power has been the central object of study, that no law graces the hegemons universe’.

This edition concludes with a Book Review section on page 83. A review by Dr Wale Olawoyin, SAN of Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria a book by Professor Joseph Abugu.

The reviewer informs on the essential aspects of this 18 chapter, 821 pages book that looked into the evolution and structure of the corporation, protection of stakeholders against corporate maladministration, corporate governance issues and corporate insolvency.

In all, the Gravitas Review offers a rich package and anyone interested in legal scholarship and enquiry will hold this copy and others to follow as a major resource material for practice and academic purposes. Legal practitioners, Lecturers, students and top state officials will immediately find the journal a veritable guide in law and policy evaluation.

Human rights violation: Businessman drags IGP, others to court

By Precious Igbonwelundu

• Arase

A

BUSINESSMAN, Gbenga Ajugu, has sued the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, over the alleged infringement of his rights by personnel

of the Force Intelligence Bureau Annexe (FIB), Obalende, Lagos.

Ajugu, the Managing Director of Microdigits Computers and Allied Services, instituted the suit before an Ikeja High Court after the police officers allegedly impounded his car and other valuable documents for over three months, to favour his business partner and M.D. Krypton Technologies, Sijuade Adewunmi.

Joined as respondents with the IGP in the suit are the Commissioner of Police; one ACP Bankole; CSP Lawal; the Investigating Police Officer ( IPO) Siji Ogunniyi; Inspector Akindele of FIB; Krypton Technologies, Sijuade Adewunmi, as well as former employees of Microdigits, Ayodele Alade, Monsuru Aregbe and Akinyemi Olushola.

Microdigits, a firm that specialises

in the installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV), fire alarm gadgets among others, last year entered into partnership with Krypton technologies to render its services at a hotel in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where Krypton secured a contract.

Following the satisfaction derived from the services rendered, another contract was awarded but disagreement over who would supply the gadgets for the new contract made the duo fall apart.

The police had arrested and detained Ajugu as well as confiscated his properties and other documents following allegations by Adewunmi that he was owing him N2.5 million, just as they threatened to deal with him should he not pay the said debt.

Ajugu who alleged that the FIB men were simply acting out a script written by Adewunmi with the directive

of a Commissioner of Police (CP), said if the law enforcement agency had done their investigation, they would have discovered that it was Adewunmi who was owing him.

Alleging threats to life, Ajugu claimed Adewunmi had physically threatened to deal with him, accusing the police of perpetrating injustice.

Narrating what transpired between them, Ajugu said trouble started between them after he refused the supply of CCTV Cameras to him from a man introduced by Adewunmi.

He said: “Sijuade (Adewunmi) and his company, Krypton have never undertaken these kind of jobs before but saw it as an opportunity to explore and make money.

“Meanwhile, Microdigits has got an impressive track record, so it was a jolly sweet beginning as our relationship blossomed and together we ex-

ecuted the first project in Abeokuta and left it at 70 per cent completion because other contractors were yet to finish up with the civil work.

“Gladly Microdigits provided her impeccable tract record and Krypton used this to scout for other jobs, beginning with an Abeokuta job at a hotel called IBD hotels.

“Sijuade Adewumi of Krypton and his senior partner (Tosin Adebowale) who got the job were so impressed and promised they would scout for more jobs so Micridigits would continue to be their technical partner.

“By November last year, Krypton Technologies came with a blank Bill of Quantity (BoQ) from a company EMKAISER, with the prospect of securing another multimillion naira job.

“Microdigits swung into action and delivered the expected pricing to ex• Continued on page 40

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

39

LEGAL OPINION

Contempt: Court hears FHA Home MD’s suit tomorrow

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HE National Industrial Court of Nigeria will tomorrow hear a contempt application by Managing Director of FHA Homes Limited Mr Roland Igbinoba against the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Prof.

Mohammed Al-Amin.

The plaintiff, who is challenging his suspension, initiated contempt proceedings against Al-Amin and Haytuddeen Atiku Awwal (appointed to act in Igbinobia’s place) for their refusal to obey a June 19 court order directing his reinstatement.

Justice Maureen Ewose had granted an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, including FHA, FHA Homes and Prof Al-Amin, their directors or agents from implementing a June 2 letter by Al-Amin purportedly suspending Igbinoba.

The court made an order directing the respondents to reverse all the steps taken by them based on the letter, and to restore the control and powers vested in Igbinoba as Managing Director pending the hearing and determination of his Motion on Notice.

“Both parties in this matter are hereby ordered to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the Motion on Notice is heard and determined,” the judge held.

The orders were made following an affidavit of urgency filed on Igbinoba’s behalf by his lawyer Mr Chukwunweike Okafor.

Igbinoba, in the contempt proceedings, stated that despite being served with the interim order, Al-Amin has refused to reverse the suspension, while Awwal has yet to vacate his Acting MD position.

In the application for an order of committal dated June 30, Igbinoba is praying the court to commit both Al-Amin and Awwal to prison for disobeying the court order.

The application is on the ground that Al-Amin had in various paid advertorials and interviews “acknowledged being aware of the court order of June 19, 2015.

“The said Haytudeed Awal Atiku refused to vacate the position of the Managing Director wherein he said the third respondent (Al-Amin) has informed him not to vacate the said position.”

The plaintiff is, therefore, seeking “an order of committal to prison custody of the third respondent for disobeying the order.

In the second prayer, the applicant asked for “an order of committal to prison custody of Haytuddeen Awal Atiku (Acting Managing Director, FHA Homes Ltd)” for also disobeying the order.

Igbinoba, in his originating processes, accused the Board of Directors headed

by Al-Amin of not giving him an opportunity to defend himself against allegations against him before he was purportedly suspended.

He was summoned to an emergency board meeting of the FHA Homes Ltd at the instance of Al-Amin where he was given the letter containing what he called unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations.

He, therefore, asked the court to order his reinstatement and declare his suspension as illegal, null, void and of no effect.

Igbinoba, a mortgage banking professional, had been head-hunted from his Lagos base to turn around the fortunes of the mortgage finance arm of the FHA in 2013.

Al-Amin, who doubles as Chairman of the Board of FHA Mortgage Bank, directed Igbinoba to proceed on suspension so that allegations against him could be investigated.

The decision to suspend him was said to have been taken on June 2 following a board consideration of an Interim Report of the Committee to reconcile the Authority’s Financial/Property Standing with FHA Mortgage Bank.

Problems were said to have become apparent in January when Igbinoba reportedly handed over to the most

•NIC President Justice Babatunde Adejumo

By Joseph Jibueze

senior Deputy Manager while proceeding on his annual leave. Alamin was said to have reversed the action and replaced the Acting MD with another Deputy Manager, Awwal.

On resumption, Igbinoba would not honour some of the transactions initiated by the acting MD and approved

by Al-Amin, insisting they did not follow due process.

Igbinoba, who was appointed on July 19, 2013, said due to the reforms he implemented, unaudited results for 2014 showed a profit before tax of N226 million, which he said was the first time in over a decade of the bank’s existence that it would make profit for two consecutive years.

He said having brought the bank to some level of profitability and stability in the last two years, his suspension came as a surprise.

On the in-house Committee Report

by FHA, Igbinoba said he saw it for the first time during the emergency meeting. “If I had the opportunity of seeing the report before the emergency board meeting, I would have come with documentary evidence to refute the allegations levelled against me.

“As it appeared I was already judged by the report as I did not get a chance of fair hearing or even defend myself.

However, I have made efforts to provide some documentation to correct the misrepresentations in the report based on the available documentation I have at this time,” he said.

On CBN’s Supervisory Report, Igbinoba said there were several anomalies in it, even as his management team was working on the relevant recommendations.

“Some of the anomalies in the CBN report are that profit for 2013 is N27.09m whereas the same CBN approved audited report for the bank at N147m for the same year,” he said.

On allegation of granting loans without board approvals, Igbinoba said: “We have not granted any loans without Board approval other than the loans that are within the approval limit of the Management Credit Committee.”

On his alleged failure to open an Escrow account to warehouse the proceeds of sales of recapitalised assets of the bank, he said they are ongoing and are warehoused in several accounts, all of which are accounted for as shown in the audited report for 2013

‘The core reason for the victimisation and harassment from Prof AlAmin is premised on his unilateral approval in my absence to renovate the bank’s Gwarimpa Branch with the sum of N14.7m.

The approval did not follow due process’

and unaudited report for 2014.

On allegation that he granted mortgage and personal loans to himself without disclosure and board approval, Igbinoba said he had never singlehandedly signed off on any loan in-spite of his approved limit.

On employment of staff without recourse to the Board of Directors for approval, he said: “At no point have we employed new staff without the approval of the board. At present I do not have the details of the staff member(s) that falls under this category as claimed by the chairman.

On his alleged failure to comply with the directives of the Board of Directors on the unilateral deployment of the Acting Heads of Finance and Operations, he said the redeployments were meant to address capacity issues, adding that the board committee resolved that it was justified.

On his “failure” to comply with the directive of the supervisory ministry on the recall of former staff, he said: “Upon receipt of the letter from the Ministry, we respectfully sought for some clarifications and pleaded for their response. As at date we are awaiting the response from the ministry.”

“I wish to state that the presentation of the FHA Interim Report of the Committee to Reconcile the Authority’s Financial /Property Standing with FHA Mortgage Bank at the last emergency meeting, and the decline to my request for time to present a written response with full documentation clearly indicates that I was not given a fair hearing before the decision to suspend me from office was taken at that meeting.

Furthermore, I was confronted with the said report for the first time the day I was suspended.

“Despite my several letters and reminder to the Permanent Secretary on these issues nothing has been done by the Ministry,” he said.

Igbinoba accused Al-Amin of playing the role of chairman and CEO at the bank and interfering with its hierarchical structure bypassing the next most senior confirmed staff Mr. Zabura Usman and handing over to Awwal.

The plaintiff said Awwal allegedly originated the N14.7 million Gwarimpa Branch renovation, with Al- Amin’s approval, without the Board or Board Finance and General Purpose Committee’s input.

He added that Al-Amin reversed the redeployment of the Acting Head of Finance, which is strictly a management function, even though the Board Establishment Committee had backed the redeployment.

Besides, Igbinoba said Al-Amin unilaterally replaced him as the representative of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) with Awwal.

“Finally, it is important to state that the core reason for the victimisation and harassment from Prof Al- Amin is premised on his unilateral approval in my absence to renovate the bank’s Gwarimpa Branch with the sum of N14.7 million with a contractor.

“The approval did not follow due process and was not considered either at the Board’s Finance & General Purpose Committee or at the Board level.

I could not implement the award because of this reason.

“He waited for the immediate past Hon. Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi to leave office before he perpetuated the illegal suspension.

“On hearing of fraudulent contract approval and usurping of management functions in the bank, the Hon. Minister had clearly told Prof. AlAmin to stop interfering with the reforms program that Mr. Igbinoba has been carrying out with huge success for the last two financial years of the bank.

“But once the minister left on the May 29, Prof Al-Amin called for the emergency meeting to illegally suspend me,” the plaintiff added.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Public officers and their assets

T

HE 1999 Constitution provides for the declaration of assets by certain category of public officers, as soon as they assume office, and also another declaration at the end of service; as a way of reigning in fiscal misconduct among the officers. The philosophy behind that provision is to create a public trail of the assets of the public officers, especially while they are in service. If the process is properly followed, the first declaration would enable the public, on access, to know the assets already acquired by a public officer before he/she assumes duty, while the subsequent declaration would give an overview of what has been acquired while in service.

This important constitutional responsibility is entrusted by paragraph15, part 1, of the fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution, on the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The code of conduct of the concerned public officers are listed in paragraphs 1 to 11 of the schedule, while the powers of the Tribunal to reign in the conduct of public officers is provided for, in paragraph 18 of the schedule. Paragraph 11 is perhaps the most popular provision, and it deals with the declaration of assets by public officers; while paragraphs 1 to 10 deal with the avoidance of conflict of interest, prohibition of foreign accounts, restriction on multiple remuneration, gifts, loans, bribery, abuse of power and membership of incompatible societies.

The punishments which the Tribunal can impose on violators of the code of public conduct, are also provided for, in paragraph 18(2) of the fifth schedule. It includes vacation of office by the culprit, disqualification from membership of legislative house, and from holding any public office for 10 years or less, and seizure and forfeiture to the state of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office. Sub-paragraph three emphasises that the above sanctions shall not prejudice ‘the penalties that may be imposed by any law where the conduct is also a criminal offence’.

The public officers named for the purpose of the code of conduct, are listed in Part 2, paragraphs 1 to 16. They include the president, vice president, president of senate and deputy president of senate, speaker and deputy speaker house of representatives, speakers of houses of assembly of states, members and staff of legislative houses, governors and deputy governors of states, Justices of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, ministers, commissioners, permanent secretaries, director generals, chairmen and members of local councils, police and military chiefs, among others.

Surprisingly, despite the clear promptings of the 1999 Constitution, the code of conduct tribunal have been a lame duck. The only news we hear about the body, is when it is giving the hogwash excuses it usually give, as to why it is withholding information on the declared assets of public officers, from the public. Over the years the body has been more interested in protecting the information submitted by public officers, than in monitoring the changes in their assets while in service, and sanctioning the errant ones, in accordance with the law.

The recent controversies over the declaration or non-declaration of assets of some public officers, is a manifestation of the weaknesses of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Where the tribunal to be alive to its responsibilities, all the named officers in part two of the fifth schedule to the constitution, would “immediately after taking office” declare their “properties, assets and liabilities and those of (their) unmarried children under the age of 18 ”. Another declaration “at the end of every four years” and “at the end of (their) term of office” would have exposed upon investigation by the tribunal, all unexplainable acquisitions by the public officers.

By the provisions of the constitution, the tribunal can be described as a quasi-judicial tribunal, with special powers. One of such special powers is the provision in paragraph 11(3), which provides that “any property or asset acquired by a public officer after any declaration required under this constitution and which is not fairly attributable to income, gift, or loan approved by the code shall be deemed to have been acquired in breach of this code unless the contrary is proved” (emphasis mine). The provision shifts the burden of proof; and for the tribunal, it is a lesser one, than the tedious ‘proof beyond reasonable doubt’, in criminal trials.

Assuming we have a vibrant tribunal, many of those now jostling for one position or another, would have been sanctioned before now.

It is therefore important that the tribunal develop the capacity to verify the declared assets of the concerned public officers, and when after four years, or the end of their tenure, another declaration is made; to juxtapose the two declarations and come to a conclusion whether or not there are acquisition which is not fairly attributable to the income, gift, or a loan approved by the code. Where any such acquisition has been made, the tribunal need only to apply the natural rule of fair-hearing, and then take a decision in accordance with its powers.

Unfortunately so far, the tribunal entrusted with such enormous constitutional mandate, seem not to appreciate its responsibilities. The result is that public officers after corruptly enriching themselves, use the proceeds of such corrupt enrichment to climb higher on the political ladder. As we have seen, many of the culprits seek and acquire higher offices while a laborious criminal trial is going on. Indeed, many of the officers who had declared their assets at the beginning of their tenure, clearly leave their positions with assets several times more than they could acquire with their legitimate incomes, had they served for a hundred years. In the spirit of change, I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to rejig the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

40

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

FROM THE COURT The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman, Board of Governors of National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, while addressing newly appointed judges and kadis at the NJI in Abuja on June 15 identified some core attributes of a true judicial officer.

Attributes of a good judge, by CJN W

HAT are the attributes of a good and eminent judi cial officer? One may ask.

The qualities and core values of a good and eminent judicial officer include:

Independence In this context, independence means being free of any loyalties, duties or interests that might inappropriately influence the performance of a judicial officer’s functions.

Judicial independence is not a privilege, but a right to every court user in Nigeria, that his or her cases are dealt with by a court, whose independence is guaranteed in qualification, nature and character. Independence is therefore, a core quality of an astute and eminent judicial officer.

Impartiality The next important attribute of a good and eminent judicial officer is impartiality, which is closely aligned to independence. It lies at the heart of judicial function and it is reflected in the oath of office.

All litigants must be treated equally without regard to wealth, influence, circumstances of birth or any other factor whatsoever. Impartiality guarantees the existence of rule of law.

If a judicial officer compromises his functions so as to curry favour from the rich and powerful, or in order to receive positive media coverage, he or she would cease to be impartial and would certainly undermine and truncate the rule of law.

Patience It is commonly said that patience is a virtue. It is an important attribute of a sound judicial officer.

A judicial officer needs to be patient particularly when listening to evidence that is implausible or to submissions that are dubious and unattainable.

Natural justice requires that the parties be given fair opportunity to present their cases before a decision is made. If a judicial officer acts impetuously by expressing fixed views prematurely or by cutting off a party before his case is •Continued from page 38 ecute the job and fine-tuned the technical details, Krypton on her part effected her financial expectations and presented to the main contractor.

“Luckily, they won the job, and Krypton transferred cash to Microdigits to begin work. Within the first week, Microdigits moved the job to 70 per cent and then the executive director of the main contractor was very impressed and gave another job which was to fix the firealarm systems.

“Thus Microdigits’ contract moved up from N6million to N12.7 million.

The value of Kryptons’ contract was however kept close to Sijuade’s chest.

“Trouble started when I was to go to Dubai to secure products (CCTV Cameras) for the project because they are never stocked by Nigerian companies. This did not go well with Sijuade who preferred a guy who could supply the products to Microdigits.

“But I didn’t want to stake over N5million on a man I barely know, but rather would spend a few hundreds of thousands to go buy the products from Dubai, with attendant peace of mind.

“Sijuade became visibly angry and hostile, but I knew that it’s my call and responsibility to get the re-

completed, an appellate court may order a retrial and in the process, other unpleasant consequences may arise.

Even in situation where a litigant is not represented by counsel, a judge should be patient enough not to be put off by the inability or unwillingness of the litigant to comply with normal court processes and judicial directions. He has the constitutional right to choose not to be represented by counsel except in serious criminal trials.

Humility Humility is not out of place in the judiciary. Where a judicial officer is assisted by counsel in the course of trial, it is appropriate to acknowledge this at that time or at the end of the trial.

Likewise, where a judge is under a misapprehension in a case, it is not inappropriate to acknowledge the error and to thank the party that clarified the position.

Such respect and cooperation strengthens the relationship between the Bar and the Bench and instils a sense of confidence in the humanity and integrity of the Judiciary in the eyes of court users.

Communication skills Good communication skill is an essential requirement for a sound and erudite judicial officer. As judicial officers, you are constitutionally required to make rulings in the course of a trial and to give directions to litigants and witnesses.

These rulings or judgments must be done in a manner and language that can be quickly understood by those who are expected to comply with them. You are required to give written reasons for your decisions.

Sometimes, the cases may involve complex factual and legal issues.

The reasons must therefore, be clear, succinct and unambiguous so that the parties and other interested persons can understand them. Lack of good communication skills can be dangerous and devastating. Avoid too much Latin maxims that have no bearing on the positive Nigerian jurisprudence.

•Justice Mohammed

Courtesy This is not only a basic human quality, but an important attribute for a judicial officer. In the past, some judges regarded aloofness and gruffness as adding to judicial authority and to the mystique of the office. Those days are gone.

Everyone who comes before the court is entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect; even those who are accused of heinous or despicable crimes deserve some respect.

If litigants or counsel are throwing barbs at each other in offensive or disruptive manner, you must order them to stop. If a counsel is shouting at a witness in a humiliating manner, you must order him to desist from doing that.

After all, courtesy is not incompatible with effective advocacy or effective adjudication. Judicial courtesy bolsters the authority of the court, and earns the respect of the society it serves.

Cultural and community engagement Nigeria is a multi-ethic nation.

Most states of the federation are made up of diverse ethnicities, languages, religions and cultures. The success of such society depends on mutual understanding and respect.

Equality before the law and respect for other people’s rights are important elements of rule of law.

As you move from one judicial division to another, you must treat all Court users with equal respect regardless of how different they are or how unpopular their cause may be. In the interpretation and application of customary and native laws, avoid assumptions that are based on cultural stereotypes.

Negative cultural stereotypes strain harmony within the community and cause serious security breaches. Except where the adduced native law and custom is barbaric or offends the repugnancy test, every litigant is entitled to have his or her case decided based on the evidence that has been adduced and tested in open Court in the Course of trial rather than on any other extraneous considerations.

For the kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, your applicable law is the Sharia. For the judges of the Customary Court of Appeal, your applicable law is the prevailing customary laws of the litigants that come before you, not the biblical or koranic injunctions.

Your religious inclinations should not be brought to bear in your judicial decisions as a judge of the Customary Court of Appeal. No matter how you feel about the religious implications of such alleged customs, so long as they comply with requisite legal and judicial tests prescribed, you must apply them in relevant cases.

Sense of humour The administration of justice is a serious business, with important obligations and responsibilities.

Court cases involve tremendous stress for court users and therefore, the courtroom is not a place for judicial officers to try their hands at being comedians.

That does not mean, however, that judicial officers must be perennially uptight and unhappy.

No, the courtroom is not a grave yard. A balanced life style, interests outside the law, a down-toearth personality and a good sense of humour can increase a judicial officer’s enjoyment of his judicial work.

This can assist in ensuring that the mood in the courtroom is posi-

Businessman sues IGP, others over rights abuse quired product as the technical person and of course as required by my contract.

“Thus, I went to Dubai, had a good deal with the original manufacturer of the products, and came back to Nigeria, paid and installed the products, and waited for more money from Krypton, but was shocked when Sijuade ‘fired’ me.

“He connived with my boys, (who claimed they would finish the job without their boss), and within twenty four hours resumed to take up my job.”

He said because Adewunmi allegedly has a relationship with one Assistant Commissioner of Police, he wrote a petition claiming he defrauded him of N2.5 million, whereas, he (Ajugu) was being owed N6.7million by Adewunmi’s company.

“The federal police instead of advising the complainant that they are not constitutionally empowered to intervene in civil matters, immediately, without caution or regard for organised business laws in the country decided to be a judge in their own court hence broke the law they have sworn to protect by impounding without a court warrant my personal

car; a Honda SUV car with all the original papers.

“They refused to see the matter as a pure business transaction between two duly registered companies, and not a crime committed by an individual even with mounting evidences to suggest that it’s a pure civil matter.”

While denying being indebted to Adewunmi, Ajugu said they agreed on a payment regime of 40, 40, 15 and five percents, adding that their labour and other cost was part of the N6million that they were supposed to get.

“To this we agreed, and by November 21, we got an alert of N1.6million credited to our account from Krypton technologies to start the cctv job.

It was a bank transfer from Krypton technologies to Microdigits.

“Immediately I brought in my men and equipment, we swung into action even though we expected the promised 40 per cent (N2.4 million) but we got less than that.”

Since the company was impressed with the job done, Ajugu said they were awareded the next aspect, which was installation of the fire alarm systems valued at N4.7 million.

“Looking at the drawing, I discov-

ered that there would be a possible flaw in the overall execution of the CCTV job, so I wrote a memo for an adjustment, and forthwith it was approved, and this added N2million to the CCTV job, making it N8 million.

“On December 5, we received payment of N1million from Krypton technologies to start the fire alarms systems, and forthwith we started work and by December 13, the first phase of the job was almost done, which is cabling and it accounts for 70 per cent of the whole job.

“Sijuade released N3.4million into our company account on December 19 while I was in Dubai. With the released fund, I was able to buy 33 units of cameras (out of about 57 ) and 60 units of smoke detectors and more needed cables to compensate for the flaws in the calculations of the BoQ. “I told Sijuade we needed more money to move on with the project, and I was shocked when he said I should itemise and analyse everything I had bought.

“By that time, we have been paid N6million out of N12.7 million naira (less than 50 per cent payment made to us), and we had taken the job to 80

tive which, in turn, can ensure that the hearing is conducted in an efficient and harmonious manner.

Abiding by the Code of Conduct and judicial ethics This is the most important requirement of a judicial officer. Every judicial officer must abide by the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and judicial ethics as expounded in the Bangalore principles of judicial conduct.

Any judicial officer that does not abide by the code of conduct is on his way out of the Judiciary.

The Judiciary is now more prepared and more poised than ever before to rid itself of all the ugly dirt’s inflicted on it by unscrupulous persons occupying judicial offices in Nigeria.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) and the respective states’ Judicial Service Commissions are adequately empowered to remove, with ignominy, any judicial officer or judicial staff that has chosen the path of dishonour to be lazy or refuse to abide by judicial ethics and judicial code of conduct.

The code of conduct covers all aspects of a judicial officer’s live both in and out of court. It must be studied, digested and imbibed by all judicial officers in Nigeria.

As new judicial officers you are advised in your own best interests, to make the code of conduct your constant companion and an ever ready guide.

Prompt disposal of cases This is a constitutional requirement. A good judicial officer must dispose of matters before him promptly, efficiently and diligently. You must demonstrate due regard for the rights of the parties to have their cases heard and disposed of without unnecessary delay.

You must be in control of your courts to eliminate dilatory practices, avoidable delays and unnecessary adjournments. You must devote adequate time for court duties, be punctual in attending court and expeditious in determining matters before you. per cent completion.”

In his submission, Adewunmi however denied owing Ajugu, accusing him of abandoning the project and going on a luxury trip to Dubai.

“During the process of carrying out one of the contracts, funds where remitted into the accounts of Microdigits for the purpose of effecting the contractual obligations.

“Unfortunately, instead of purchasing the necessary materials to perform the contract, Ajugu went to Dubai leaving the project unfinished having diverted the sums for personal use i.e. purchase of car and luxurious living.

“On his return, I asked Ajugu to render account of what has been done so far on the project and how the funds disbursed to him have been used.

“He failed to provide satisfactory answers to the query nor was he able to provide the outstanding funds for the project. Consequently, he was relieved of the project.”

Adewunmi alleged that his company was indebted to the tune of N3million on the project, which prompted his involvement of the police for proper investigation.

He averred that Ajugu’s suit was to circumvent the investigative powers of the police, urging the court to dismiss it.

42

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

2ND KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING 24th JUNE, 2015 (7TH RAMADAN, 1436AH) PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

K

ano State has indeed undergone unprecedented transformation in the last four years as evi dently testified by the numerous mega physical infrastructural projects that dotted the landscape in addition to human capital development programmes that add value to the living standard of the people and propel the state to greater height and improved socio-economic development.

the end of this month.

To this end, the ministry requested the Council to approve the sum of N12,720,000:00 for the training of the 159 trainees and revalidation of the earlier approval of N9,791,925:00 granted at the Executive Council meeting held on 22nd January, 2015 but was not redeemed. The Council noted and approved both amount.

Equally important is the fact that all these were realized without any recourse to foreign or domestic b) Request for Funds for Ramadan Gesture to loans, as is the case with other states, but through Six (6) Rehabilitation Centres judicious utilization of funds, impressive boost in The request was submitted by the Chairman of the IGR and plugging of all leakages and loopholes Council, the Governor, inviting the Council to recall through which financial resources of the state were the age-long tradition of providing foodstuffs to refrittered. With the assumption of the incumbent Govhabilitation centres in the state during the Holy Month His Excellency, ernor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR, after his Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR of Ramadan to improve the condition of the inmates party’s resounding victory during the recent general elections, he pledged to consolidate on the phenomenal successes re- during the fasting period. These centres are Dorayi Rehabilitation Cencorded so far by completing all inherited projects and initiating new ones. tre, Goron Dutse Remand Home, Old People’s Home, Shahuci, Kurmawa This commitment has no doubt indicated that Gov. Ganduje and the im- Prison, Goron Dutse Prison and Children’s Home, Nassarawa. The Counmediate past administration are on the same page on the resolve to make cil was requested to approve the sum of N2,400,000:00 for the purchase of 120 bags of rice for distribution to the six (6) social homes as part of Kano great within a very short period. the humanitarian gesture of the state government to the inmates. Approval As further testimony to these determined efforts, the Kano State Execu- was graciously granted by the Council. tive Council under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR, in its second sitting on 1st July, 2015/14th Ramadan, 1436AH, deliber- c) Request for the Ratification of Administrative Approval for ated on many issues geared toward the development of the state. The the Provision of Take-off Grant and Monthly Overhead Cost to the Governor in his opening remarks emphasized the need for proper sanita- State Private and Voluntary Institutions Board tion of public places especially health facilities charging the manage- The request submitted by the Chairman, the Governor, is for the proviment of all MDAs to ensure adequate sanitation of their premises and sion of take-off grant of N1,981,950:00 and monthly overhead cost of warned civil servants against laxity and other misconducts. Specifically, N1,120,000:00 to facilitate the smooth operation of the Kano State PriAudu Bako Secretariat was designated as a 'Green Area', to be maintained vate and Voluntary Institutions Board saddled with the responsibility of by the state Ministry of Environment as Ministry of Water Resources regulating the activities of the over 3,000 private and voluntary instituwas directed to provide at least two (2) boreholes to water the vegetation tions spread across the 44 local government areas of the state. However, while Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB) should the Council considered and approved the sum of N1,000,000:00 as takeopen an office to take care of the general sanitation of the secretariat off grant for the Board. complex. He also emphasized the need to explore more sources of internal revenue generation to enable the administration meet the yearnings d) Request for Funds for the Renovation and Furnishings of VIP Guests Chalet at Central Hotel, Kano and aspirations of the teeming people of the state.

The memorandum is from the Ministry of Works, Housing and TransDuring the sitting, the esteemed Council approved the following memo- ports seeking the approval of the Council for the release of N5,105,942:10 for the renovation and furnishing of the chalet owned by randa presented before it after exhaustive deliberations: the state government within the premises of Central Hotel, Kano to proa) Request for Funds for the Retraining of 5th Batch of Gradu- vide decent accommodation to its VIP guests. In view of the urgency of ates of Kano Reformatory Institute, Kiru and Revalidation of Ear- the project, the Ministerial Tenders Board at its sitting recommended the award of the contract at the cost of N5,105,942:10. The Council lier Approval for the Empowerment Package for the 4th Batch The memorandum from the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social considered and ratified the administrative approval for the award of the Development invited the Council to note the existence of the Youth Drug contract to the construction firm at the quoted cost.

Rehabilitation Programme undertaken by the ministry through the Kano Reformatory Institute, Kiru being carried out in batches by a consultant, e) Request for Funds for the Revalidation of Approval in Respect Messrs Combat and General Services International. So far, four (4) of Teaching Skills Programme (TSP) batches of the rehabilitation programme have been successfully executed This request is from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) culminating in the graduation of hundreds of former drug addicts who inviting the Council to reconsider the earlier stepped down memoranreceived treatment, basic skills acquisition training, counseling and ad- dum in respect of the Teaching Skills Programme (TSP) in view of the vanced training at ITF Skills Acquisition Centre, Kano. Under the fifth relevance and validity of the programme which is a tripartite commitbatch, 159 youth are currently being trained and they will be graduated at ment between UBEC TPD Fund, ESSPIN and the State Government.

43

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

UBEC (TPD Fund) and ESSPIN have already honoured their respective commitments while that of the state government is being awaited. Under the programme, 2,000,000 pupils, 16,085 teachers, 5,362 head teachers and 823 school support officers are expected to benefit. Already, the federal government has contributed N140,000,000:00 (TPD Fund), ESSPIN committed N150,000,000:00 for the printing of lesson plan booklets for classes 2, 3, 4, and 5 apart from consultancy fees, production of training manuals and cash contribution amounting to N41,000,000:00 while the state government will provide N61,000,000:00 under the tripartite arrangement.

In view of the above, the Council was invited to consider and approve the revalidation of the earlier approval granted for the release of N61,000,000:00 to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to enable it execute the project which approval was readily granted. f) Request for Funds for the Procurement of One 18-Seater Bus for the Established Independent Communication Network For Security Agencies The Council was invited to refer to Council Extract dated 26th May, 2015/8th Sha’aban, 1436 AH conveying approval for the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to provide one 18-seater bus to the Committee on Independent Communication for Security Agencies in the state following which quotations were obtained from two reputable companies for the supply of the vehicle. The Council approved the release of the sum of N8,600,000:00 for the supply of the 18-seater bus. g) Request for Funds for the Conduct of the 2015 Drainage Clearance Exercise The Ganduje administration has accorded great importance to environmental sanitation culminating to declaring a week-long sanitation exercise tagged 'Keep Kano Clean Campaign', immediately after assuming office last May. The submission of this memorandum by the state Ministry of Environment is a continuation of this laudable effort to ensure clean environment for a healthy citizenry. In order to avert flooding with the attendant loss of lives and property, the Council was requested to approve the release of N39,613,519:45 to the Ministry of Environment for the conduct of the exercise, which the Council granted.

Hon. Commissioner of Information Representative of KNUPDA Representative of Hisbah Representative of the Emirate Council Sarkin Tsafta State Chairman of Self-Help Groups Commandant of Vigilante Group Managing Director of REMASAB

- ” - ” - ” - ” - ” - ” - ” - Secretary

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 2ND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING ` MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE Council noted the successful conduct of the last Saturday, 27th June, 2015 monthly sanitation exercise with commendation to all stakeholders who contributed towards the success of the exercise.

Council urged all contractors/companies handling road construction projects in the State to provide free services of their plant (vehicles) at every subsequent monthly sanitation exercise within the metropolis as part of their corporate social responsibility.

BRIEF BY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THEIR MINISTRIES Council noted the briefing made before it by the newly appointed Commissioners as they assumed duty at their respective ministries. The briefing was centered on the outcome of meetings with Directors at the ministries and familiarization visits to parastatals under their supervision highlighting problems, challenges and possible ways forward.

UPDATE ON THE ON-GOING CONSTRUCTION OF RING TYPE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND INTERLOCKINGAT EIGHT (8) METROPOLITAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS Council noted the progress so far on the on-going construction of Ring Type Drainage System and Interlocking at the eight (8) Metropolitan Local Government Areas with appreciation, details of which are as follows:-

h) Request for Funds for the Conduct of the Three Rounds of Polio Immunization Plus Days (IPDS) Campaign The state government has not wavered in its commitment and zeal to wipe out polio virus and improve the quality of health care delivery in all the nooks and crannies of Kano State. This memorandum from the state Ministry of Health requesting the Council to approve the release of N18,147,000:00 for Polio Immunization Plus Days Campaign to be conducted between July and September, 2015 is a continuation of this commitment. The Council graciously approved the amount requested. i) Request for Funds for the Payment of Outstanding Bonus for Technical Crew and Players of Kano Pillars Football Club The darling team of Kano State, Kano Pillars FC, has made history by clinching the National Premier League in three consecutive seasons due to the policy of the state government toward sports development.

Likewise, Kano Pillars Basketball Club has brought glory to the state thanks to the government’s unceasing financial and moral support. In order to maintain this enviable position in the national football scene, the Ministry of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture requested the Council to approve the release of N41,054,600:00 for the payment of outstanding bonus for technical crew and players of the club as well as honour other commitments which the Council readily granted approval.

POLICY ISSUE The Council approved the setting up of a 13-member Committee to map out modalities for a monthly sanitation and provision of awards to the Best Performing Local Government Areas as well as recruitment of “Dakarun Tsafta” with the following composition: Hon. Commissioner of Environment Hon. Commissioner for Local Government Hon. Commissioner of Water Resources Hon. Commissioner of Health Hon. Commissioner of Women Affairs

- Chairman - Member - ” - ” - ”

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY The council has endorsed these useful phone numbers provided by the security agencies in case of any emergency. Accordingly, members of the general public may contact KAROTA for breakdown of vehicle(s), traffic congestion, accident or illegal/wrong parking on 08091626747, the State Police Command on 08032419754 or 08123821575 and the State Fire Service on 07051246833 or 08191778888.

Signed:

The Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

44

SHOWBIZ

OAPs recount experiences on YouTube

I

T was a night of glamour as YouTube hosted top Nigerian YouTube content creators at a dinner to mark 10 years of its video sharing experiences.

The event, which took place at the Intercontinental Hotel and Resort on Victoria Island, Lagos, had the likes of Olisa Adibua, Toke Makinwa and AriyikeAkinbobola among others in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Adibua, a veteran broadcaster recounted how he got inspired while growing up in the United Kingdom and how he got a contract job with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA 5) at the age of 17 when he arrived Nigeria.

He further noted that he contributed to the success stories of many Nigerian artistes, naming popular musicians like Eldee, StyPlus, D-Banj among those he helped to boost their careers, especially through Big Brother Nigeria.

The co-founder of Storm Records and one of the brains behind Big Brother Nigeria however, advised younger on-air-personalities (OAP) on how to excel on the job.

He said: “When you are on radio for instance, you have an instant power. I’ve several times paid fines to the National Broadcasting Commission. But why do I have to pay this much to them, when they are richer than me.

“I tell young people to read a lot, because not reading wide is their problem. They don’t read. They believe presentation is just all about sitting in front of the camera. If you must succeed in this business especially in the global scale, you have to read about different things going on within your locality and • Julius Agwu

•As platform marks 10 years of video sharing

By David Lawal

around the world.

“If you want to interview a person, it is just wise for you to do a background check about the person. So you need to read to be ahead of your interviewee.”

For Toke Makinwa of TokeMoment, her passion for what she does has been the backbone of her continuity.

On TokeMoment, she runs a regular monologue on everything from self-improvement to relationship issues in a loose and funny manner.

“When I started out on YouTube, I was not aware of the financial benefits of using YouTube. I would just upload videos and be happy that they get good number of views.

It was much later in 2013 that I got to know that I could monetize my contents to earn money.

“I find joy when I run into ladies at shopping malls outside the country and they identify me and can easily relate their issues with me. It gives me a lot of joy. You know, usually, people like to talk to someone who does not know them about the issues, TokeMoment has filled that space.

“Uploading a new video every Wednesday has not been easy for me but I also know that the key thing about YouTube is consistence and I have kept at it. I must confess that YouTube has been a huge source of blessing to my life,” she recounted.

Meanwhile, for Akinbobola, lawyer and mother of two, YouTube is an avenue for

R

AK MEDIA takes Liberty Villa to K MEDIA Concepts Ltd, deterAfrica Magic mined to maintain its status as the

leading horizon in media independent production, has come out with another interesting SITCOM, Liberty Villa.

The family drama, according to the company, will be aired on Africa Magic Family every Friday at 7:30pm.

The Executive Producer and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the outfit, Asiwaju Benson Akindeju, said: ”Having Liberty Villa aired first on Africa Magic platform is borne out of our zeal to give the superlative drama a platform with vast outreach. Being a new soap with high quality story lines, advanced technique in its shots with evergreen artistes on set, we will be doing our viewers a great honour by having it on a cable television, whose picture quality is of high standard. As Nigeria and the world at large move towards digitalisation, as a content provider, our thought is to align with the trend.

“Among our various dramas, Liberty Villa will showcase AK MEDIA Concepts Ltd as a content provider with a class. From the synopsis, Liberty Villa is a philosophical family drama series centred on Albert’s family. Dr. Prie Albert and Mrs. Patige

• Toke Makinwa

It will be recalled that in 2014, YouTube views in Nigeria increased by 78%, while views of Nigerian content increased by 95% a testament of the role YouTube is playing in the export of Nigerian content.

The video-sharing website headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States has become the go-to destination for video footage on the web. The volume of content unites people from all walks of life through video.

The night tagged: “YouTube & the Stars event” also had YouTube content group creators like Naija’s Craziest and TechCityNG.

Julius Agwu opens up on state of health UMOURS were rife that celebrated Nigerian comedian Julius Agwu was battling a strange illness but nobody could particularly place a finger on it. This became even more so as the entertainer chose to keep mute about the issue.

However, the ‘musicomedy’ champion has decided to open up on his near death experience.

Speaking with Yes Magazine recently, the Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Port Harcourt described his survival as “God at work and that is why I will forever thank Him” He revealed how at some point, he started noticing that he was losing weight, which got many people wondering. According to him, some concerned people proffered solutions, both medical and spiritual, while others resorted to murmur and gossip.

Agwu said that sometime in May, things heightened when he had a seizure at home while his wife, Ibiere, battled to save him, he ran out of breath, in an almost lifeless state.

With the likely consequences starring her in the face, he said, Ibiere got their maid

A

people to gather a lot of experiences and remain loyal to who they are.

“On YouTube, I talk about relationship dynamics. I have in the past done videos on YouTube on how to spy on your nannies; I have also done videos on parenting,” she said.”But you know what, the views I get on my channel aren’t up to 5, 000. But when I don’t box myself, and do freestyle videos, amazingly, I get over 100,000 views.”

Akinbobola, who does videos on sex and relationship, further said that her contents had been greeted with stream of criticisms, stressing: “Well, my channel is not for babies, but for adults.

“Most times when I talk about sex, people tend to look at me as ifý it’s a no-go-area, but as a married woman, this is something I do, even, people who are not married do this. So, why do we shy away discussing it?”

Speaking on the event, Taiwo KolaOgunlade, West Africa Communication and Public Affairs Manager said the event was aimed at leveraging the 10th anniversary of YouTube to spotlight Nigerians who in spite of all odds are constantly sharing content, and by so doing, are building their own fan bases.

He said, “There are now more than one million channels earning revenue through the YouTube Partnership Program, in more than 30 countries, and it’s exciting to see more Partners coming on board in Nigeria too. Globally, partner revenue across YouTube has increased by 60% over the past year andpartner revenue from mobile ad sales has tripled.”

By Ovwe Medeme

and the security man to get him to their hospital in Lekki.

At the hospital, Agwu narrates, the doctors battled for hours and, upon stabilizing him, he immediately left for the United States of America with his wife.

Upon arriving the States, Houston to be precise, arrangements were made at a Hospital. After a series of tests, two lumps were discovered in his brain, he explains.

The artiste recalls how the lumps had been ‘messing up his health and causing his incessant weight loss.’ The Caucasian surgeons Immediately went to work, operating on him for about 4 hours on Tuesday, May 12.

Upon being discharged, Julius said that he rested in the US for sometime before recently returning home.

Julius Agwu started drawing attention to himself sometime last year when fans noticed that he had been losing weight and colour. Things got so bad that his looks became the attention of a heated twitter debate in December last year.

• Benson Akindeju

• Flavour

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

Albert are liberal-minded and highly-cultured people, whose premium on family values and peaceful co-existence is very high. The family runs into crisis and it stands together always to get around the challenges, teaching viewers collective responsibility. Every episode starts and ends with a problem being solved without affecting the heart of the story.

“As the television soap hits Africa Magic’s screen, in a couple of weeks, the drama series will also be available in terrestrial top television stations nationwide.”

Some of the offerings of AK MEDIA Concepts Ltd include Family Ties (A thorn in the Flesh) showing on AIT and other stations across the country, Nowhere To Be Found, Face2Face, Oyinmomo, a Yoruba talk show on Africa Magic Yoruba, Muziq & Moore and AKB, which will be aired soon.

Faces on Liberty Villa include Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Bimbo Oshin, Eric Obinna, Toyin Alausa, Cassandra Osaretin and Favour Mbagwu among others.

Flavour to tour US

By Joe Agbro Jr.

H

IGHLIFE musicianFlavour N’abania, is set to go on a musical tour of the United States soon, courtesy of Club Nationale.

Already, in a preparatory mood to the event, Flavour, who has been nominated for the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) ‘Best Live’ act, took to his Instagram account yesterday to announce the tour in a poster tagged ‘Live in concert, Flavour Nabania ‘with his live band.’

According to the poster, the events being hosted by The Wowoboys will see Flavour performing in Houston, Texas on July 24th while he will hosted on August 1st in Detroit, Michigan.

‘Motown are you ready?’ He asked in a message accompanying the poster, addressing the legendary record company. ‘I’ll be in the automotive capital of the world, Detroit on August 1st.’

45

TUESDAY JULY 7, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

KOGI POLITICS

The governorship election in Kogi State is gathering momentum. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are warming up for the exercise. JAMES AZANIA examines the chances of the gladiators in the race and issues that will shape the poll.

APC, PDP battle for Lugard House T

HE Kogi State governorship election, which is scheduled for October, has been generating interest, both within and outside the state. For the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the battle has been drawn. The two parties have been finetuning strategies for the contest.

The recent general elections had slowed down consultations over the election. But, now, aspirants have commenced preparations.

There are about 19 political parties in the state, but the APC and the PDP are the only players that have the wherewithal to dominate the contest. Of the 17 parties, only the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Labour Party (LP) fielded candidates for the state and national Assembly elections, but they did not win any seat.

Governor Wada will run on the platform of the PDP. But, he is said to be fighting the battle of his life against the APC. Wada has said on many occasions that he is too occupied with the responsibility of governance and that he left his second term ambition in the “hands of God.” Analysts believe that his recent actions are geared towards positioning himself, ahead of the election. One of such actions is the appointment of 21 Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) to oversee the affairs of the local governments, whose chairmen were recently sacked via a ruling of the Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton-karfe. The SSAs are to serve as his foot soldiers at the grassroots. This is perhaps, informed by the lesson the ruling party received from its trouncing in the hands of the APC during the general elections, because there were no council chairmen at the helms.

Other pointers to Wada’s second term intention are the billboards dotting the landscape of Lokoja, the state capital, announcing the governor’s second term ambition.

Some of the inscriptions on the billboard reads: “Wada for Continuity, Fruits of Transformation Agenda, Well Done Sir, No shaking - Carry Go Beyond 2016, Let the Truth Be Told… Regardless of Our Financial Constraints This Governor is Working, Wada/ Awoniyi Continuity 2015 Season 2 and Let the Truth Be Told… Over 26 states are Owing Between 6 to 9 months Workers’ Salaries. Kogi State is Exceptional… Kudos to Gov. Wada.”

In the APC, no fewer than 20 aspirants have restricted their campaign to the outdoor media, particularly billboards and posters.

Aside Governor Audu, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Suleman Baba-Alli, Olusola George Olumoroti, Dr. Alex Kadiri, Prince Rotimi Obadofin and Nda Ditchie, others have restricted their campaign to billboards and posters.

However, the APC appears to be the only party making Kogi politics tick at the moment. In the PDP, only Muhammed Ali, the former chairman of Dekina Local Government, has indicated his interest. Ali was sacked by Wada based allegations bordering on financial impropriety.

Wada has said on many occasions that he is too occupied with the responsibility of governance and that he left his second term ambition in the “hands of God.” Analysts believe that his recent actions are geared towards positioning himself, ahead of the election

•Wada

•Audu

•Bello

•Amentuo

•Obadofin

•Baba-Ali

Another PDP aspirant is Jibril Isah (a.k.a Echocho). He is bitter over the manner he lost the party’s ticket to Wada in 2011. Although he is yet to formally leave the PDP, his campaign billboards, which are visible in major cities, are silent on the platform.

Though, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to release the guidelines for the election, pundits are in agreement that Wada only has himself to beat in the race for the PDP ticket.

While the APC secretariat is a beehive of activities, the PDP secretariat is a shadow of its self. Last week, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) purportedly announced the cancellation of the adhoc delegates list for the ward congresses. This leaves in the balance the fate of the state congress, which was to have taken place on July 4. The state congress was to have produced a new party chairman.

Reports attributed to the NWC said: “After a careful review of reports of the Congress Committee on Appeal Committee in respect of the three-man Adhoc Delegates Ward Congresses in Kogi State on June 28, 2015, decided to cancel the exercise.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh said: “The partici-

pation of ‘Local Organising Committee’ which is unknown to the constitution of the party and the guidelines marred the congress; a new three-man Adhoc Delegates Congress would commence on July 14, 2015."

Kogi APC Chairman Alhaji Haddy Ametuo said the party has no rival, as far as the governorship election is concerned.

According to him, with the PDP’s woeful performance in the last general elections, the chances of the APC is bright.

He added: “When you look at the state, the only development that is visible is what the opposition did under former governor, Abubakar Audu. The PDP has spent 13 years with nothing to show for it. What will they use to campaign, is it all the bad roads that dot the capital city and other parts of the state?”

Ametuo said the party would repeat the performance of the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state, where it swept the three senatorial seats, in addition to six House of Representatives seats out of nine.

Analysts are, however, of the view that in spite of the scenario on ground, the APC could end up shooting itself in the leg, if the party fails to put its house in order. This is

predicated on the campaign of calumny emanating from the camp of its legion of aspirants, who are trying to outdo one another for the party’s ticket.

A chieftain of the PDP and Special Adviser to the Governor, Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf, said the party will emerge victorious in the election.

He said: “When you look at the victory of the APC in Kogi during the presidential election, it was the PDP that gave them the victory. Many PDP card-carrying members voted for the APC, but this is the governorship election, so those PDP members that voted for the APC will vote for the PDP candidate. At the moment, we are on a reconciliation mission, and by the time we finish we will come out stronger to win the governorship election. The chances of the PDP is very bright”.

According to him, Wada has done his best for the state, in terms of development, with the resources at his disposal.

“Everybody keeps blaming Wada, forgetting that the problem they are talking about were inherited ones. I think that the problem we have as a government is that we don’t use the media very well, because, if you don’t • Continued on page 10

46

THE NATION TUESDAY JULY 7, 2015

POLITICS

The party is now peopled by wilted politicians without ‘fellowship.

I left the party with a cream of grassroot politicians and my exit finally nailed the coffin of the party in the state ’

What future for Kwara PDP?

W

HAT does the future hold for the Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

This is the question on the lips of many people in the state.

Since the party suffered a crushing defeat at the recent general elections, there has been a lull in the activities of the party. Indeed, many PDP chieftains have left the state. The party in now a ghost of its self.

Pundits argue that the emergence of Senator Simeon Ajibola as the governorship candidate in a racourous primary and the subsequent defection of Senator Gbemisola Saraki and her supporters to the All Progressives Congress (APC), on the eve of the presidential elections, served as the PDP’s death knell.

Senator Gbemisola Saraki, a scion of the Saraki dynasty and a grassroots politician, commands a large followership.

During their defection, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Pastor Benjamin Yisa and a close associate of the senator said with the defection of Saraki and his associates to the APC, it was impossible for the PDP to win the poll.

He said: “No matter how the Kwara PDP tries to shake it off, Gbemi’s defection is a big blow to the party. The PDP’s loss is now the APC’s gain. Going by the results of the last election, the impact of her defection is being felt all over the state.

“Her defection will serve as a lesson to the political class not to maltreat its best eleven. The idea that monkey dey chop, baboon dey work is over in politics. Unfortunately, the Kwara PDP didn’t listen to this timely advice of its national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu but went on a frolic of their own. The three State Executives of the PDP that announced their defection yesterday were the engine room of PDP in the Kwara State. And now that the engine rooms have left, what is remaining is a mere carcass.”

Gbemi Saraki said: “I commend members of the GRS Movement for standing up in solidarity at this critical time. I assure them that the storm is over. With the APC, we are assured of justice, equity and fair play.

I also commend and thank the leadership of the APC in Kwara State led

by Senator Bukola Saraki and Governor Ahmed who have made our move seamless. On behalf of the teeming members of the GRS Movement, I assure them of our dedication and commitment to all party causes.”

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

A former chieftain of the PDP, Rev Bunmi Olusona said the PDP is dead in the state, adding that “the future of PDP in Kwara is very bleak. The party selfishly mismanaged it primaries and ended up with an array of bad and unsellable candidates.

“The party is now peopled by wilted politicians without fellowship. I left the party with a cream of grassroot politicians and my exit finally nailed the coffin of the party in the state. The platform now is nothing but a mere debating society.”

But, the PDP Chairman, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, said the party can bounce back to reckoning. He admitted that the party, before the elections, was peopled with ambitious, arrogant and self-conceited politicians Oyedepo added: “Reality has dawned on them. It is now many of us can reason very well. They now know that PDP can lose. Many of those that can give us problems don’t have resources to do that again. They have exhausted their money; they prefer to eat with whatever they have now. The collective loss now makes us to sit down and strategise for the future. I have no doubt that we are going to get there.

Throughout the country, activities are down now because government is about to be formed. In the next one or two months, President Muhammadu Buhari would have formed his cabinet; even state governors would have picked their commissioners and formed their cabinet.

Then we will know what to do. As a party, we just held a meeting, we want to re-strategize and move forward. There must be a period you just keep low for some time. This is the period and I am sure after the Ramadan our activities will pick up in earnest.

On the defection of Gbemisola Saraki, the PDP chairman said: “When she was in our party, she aspired to become the governorship candidate and lost. If she is the most important person, she would have lost. When she decided to go for governorship in 2011, she lost. After all, that party was owned by her father.

If they were that powerful, they would have won. It is not true that her defection has nailed PDP. “People only see noise making and appearance in Gbemisola Saraki.

Her hold on Kwara politics is too fickle. I don’t dispute that fact that she commands some followers in Kwara central but even absolute. In

•Chief Oyedepo

Reality has dawned on them.

It is now many of us can reason very well. They now know that PDP can lose. Many of those that can give us problems don’t have resources to do that again the whole of Kwara South Gbemisola has no hold at all. How can we be dead when she has no hold in anywhere in the seven local government areas of Kwara South?

“When you go to North how many people are following her? But when she comes to town and command some thugs and they follow, you say that is politics. In other words, PDP is alive and kicking in the state.

“We lost the 2015 elections for some key reasons. We lost because we were not united among ourselves; we lost of the over ambition of many of the key contestants. Their belief was that ‘let me have the ticket and I am already in government house,’ because they had not seen our party losing any election.

“To them, once you had the ticket you were almost 90 percent to government. So, it made for over ambition. We also lost that because our national secretariat did not take us serious. The secretariat believed we could never win in the state where the Sarakis have taken everything; as a result of that, we were not properly financed. We lost because, when we evolved a candidate, other people refused to work with him”.

Everybody keeps blaming Wada, forgetting that the problem they are talking about were inherited ones.

I think that the problem we have as a government is that we don’t use the media very well

APC, PDP battle for Lugard House • Continued from page 9 talk, nobody will talk for you and as such, his performance remains unnoticed,” he said The candidates: Wada (PDP) Wada, who was sprung from relative political obscurity by former Governor Ibrahim Idris to fly the PDP flag in 2011, defeated Prince Abubakar Audu of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He has resolved the acrimony that trailed his PDP primary four years ago.

He has also fostered peaceful existence, with his avowed distaste for thuggery that pervaded the state, prior to his assumption of office.

Wada has been criticised for poor performance. Wada, who is from the majority Igala tribe, command the loyalty of party members of the party that have remained after the defection of some other PDP bigwigs to the APC before the last election.

Though Wada has continued to keep the people of the state guessing as to his second term ambition, he is the man to beat for the PDP ticket.

APC: Audu The first civilian governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, has

• Kadiri remained on the political terrain since the creation of the state in 1991, when he was elected governor under the short-lived Ibrahim Babangida political experiment, ruling the state as governor under the All Peoples Party, which later became the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

Audu lost to Alhaji Ibrahim Idris of the PDP, in 2003. He challenged Idris’ victory, which led to the cancellation of the election and a fresh poll was ordered. He lost in the rerun.

He later vied for the governor in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), against Wada.

Audu, the leader of the Kogi APC, is from the Igala tribe and he commands wide followership.

He is touted as the best governor with many landmark projects, including the Kogi State University Anyigba, the Confluence Beach Hotel, NTA Lokoja, Radio Kogi, Graphic Newspaper, Commissioners’ Quarters and House of Assembly Quarters.

His ambition is, however, being challenged from various quarters, by those who insist that he should not contest for the governorship, but remain as a kingmaker.

The APC ticket will be a straight fight between Audu and other aspirants.

Bello Alhaji Yahaya Bello, a retired civil servant, is the dark horse.

Bello, who is from Kogi Central, is a successful businessman. At 40, he is touted as an excellent administrator, whose entrance into the race has received wide acclaim and generating much interest, especially from the quarters of the advocates of power shif in Kogi State.

He packs a well-oiled political and campaign machine and he remains a force who can spring surprise in the race for the APC ticket.

Kadiri Senator Alex Kadiri, a former PDP chieftain was one of those that decamped to the PDP before the last general election. He dumped his former party based on grievances bordering on the lack of internal democracy.

Another, Igala, Kadiri, is not new to the contest in Kogi, having contested against Audu, Idris and Wada.

•Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu addressing reporters during his maiden press conference in Umuahia, the state capital. With him are, from left: Mr. Ugochukwu Emezuo SSA Media, Mr. Godwin Adindu, Chief Press Secretary to the governor and Elder John Nwagborogwu Deputy Chief of Staff.

Baba-Ali Baba-Ali, a former Commissioner for Health in the administration of Audu, his uncle, is from Lokoja, Kogi West.

A businessman-turned politician, he is agitating for generational shift.

His supporters believe that as a former commissioner, he knows what it takes to administer Kogi.

Baba-Ali is also an advocate of power shift to other senatorial districts.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

47

e-Business GADGET REVIEW

Identity verification stalling Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi e-payment, says Chams chief D

T

HE Group Managing Director, Chams Plc, Mr Femi Williams, has identified identity verification as one of the major stumbling blocks on the way of robust electronic payment in the country, adding that it is the way forward.

Williams, who spoke in Lagos during the unveiling of new identity verification software called ConfirmMe at the company’s headquarters in Lagos, however, said the firm has erected an enduring ‘building block’ which will help individuals and corporate organisations overcome the challenge.

He said: “Electronic transaction is the way forward in the country.

It is in line with what is happening in developed countries. The major obstacle is confirmation. We have challenges with utility management but there are building blocks.

We have built a unique platform to aggregate and validate all data.

This will bring trust and convenience to business transaction in the country.

“ConfirmMe is a unified platform which aggregates data from certified institutional sources from

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

which accredited public and private institutions and businesses can verify data (credentials), and also prove identity. It is a secure and robust platform for accurate online real-time verification of identity, credit status, academic qualifications and credentials that saves time and money. ”The backend of ConfirmMe is powered by robust and reliable data sources because data quality is the single most important factor for the success of a compliant and risk mitigating identity verification solution that will meet market needs.

Institutional supporters of the new service include Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, public and private universities, and the Credit Registry, Nigeria’s leading credit bureau institution.”

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CreditRegistry Services, Mrs. Jameelah Ayedun, described the innovation as a welcome development as Nigerians can now access

their credit reports and credit scores in a safe and secure manner via Chams online platform.

CreditRegistry is Chams’ partner on the initiative.

She said: “This initiative is in line with our vision of enabling fast, easy access to credit by consumers, entrepreneurs and businesses in Nigeria. It further demonstrates our commitment to promoting credit awareness, improving data quality and securing the credit identity of subjects on the bureau. We are delighted to partner with Chams to provide another trusted platform through which more people can access to their credit reports and credit scores from Credit Registry Services.”

Shedding more light on the solution, Chams’ Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Luqman Balogun, said the solution is a secure, costeffective, time-saving and convenient initiative that will have a defining effect on the integrity of business transaction in the country.

He said: “ConfirmMe was deployed to allow institutions verify individual and corporate identity and data from their web browser using a simple and easy to use online portal that is unified. In no

•From left: Mrs. Ayedun; Mr. Williams; and Mr. Balogun during the launch of ConfirmMe in Lagos

NCS urges Buhari on CPN Act implementation

T

HE Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) Act (4a) in the appointment of IT experts into various boards and parastatals. Besides all boards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), especially those that depend on IT to fulfill their mandates, must have at least one IT expert as executive member, the society said.

The group also lamented the exclusion of its members form government agencies, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that it was not good enough for professionalism.

Its President, Prof David Adewumi, who spoke in Lagos ahead of the group’s 12th International Conference scheduled for Akure, the Ondo State capital, lamented that successive administrations shuned the CPN Act in the appointment of key officials into ICT- related fields, project design and implementation.

He wondered why, for instance, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has members who are commission-

•Laments exclusion from INEC, others ers in INEC while the NCS has none.

He argued that the appointment of NCS member into INEC should not be anything less than that of a commissioner.

He said NCS believes that in addition to the Cybercrime Act, legislation should be enacted to foster the development of IT and IT-enabled activities and growth of the industry and the profession.

Adewumi said: ”The usage of IT in governance and security needs to be improved through more widespread adoption of IT professionalism in the private and public sectors. NCS and its members can play a major role in improving the state of security nationwide, combating terrorism, enhancing public service delivery and accountability and boosting job creation.

“There should be preferential usage of Nigerian professionals in major and strategic national IT projects and initiatives instead of always importing people, products and solutions and creating jobs in other countries.”

According to him, local engineers

have the expertise to do the job as has been demonstrated over the years, as jobs contracted to the socalled expatriate experts are usually contracted to indigenous engineers who have often acquainted themselves well by doing the job.

Speaking on the NCS 12th International Conference 2015 which has Information Technology for inclusive development as its theme, Prof.

Adewumi said it will provide policy makers, public and private sector, IT practitioners and the academia opportunity to keep up-to-date with technology trends in the global space.

He said participants will also discover opportunities for the private sector in the process of inclusive development and avenues for publicprivate partnerships towards realizing the IT objectives within the context of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The conference, according him, “will provide opportunities for the delegates to exchange new ideas, establish business or research relations, and find global partners for future collaborations”.

ETACHABLE-hybrid tablets are your best choice if you need a laptop most of the time, but also need a tablet on occasion. The Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi has a magnetic latch on its keyboard dock, so you can undock the tablet quickly and leave half its weight behind when the need arises. And an Intel Core M processor helps make the tablet thinner and lighter, and does away with a need for a fan. There are some ergonomic issues and battery life in our tests is shorter than optimal, but on the whole it's an attractive tablet that highlights what works and what doesn't in this upand-coming category of portable devices.

Design, features The tablet portion of the T300 Chi$599.00 at eBay measures 12.5 by 7.5 by 0.299 inches (HWD). The included keyboard dock bumps the thickness up to 0.65 inches. The outer chassis has smooth edges, and there is a chromecolored ring around the keyboard deck, adding a little embellishment to the system's minimalist styling. The tablet and keyboard have an identical weight of 1.56 pounds (for a total of 3.12 pounds).

That means that you don't have the issue of the tablet being top heavy when the system is in a clamshell configuration, an issue we saw when we reviewed the Acer Aspire Switch 11 (SW5-171325N)$399.00 at eBay. Older detachable-hybrid tablets like the Asus Transformer Book T100TA (64GB)£239.00 at Amazon, the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix$823.33 at Amazon, and the Toshiba Satellite Click 2 L35WB3204$336.00 at Amazon use a physical latch and lock to keep the system on the keyboard dock, an adequate, albeit inelegant, solution. Magnetic latches, like the ones on the T300 Chi and the Editors' Choice Acer Aspire Switch 11, let you easily attach and detach the tablet from the keyboard with one hand, without having to push a button or slide a latch.

The latches are strong enough that you can still pick up the system by the screen and not worry about the keyboard coming off. The magnets also let you flip the screen around so you can use it tilted on a surface without having the keyboard in the way.

One feature that sets the T300 Chi apart from other detachable-hybrids tablets is the fact that its keyboard dock uses Bluetooth instead of passing the typing and touchpad information through an electrical connector, as on the Acer Aspire Switch 11 and the Microsoft Surface 3 Pro£949.00 at Amazon. That simplifies engineering the latch (there's no electrical connector to design and qualify), but it also means that you're subject to Bluetooth's drawbacks. Sure, you can use the keyboard when it isn't attached to the tablet, but you'll have to charge it with the bundled micro-USB-to-microUSB cable, which is of the USB 2.0 variety.

If the dock's battery runs down, and you don't have the cable, you will have to scrounge for a smartphone micro USB charger to recharge the dock. (On a side note, having an electrical connection between the keyboard base and the tablet would give manufacturers the ability to add a supplementary battery to the base for more battery life, as on the Dell Venue 11 Pro (7139).) You're also subject to RF interference from 2.4GHz networks and other RF sources, like microwave ovens. Last, but not least, if you put the tablet in Airplane mode, the keyboard and trackpad will stop working until you turn the Bluteooth radio back on.

The connectivity options are limited, due to the tablet's slim form factor. There really isn't any space for full-size USB or HDMI ports. Instead, the tablet has a USB 3.0 micro-b connector (not to be confused with the micro USB charging port on the keyboard dock) and a micro HDMI port, both of which require dongles to use.

You'll have to buy a micro HDMI dongle separately, since it's not bundled in. There is a micro-b-to-USB dongle included, but it is only USB 2.0, not the faster USB 3.0.

The system comes with a traditional AC adapter with a barrel connector. In another flub, the barrel connector's socket is the same size as the headset jack, rather

than the bigger sockets of other such systems. That makes it easy to mistakenly insert the AC adapter into the headset jack. Now, the AC adapter plug slides out of the headset jack easily and shouldn't break the connector unless you force it in at the wrong angle, but it is annoying and unnecessarily confusing. It would have simplified things to use the USB port to recharge the tablet instead.

The 12.5-inch, In-Plane Switching (IPS) screen has a 2,560-by-1,440 resolution, which helps justify the system's relatively high price tag. Images are clear, and it has a wide range of viewing angles. The 10point touch screen is rock solid when docked, with almost zero bounce when you tap on the screen. Sound from the built-in speakers is average for a tablet, which means you and a friend can watch a video together in a small room and still have adequate audio.

The 8GB of memory is perfect for multitasking or keeping many browser tabs open simultaneously. The 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) has a little over 100GB free out of the box, which is more than enough for most general users, especially now that online streaming is so popular. There is quite a bit of bloatware pre-installed, however, including programs like Flipbook, I Heart Radio, Line, Music Maker Jam, Netflix, Trip Advisor, Twitter, and Zinio. One notable issue has to do with the Foxit PDF reader, which is the default PDF app. It crashed when we tried to view the T300 Chi's downloaded manual, which looked fine in the Microsoft Reader app built into Windows 8.1. The system's micro SDXC media card slot is hidden under the tablet's hinge connector, so it's easy to miss. You can use it to add up to 200GB of storage.

The T300 Chi comes with a one-year warranty, including accidental damage protection.

Performance The system comes with an Intel Core M 5Y71 processor, which doesn't require a fan. Higher-wattage processors like the Intel Core i5 in the HP Spectre x360 13t (13-4003)$999.99 at HP need fans to keep the interior of the chassis cool.

Interestingly enough, the T300 Chi matches the HP Spectre x360 on most of our performance tests, aside from the 3D tests, and is faster than Intel Atom-, Intel Core i3-, and Intel Pentium-equipped tablets on the CineBench test (254 points), the Handbrake test (3 minutes 1 second), the PCMark 8 Work Conventional test (2,615 points), and the Adobe Photoshop CS6 test (4:18). In fact, the T300 Chi is the fastest in its category on the Photoshop CS6 test, beating the HP Spectre x360 (4:25) by 7 seconds. On our 3D tests, the T300 Chi's scores were above average for the category, but frame rates were still in the low teens. Sure, you can probably play games like Civilisation V and League of Legends, but at a very low resolution.

Battery life is problematic. Even though the Core M processor is touted as powerefficient, compared with a Core i5 processor, the T300 Chi could only manage 5 hours 54 minutes on our battery rundown test. That's about a half-hour less than the Core i3-equipped Acer Aspire Switch 11, and three hours less than the HP Spectre x360. Granted, the HP x360 has a lot more space for battery cells, but tablet owners want more battery life, not less. The battery in the keyboard is there solely to power the keyboard and its Bluetooth connection; you can't use it to charge the tablet.

•Courtesy: PCMAG

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

48

e-Business Online transaction continues to grow in Nigeria, in spite of the challenge of broadband infrastructure. e-commerce platforms are creating jobs and boosting the GDP. The Chief Executive Officer, Hotel.ng, Mr. Mark Essien, says online businesses have potential to grow the economy, if the government democratises internet access by making it free and building infrastructure. LUCAS AJANAKU met him.

Fed Govt should make internet access free C

OMMERCE is an emerging business space, and online hospitality business is another variant of e-commerce.

What is the future of this business considering the fact that online booking for phones, bags and other tangible goods has recorded huge success?

E-commerce is an emerging business in Nigeria, but even at that, it is making tremendous growth, because the people are fast embracing new technology.

But on the otter hand, online travel business, which constitutes about 3.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is highly underrated in the country, but the hospitality business in Nigeria is worth $3 billion every year, and if an entrepreneur could capture 10 per cent of the market, then such entrepreneur still has a $300 million business per year, and that is huge money and good business, irrespective of the location of the business.

The Nigerian GDP is growing and what this means is that any business that contributes up to 3.6 per cent to GDP now, would in the next few years, triple the amount.

So the online businesses and e-commerce, most especially have potential to develop fast into money spinning business, if properly harnessed.

There are lots of risks associated with online transactions, ranging from identity theft to data hacking. How secured is your platform for customers to transact business without losing money?

For us at hotel.com, our platform is safe and secured for online business. In the second half of last year only, we did over a million dollar financial transactions and since then, we have been doing online transactions through our website, with no bitter experience on the part of customers.

For instance we subscribe to a solution from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), called ScumL. This is designed specifically for hospitality business and few other types of businesses. The solution helps to detect and control online fraud. Aside that, we are very proactive in handling issues with online challenges and this has helped us to maintain a large number of customer base.

Apart from the EFCC solution that you subscribe to, who are your technical partners, and how have they been able to address online fraud on your website?

Yes we have technical partners handling our backend operations, and we still have a mixed team of developers who are busy developing solutions that will address online theft on our site. We have some of them in Nigeria while others are based outside the country, working for the common good of the pla For our payment platform, we are partnering Zenith Bank, and Stanbic IBTC Bank. We are also partnering Quick Teller solution, which allows for easy online payment.

Again, all our data are encrypted, and this has also helped in protecting the customers from online fraud.

There is panic fear on the part of Nigerians in transacting business via the cyberspace. What is your assessment of the situation now?

Nigerians who have some sort of phobia doing business online for fear of being hacked, should not be blamed for any reason, rather, they should be encouraged to ‘toe the line’ of modern technology, because nothing comes without its own risk.

Some people may also not want to do online business for fear of un-reliability.

For instance, there are cases where people make online purchases of some household items and the delivery is delayed unnecessarily, and in most cases, the items are lost in transit or even got damaged on arrival. Such scenarios are enough reason for anybody to have some reservations about online transactions, but we should not allow the disadvantage suffered in a particular transaction, rub off the legitimate gains of other online transactions. The best way to overcome these challenges is to continue to invest in the business. When you invest money to address any challenge encountered in previous transactions, the business will become very reliable and resilient

•Mr Essien

both for the customer and the business owner.

Your platform is innovative and appears relatively unknown. It has prospects for growth and more players joining the fray.

How prepared are you for competition in the future?

Competition in any business is a welcome development and I will like to experience competition in my business because it will help me to do better and offer better quality service. Monopolistic businesses do not give room for innovation and thinking out of the box. In this connection, I sincerely welcome competition. That will put me on my toes to be innovative always. This will in the best interest of customers and the Nigerian economy.

If the quality of my services is poor, or my service charge is too high, people will look for the alternatives. If there is competition, that alone will make me more customer friendly in order to retain and grow my customer base. If more people are in the business, they will set a benchmark that everyone will like to surpass as business owners. This will result in a win-win situation for all as it will rapidly drive economic development.

Access to funds is very important to start and grow businesses. In Nigeria, when funds are got from deposit money banks, it is usually at double digit interest rate.

What is your experience like?

Generally, in raising capital for any business, the business owner must first build a business model that is economically viable and sustainable. When this is achieved, investors will like to invest in such business.

Investors are not father Christmas. They are interested in investing in business that is not viable, because they want returns on investments. No sane investor will allow

his funds to be tied down somewhere.

For the business, we have succeeded in securing a $1.2 million facility for the business. We were able to get the facility from two foreign investors, because they believed in our business.

You are lucky to have secure a loan of $1.2 million to expand your business. Into which areas do you intend to deploy this fund?

Our plan is to move from being a Nigeriabased power house, to a global-based power house. The money will be used to expand the business and make it have a global look. Our one-year goal is to grow the business across the West African sub-region, and our fiveyear goal is to grow the business across the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.

What should the government do to boost e-commerce and other forms of online business?

One of the roles of the government is to provide the necessary infrastructure for businesses to thrive. There are several policies that the government can explore to drive sustainable businesses in the county, but one policy, which I think is key to the growth of online business in Nigeria, is for government to make 2G and EDGE internet access free for all Nigerians. The 3G and 4G/LTE technology could still be paid for, but 2G and EDGE internet should be made free. By the time government mandates all mobile network operators (MNOs) to make 2G and EDGE internet free, it will enable every Nigerian have internet access. Though the speed is slow when compared with 3G and 4G speed, it will promote access and deepen penetration. When this is done, service providers will uptimise their websites to adjust to the speed of 2G and EDGE and this will further deepen internet penetration in the country.

Making 2G and EDGE internet access free,

‘One policy, which I think is key to the growth of online business in Nigeria, is for the Federal Government to make 2G and EDGE internet access free for all Nigerians. The 3G and 4G/LTE technology could still be paid for, but 2G and EDGE internet should be made free’

will create equal opportunities for Nigerians to seek information online without restriction, irrespective of their social and economic positions.

You are suggesting that 2G and EDGE technology should be offered freely in the country. Where in the world has the government made 2G and EDGE internet access free?

In Germany, EDGE technology is not free, but they do not have metered-bandwidth connections, where they pay for data usage like in Nigeria. The truth is that economies vary and environmental situations also vary.

In Germany and in most developed countries, they have unlimited access to the internet and they have social security policy in place where people who are not working, are paid monthly salaries for their upkeep. Those who work are well paid, so in such jurisdictions, the governments do not need to make 2G and EDGE technology free of charge, but in Nigeria, where there is no social security policy in place and where monthly salaries are very poor for those who work, there should be ways of ameliorating the sufferings of the people. It is, therefore, my candid opinion that making 2G and EDGE technology free for every Nigerian will have multiplier effects on the economy.

The rebasement of the nation’s GDP shot it to the highest in Africa. Is this position sustainable? What roles, if any can e-commerce play in ths are?

Given the business situation in Nigeria, it is clear that there are lots of potentials for growth and this will also show in the growth of the country’s GDP. The population of Nigeria is an advantage for growth and I see Nigeria maintaining the leadership position, especially with the rapid growth of e-commerce in the country.

You manage a web portal for online hospitality business, known as www.hotel.ng, which is serving the interest of travelers within the country. How did you come about this idea?

It was during my Masters in Computer Science programme in Germany in 2012 that I conceived the idea about hotels and online booking. Then, I discovered that in Germany, only few websites have information about hotels, so I started by listing hotels in Germany on my website and what marveled me was the amount of traffic generated on my site. People were visiting my site to get information about hotels in Germany. After my Masters’programme, I searched for Nigerian hotels online and I discovered there was no website offering online booking services for hotel accommodation and I felt it was a good business to embark upon, having started with the listing of hotels in Germany. After my programme, I decided to return to Nigeria to begin the business. The first thing I did was to buy the Nigerian domain name for the business, known as hotel.ng, which is a second level domain name and today, the business of hotel online booking has grown tremendously.

I started by listing Nigerian hotels on my .ng website and within few months, a lot of people searching for hotels in Nigeria, were directed to my site and that was how the site started generating a lot of traffic. I had photographs of hotels and their addresses posted on my website, and the very first day I uploaded my mobile telephone number on the site, I received over 100 calls from people.

Some were calling to do business with me, while others were calling to get more information on the hotels on my website.

What segment of the e-commerce market are you targeting with your platform?

Hotel.ng is a web portal that enables Nigerians, especially travellers, to find hotels of their choice, when they visit the site, www.hotel.ng Before now, travellers in Nigeria who out of necessity, want to lodge in a hotel, find it difficult to know locations and quality of hotels in a particular city. We took advantage of the situation and hired people to catalog hotels in major cities of the country and we uploaded them on our website, including their pictures. So, the online platform makes it possible for people to have idea of different hotels in Nigeria, their service charges, their facilities, to guide them in choosing which to book online.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2015

49

e-Business

Broadband plans implementation slow, says MainOne chief

I

MPLEMENTATION of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) is slow, the Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke, has said.

She is urging stakeholders in the industry to chart a way of fast-tracking its implementation for the benefit of the nation.

Opeke, who spoke at a forum to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the firm in Lagos, lamented that multiple taxation remained one of the key stumbling blocks on the path of rolling out infrastructure across the country.

According to her, the Smart State initiative of former Communications Technology Minister, Dr Omobola Johnson, was good, Rwanda has done well as the country has ensured that every new road built is fitted with fibre.

“The National Broadband Plan is something that should be discussed. Opnness in spectrum allocation is also very important,” she said.

On the evolution of the company, she said it initially started as a submarine cable operator to becoming a full-service business-tobusiness communications services provider.

Ms. Opeke noted that within its five years of operation, the company had made further investments in growing directly and through partnerships its fiber terrestrial network and point of presence (PoP) across the region and

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

opened a Tier III Data Center, MDX-I, which was first of its kind for the region in Lagos earlier this year.

She explained that since inception, MainOne’s objective has been to bridge the digital divide in the West African sub-region and to become the preferred provider of wholesale internet services and enabler of online business within the region.

According to her, it has achieved this with services delivered to seven countries in West Africa, and an impressive list of 500+ major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, large enterprises, and educational institutions in the region on its network.

She said: “Today, MainOne has the region’s highest capacity on its submarine cable, and is the number one Internet transit provider in West Africa, interconnected with the London Internet Exchange (LINX), Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMIX), Nigerian Internet Exchange (IXPN) and the Ghanaian Internet Exchange (GIX). These achievements have opened up new business opportunities for indigenous enterprises, and positively impacted employment generation. ”Despite the challenges we face in this region, predominantly a dearth and high cost of infrastructure, we are excited about the future prospects in the broadband

ICT START UP How to start online business (1)

S

TARTING an online business is the dream of many. This is understandable given the many benefits an online business offers. However attractive the prospects may seem, owning an online business is not so simple a process.

What steps should you take should you want to venture into this global playing field? Here is a guide

Inception, research

•Ms Opeke

market and are determined to remain consistent in our resolve to bridging the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world”.

In five years, MainOne has invested over $300million in infrastructure in West Africa towards improving connectivity and data center services in West Africa.

Within this period, the company has ensured to its customers highly available and reliable services with zero downtime experienced on its core submarine cable infrastructure over its period of operations.

This stage is very important. This is where you get to decide what type of online business to run.

Most people who are just starting out make the mistake of looking for a product first, and a market second.

To boost your chances of success, start with a market. The idea is to find a group of people who are searching for a solution to a problem, but not finding forth coming solutions.

The internet makes this kind of market research easy or you could look at your immediate society & identify societal problems: You can also use Google search to find keywords that people are searching for, but for which there is little or no solution yet.

Take a look at websites in your chosen niche. Observe what they are doing to fill the need.

Then you can use what you’ve learned and create a product for a market that already exists—and do it better than the competition.

You could choose to operate one of the following models:

Selling goods or services You could decide to sell goods that you produce or services that you offer.

Reselling/retailing This involves purchasing goods (mostly through importation) and reselling on your website or blog.

The drawback to this method is the initial startup cost. You would first need to register on a foreign e-commerce website, purchase goods - albeit at a low price, import them and once they are delivered, sell on your website.

Selling adverts on website, blog This method is quite popular. In this method, you create a website or a blog. Then through quality content creation, you build consistent traffic. Then when the traffic is big enough, you sell advert spaces to clients who want to reach their customers.

Affiliate business From left: Deputy Rector, Academics, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Dr. Halirat Abeni Babalola; Director, ICT, Emmanuel Faleye; Director, ICT, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Sola Aderoumu; Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Patrick Hassaini, at the weekend during the unveiling of the polytechnic logo by Prof. Aderoumu at the institution.

SMEs brace for ITU Telecom World forum

S

MALL and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will form a major part of the delegation from Nigeria that will attend the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), ITU Telecom World 2015 in Budapest, Hungary between October 12 and 15.

A Committee made up of officials of Ministry of Communications, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone, Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NigComSat), Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), among others, has been constituted to put together plans for Nigeria’s participation.

Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee and Director, Public Affairs NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo said, in a statement said Nigeria

wants to make a big statement in this year’s participation when many SMEs owners would be on ground to dwell around the theme of this year’s event: Innovation to make lives better and faster.

Nigeria’s participation will build on the reality that regulatory robustness has led to a spiral growth in voice telephony and look beyond that by coming out with innovative products to improve the lives of the citizens, he said.

ITU has listed five key reasons why countries, individuals, corporate organisations should participate in the Hungary event.

Besides exceptional knowledge sharing, opportunities, ITU Telecom World forum will focus on accelerating innovation and growth of SMEs and innovative networking opportunities. Of particular interest is the role SMEs play in driving

national economies.

One of the key concerns of the Hungarian government is to provide a balanced and predictable business environment where SMEs can easily find support or exploit business opportunities. This is what the country wants to share with participants in Budapest, and Nigeria will share in this, Ojobo explained in the statement, adding that the Nigerian SMEs’ ecosystem will be guided by the experience they share through ITU conference.

The event will focus on the crucial role of innovation and entrepreneurship in the fast growing ICT ecosystem, covering a broad-based international audience with specific outreach to SMEs and startups from across the world, as well as leading global ICT players, policy makers, regulators, industry experts and investors.

This is one online business that is easy to set up. Basically, what the business owner does is to place affiliate links of e-commerce websites on his website or blog. When his blog visitors click through his affiliate link to the e-commerce website to purchase products, he receives a commission.

Selling on e-commerce website You could also decide to setup a store in an e-commerce website.

This model is inexpensive and gives you more exposure as you ride on the popularity already created by the e-commerce website.

If you decide to create your own website, the next step would be to decide on a domain name, and choose a web host. Your business concept should be expressed in the domain name you choose. For instance, if you decide to sell legal services, you might decide on “Legalaffairs.com” as your domain name. When choosing a host, choose according to what your business needs. For example, if your business will sell physical goods online, it is best to choose web hosts that have ecommerce solution packages. This

By Oluwaseyi Adepoju

will enable you setup a shopping cart and an online payment process.

Your online brand name is as important as your business itself “Use a house hold name” name that relates to your market niche, except you have a big budget for brand awareness and heavy online informative marketing.

Develop a business plan Based on your research, develop a business plan. Your business plan should include company description, business summary, management structure, market research, financing plan, and marketing and sales plans.

Obtain necessary funds Financing needs differ. It depends on the business model you choose to operate with. Some online business models need you to only register a domain name and pay for hosting.

Other models need additional funding to purchase to purchase goods to sell or to setup services to render. It all depends on the model chosen.

Funds could be obtained from personal savings, bank loans or family and friends.

Make your business a legal entity If you are serious about making your online business a business in every sense, then get it registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Your business could be registered as a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company, a partnership or cooperation. If your business model involves selling of physical goods, you need an additional license known as Reseller’s License.

Plan, design your website You could contact a web developer to create a website for you or you might opt to use a blogging tool such as WordPress at a minimal cost. It largely depends on the needs of your business. Whichever choice you make, try to keep your website simple but attractive. In designing website, use plain fonts on white background; make navigation simple and easy to use; use only necessary images and videos; make purchasing and checkout seamless; and provide opt-in for newsletters subscribers.

Write your sales pitch This is the next step for online businesses that sell goods or services. The way you present your services to the prospect will either make or break a sale. So, carefully craft your sales pitch in a smooth transition from your introduction to asking for a sale.

In writing sales pitch, the use of a catchy headline to stimulate interest; build credibility as an authority in solving this problem; you can include testimonials from previous clients and customers; describe how the prospect will benefit from the product; give a guarantee. May online businesses give the assurance “Money back guarantee” if the user is not satisfied.

It also important to induce a sense of urgency and finally, ask for a sale.

When writing a sales pitch, make sure you emphasize how your product or service is able to provide an unparalleled solution to the customers. “Always put yourself in the customers shoes”

Promote the website This process is used by all models.

You can popularise your website through search engine optimisation, pay-per-click advertising, and newsletters or by blogging consistently.

You may also choose to advertise on popular blogs or newspapers, or by commenting on popular forums and leaving a link to your website.

Adepoju, a Business Consultant wrote from Lagos.

•Continues next week

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

49

e-Business

Broadband plans implementation slow, says MainOne chief

I

MPLEMENTATION of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) is slow, the Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke, has said.

She is urging stakeholders in the industry to chart a way of fast-tracking its implementation for the benefit of the nation.

Opeke, who spoke at a forum to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the firm in Lagos, lamented that multiple taxation remained one of the key stumbling blocks on the path of rolling out infrastructure across the country.

According to her, the Smart State initiative of former Communications Technology Minister, Dr Omobola Johnson, was good, Rwanda has done well as the country has ensured that every new road built is fitted with fibre.

“The National Broadband Plan is something that should be discussed. Opnness in spectrum allocation is also very important,” she said.

On the evolution of the company, she said it initially started as a submarine cable operator to becoming a full-service business-tobusiness communications services provider.

Ms. Opeke noted that within its five years of operation, the company had made further investments in growing directly and through partnerships its fiber terrestrial network and point of presence (PoP) across the region and

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

opened a Tier III Data Center, MDX-I, which was first of its kind for the region in Lagos earlier this year.

She explained that since inception, MainOne’s objective has been to bridge the digital divide in the West African sub-region and to become the preferred provider of wholesale internet services and enabler of online business within the region.

According to her, it has achieved this with services delivered to seven countries in West Africa, and an impressive list of 500+ major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, large enterprises, and educational institutions in the region on its network.

She said: “Today, MainOne has the region’s highest capacity on its submarine cable, and is the number one Internet transit provider in West Africa, interconnected with the London Internet Exchange (LINX), Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMIX), Nigerian Internet Exchange (IXPN) and the Ghanaian Internet Exchange (GIX). These achievements have opened up new business opportunities for indigenous enterprises, and positively impacted employment generation. ”Despite the challenges we face in this region, predominantly a dearth and high cost of infrastructure, we are excited about the future prospects in the broadband

ICT START UP How to start online business (1)

S

TARTING an online business is the dream of many. This is understandable given the many benefits an online business offers. However attractive the prospects may seem, owning an online business is not so simple a process.

What steps should you take should you want to venture into this global playing field? Here is a guide

Inception, research

•Ms Opeke

market and are determined to remain consistent in our resolve to bridging the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world”.

In five years, MainOne has invested over $300million in infrastructure in West Africa towards improving connectivity and data center services in West Africa.

Within this period, the company has ensured to its customers highly available and reliable services with zero downtime experienced on its core submarine cable infrastructure over its period of operations.

This stage is very important. This is where you get to decide what type of online business to run.

Most people who are just starting out make the mistake of looking for a product first, and a market second.

To boost your chances of success, start with a market. The idea is to find a group of people who are searching for a solution to a problem, but not finding forth coming solutions.

The internet makes this kind of market research easy or you could look at your immediate society & identify societal problems: You can also use Google search to find keywords that people are searching for, but for which there is little or no solution yet.

Take a look at websites in your chosen niche. Observe what they are doing to fill the need.

Then you can use what you’ve learned and create a product for a market that already exists—and do it better than the competition.

You could choose to operate one of the following models:

Selling goods or services You could decide to sell goods that you produce or services that you offer.

Reselling/retailing This involves purchasing goods (mostly through importation) and reselling on your website or blog.

The drawback to this method is the initial startup cost. You would first need to register on a foreign e-commerce website, purchase goods - albeit at a low price, import them and once they are delivered, sell on your website.

Selling adverts on website, blog This method is quite popular. In this method, you create a website or a blog. Then through quality content creation, you build consistent traffic. Then when the traffic is big enough, you sell advert spaces to clients who want to reach their customers.

Affiliate business From left: Deputy Rector, Academics, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Dr. Halirat Abeni Babalola; Director, ICT, Emmanuel Faleye; Director, ICT, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Sola Aderoumu; Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Patrick Hassaini, at the weekend during the unveiling of the polytechnic logo by Prof. Aderoumu at the institution.

SMEs brace for ITU Telecom World forum

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MALL and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will form a major part of the delegation from Nigeria that will attend the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), ITU Telecom World 2015 in Budapest, Hungary between October 12 and 15.

A Committee made up of officials of Ministry of Communications, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone, Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NigComSat), Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), among others, has been constituted to put together plans for Nigeria’s participation.

Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee and Director, Public Affairs NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo said, in a statement said Nigeria

wants to make a big statement in this year’s participation when many SMEs owners would be on ground to dwell around the theme of this year’s event: Innovation to make lives better and faster.

Nigeria’s participation will build on the reality that regulatory robustness has led to a spiral growth in voice telephony and look beyond that by coming out with innovative products to improve the lives of the citizens, he said.

ITU has listed five key reasons why countries, individuals, corporate organisations should participate in the Hungary event.

Besides exceptional knowledge sharing, opportunities, ITU Telecom World forum will focus on accelerating innovation and growth of SMEs and innovative networking opportunities. Of particular interest is the role SMEs play in driving

national economies.

One of the key concerns of the Hungarian government is to provide a balanced and predictable business environment where SMEs can easily find support or exploit business opportunities. This is what the country wants to share with participants in Budapest, and Nigeria will share in this, Ojobo explained in the statement, adding that the Nigerian SMEs’ ecosystem will be guided by the experience they share through ITU conference.

The event will focus on the crucial role of innovation and entrepreneurship in the fast growing ICT ecosystem, covering a broad-based international audience with specific outreach to SMEs and startups from across the world, as well as leading global ICT players, policy makers, regulators, industry experts and investors.

This is one online business that is easy to set up. Basically, what the business owner does is to place affiliate links of e-commerce websites on his website or blog. When his blog visitors click through his affiliate link to the e-commerce website to purchase products, he receives a commission.

Selling on e-commerce website You could also decide to setup a store in an e-commerce website.

This model is inexpensive and gives you more exposure as you ride on the popularity already created by the e-commerce website.

If you decide to create your own website, the next step would be to decide on a domain name, and choose a web host. Your business concept should be expressed in the domain name you choose. For instance, if you decide to sell legal services, you might decide on “Legalaffairs.com” as your domain name. When choosing a host, choose according to what your business needs. For example, if your business will sell physical goods online, it is best to choose web hosts that have ecommerce solution packages. This

By Oluwaseyi Adepoju

will enable you setup a shopping cart and an online payment process.

Your online brand name is as important as your business itself “Use a house hold name” name that relates to your market niche, except you have a big budget for brand awareness and heavy online informative marketing.

Develop a business plan Based on your research, develop a business plan. Your business plan should include company description, business summary, management structure, market research, financing plan, and marketing and sales plans.

Obtain necessary funds Financing needs differ. It depends on the business model you choose to operate with. Some online business models need you to only register a domain name and pay for hosting.

Other models need additional funding to purchase to purchase goods to sell or to setup services to render. It all depends on the model chosen.

Funds could be obtained from personal savings, bank loans or family and friends.

Make your business a legal entity If you are serious about making your online business a business in every sense, then get it registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Your business could be registered as a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company, a partnership or cooperation. If your business model involves selling of physical goods, you need an additional license known as Reseller’s License.

Plan, design your website You could contact a web developer to create a website for you or you might opt to use a blogging tool such as WordPress at a minimal cost. It largely depends on the needs of your business. Whichever choice you make, try to keep your website simple but attractive. In designing website, use plain fonts on white background; make navigation simple and easy to use; use only necessary images and videos; make purchasing and checkout seamless; and provide opt-in for newsletters subscribers.

Write your sales pitch This is the next step for online businesses that sell goods or services. The way you present your services to the prospect will either make or break a sale. So, carefully craft your sales pitch in a smooth transition from your introduction to asking for a sale.

In writing sales pitch, the use of a catchy headline to stimulate interest; build credibility as an authority in solving this problem; you can include testimonials from previous clients and customers; describe how the prospect will benefit from the product; give a guarantee. May online businesses give the assurance “Money back guarantee” if the user is not satisfied.

It also important to induce a sense of urgency and finally, ask for a sale.

When writing a sales pitch, make sure you emphasize how your product or service is able to provide an unparalleled solution to the customers. “Always put yourself in the customers shoes”

Promote the website This process is used by all models.

You can popularise your website through search engine optimisation, pay-per-click advertising, and newsletters or by blogging consistently.

You may also choose to advertise on popular blogs or newspapers, or by commenting on popular forums and leaving a link to your website.

Adepoju, a Business Consultant wrote from Lagos.

•Continues next week

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50

INTERNATIONAL

e-Business

Facebook’s chief sees telepathy as future wave FACEBOOK founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg envisions a world where people will communicate directly with each other through telepathy.

“One day, I believe we’ll be able to send full rich thoughts to each other directly using technology.

You’ll just be able to think of something and your friends will immediately be able to experience it too,” Zuckerberg, 31, wrote in response to a question in a Q&A with Facebook users.

Among those participating in the hourlong session were Arianna Huffington, founder and owner of The Huffington Post, and actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Washington Post examined Zuckerberg’s view through brief descriptions of how the brain works — “your nervous system is composed of cells called neurons, which

communicate with each other using chemical signals called neurotransmitters” — and discussions of a variety of telepathy experiments.

These include one by the University of California that measured the brain activity of participants as they watched videos — and then reconstructed the videos solely based on the brain activity.

Another one included implanting transmitters into the brains of mice, as was done in a Duke University experiment in 2013.

The report also raised the ethical implications of telepathy and its research, some of which were put forth in an academic paper published online by three researchers last year.

The paper “warned that there is neither legislation nor formal academic protocol for this type of research. (The writers predicted that could eventually provoke ‘public uproar.’),” according to The Post reports.

Microsoft eyes rural internet, cloud solution

Google plans turning human body into keyboard

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ECH giant, Google, is planning to convert the human body into a keyboard, detailing a headset that projects into a virtual onto a person’s skin, a new patent filed in June 2012 and awarded early in the week has shown.

According to the report, many people use their phones so much they have almost become an extension of their hands, so Google’s latest patent was only a matter of time.

It details a headset that beams an interactive virtual keyboard directly onto a person’s palm.

A camera in the headset then tracks the movement of the fingers to know which keys are being pressed before feeding this information to an app, website or other tool.

The patent (pictured) was filed in June 2012 and awarded earlier this week. It details a headset that projects a virtual keyboard onto a person’s skin and this can be beamed onto their hands, their arm or onto another person. A camera then tracks the fingers

to see which keys are being pressed The patent drawings resemble Google’s much-maligned Glass headset and the feature could be added to a future version of the wearable devices, the patent explained: ‘The present application discloses systems and methods for a virtual input device.

‘In one example, the virtual input device includes a projector and a camera. The projector projects a pattern onto a surface [and] the camera captures images that can be interpreted by a processor to determine actions.

‘The projector may be mounted on an arm of a pair of eyeglasses and the camera may be mounted on an opposite arm of the eyeglasses,’ the patent explained.

In another example, the camera could detect when the hand is moving and interpret and send these movements to the headset or connected phone to record gestures, for example.

In addition to a virtual keyboard,

people could watch videos on the palm of their hand rather than having to hold a device in front of them.

The patent is similar to one Samsung filed in 2013, and awarded in March last year.

In the Korean firm’s filing, a person wearing a camera - on a Google Glassstyle device dubbed Galaxy Glass would be able to look down at their hands, which would be mapped using a virtual keyboard.

For example, numbers could be assigned to a forefinger, while symbols could be assigned to a middle finger.

Alternatively, letters could be plotted at various points across the fingers and palm from top to bottom.

Users would then use their thumb to ‘press’ the various keys on both hands.

The camera would capture the movement of the thumb, or identify the force pressed onto each finger to establish which key had been pressed and type the message accordingly.

Telcos’ success strategies, by Ericsson, E&Y study

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RICSSON and Earnest & Young (EY) have collaborated to identify three distinct strategies adopted by successful mobile operators, dubbed Frontrunners.

According to them, successful operators share a common focus on network performance and customer experience; differentiation, innovation and technology approaches vary by strategy Frontrunner revenues grew at 9.6 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), their competitors at 2.7 per cent, while average in markets with no Frontrunners is -1.4 per cent (2010-2014) With traditional revenues under pressure and mobile data use soaring, operators have been forced to evolve both their networks and their business models. Some have been more successful than others. A study from Ericsson, in collaboration with Ernst and Young, has identified and classified these operators as Frontrunners. Between 2010 and 2014, Frontrunners enjoyed a 9.6 percent CAGR while competitors in their markets achieved only 2.7 percent.

In undertaking this research, the results of which are launched , Ericsson has identified three distinct strategies adopted by Frontrunners.

Significantly, what is good for the end user is also good for the operator.

Frontrunner strategies are qualityled progression: These Frontrunners differentiate through high-performing networks and high brand prefer-

ence; market-led adaptation: includes Frontrunners that differentiate through quick adaptation to market conditions; and offering-led transformation which refers to Frontrunners that differentiate by being first to enter the market with uniquely designed offerings The study also showed some ways in which Frontrunners are similar including their views on connectivity and services as differentiators rather than commodities, and their focus on innovating new revenue streams rather than maximizing old ones. Frontrunners display greater interaction between marketing and technical roles, rather than the traditional silos, and they leverage network performance by either utilizing superior network performance as a differentiator or by improving network performance to meet customer expectations.

Speaking on the study, Executive Director of Nordic Advisory, EY, Martin Sebelius, said: “We clearly see that despite their different strategies, frontrunner operators share a common commitment to network quality. Not surprisingly, Frontrunners constantly seek new ways of challenging industry conventions to make connectivity more relevant to people, business and society.”

Research Director, Mobile Infrastructure and Carrier Economics, Infonetics Research, now part of IHS Inc., Stéphane Téral, said: “This is a well-reasoned study that helps operators in different markets answer

the universal question of where to invest and generate returns. Operators are trying to keep up with the growth in data traffic while facing significant economic conditions, including flat-to-declining revenue in often saturated markets. As it provides a nuanced view drawing on a global scope, this study is exactly what is needed for operators to thrive in any market condition.

“In addition, mobile consumers are very savvy today and understanding what makes operators tick can help them make better decisions as to where to lock in their subscriptions — I think this study could be as interesting to consumers as it is to operators.”

Head, Radio Strategic and Tactical Marketing, Ericsson, Patrik Cerwall said: “We wanted to understand what makes operators successful in order to be the best partner to our customers. It may sound self-serving, but Frontrunners focus on growth, both enhancing the core business while at the same time exploring new markets and capabilities to secure future revenues, such as IoT (Internet of Things) and vertical solutions.

“The journey toward 5G in 2020 will be marked by both new technology advances and new business models, but that transformation really started with the shift from voice to data-driven networking. The operators who are managing that transition successfully may provide the blueprint for success in 5G.”

SUPPORTING the Digital India initiative, world’s largest software maker Microsoft Corp said it would help the government to “transform” the country through technological innovations.

In a video message during the launch of Digital India week, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Satya Nadella, said technology could support the government’s initiatives in key areas of the programme, including rural internet connectivity, digital cloud services for all and communications and productivity services for the government.

“At Microsoft, our focus is on empowering every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.

Likewise, the Digital India initiative is focused on harnessing the power of technology to help India transform,” he said.

The democratising force of software and digital technology, he said, will enable India’s future innovators and entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams, Indian businesses to transform and seize the opportunities ahead and enable the talent and ingenuity of the human capital in India to thrive.

“In fact, to help drive this transformation we are bringing our marquee cloud services – Microsoft Azure, Dynamics and Office 365 – to local datacenters in India to accelerate cloud innovation, connect every Indian and every Indian business to the world through our global hyper-scale cloud,” he said.

He congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the initiative, saying he was looking forward to seeing how technology can enable India’s transformation in the years ahead.

Huawei showcases Tablet T1.0 GLOBAL leader in information communication technology solutions, and global Top 2 Android smartphone brand, Huawei has unveiled the Tablet T1 7.0, in what it said it is its original approach to balancing productivity, powerful content creation and consumption in one portable tablet device in the country.

The Tablet T1 7.0 is a sleek and stylish 7-inch tablet that comes with a 1.2 GHz Quad Core Processor, 1 GB RAM and 16 GB ROM. While the platform of Android 4.4 kit KatOS with emotion launcher makes it fast and reliable, the high connectivity of DC-HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps D/L speed keeps it well above its counterparts. Tablet T1 also comes with 2G/3G voice calling facility to help you remain connected. Work or pleasure, it has all the features to balance both.

The Tablet T1has a 4100 mAh battery for more effective performance and staying power. It is equipped with an IPS HD screen in a stunning 7-inch display. The rest of the specs include a 5MP rear camera with LED flash.

The tablet also has a slim (8.5mm) metallic uni-body build which is sleek and light, and is both fashionable and portable. With a 4100mAh battery for lengthy browsing, streaming and gaming, the tablet, which is also equipped with GPS and Wi-Fiis capable of running for 12 hours of HD video playback.

According to the firm, the large, bright and crystal clear screen delivers a better pixel density providing a premium content viewing experience.

Either watching videos or reading magazines and e-books, the Huawei T1 provides an immersive media

consumption experience.

Speaking during the launch of the device, Senior Marketing Manager, Huawei Technologies, Nigeria, Olaonipekun Okunowo,said: “We are really excited to launch the Huawei T1. 7.0tablet, an outstanding media pad designed for those who want to enjoy unparalleled entertainment. Its superior 7-inch IPS screen, 4G LTE connectivity and exceptional camera makes it the perfect tablet at the most affordable price of N25,000.00 only for those on-the-go this summer.”

Given the spec sheet of the Huawei T1 7.0, it is no wonder it is currently the best-selling tablet in the country today. The T1 7.0 builds on Huawei’s expertise in the engineering of quality consumer products and devices, fulfilling a long held promise with our customers to deliver unparalleled user experience.

In a statement, the firm said with 16 research and development (R&D) centers in countries that include Germany, Sweden, the US, France, Italy, Russia, India, and China,Huawei’s products and services extend to over 170 countries, serving one third of the world’s population. In 2014, Huawei’s smartphone global shipment ranked third in the world. As one of Huawei’s three business groups, Huawei Consumer BG offers mobile phones, mobile broadband (MBB) devices and home devices. With more than 20 years of rich expertise in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, an extensive global network, vast global business operations and network of partners, Huawei Consumer BG is dedicated to bringing the latest technology to consumers, offering a world of possibilities, creating extraordinary experiences and realizing dreams for people everywhere.

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Shippers Council plans new port order T to reduce congestion O reduce congestion at sea ports, over 70 per cent of incoming cargoes are to be examined at off-dock terminals, under a scheme being planned by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), it has been learnt.

Diversion of cargoes to neighbouring countries will also end under the council’s proposed new port order.

Off-dock terminals are dry ports such as the Inland Container Depots (ICDs).

The planned new order will promote efficiency and reduce cargo dwell time and the ports’ cost of doing business.

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda MaritimeCorrespondent

A senior Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT) official said under the proposed order ports, business would become more attractive, adding that NSC is also a port community system to make smooth its relationship with other agencies to generate more revenue for the Federal Government.

“The new port order is for service-providers, users and all

• From left: Bello and Ado-Bayero during the visit in Lagos.

stakeholders in the maritime industry to enable them operate in line with global best practices and generate more revenue for the government.The order entails making the nation’s sea ports competitive, efficient and cost effective in delivery of services as well as making the ports user-friendly.

“It will also lead to improvement in marine and terminal handling services delivery that will lead to reduction in the turnaround time of

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

River Benue dredging to cost N26b • To be completed in two years

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HE Federal Government has awarded a N26 billion contract for the dredging of lower River Benue to ease movement of cargoes from the ports to other parts of the country.

Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Acting Managing Director Mr Danladi Ibrahim, who broke the news in Lagos, said the contract was awarded to Messr Oyins Oil and Gas Limited.

He said: “We have awarded the dredging of lower river Benue for a tune of N26 billion. Also, the dredging of the lower river Niger is completed and quite a number of boats and jetties are under construction.

We are all aware that we have completed the Onitsha river port and it will be concessioned to the private sector to operate any time from now.

“Baro is 95 per cent completed; Lokoja is about 60 per cent as well as Oguta port. We have awarded the construction of Markurdi river’s port and any moment from now, it will take off.”

Ibrahim said the major challenge facing the agency was funds, unfolding the plans to transform the parastatal to make it financially independent in the next few years.

The plans, according to him, include the development of a multistory office complex in Lagos, for revenue generation; the introduc-

tion of hover-barge technology in their operation and carrying along critical stakeholders.

He promised that NIWA would collaborate with the governments of the riverine states to provide efficient inland waterways services.

“As it relates to the conflict between NIWA and some state governments, we have issues with many states like Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa but we are ready to engage them and collaborate with them to promote out services.

“What we intend to do this time around, is to collaborate with these states. Any moment from now, we will be visiting all the states’ governors that we have issues with and collaborate.

“We believe that by collaborating, this issue will be resolved and inland waterways will be used optimally. Instead of engaging in legal tussles and conflicts, I don’t see any reason states and Federal Government cannot collaborate to develop the economy,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim said the agency was also collaborating with a Dubai-based company to develop its Lagos Area Office into a multi-purpose edifice to provide world-class service and comfort.

“We intend to have a 45–storey office tower here in Lagos and in it, we will have about five floors of

vessel and reduced cost of vessel operations,” the official said.

The official continued: “The port community system involves every player, what he does, timing of activity and cost for such activity. It is a command and control centre, which creates a nexus between all existing systems in the industry. It is a means of integration among all players to boost efficiency and transparency at ports.

“Since its appointment as port economic regulator by the Federal Government in February, last year, the NSC had in October, last year directed, reversed the storage charges at the ports to the rates, which were in force as at May 1, 2009, topping it up, in favour of shippers, with an increase in the free storage period at the port from three days to seven days.

“As part of the moves to make the ports attractive for business, the NSC directed shipping companies to reduce their shipping line agency charges from N26,500 to N23,850 per TEU and from N48,000 to N40,000 per TEU. It also imposed a maximum of 10 working days on the terminal operators as the period within which refund on container deposits by importers or their clearing agents should be effected. Although, the directive has been challenged in court, but we still consider it as good move

by NSC to bring hope and sanity to our port system.

“The objective of the system is to establish a framework that will promote the competitiveness of the nation’s sea ports beyond its neighbouring ports of Cotonou, Ghana, Togo, Cameroun and other ports in the sub-region.’’

NSC Executive Secretary Mr Hassan Bello, the official said, was determined to enthrone an efficient port system that would facilitate trade and lead to increased revenue generation for the government.

“One of the reasons for the con-

cession of the ports to private terminal operators was to reduce cost.

Cargo dwell time and the cost of doing business must come down for our ports to be competitive; it must be relative to operation and services that are being rendered by the terminal operators and the shipping companies. That is the mandate given to NSC as a port economic regulator and that is what its management is trying to enthrone in our ports to boost the nation’s economy,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has apologised to NSC for not involving the interim port economic regulator in last year’s tariff hike.

Findings revealed that NPA wrote to NSC, introducing the tariff hike, but withdrew the letter when the terminal operator took offence over the matter.

Speaking during Bello’s visit to NPA Managing Director Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado-Bayero in Lagos, last week, NPA’s Executive Director, Marine and Operations Mr David Omonibeke promised that the authority would carry the NSC along before increasing port charges.

Omonibeke explained that the NPA did an increment last in 1993.

He exonerated the agency from the high cost of doing business at ports.

NPA, he said, was still collecting $920 after leading a ship to berth.

Bello urged NPA to ensure that the proposed Lekki deep sea port does not face the same challenges as Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.

He also urged NPA to facilitate dry ports operation.

If the dry ports began operation, they would serve as ports of origin and final destinations, where people could send their cargos abroad and receive them, he said.

Ado-Bayero promised to back NSC, saying: “We will give you all the necessary support to deliver on your mandate. Together, we will move forward and establish a relationship that would be sustained and maintained.

“I wish you gridlock-free journey to your office.”

Customs seizes N1b goods in Imo

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• Ibrahim

super shopping malls and 10 floors of car parks attached to it, because it is a kind of inter-modal transportation system, we will have a train station that will link this edifice.

“The government intends to have a metro station here and there will also be a modern jetty. This will be in partnership with a company in Dubai on a public-private partnership arrangement,” he said, adding that jobs would be created in the sub-sector as management plans to encourage private sector investments in deploying Hover crafts and Hover barges that can be used to transport travellers and cargoes from the ports,” he said.

HE Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ in Owerri, the Imo State capital, seized over N1 billion worth of goods in six months.

Its Area Controller, David Dimka said the unit seized 226 contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1, 016,833,292 and arrested 129 suspects between January and last month.

About 118 cases against smugglers, he said, were pending in the courts.

Findings revealed that in March, the unit recorded 63 seizures with a DPV of N337,368, 522.

This, according to Dimka, was the highest seizure by the unit in a month with 25 suspects held.

He said 37 seizures with a DPV of N176,483,600 were made in January; 40 with DPV of N136,708,650 in February; 37 with DPV of N83,302,620 in April; 42 with DPV of N141,228,100 in May and 47 seizures with DPV of N138, 341,400 last month.

The items seized included 210 vehicles, furniture and 296 bales of fairly used bags and suitcases worth N456,704,500; N101,805,700; N19,584,000; and N30,143,400.

Others, according to him, are 3,905 pieces of used tyres worth N53,502,100; 2,126 cartons of imported frozen poultry products

worth N30,566,804; 1,731 bags of 50kg rice worth of N35,678,600; beverages and juice worth #72,000.

Dimka said 2,686 pieces of used footwear estimated at N6,253,800; 37 cartons of foreign soap/detergents with 202 cartons of foreign vegetable oil worth N6,874,020 were seized from smugglers.

Other goods seized by the unit included electrical and electronics parts, used fridges, compressors and machinery that were used to conceal smuggled items worth N303,391,772.

The NCS chief attributed the massive seizures in March to a stronger quest for materialism by the suspects.

The Customs Area Controller also expressed concern over the persistent cases of smuggling despite the stiff penalties for those arrested.

Dimka appealed to the public for their cooperation and support in the war against smuggling, assuring that the NCS men were better trained and equipped to meet its challenges.

He praised the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs (CGC) Abdullahi Dikko for his support to men of the NCS, noting that these have strengthened his men’s commitment in the fight against smugglers.

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THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION Incessant bird strikes have remained a challenge to airline operators. The problem, which is not limited to the nation’s aviation industry, has led to spiralling costs in terms of fixing damaged engines, loss of revenue, and other maintenance expenses, reports KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR

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Bird strikes, others may kill airlines

OMESTIC airline operators, acting under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), have raised the alarm over incessant attacks of migratory birds on aircraft engines, warning that, along with other factors, the attacks may kill the industry if not addressed.

Listing various challenges facing the sector, the group lamented that it is facing an uphill task running their fleet.

Aside attacks on aircraft engines by birds during flights, it said other threats to the industry are: unfavourable government policies, multiple taxation, flunctuating price of aviation fuel, high cost of aircraft offshore maintenance and high cost of insurance.

In an interview, its Executive Chairman, Captain Nogie Meggison, said indigenous airlines lose over 30 aircraft engines yearly to attacks by migratory birds.

He said the birds were making operators lose between $120 million and $210 million yearly.

He lamented that it costs a minimum of $4 million to change a small aircraft engine damaged by birds during flight.

Middle range aircraft and large size aircraft engines, Meggison said, cost between $60 million and $70 million to replace if damaged through bird strike.

Meggison said domestic operators have been grappling with this chal-

lenge for years without compensation from any government authorities or insurance firms.

He wondered how an airline could make profit in the face of these challenges, noting that operators should be lauded for putting their investments in air transport given its attendant risks.

He said the losses caused by the birds could be reduced if aviation agencies stepped up control measures at the airports.

This, Meggison said, is important because bird strikes could contribute to air disasters if not checked.

Bird strikes, he said, could damage the aircraft engine blades, leading to possible malfunction, which is a threat to airline operations.

He attributed 70 per cent of air disasters in the country to negligence by government agencies handling airlines.

Meggison said Nigeria could achieve safer skies if the agencies and other service providers carried out their duties without interference by the Ministry of Aviation.

He said the agency investigating air accidents needed to sit up to fix identified causes of air disasters to ensure that useful lessons are learnt to avoid any recurrence.

Meggison said: “We need to start looking at landing aids and landing areas at airports because over 70 per cent of air crashes in Nigeria are linked to negligence on the part of aviation parastatals and oversight

deficiencies of regulatory agencies and other factors.

“For instance, the ADC crash of a few years ago, was due to air traffic control issue; Wings Aviation crash of a few years ago was also due to wrong charting by NAMA while Associated plane that crashed a few years ago was on ground for 24 months before it was taken to the skies.

“We need to look at the issues and not sweep issues under the carpet in Nigeria. We also have issues ranging from bad drainage runway surface to failure of air traffic controller to properly monitor runways, among others. ”About 50 per cent of all plane crashes are caused by pilot error.

That may seem like a very high statistic, but it makes perfect sense when you think about everything that a pilot must do.

“Pilots must navigate through dangerous weather, respond to mechanical issues and execute a safe takeoff and landing.

“Some plane accidents are caused when pilots misread equipment, misjudge weather conditions or fail to recognise mechanical errors until it’s too late.”

Sometimes too, plane crashes happen when pilots become incapacitated during critical points of a flight, he added.

In 1976, the only South African airways flight crashed when the captain suffered a heart attack.

•From left: Managing Director, Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue and his Deputy, Capt. Ado Sanusi receiving the Airport Commandant, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Capt. Idi Sani during his visit to the airline’s corporate Headquarters at the airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

NCAA okays new cargo charges for NAHCO

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HE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given the nod to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco Aviance) to implement a 20 per cent increase in cargo tariff.

Under the new regime, NAHCO will charge N46 per kilogramme for cargo as against the old fee of N38.

Courier handling charge will cost N54 per kilogramme as against N45.

The approval was contained in a letter signed by its DirectorGeneral, Captain Muhktar Usman to the Managing Director NAHCO, Mr Nobert Bielderman.

The letter reads: “In line with powers conferred on the Authority by

Part 18.7.3.1 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2012, approval is hereby given to your company to increase the Import Handling Charge from N38/ kg to N46/kg and the Courier Handling Charge from N45/kg to N54/kg as agreed with the stakeholders.”

The NCAA chief praised NAHCO for consulting with stakeholders before embarking on the increase, NCAA said: “We wish to advise that Nahco Aviance should continue to ensure adequate consultations with the stakeholders in line with the laid down guidelines and regulations guiding review or introduction of any charge.”

It said NCAA should be invited as an observer in future consultations.

NAHCO and the Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) last month agreed to a 20 per cent tariff increment.

At a meeting at the head office of Nahco in Lagos, on May 15, the negotiating team of ANCLA led by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Bola AshiruBalogun, the Treasurer, Afolabi Azeez and the Financial Secretary, Obanla Alex, said they reached the agreement with NAHCO in the interest of the industry.

“Some pilot errors can even be the result of mental problems. “Take, for instance, the German wings crash in 2014. Automation has saved a lot of pilots but the pilots are not trained to save automation in today’s world.

“Negligence or failure of air traffic controllers to properly monitor the airways is also one of the causes of accidents,” he said.

According to him, this has to do with issues arising during various stages of a flight including approach and departure procedures.

He said faulty equipment and/or mechanical failures are also common causes of accidents, adding that the manufacturer of an aircraft is responsible for an accident if the structural design of the aircraft is flawed, resulting in plane crashes.

He said: “About 12 per cent of all plane crashes are caused by weather conditions. Although flights are often grounded when weather conditions are deemed hazardous, storms, heavy winds and even fog can sneak up on pilots and air traffic controllers.

“But all of these could be reduced if there are proper navigation aids and landing equipment, radar and weather detectors are installed in our

airports.’’

Meggison said though Africa recorded zero fatality last year, steps should be taken to ensure her airspace is safer if the civil aviation authority is granted autonomy to regulate aviation.

He said: “The Civil Aviation Authority must have the autonomy to regulate the industry.

“It must have enough trained and capable technical hands to carry out the oversight of the airlines, crew and service providers.

“It must be able to carry out over sight functions on all without fear or favour, to any airline, company or citizen regardless of the their political, partisan, zonal , religious or affiliations to the government.”

IRS Airlines Managing Director, Yemi Dada, lamented that airlines were not making profit because of inadequate infrastructure and insurgency challenge.

“The risk in insuring is high, credit is not well-structured in Nigeria, aircraft leasor will ask you to pay three months’ rentals, the risk of losing the aircraft is at the heart of it all. Until the fundamentals of the economy is solved, we can’t break even easily,”he added.

Etihad Airways partners Etisalat on lower fares

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TISALAT has joined hands with the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Etihad Airways, on its premium GEM customers.

The deal is aimed at strengthening the GEM reward system and offer Etisalat GEM customers loyalty benefits, which include discounted tickets and new roaming package.

Etisalat GEM is the reward programme of Etisalat for loyal high value customers who attain a predefined threshold on the network in 12 months.

With the partnership, Etisalat GEM customers will pay less than $3000 for family holiday to the UAE, which is inclusive of flight tickets, hotel stay for four nights and 30-day visa for a family of three.

Similarly, Etisalat GEM customers are entitled to 20 per cent discount on flight tickets to the UAE when they fly Etihad Airways and roaming discounts during their holiday.

Chief Marketing Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone, said: ‘’The goal of our partnership with Etihad Airways is to add value to the lives of our GEM customers and make holiday trips and vacations more enjoyable for them with value-

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added incentives. We believe that this partnership with Etihad Airways will provide unparalleled satisfaction to our GEM customers.”

Etihad Airways’ Vice President, Africa sub-Sahara and Indian Ocean, Maurice Phohleli, said: “We are confident our collaboration with Etisalat will reward new and existing guests with travel options that provide great value. Etihad Airways prides itself on building strong relationships with its guests and, with the summer holidays here, we intend to show our appreciation by rewarding GEM customers for their loyalty.’’

Meanwhile, Etihad Cargo, the freight business of United Arab Emirates (UAE) has increased its freighter services to Africa with the launch of a cargo only service from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Maya Maya Airport, Brazzaville (BZV), in the Republic of Congo.

Operating twice weekly using a Boeing 777F freighter aircraft, the new service will fly to Brazzaville via the Murtala Muhammadu Airport, Lagos.

The freighter has a capacity of 100 metric tonnes and will transports tools, machinery, general cargo, electronics and project equipment.

Margaret Ekpo, Aminu Kano airports are best, says FAAN

HE Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, have been adjudged the best performing airports by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The awards were based on the Performance Management System (PMS) rating by the authority’s Department of Planning.

The rating is an initiative for FAAN to measure, monitor and improve airport management and service quality through assessment to improve travellers’experience.

The awards, which were presented by the Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma, at an event, was given in the category of Best Performing Domestic Airport for Calabar, and Best Performing International Airport for Kano. They were received by the airports’ managers, Alhaji Mohammed Sanni (Calabar) and Alhaji Gambo Aboki (Kano).

Margaret Ekpo International Airport Calabar emerged as the Best Domestic Airport in the first quarter of th year while Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport emerged as Best International Airport in the country.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 06-07-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 06-07-15

Equities open with N32b loss

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IGERIAN equities closed the first trading session this week with a loss of N32 billion, worsening the negative averageyear-to-date performance at the stock market.

The All Share Index (ASI), the value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), depreciated by 0.29 per cent or 94.22 points to close at 32,444.12 points as against its opening index of 32,538.34 points.

Aggregate market value of all quoted companies also dipped to N11.075 trillion from its opening value of N11.107 trillion, representing a drop of N32 billion.

With this, the negative average year-to-date return worsened to -6.39 per cent.

Most indices showed widespread selling sentiments.

The NSE Consumer Goods Index dropped by 0.80 per cent drop while the NSE Oil/ Gas Index and NSE Banking Index dropped by 0.55 per

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

cent and 0.22 per cent respectively. There were 31 losers against 21 gainers. Total Nigeria recorded the highest loss of N8 to close at N157 per share. Seplat Petroleum Development Company trailed with a loss of N5.95 to close at N336.05. Guinness Nigeria dipped by N4.80 to close at N147.20 per share. Nestle Nigeria dropped by N3.99 to close at N850.01 while Mobil Oil Nigeria depreciated by N2 to close at N148 per share.

On the other hand, two sectoral indices appreciated.

The NSE Industrial Goods Index rose by 1.53 per cent increase. The NSE Insurance Index also recorded a gain of 0.90 per cent. Seven-Up Bottling Company topped the gainers’ list with a gain of N4 to close at N194. Lafarge Africa gained N3.50 to close at N104.50. Forte Oil rose by N2 to close at N192 per share.

Flour Mill of Nigeria appreciated by 50 kobo to close at

N34 while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated rose by 35 kobo to close at N22.10 per share.

Total turnover increased by 12.5 per cent as investors exchanged a total of 155.869 million shares worth N1.66 billion in 3,230 deals as against the 138.555 million shares valued at N1.55 billion traded in 2,796 deals on Friday.

Stock-by-stock analysis showed that Access Bank was the most active stock, with a turnover of 30.659 million shares worth N163.16 million. United Bank for Africa (UBA) followed with a turnover of 12.105 million shares valued at N55.46 million. Zenith Bank placed third with 11.912 million shares worth N226.59 million. FBN Holdings recorded a turnover of 6.79 million valued at N54.09 million while Transnational Corporation of Nigeria recorded a turnover of 5.69 million worth N15.26 million.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 06-07-15

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

MONEYLINK

CBN bars ‘corporate’ naira cards for int’l payments

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday strengthened its card payment rule, ordering that naira-denominated corporate cards should not be allowed for cross-border payments.

CBN Director, Banking and Payment System, Dipo Fatokun, who said this in a circular to the banks, explained that where a corporate entity requires a card(s), for overseas payments, such entities should be encouraged to obtain foreign currency denominated card(s).

The cards, he insisted, would be issued against the corporate’s do-

Stories by Collins Nweze

miciliary account, prepaid or credit cards whose limits must be in line with the existing Business Travel Allowances (BTA) provisions.

Cardholders, he instead, should be informed that the banking industry has instituted a tracking system on the use of naira-denominated cards abroad adding that banks are required to educate their customers on the need to operate within the approved limits, as violators would be sanctioned.

The CBN director also threatened

UBA simplifies BVN registration process for customers

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NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced a simple, convenient and hassle free process for its customers to submit their Biometric Verification Numbers (BVN).

The lender yesterday launched a short code number *919*6# through which customers can send their BVN. “The process is very simple. All a customer has to do is to send his or her valid BVN from the telephone number that was used to open their account to the short code number and it will become automatically linked,” its Director, Group Information Technology, Mr. Rasheed Adegoke said.

He said the simplification of the BVN of this simplified process was in response to some of the challenges associated with the ongoing BVN exercise.

“UBA has come up with this novel process to ensure that customers who already have their BVN do not have any issues submitting it to their alternate banks” explained Adegoke.

Speaking further, he said once customers submit their BVN through the code, they will get an immediate response letting them know whether their BVN is valid or incorrect. The responses will be accompanied by a phone number through which further enquiries can be made by the customers if required. In addition to this phone number, customers can also reach UBA on social media though Facebook and twitter or by calling UBA’s Customer Fulfillment Centre for further clarifications.

The BVN is a unique number given to all bank customers in Nigeria who had their finger prints and pictures taken at bank branches around the country. Each customer’s biometric and personal data is attached to all bank accounts he or she operates whether personal or corporate.

Individual customers have single BVNs no matter the number of accounts they operate in as many banks as they desire.

to sanction banks that violate its $50,000 annual spending limit on Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawals overseas with nairadenominated cards.

Fatokun advised all authorised card issuers especially Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to note and implement the policy or be sanctioned. He said the daily limit of $300 or its equivalent must also be implemented.

The CBN director advised banks to submit reports of all naira-denominated card transactions consummated overseas to Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) on daily basis. The report, he said, must be sent electronically via a file upload portal as specified by NIBSS, which would include the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the ac-

Firm seeks improved governance in banking, insurance

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•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

count numbers of the cardholder for each transaction.

NIBSS is expected to consolidate the reports and send details to the violators of the limits to the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, CBN with copies to the card issuers, on daily basis.

FirstBank, Asian Banker partner on retail banking

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IRST Bank of Nigeria Limited has partnered with the Asian Banker Magazine to host the West Africa International Retail Banking Dialogue 2015. The event which has the theme of “Building a Sustainable & Competitive Retail Banking Infrastructure for West Africa” will hold on Thursday in Lagos.

About 100 senior executives and supporting executives in retail, technology, innovation, operations, strategy and planning are expected to attend the event from West Africa and other regions’ retail banking and payments industries.

The GMD/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya is billed to deliver the keynote address on “Contextualizing global trends in retail banking for Africa”.

Onasanya said the world of retail banking is changing rapidly as a result of competition, increased regulation and changing customer expectations. “In view of the large numbers of the unbanked population in West Africa, it is our hope that the West Africa International Retail Banking Dialogue 2015 will throw up new ways of thinking and innovation in bank products and services that will help financial institutions in the region to capture this market,” he added.

IHILENT Nigeria, a global business consulting and solutions integration company, and a subsidiary of India headquartered Nihilent Technologies is urging insurance firms and banks on the need to strengthen their digital technology and enhance governance principles.

General Manager-West Africa of Nihilent, Mr. Shohel Noor, highlighted this when his firm, in partnership with the Nigeria Insurance Association (NIA), organised a workshop on digital transformation for the insurance industry and the need for quality frameworks in the sector.

He spoke on various benefits insurance companies have achieved by working closely with the company globally. He also stressed that the company would be keen on working with the Nigerian insurers to prepare them for the digital era and urged the audience to leverage the company’s global expertise and experience.

He said that Nihilent Nigeria had last year, conducted a similar seminar for the banking sector which was attended by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and was well received by Chief Executive Officers of banks, non-banking financial institutions, payments, insurance and IT companies.

Chairman, Nihilent Nigeria, Oti Ikomi, acknowledged NIA’s support in this knowledge sharing initiative.

“The insurance industry in Nigeria is going through a paradigm shift in this digital era, and we realized the need for a comprehensive seminar on these lines”.

Continuing, he said that for the past 15 years, Nihilent has been driving change management using digital and Information Technologies in emerging markets such as South Africa, Tanzania, India and Nigeria.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

•Aliyu

•Front view of the Uches’ residence

Neighbours recount plight of abandoned mother of triple twins …Lagos government presents cheque

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T was a long wait yesterday at the Agege, Lagos home of the Uches who hit the limelight last week with the story of their three sets of twins.

Family, friends and neighbour gathered at the modest resident at 32, Awori/Morcas Street, Agege, waiting for top government officials who were expected on a visit.

Ever since the news of Mrs Ruth Uche, the woman whose husbanf disappeared on learning that they were expecting another set of twins broke, the home has become a Mecca of sorts.

As at 11am yesterday when officials of the Lagos State Government visited the area to take Mrs Uche and her children to the Secretariat at Alausa on the directive of the Deputy Governor, Dr Oluranti Adebule, some of her neighbours at the scene could not just hide their feelings on her situation which they described as “critical” and “unfortunate”.

A neighbour, Mr Umaru Aliyu, told our reporter that he could not understand why her husband fled home, considering that she is a peaceful woman who has lived in this face-me-I-face-you compound in the last two years without having any rancor with anyone.

“We all live here and saw the suffering that this woman and her children have been going through. Even when their father was around things were difficult for the family but the situation grew worst when the man left home,” he said.

Aliyu said the family could barely afford to feed, adding that the goodwill of neighbours was what they depended before now.

“But for how long will she and the children continue to depend on

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

people to give them food to eat? She needs help in the area of food and also in caring for the children,”a concerned Aliyu stressed.

Also, Mrs Sadiat Okunola, a food stuff seller in the building said: “I do give them food stuff, because I know the challenges they have been through. It has not been easy coping with six children without any help from anyone”.

Mrs. Uche who said she will not hesitate to accept the husband if he returns home considering what she has gone through, said all was well with them but taken aback that the man who paid her dowry and married her according to her traditional rites could flee home in that manner.

She told our reporter that as a wife she has done everything to support her husband and keep the family going.

“Am very concerned about my family that is why I work hard, am in this situation today not because am lazy but because the burden is just too much for only me to handle”.

“I use to work as a messenger in Mid Atlantic Energy, but decided to quit the job and take a up a teaching appointment in the school that my children attend, that way I can be closer home and help take proper care of the children.

“The school fee for the school was N10, 000 per term for each child, but because I work there the management collects N5, 000 from each of my children, this they remove directly from my salary while the remaining N10, 000 is expended on the children educational material.”

She said the family survived on the six thousand naira she makes from the six children that she organised extra lesson for after

‘I will unite Celestial church’

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HE Unification Leader of the Celestial Church of Christ, CCC Worldwide, Rev. Olatosho Oshoffa has promised to unite the different warring factions in the celestial fold, saying his divine commission is to bring all celestial flock back into one fold.

Olatosho spoke at the CCC Progress Cathedral, Province Headquarters, Itele-Awori Aparadija Ayobo area of Ogun State

By Olalekan Ayeni

where he had gone to celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He promised not only to take care of all the shepherds, but to unite them and lead the sheep under one fold.

He also promised to complete the CCC Cathedral at Imeko within five years as one of the founding churches of Celestial Church worldwide.

•Dr Adebule (second left); Mrs Uche (second right); Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office Mr Michael Dawodu and Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Permanent Secretary Mrs Omobolanle Ogunmola... yesterday PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES

school hours.

“That is how we have been coping since my husband left, we drink garri both in the morning and night and it has not been easy”.

She said the only help she got from a family member was from a co wife in the family who came around once to cook for her after she put to bed and was discharged from hospital.

Moved by her story, the Lagos Deputy Governor presented a cheque to the mother of six, saying that the assistance would help rehabilitate her and family.

She said the development was one of the campaign promises of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, that the government will be compassionate to address the needs of the people.

She directed the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) to open a functional account for her where the money will be paid in, while directing government officials to take assessment of her situation so as to further address her case.

She sympathised with her over the traumatic experience she has faced in trying to raise the six children assuring that the government

HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday sealed a popular Lagos Mall for stocking, selling and distributing counterfeit wines and spirits.

The regulatory officers of the Agency from its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate stormed the three branches of the mall in Ajah, Gbagada and Magodo-Isheri areas of the state in a simultaneous and well-coordinated operation

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is ready to come to her aid and ensure the well-being of her children.

“As a woman and a mother, I can only imagine what you have gone through managing six children, it must have been energy sapping and depressing, but I salute your courage and I want to assure you that this government will not abandon you, we will stand by you and ensure that you are assisted to get back to normal life”, Adebule assured.

She thanked the woman for coming forward to seek help rather than abandon the children, which some other persons would have done, noting that if she dumped the children by the road side, it would still have been the lot of government to take custody of the children and ensure their well-being but her presence and determination to raise her children further encouraged the government to offer the necessary assistance.

The Deputy Governor added that the Governor had approved the release of some amount of money, which the deputy governor stated will be paid into an account and part of it will be used to attend to some of the immediate needs of the chil-

dren and their mother, adding that officials from the Ministry of WAPA have been directed to provide the necessary logistics support to her.

Adebule however advised the runaway husband to come forward and take up the responsibility of caring for his family, admonishing him to be appreciative of the divine blessings that have come his way through the children.

President-General Igbo Progressive Leaders’ Council, Eze Uche Dimgba, described the gesture as a confirmation of Governor Ambode’s promise not to marginalise any group in Lagos.

“We appreciate the taking over the responsibility of an Igbo woman,”Dimgba, who is the Eze Ndigbo of Ikeja said.

In her reaction to the government’s gesture, Mrs Uche thanked the State Government for assisting and supporting her, noting that the love shown to her and her children could only have come from a government that truly cares about the well being of its people.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation of the token from the government to Mrs Uche by the Deputy Governor.

NAFDAC closes Lagos mall in company of security men and journalists.

The team leader of the Magodo-Isheri operations, Mr Andy Tamanuwa, a Chief Regulatory Officer, confirmed the sealing of the outfit maintaining that the exercise was a routine one aimed at ensuring that products sold to consumers conform to the approved regulatory standards.

Tamanuwa said the seized

items were mainly popular brands and expensive imported Alcoholic beverages.

According to him, “There were complaints received about the sale of cloned wines and spirits which were discovered to be true when we got there. We found the products and accordingly seized them.

They will be evacuated from the outlet for further investigations.

The Chief Regulatory Officer further revealed that the exercise was extended to the Gbagada and Ajah outlets of the Mall and they were equally sealed following same discoveries”.

NAFDAC has in the recent weeks intensified enforcement activities across the country leading to mop-up of fake products in circulation and sanctioning of erring companies and outlets.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

CITYBEATS MMA Police arrest man with fake Euro notes T

HE Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Police Command has arrested a 45-year old man, Lawrence Agbe, for allegedly being in possession of 1.25 million (N274 million) Euros suspected to be fake.

Commissioner of Police Airport Command, Mr Fredrick Lakanu Lakanu yesterday said Agbe was arrested while boarding a

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

Lagos enroute Abuja flight.

The suspect, who lives at Itogbe Street, Orile-Agege, Lagos, he said, was arrested on June 25.

“In the course of investigation, a search warrant was executed by a team of police de-

‘I’m tired of enduring’

By Basirat Braimah

MIDDLE age woman, Iyabo Ogungbemi, has prayed an Agege Customary Court in Lagos, to dissolve her 15year-old marriage with Kazeem.

The petitioner, who lives atAfeez Lawal Street, Agege, a Lagos suburb, accused him of his non-challant attitude towards their children.

She also said her husband rarely comes home from his place of work.

“Whenever I request money from him, he won’t come home. He doesn’t cater four children’s needs,” she said.

Mrs Ogungbemi said are children are not in school.

She said: “None of our children are in school. He shirks his responsibility and it is really unfair. For over 15 years, I have been enduring his attitude. He beats me like I never mattered to him. I want dissloution as I am tired of enduring.”

The respondent, Kazeem Ogungbemi, a panel beater, in his defence said he has tried his best as a father adding that he doesn’t like to go home whenever he is broke.

“At times I am forced to sleep in a bus at my place of work because I know there will be trouble if I return home without money,” he said.

Mr Ogungbemi said the only reason he beats his wife is because she doesn’t listen to his orders.

He said: “My wife thinks I am not responsible but she also has her ugly side. There was a day I decided to relax in a hotel and to my surprise I saw my wife coming out of the hotel with another man. Since then, I left the house.”

Ogungbemi further said he could only afford two children’s school fees.

“Two of our children are in government schools while the other two are at home. It’s not my wish; I am not just buoyant,” he said.

The court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams fixed a chamber discussion for the couple and adjourned the case till July 30.

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Co-operative society returns exco

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HE Lagos Local government Co-operative Multipurpose Society Limited has returned unopposed its 13-man executive to run the affairs of the society for another term.

In an unanimous voice vote at the society’s 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Gabriel Orororo Hall, Ikotun, Lagos suburb, the Oladipo Shobule-led executive were applauded for their sterling performance in office.

Earlier in his, Shobule, a lawyer, thanked the members for their supports.

“We have enjoyed your patronage of the various commodity and household items sold by the society,” he said.

He promised to continue to give value added services to members.

Director of Cooperative Services, Lagos Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives Mrs Zulikha Ibraheem congratu-

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

lated the society on its achievements.

Mrs Ibraheem whose office approved the 2014 annual statement of the society’s accounts and returns, said “the operational result of your society during the period under review showed an increase of 35 per cent in your surplus fund and 32 per cent expenditure on total income were commendable.”

She urged them to maintain the progressive trend.

She enjoined them to ensure strict compliance with the Cooperative Societies law of the state.

The returned executive include Shobule – President; Hafeez Ogungbekun – first Vice-President; Ebun Adeona – second Vice-President; Lateef Oloto – Secretary; Zacchaeus Mobolaji – Treasurer; Felix Obe – Financial Secretary and ‘Tunji Dawodu – Legal Adviser.

I‘ll strengthen security in Lagos

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HE new Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni has said that he will see the structure on ground to know how to improve security.

He promised to keep Lagosians sleep with eyes closed.

Owoseni said this promise while taking over from Kayode Aderanti at the Police command headquarter, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

He hailed Aderanti for a job well done.

He appealed to journalist on the importance of their inputs on how they the command could re-strategise.

“Feel free to come to me, I will operate open door policy,” he said.

He said he and Aderanti are brothers and had attended foreign mission together.

Handing over to Owoseni, Aderanti expressed optimism that Lagos will be better under Owoseni.

tective from Domestic Airport Division at the suspect’s printing press in Agege, Lagos, where over 2,000 police statement forms were recovered.

“On further interrogation, the suspect mentioned one Steve residing in Abuja now at large, as the owner of the said Euro,’’ Lakanu said.

He said that the suspect had since been charged to court.

Lakanu also disclosed that more than 30 motorcycles were recently impounded, while 35 airport touts were arrested and charged to court for unlawful entry and touting.

The commissioner said these were evidence that the

airports had been secured to guarantee the safety of passengers, airport community and airline operators.

Lakanu appealed to members of the public for their cooperation to enable the police check activities of undesirable elements at the airports.

Also speaking, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Livinus Chukwuma, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) solicited the cooperation of the media towards freeing airports of touts and commercial motorcycle operators.

The media, he said, is germane in tackling the menace of touts, Okada riders and other illegal activities at the airports.

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Police compensate commercial bus driver

By Wale Ajetunmobi

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HE Ilupeju Divisional Police Station has compensated commercial driver, Fatai Olatunji, for the damaging his bus by three officers attached to the station.

Olatunji was paid N36,000, last weekend, to repair the wheel hub and side mirror of his bus, which were damaged by shot fired by the policemen.

The compensation followed an earlier report by The Nation last Tuesday, which prompted the Ilupeju Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Yinka Egbeyemi, to invite Olatunji for compensation for the damage made to his bus by the officers.

The errant policemen fired at the passenger-laden bus with numberplate KRD 516 XF after Olatunji was accused of driving on one-way.

The policemen chased the bus from the main road into the streets, causing panic among residents and passersby.

When Olatunji eventually stopped in front of a church on Adegboyega Street, the officers descended on him and the bus conductor, beating them with butts of their riffles. The bus wheel hub and a side mirror were damaged.

Lagos Command spokesman Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said disciplinary action is being taken against the officers by the command, following their detention.

Nwosu advised commercial drivers to obey Lagos traffic regulations, while also charging officers to be civilised in their conducts.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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NEWS

INEC acting chair reconstituted 14 standing committees

Suspected militants abduct boy in Calabar

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USPECTED militants yesterday abducted the child of the proprietor of a private nursery school, Faithas Nursery/Primary School, Anantigha, Calabar South.

The school is located near the South Calabar creeks, opposite the abattoir in the area.

An eyewitness said a stranger, suspected to be an Ijaw, who had been hanging around the area for sometime, accosted the child, Master Eyo Antigha, outside school premises.

It was learnt that immediately the child was abducted, an armed gang emerged in a speed boat and sped off to an unknown destination.

“We have observed the increase in the number of Ijaw

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

boys as tenants and squatters in Anantigha area,” the eyewitness said.

Police spokesman Hogan Bassey, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident.

He said the police were making efforts to rescue the boy and bring his abductors to justice.

Bassey urged the public to help the police with credible information and remain security-conscious.

He said: “This will enhance our performance and save us some trouble.”

At the time of filing this report yesterday, there was no information that the hoodlums had contacted the boy’s family.

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NDEPENDENT National Commission (INEC) Acting Chairperson Amina Bala Zakari has approved the reconstitution of the commission’s 14 standing committees.

This was contained in the commission’s daily bulletin made available to reporters yesterday in Abuja.

The works of the newly reconstituted committee take effect from July 1, the bulletin stated.

The committees are: •Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committees (APDC): Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku, Chairman,

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Ambassador M.A. Wali and Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga as members.

•Planning, Monitoring and Strategy Committee (PM&SC): Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Chairman; Prof. M.A. Salau, Wali.

•Information and Voter Education/Outreach and Partnership Committee: Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Chairman; Wali and Nwuruku.

•Health and Welfare Committee - Dr. S. Abdulkadir On-

iyangi, Chairman; Wali and Salau.

•Operations and Logistics Committee: Iyimoga, Chairman, Nwuruku, and Wali.

•Estate, Works and Transport Committee - Wali, Chairman; Nwuruku and Iyimoga.

•Election and Party Monitoring Committee: Wali, Chairman; Iyimoga, and Salau.

•Board of Survey and Technical Equipment Acquisition Committee: Nwuruku, Chairman; Salau and Wali.

•Tenders Board Committee:

Wali, Chairman; Nwuruku and Iyimoga.

•Legal Services Clearance Committee: Oniyangi, Chairman; Wali and Nwuruku.

•Board of Electoral Institute Committee: Nwuruku, Oniyangi and Iyimoga.

•Information Technology and Voter Registry: Zakari, Chairman; Wali, member; Nwuruku, Iyimoga, Oniyangi, Salau.

•Finance and General Purpose Committee: Zakari, Chairman; Wali, Nwuruku, Iyimoga, Oniyangi, Salau; and •Security Committee: Zakari, Wali, Nwuruku, Iyimoga, Oniyangi, Salau.

Psychiatric hospital workers protest ‘harassment’

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ORKERS of the Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, near Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday protested alleged harassment, intimidation and illegal suspension by the hospital’s management.

They are also kicking against what they called the termination of their appointments, illegal dismissal, alleged witch-hunt and sundry illicit acts against them.

The protesters accused the Managing Director, Dr Sunny Olotu, of leading the alleged intimidation against them.

The workers marched on the major streets in Benin.

They sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on their plight.

It was learnt that the police recently invited Olotu to respond to some petitions written against him by some aggrieved workers.

But the hospital’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Efe Stewart denied the allegations.

The spokesman said he was not aware of any worker having a case against the management from 2004 to 2014.

He said those affected were made to face a duly constituted panel while the penalties meted out to them were approved by the hospital’s board.

Stewart said Olotu was not witch-hunting anybody, adding that there is peace in the hospital.

On invitation by the police, Stewart said nobody was above the law.

He said: “Petitions were written and we have responded accordingly.”

Those affected by the alleged harassment include Dr Charles Ikeji, a consultant special, Grade 1 (GL 17); P. O. Esan, Director of Phar-

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

maceutical Services, GL 17, said to have died in the course of the alleged harassment; Dr Ambrose Lawani, Consultant Special Grade II (GL 16; Ms O. U. Morgan, Assistant Director, GL 15; K. O. Oriakhi, Principal Pharmacist, GL 13 and Mrs Oluwatoyin Olatoye Seun, Occupational Therapist, GL 10.

Others are: Mr T. O. Osifo, Senior Executive Officer, Accounts GL 9; Mr O. J. UgiagbeOgbeide, Admin. Officer GDi, GL 9; Mr E. O. Ohenhen, Chief Data Processing Officer, GL 8; Mr Osatohnamwen Nosa, Chief Clerical Officer, GL 7 and Mrs B. E. Aikhorin, Clerical Officer, GL 7.

They signed the letter and gave reporters copies yesterday in Benin.

The aggrieved workers urged President Buhari to prevail on the management to withdraw “phantom cases instituted in magistrate courts against the workers by the police from Okhoro Division and AIG Zone 5”.

The protesters said the police had compromised their position They urged the policemen involved in the “phantom cases” probed, adding that the President should “revisit, exhume and implement the panel report of Rabi Adamu and the numerous petitions against Olotu, which have been covered up”.

The protesters called for the reinstatement of the victims of “Olotu’s witch-hunt”.

The aggrieved workers said their ordeal started when the Adamu report submitted that Olotu’s emergence as the Medical Director was fraught with irregularities.

They said he began the alleged witch-hunt of the workers he perceived as “enemies”.

Edo JUSUN suspends strike for one month

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HE Edo State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has suspended its seven-month indefinite strike.

The union directed its members to resume work tomorrow.

JUSUN members had defied two orders from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which threatened to sack them if they failed to resume work.

They were protesting alleged unwillingness of the

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

state government to implement a Federal High Court order, which granted financial autonomy to the Judiciary, and the non-payment of salaries during the period they were on strike.

The suspension of the strike was contained in a statement by JUSUN’s National Legal Adviser/ National Assistant Secretary, P. Nnamani, and Edo State Chairman Uyi Ogieriakhi,

•From left: Wife of the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Mrs. Regina Ango; winner, Osuolale Omowunmi, of Mountain Top Secondary School and Head, LPG, Oando Marketing Plc, Mr. Ganiyi Azeez, at the June edition of Teens Can Cook Competition in Lagos.

Parties disagree on INEC’s refusal to allow inspection of Rivers election materials •APC, Peterside: INEC working with Wike, PDP to frustrate our petition

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Rivers State governorship candidate in the last general elections, Dakuku Peterside, yesterday disagreed with Governor Nyesom Wike, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the propriety of the commission’s refusal to allow the inspection of the electoral materials used in the election.

The Election Petitions Tribunal, on June 11, following an ex-parte application by APC and Peterside, who are challenging Wike’s election, ordered INEC to allow the petitioners to inspect the elections materials to prove their case.

But INEC has refused to obey the order till date.

The petitioners’ lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), told the tribunal yesterday that INEC’s refusal to allow his clients’ agents to inspect the materials indicated that there was an alliance among INEC, Wike and the PDP to frustrate the hearing of the petition.

But INEC, Wike and PDP argued that it would have been wrong for the commission to allow the inspection of the election materials when Wike’s applications challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction and the propriety of the June 11 order were still pending.

Olujinmi, in a counter-argument to Wike’s application, urged the

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

tribunal to among others, set aside the June 11 order.

The eminent lawyer urged the tribunal to dismiss Wike’s application on the grounds that the order was not directed at him but at INEC – to allow the inspection.

He said Wike’s decision to challenge an order that did not affect him and INEC’s refusal to obey the court’s order formed part of the plot by the PDP, Wike and INEC to frustrate the proceedings before the tribunal.

Olujinmi urged the tribunal to halt the disregard of its order.

He said: “We have shown that INEC has not objected to the tribunal’s order and, today, they have confessed before the tribunal that they disobeyed the order for the inspection because the second respondent (Wike) filed a motion seeking the setting aside of the order.

“Even the order for inspection was obtained and directed at INEC, but INEC has not formally complained to the tribunal about that order. But they chose, on their own, not to obey the order. This, again, shows the shenanigan underlying this application to set aside the order for inspection.

“It is designed to legalise the conspiracy between the first and second respondents (INEC and Wike) to frustrate the tribunal’s order. The law is that, if the court is told that

the order it made is being disparaged, dishonoured, disobeyed and disrespected, the court has a duty to take firm and decisive steps to ensurethat the order is obeyed.”

The eminent lawyer said Wike’s application was without merit, adding that the contradiction was in the reasons the applicant gave in seeking to set aside the order.

He noted that Wike, in one breath, argued that the order for the inspection posed a threat to national security; on the other hand, he urged the tribunal to allow his agents to participate in the inspection.

Olujinmi urged the tribunal to disregard Wike’s prayers on the grounds that it acted within its powers under Section 151 of the Electoral Act, which empowers the tribunal to order INEC to allow any party to a petition to inspect materials used during the election from being challenged.

The lawyer faulted the argument by Wike’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), that the order was made when the tribunal had not determined whether or not it possessed the jurisdiction to sit in Abuja.

Olujinmi noted that while the order was granted on June 11, Wike’s application against the tribunal’s jurisdiction was filed on June 17.

Ukala, arguing his client’s application, stressed the need for the tribunal to set aside the order for the inspection.

The lawyer argued that it ought not to be granted exparte and that it was made by the tribunal without jurisdiction.

He contended that the tribunal could not be moved to exercise its powers under Section 151 of the Electoral Act through ex-parte application. He said such application must be made on notice so that the other party could be heard.

Ukala argued that it was within the tribunal’s powers to set aside the order it made in error and without according his client the right to fair hearing. He said it was not current that his client raised the issue of jurisdiction after the order had been made.

He said his client had raised the issue of jurisdiction and challenged the competence of the petition in his reply to the petition filed before the tribunal on June 4.

Lawyers to the PDP and INEC, I. A. Adedipe (SAN) and Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), supported Wike’s lawyer’s position.

But Ikpeazu insisted that INEC refrained from obeying the June 11 order because of Wike’s pending applications.

He said the commission was reluctant not to foist a state of helplessness on the tribunal.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Muazu Pindiga adjourned till July 9 for ruling.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

NEWS Police arraign 115 ‘Yan Sara-Suka’ members From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

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HE Kaduna State Police Command said yesterday that it had arraigned 115 street boys gang known as “Yan Sara-Suka”, for allegedly terrorising communities.

Street boys gang recently stormed Ungwan Rimi community in Kaduna North Local Government and killed a 22-year-old man, Shamsudeen Abdulhamid, with a machete.

Governor Nasir Ahmad ElRufai directed the police command and the Ministry of Justice to arrest and prosecute the suspects.

Police spokesman Zubairu Abubakar, who addressed reporters yesterday in Kaduna, said the arraignment followed raids on the gang’s hideouts.

He said the suspects had been charged and that 38 of those arraigned were facing criminal conspiracy and terrorism, 32 for possession of hard drugs and 45 for terrorism and culpable homicide.

Abubakar said the arrest was facilitated by the cooperation of the residents, especially in areas, such as Rigasa in the Kaduna metropolis.

He said special patrols were on the streets to fish out those involved in the crime.

“Kaduna is calm. We need the cooperation of the public to make the state safe.

“The police will not allow any miscreant to cause unrest.

Such a person will be arrested and prosecuted.”

The police spokesman urged the public to be law- abiding and assist the security agencies to discharge their duties.

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WELVE persons yesterday died and 16 injured in an accident at Irekpeni village on the Lokoja-Abuja Highway.

Witnesses said the crash occurred in the morning when a luxury commercial bus in which the deceased were travelling, rammed into a coming truck, following a roadblock mounted by suspected robbers.

One of the witnesses said the driver of the luxury bus

12 killed in Kogi accident From James Azania, Lokoja

registered as KRD 799 LC, in an attempt to manoeuvre his way, rammed into the truck which was coming from the opposite direction.

The truck was loaded with cows, 20 of which died on the spot.

The accident, said the

source, led to a gridlock before officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) cleared the obstruction.

The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Charles Abochi, who confirmed the accident, said 73 passengers were involved in the crash.

He said the luxury bus heading for the North had a

head-on with the truck when the driver was attempting to avoid a barricade mounted by robbers.

Abochi said the bodies of the victims were deposited at the Aleri Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, both in Lokoja, adding that the injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre.

Suspected herdsmen ‘kill’ mourner in Benue

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NE person has been reported killed and several injured, following an alleged attack on mourners by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The incident occurred at the weekend at Imande Bebeshi Moon District in Kwamde Local Government Area of Benue State.

A community leader, Abo Uta, told The Nation that

•Several injured From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

about 50 gunmen stormed the village when mourners buried a relation at Imande Bebeshi village.

He said: “The gunmen emerged from the bush and shot the mourners, who were at the graveside to witness

the burial of their relative.

“Confusion ensued during which a middle-aged man, Suswam Suswam, died. People sustained gunshot injuries.”

Uta said the injured had been hospitalised.

He urged the state and federal governments to stop the crises so that farmers could return to their farms.

Uta described the attacks,

which had been ongoing for six years, as similar to those of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents, saying the invaders had taken over their farmlands.

An officer at the Divisional Police Office in Kwande Local Government, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident.

He said investigation had begun.

Medview Airlines resumes flight to Maiduguri

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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EDVIEW Airlines has concluded plans to resume four weekly flights to Maiduguri Airport on Friday.

The decision to reconnect flights to the city, according to the Managing Director of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, followed assurances by the aviation and military authorities on safety at the airport.

He said the airline was delighted to reconnect flights to Maiduguri to link other parts of the country.

Bankole said four flights would commence on Friday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, adding that it would reduce the long hours of stress on the roads, which the people go through to get in and out of Maiduguri.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have given approval to Medview Airline to operate to Maiduguri Airport, which was closed to commercial flights, following the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Medview Airlines managing director hailed Governor Kashim Shettima for his call to investors to return to the state, “as there is relative peace in the region.”

Said he: “Our decision to begin flights to Maiduguri was informed by the need to link up the people of this region to other parts of the country.”

•From left: Bauchi State Deputy Governor Nuhu Gidado, Governor Muhammed Abubakar and Secretary to the State Government PHOTO: NAN (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, at the SSG’s swearing-in in Bauchi...yesterday.

Robbers in police uniform on the rampage in Kano

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HE Special Assistant (SA) to Jigawa State Governor Muhammad Abubakar Badaru on Media and Publicity, Malam Bello Muhammad Zaki, on Sunday lost his official vehicle to robbers.

The hoodlums operated on the Kano-Kazaure Federal Highway.

The incident occurred about 6:55pm when Zaki was travelling to his town, Kazwere, with his friend and daughter.

The bandits attacked them at Yan Bawa plantation in Makoda Local Government Area of Kano State.

Eyewitnesses, who preferred anonymity, said the robbers in police camouflage stopped motorists, searched their boots and stole their belongings.

They said the hoodlums, at the end of the 45-minute operation, snatched five posh vehicles, including

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Zaki’s and headed towards the Kano end of the highway.

Unfortunately, they had an accident with one of the stolen vehicles at Dambatta.

The robbers abandoned the damaged vehicle, entered another stolen car and drove off.

The sources said the villagers conducted a search and discovered valuable items, including phones, wallets containing ATMs, identity (ID) cards and doc-

uments.

Zaki confirmed the incident, saying the experience was traumatic.

He said the robbers stole his vehicle, which contained valuable items, adding: “I was on my way to my town when the incident occurred.

Zaki said when the robbers ran away with five snatched vehicles, including his, they had an accident at Dambatta with a Honda saloon car and abandoned it.

According to him, it was

on the scene of the accident that people discovered one of his phones and that of his daughter, his wallet containing his ATMs and ID cards.

Zaki, who spoke at Makoda Police Divisional Headquarters, said the hoodlums did not harm any motorist, but they threatened to kill anyone who exposed them.

Police spokesman Magaji Musa Majia confirmed the incident.

He said two of the vehicles had been recovered.

Kwara community urges govt to relocate refuse site

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ESIDENTS of Amoyo-Gbagede community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have urged the state government to evacuate a refuse site in the area.

They alleged that the dump site had been a source of pollution in the community.

Protesting residents said the earlier the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

refuse site was relocated, the better for the health of the people.

The Chairman of the community, Akoje Williams, told our correspondent that since the siting of the refuse dump three years ago, residents had been living with flies.

Female suicide bomber dies in Kano

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FEMALE suicide bomber yesterday blew herself to death in Kano. The bomber’s target was a mosque at Gyadi-Gyadi Roundabout, close to the mosque.

The incident occurred about 9;30pm. No casualty was re-

corded at press time.

Police spokesman Magaji Maija confirmed the incident.

He said only the bomber died, adding that the area had been cordoned off by the security.

Jos massacre: I’m heartbroken, says Atiku FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the twin explosions in Jos, the Plateau State capital, which left scores dead.

He also decried the killings in Maiduguri and Potiskum by those who he described as “blood-sucking vermin.”

The ex-Vice President in a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday said he was shocked by the dastardly penchant for wasting precious and innocent lives.

“I’m saddened. I am heartbroken by the murder of scores of innocent souls in Jos on Sunday night,” Atiku was quoted to have said from Saudi Arabia where he is on Lesser Hajj (Umrah).

He bemoaned the bestiality of the terrorists to lay siege to innocent worshippers, who were undertaking a spiritual demand of the holy season of Ramadan.

“That this particular attack came when people were in the sanctuary of the mosque for the Ramadan fasting prayer makes the attack more heart wrenching. There can be no justification for this wicked and satanic assault against these worshippers and our common humanity. Clearly, these terrorists are not adherents of any civilised religion, and clearly they are not respecters of God. “Sadly the victims of the Jos explosions add to the long list of fatalities of terror in Nigeria. However, as painful as these killings are, we must remain resolute in standing with President Muhammadu Buhari as the government explores every possible avenues and initiatives that can degrade terrorism in our country.

“The losses and trauma that come with terror attacks are often piercing, but we must never lose focus of our common conviction in victory.”

Lalong dissolves Plateau councils PLATEAU State Governor Simon Lalong yesterday dissolved the 17 councils.

A statement in Jos by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Rufus Bature, said the dissolution was in exercise of the powers conferred on the governor by the constitution.

It directed the council chairmen, councillors and other political appointees to handover the government property in their care to the directors of personnel management (DPM).

The local government chairmen and councillors were elected in February last year.

The statement said the governor had approved the appointment of Mrs. Hulda Fwangchi as the new head of service, to replace Mr. Ezekiel Dalyop.

Until her appointment, Mrs. Fwangchi was a permanent secretary.

Lalong, according to the statement, thanked members of the dissolved councils and the former head of service for their selfless services and wished them well in their future endeavours.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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NEWS Anambra CAN decries inmates transfer From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

•Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right), wife of the Imo State Governor, Mrs Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha (second left), Bar. Chima Nwana (left), Sir Prof. & Lady Prof. O.C Nwana (middle) during the Nwana’s 80th/81st birthdays and 51st wedding anniversary thanksgiving at Wesley Methodist Church, Ikenegbu, Owerri, Imo State... yesterday

‘Stop collecting illegal taxes’ From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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BIA State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has warned illegal tax collectors to desist from their dastardly act or face the wrath of the law.

He said only workers of the Board of Internal Revenue are authorised to collect taxes which must be paid into the state’s accounts.

Addressing reporters during his maiden media chat in Umuahia, Ikpeazu said government would partner any group that can generate ideas on how to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). “Such groups will give us ideas on how to increase our IGR and not touch our money.”

The governor warned that thouse found culpable of staff racketeering, salary padding, and ghost workers will be declared economic saboteurs and made to face the full wrath of the law.

IGR: Ugwuanyi seeks cooperation of communities

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NUGU State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has urged the people of Awgu local government to support the government’s initiatives to generate revenue through investment in agriculture.

The governor spoke when a delegation of a socio-political group, Save Awgu Forum Enugu (SAFE), led by Prince Chris Baywood Ibe visited him at the Government House in Enugu.

He thanked the people for their prayers and support before, during and after the election.

Ugwuanyi said the cooperation of the indigenes, especially cluster-adjoining host communities would assist his administration to achieve its set objectives for the San Carlos farm settlement in their area.

He added that the success of the agricultural project would boost the state’s economy and provide employment.

Prince Ibe hailed the governor for his impressive outing and appealed for more of government’s presence in the area to address the alleged imbalance in the provision of infrastructure and other basic amenities.

Fayose instigated my arrest, says Iyaloja

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HE Iyaloja of Ado Ekiti, Chief Waye Oso was yesterday detained at the police headquarters in controversial circumstances.

The market leader who spoke on telephone from police detention at about 8.30pm claimed that she was detained on the orders of Governor Ayo Fayose.

Mrs. Oso said she was told to produce over N93 million purportedly raked in from the shops allocated to market women by the Kayode Fayemi administration.

According to her, she did not collect any money from the Fayemi administration on the land and the shops allocated.

She wondered where the Fayose government ‘manufactured’ the N93 million figure from.

The Iyaloja said she was picked up at her residence in

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

Ekute, Ado Ekiti by about 40 policemen who laid a siege to her house.

Mrs. Oso said she knows nothing about the N93 million claims by the government and she never embezzled any money.

She recalled that Fayose arrested and detained her twice during his first term in office and the bus donated to the market women was forcibly taken away from her on the streets.

She said: “It was Fayemi that approached Oodua Investment to give us the land at Textile area to open up the place as an alternative market when he (Fayemi) said he wanted to demolish the main market but the market women advised him against such and he agreed.

“Fayemi facilitated the arrangement with Oodua Group and promised to give the documents to me (Iyaloja) and work was ongoing before the governorship election which he lost.

“Oodua agreed and we pay N3,000 per shop yearly but Fayose’s government came and asked us to be paying N10,000 per square metre.

“After fire gutted the main market (Oja Oba), Fayose promised to demolish it and build a new one and order that we move to the Awedele (Textile) market. We contributed money and was working on the place when government agents ordered us to stop work and obtain form.

“We were shocked as to what forms to obtain again on a land Fayemi gave to us free of charge.

“I want you to remember that he (Fayose) arrested and

detained me two times during his last administration and the bus donated to our association

by Governor Adebayo was taken away on the streets.

“It is very shocking that I am being humiliated like this because I have never heard of any part of Yoruba land where an Iyaloja is given this unfair treatment and I have contacted my lawyer, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi on the development”.

But Governor Fayose, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi denied the allegation. He said: “The issue had nothing to do with the governor; it was the police that arrested her for alleged fraud. The Commissioner of Police should be called to respond to her allegation.

Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi could not be reached for comments as he did not pick his calls.

El-Rufai abolishes state/local govt joint account

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ADUNA State Governor Malam Nasir ElRufai yesterday abolished the state/local government joint account. He said his government would remit 10 per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to local government councils.

El-Rufai spoke while swearing-in chairmen of the Interim Management Committees of the 23 local councils.

The governor warned the chairmen against residing outside their councils and advised those that could not abide to vacate the office.

He said: “You have no excuse to fail. Perform and bring real development to our state at the local level.

This is to fulfil our campaign promises that we will not hold local government funds if elected.

“I am happy to inform you that the government has abolished joint account in Kaduna state; there will be no more holding local government funds hostage under the pretence of joint account.

The government will also do its best to remit 10 per cent of the IGR to the councils.

“You should swing into action and embark on meaningful projects in the wards; there is a blueprint of proposed development to guide you.

“You must take security se-

•Swears in council chairmen From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

rious, partner with traditional and religious leaders and stakeholders. Don’t be arrogant to your people; you are assigned to serve them.

“We will not hesitate to call you to order if you think you

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will play with our people and the trust vested in you”.

But angry Gbagyi youths of Chikun council have protested the appointment of Hajiya Hadiza Yahuza as interim chairman of the council.

They accused El-Rufai of

marginalisation and injustice.

The protesters, led by their chairman, Amos Isah and Yakubu Waziri last week ambushed a lawmaker, Markus Zarmai Yari at his house and demanded an explanation for what they described as a ‘slap on their faces’ by appointing an unpopular person as the council’s sole administrator’.

‘NDA killed my son’

RETIRED Wing Commander with the Nigeria Air Force, Danladi Angulu Kwasu has accused the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) of deliberately drowning his 19-year old son, Elshadai Kwasu (NDA/10037) in a 100 metre-deep lake during a training session.

Kwasu, representing Zangon Kataf in the Kaduna State House of Assembly alleged that about 20 cadets have died in swimming exercise due to negligence and the NDA did nothing to change the situation.

He said: “My son died of drowning occasioned by gross negligence on April 30. The NDA took them for a camping exercise (Camp Highland) and in the course of the exercise, a worker pushed him into the deepest part of the Kangimi Dam.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

“He was pushed into this deep water from a high platform. A rope was tied loosely around his waist with another person standing on the platform above the water and holding unto the other end of the rope.

“Before he was pushed, he expressed his reservations on using a rope as a safety measure since he had never swam before; the worker overheard him and while still on the platform, the same worker pushed him into the water suddenly and in the process, the loose rope around his waist was further loosened.

“When Elshadai disappeared, the worker watched helplessly, none of the trainers could dive to rescue my son; there was no life jacket, no life-

guard or diver to save the boy.

Local fishermen were called to use their fish hooks to search and my son was accidentally hooked in his mouth and his corpse brought to the surface after three hours.

“I am compelled to speak because my efforts to be shown the video and get an official brief have been to no avail. I will not keep quiet; I will do all to address this impunity and incompetence as displayed by the NDA. “My son is not the first to drown; not less than 20 officer cadets have suffered this faith and nothing was done to prevent a recurrence”.

NDA commandant Major Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Idris said: “We shall state our side of the story tomorrow (today).

We will call the press tomorrow morning and explain what happened”.

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra State chapter, yesterday protested the relocation of Boko Haram inmates to Ekwulobia prisons.

It said the situation had created panic as residents were relocating to safety.

The protesters, including the Archbishop of the Diocese on the Niger and Dean, Anglican Communion, Rev. Christian Efobi, Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, Anglican Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alex Ibezim, Bishop of the Niger West, Most Rev Johnson Ekwe, Bishop Samuel Ezeofor of Ogbaru Diocese, youths, and women organisations, carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We have not slept since the ugly situation in Ekwulobia”; “Anambra CAN say no to Boko Haram”; “WOWICAN rejects Boko Haram”.

A communiqué by CAN secretary Rev Moses Ezedebego urged Nigerians to pray for security of lives and property in the entire country.

The communiqué reads: “We ask the federal government, as a matter of urgency, to relocate these insurgents to other places.

“Insurgency could inflict emotional injuries on the people in a peaceful environment like Anambra state.

Bringing hardened criminals constitute a security risk to the people”.

CAN also organised a monthly prayer session which started yesterday at Emmaus House in Awka.

Briefing reporters, CAN chairman, Apostle Tim Okpala urged the people to remain calm. He said going to war would not solve the problem and added that CAN will engage in a spiritual warfare.

‘Relocation of Boko Haram inmates wrong’ From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

A CIVIL Society Group, Transform Nigeria Movement (TNM) has condemned the alleged relocation of Boko Haram inmates to Ekwulobia prisons.

Group coordinator Comrade Obi Ochije described the action as anti-peace.

He said it was unthinkable that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the transfer of such prisoners from the Northeast to a peaceful Southeast.

He said: “As we congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory, he should know that he is not a sectional President but a President for all.

“We ask why the 47 Boko Haram suspects were dumped in Anambra. This is a peaceful state and we do not want crisis. Why bring this terror group to a densely populated area where there is no security?

“None of our markets or worship places is secure to repel the attack at this period; let the Federal Government not cause problem in Anambra and should there be any break down of law and order, the Federal Government will be held liable”.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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NEWS

RAMADAN KAREEM RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

HAve You Asked Youself?

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HE above question is very critical in this sacred month. This is not just because Ramadan is a month of self rediscovery but also that of new resolutions for true Muslims. Who am I now?

Without waiting to be asked, a good Muslim must be able to sincerely ask himself or herself that vital question. There are many reasons for this. Ramadan has become a transit period for most Muslims especially in Nigerian society. When Ramadan comes, such Muslims dust up their instruments of worship and pretend to be genuine Muslims. At least for the first few days in the sacred month Mosques are full of worshippers, regular and irregular. They come from all strata of the society to join other Muslims in observing congregational prayers especially Tarawih, in the Mosques. They endeavour to do away with drinking alcohol openly even as they discard fornication or adultery temporarily in the month. And when some of these pseudo Muslims do not find Ramadan interesting, they pretend to be playing along. Such people are easily recognizable by their uncultured attitudes in the sacred month. For instance, most of them do not wake up for ‘Sahur’ in the night. Neither do they involve their mental and physical beings in fasting. To them, abstaining from eating and drinking is enough. Thus, as long as they go about with empty stomach, fasting is on course. Such people are like self-deceptive students who believe in marking their own scripts after writing examinations. The question is: can they award themselves the needed certificates? If they can who will recognize such certificates?

Ramadan 20, 1436AH

Don’t be selfish, cleric tells politicians

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HE Chief Imam of Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, has warned politicians against act of selfishness.

This, he said, is inimical to growth of the country.

Dr AbdulLateef said this yesterday during Ramadan Lecture organized by Fatima Charity Foundation (FCF) at Christ Cathedral Primary School Hall, Lagos Island.

According to him, “leaders and followers must understand that they are accountable to God; there is a special contract between the leaders and Allah and there is a special contract between followers and their Lord which means that leaders must lead by example and ensure that they not only

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

command but they also do what they are supposed to do, by shunning violence, ensuring that integrity and honour is the hallmark of their administration, ensuring that they are selfless and replace greed with selflessness.”

He enjoined them not to stop running after materialism.

He urged Nigerians to always consider background and integrity of any office seeker and not academic qualifications or affluence.

“There is a need for us to find out how pious people are, what have they done in the past before casting our votes for them,” he said.

FCF President Chief BintuFatima Tinubu enjoined politicians to imbibe

To Him will be your return –– of all you. The promise of Allah is true and sure. It is He who beginneth the process of creation and repeateth it, that He may believe and work righteousness, but those who reject Him will have draughts of boiling fluids and a penalty grievous because they did reject Him.

Qur’an 10 vs 4 Sponsored by ALHAJI KHAMIS TUNDE BADMUS Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland

leadership qualities of Prophet Muhammad.

“Everybody, she said, knows what Muhammad did and if we all emulate what he did, I am sure our country would be better place.”

Chief Tinubu urged parents to train their children in the way of God. According to her, if parents and teachers neglect their duties to train the children, the

society will suffer for it.

Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area Deputy Executive Secretary Idayat Anifowoshe said leadership is a trust that must be properly discharged.

According to her, “whatever qualities a leader must have, a follower must also possess, what you want people to do to you, do to people. You must always be just and fair.”

Hajj Mabrur takes pilgrims to Jordan, Israel

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HAJJ Mabrur Ventures Limited (HMVL) will today airlift some fasting Muslims to Jordan and Israel.

The trip, according to Alhaji Adewunmi Dhulkifli, is to observe special salat in Masjid Al Aqsa, the Islamic third holiest mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan.

Participants, he said, will visit several tourist sites that have connections with Islamic history including the cave of the seven sleepers.

Adewunmi said the choice of Masjid Aqsa was apt.

“Because of its significance in Islamic history; Prophet Muhammad led other prophets of Allah in prayer inside that Mosque before ascending to

heaven to personally receive the five daily Salat Muslims observe today.

“Aside this, one get 500 rewards for every Salat observed in the Mosque compare to 27 rewards in other Mosques except the two aforementioned Holy Mosques,” he said.

“Likewise, when people perform Hajj rites and move from Saudi Arabia to Palestine where Masjid Aqsa is situated and pray there before returning to their various destinations, the pilgrims are called Hajj Qudus (Alhaji Qudus), an addendum appellation to an ordinary Hajj (Alhaji). It is rare these days to hear Hajj Qudus unlike our forefathers who took pains to go extra mile to attain the status.”

NEWS Fed Govt, states, councils to share $1.7b from ECA Continued from page 2

all have to fall in line with; prudent management of resources and identifying more alternative ways of generating revenue, which we are set to do and to manage the meager resources we found on ground very efficiently and effectively for the betterment of the economy."

Nwaobia said discussions on the controversy with governors overspending in the last administration did not come up during the meeting with the President.

"That was not discussed with the president because it was an issue that was discussed thoroughly at the National Economic Council meeting." she said She said the liabilities on fuel

subsidy will be paid when the final figures are verified.

"We did not say that we will not pay subsidy, like the former minister said, there is a liability on subsidy, which is being verified by the CBN and Budget Office of the Federation.

"The issue had to do with the forex differentials which they were claiming and this committee is looking into it, and as soon as it is resolved we will be able to pay the verified amount when the committee finishes its work."

She denied reports of massive looting in the ministries as a result of the absence of ministers.

"It is an unfair statement to make, if people have evidence that there is large scale looting

going on they are free to come with such, and the freedom of information act allows that you ask questions. So if there are ministries they are suspecting of embarking on large scale looting, which I think is not true, but everybody is free to ask."

On the effect of the absence of political heads, she said: "I don't think it is an issue to bother. You know like I said, government is a continuum, even if you have political heads there, the engine room of the service is the civil servants, and we have continued to do our work.

"What I will say is that the briefing is to bring Mr. President up to speed one-on-one on what is happening in the agencies, though handing over notes

were presented but I think discussing the handing over notes and clarifying certain issues in the handing over notes is very important and that is what we have done with Mr. President and at this briefing we have a bit of insights on how he wants us to run the ministry in the interim."

On the President's view about the management of the resources, she said: "The President is concerned about prudent management of the resources of this country and we are taking that message away with us and we also intend to work assiduously to ensure that revenue leakages are blocked and also shore up our revenue."

51 Boko Haram blast victims buried in Jos Continued from page 2

the pool of their own blood, I thought I was watching a horror movie, but it is so real" Residents yesterday rushed to the various hospitals in the city to identify their own. Some of the bodies were identified by the survivors and were taken to the Jos Central Mosque to be buried at dawn. Majority of other bodies that could not be immediately identified were taken to nearby hospitals. Before dawn almost all the known hospital in the city were filled with victims either dead or injured.

There was panic as people ran between Plateau Specialists Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

Others ran to Bingham University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Our Lady of Apostle Hospital.

The state chapter of the Ni-

geria Medical Association (NMA) appealed to its members to assist in saving lives.

State secretary Dr Menshak Daniel said: "In view of what has happened, the situation has overwhelmed the capacity of the hospital, the association is appealing to all its members to assemble in Plateau Specialists Hospital, BUTH, JUTH, OLA hospital immediately to help save lives, there are so many injured patients requiring urgent attention, many people are in pain, some need to get the bullet removed from their bodies, all require one medical service or the other to survive" The NEMA zonal coordinator said: "We were part of the team that helped to evacuate victims from the scene of attack, we came there about 10pm immediately after the blast and at about 3am we had evacuated 43 bodies from the scenes, with over 40 injured to the hospital.

"But many bodies were not brought to the hospitals, some of them that were identified by their relations took them to the Central Mosque for burial" State director of the First Aid Group known as FITYANUL ISLAM, an Arabic word for (Young Muslim Congress) Alhaji Abdullahi Dauda said: "The casualties in the Mosque was higher, but it is difficult to give a total number of the dead because they were not assembled in one place. Some were taken to private hospitals, some were taken to more than five hospitals in the city, so we can't get the total figure of casualties at the moment, until we go round all the hospital and take the lists" Governor Simon Lalong inspected the attacked mosque in Dilimi and visited those receiving treatment in the hospitals.

He expressed sympathy with the Muslim Umma and prom-

ised he will ensure the security agencies fish out those behind the attacks.

He also cancelled his programme: "In view of the Security situation in the State occasioned by the bomb blasts of Sunday 5th July, 2015 and other security concerns, the official Flag off and Sales of Fertilizer for the 2015 Cropping Season, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 7th July, 2015 at Bassa Local Government Area should be postponed," a statement said.

The statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs Samuel Nanle, the governor said: "The unfortunate incident of the sporadic bomb blast at Bauchi Road and Dilimi -Yan Taya and the sporadic gun shots within the Jos Metropolis on Sunday 5th July, 2015 in this month of religious piety for the Moslem Ummah on the Plateau is highly condemnable.”

Buhari approves N713.7b for states Continued from page 2

ploy whose salaries have been unpaid for months. This package is expected to address those cases also,” one of the sources added.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed that indeed a special package was on the way for workers.

He added that the president is deeply concerned about the plight of the workers who have been unpaid for many months.

During the inauguration of NEC last week, President Buhari asked the Council, which is a constitutional advisory body to him, to, as a matter of priority consider how to “liquidate the unpaid salaries of workers across the country, a situation he observed has brought untold hardship to the workers.”

“At the NEC meeting, the relief measures were extensively discussed between the state governors and top officials of the Federal Government, including the CBN Governor, and the permanent secretaries from Ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources. Other agencies that were actively involved in the process include the DMO and

officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.”

Media reports last month indicated that about 12 of the 36 states of the federation owed their workers about N110b They are: Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Benue and Bauchi states.

However, informed sources said the Finance Ministry and the CBN may have pegged the amount needed to settle all the outstanding public workers salaries at about N250billion.

It was, however, gathered that President Buhari advised governors at the NEC session to be prudent in managing state resources.

A governor said: “The President has done his best to assist us to take off properly. The ball is in our court to abide by his counsel to be prudent.

“Some of the measures we are looking at include appreciable reduction of security votes, stoppage of chartered flights and pegging the high cost of maintaining Government House to a low benchmark.

“With our experience in the last one month, we do not need a soothsayer to teach us to cut our coat according to our size.”

How we robbed banks, by suspects Continued from page 2

June 24.

“On June 29, at about 4pm, one Agbojule Bright was traced to another hideout and was arrested with the Lexus Jeep, which he bought from his own share of the loot.

“These armed robbers have confessed to various armed robbery attacks both on water and highways across the country. Further investigations geared towards arresting the remnants of the gang is in progress.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

Kerry says 'hard choices' needed in Iran nuclear talks

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S Secretary of State John Kerry says "hard choices" are needed if a deal over Iran's nuclear programme is to be made by today's deadline.

Mr Kerry warned that the two sides were "not where we need to be on several of the most difficult issues".

His Iranian counterpart said "still nothing is clear", as ministers were set to continue talks in Vienna.

Six world powers and Iran extended the deadline to today, after missing an earlier selfimposed cut-off point.

Speaking to reporters in the Austrian capital on Sunday, Mr

Kerry said a deal was still possible.

"If hard choices get made in the next couple of days and made quickly, we could get agreement this week," he said.

Over the past few days, "genuine progress" had been made, he added.

But the US was prepared to walk away "if we don't have a deal and there is absolute intransigence and unwillingness to move on the things that are important".

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that "some differences remain and we are trying and working hard".

EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini agreed that the atmosphere at the talks was "constructive, positive".

Ms Mogherini said the atmosphere at the talks was "constructive" The so-called P5+1 group - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - wants Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.

Iran, which wants international sanctions that have crippled its economy lifted in exchange, has always insisted

Egypt’s new terrorism law could target journalists

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that its nuclear work is peaceful.

Sticking points are still reported to be how sanctions are lifted and the amount of nuclear capability Iran is allowed to keep.

On Friday, Mr Zarif said that Iran was ready to strike a deal and negotiators had "never been closer to a lasting outcome".

But in a video message he also called for an end to "coercion and pressure" at the nuclear talks.

Iran's Supreme Leader Aya-

tollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all Iranian state matters, last week rejected some key demands of the P5+1, insisting Iran would only dismantle its nuclear infrastructure if the sanctions were lifted first.

The deadline for reaching a comprehensive agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme has already been extended from 30 June.

Once agreed, a deal has to be reviewed by the US Congress before President Obama can agree to lift US sanctions.

new anti-terrorism law in Egypt will make publishing news that contradicts the official version of events in terrorism-related cases a crime punishable by prison sentences, a setback for the freedom of the press, according to the local journalists union.

The anti-terrorism draft law lists more than 25 crimes, 12 of which are punishable by death. It was approved by the Cabinet and the State Council and is pending the approval of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, who has legislative powers in the absence of a parliament.

Egyptian authorities criticised such reports. In a video released by the Ministry of Defence, Al-Jazeera network and Muslim Brotherhood affiliated TV channels were singled out for spreading false news and partici-

China to snub arbitration hearing with Philippines

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HINA is standing pat on its decision to reject arbitration by an international tribunal that will begin formal hearings this week to resolve a longseething feud between

• Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Samanes Park in Guayaquil, Ecuador which drew more than one million faithful, as Latin America's first pontiff tours his home continent bringing a message of compassion for the weak and respect for an ailing planet.

Greece: Creditors press for new proposals

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UROZONE finance ministers say they expect to hear new proposals from Greece after the country voted to reject the terms of an international bailout.

Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem described the referendum result as "very regrettable for the future of Greece".

Ministers are to hold emergency talks today.

Earlier, Greece's outspoken finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, resigned.

He said that eurozone finance ministers, with whom he had repeatedly clashed, had wanted him removed.

•Finance minister resigns Meanwhile, the European Central Bank (ECB) is to discuss whether to raise its emergency cash support for Greek banks, which are running out of funds and on the verge of collapse.

In his statement, Mr Dijsselbloem said: "For recovery of the Greek economy, difficult measures and reforms are inevitable.

We will now wait for the initiatives of the Greek authorities."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said there was cur-

pating in anti-military propaganda.

Last Wednesday's attack in Sinai was "unprecedented in the number of militants involved and the weapons used," a highranking security official told CNN. Together with the assassination of the prosecutor general two days prior, it prompted calls for an antiterrorism law in a bid to combat terrorism and bring justice.

Barakat was killed in an explosion that targeted his convoy on June 29.

The press briefing included "observations" on foreign media's coverage of the latest terrorist attacks.

Guidelines handed it out to journalists suggested the use of words such as "terrorists, rebels, slayers and eradicators" instead of "jihadists."

rently "no basis" for talks on a new bailout package and the ball was in Greece's court.

"It is up to Greece to make something of this. We are waiting to see which proposals the Greek government makes to its European partners," he said.

At a news conference in Brussels, the European Commission vice-president for the euro, Valdis Dombrovskis, said the Greek government needed to be "responsible and honest" with its people about the potential consequences of the decisions it was facing.

Beijing and Manila over the South China Sea, the Chinese ambassador to Manila said yesterday.

The five-member tribunal starts hearings in The Hague on Tuesday to address China’s contention that the arbitration body does not have authority to assume jurisdiction over Manila’s complaint against Beijing.

A high-level delegation that includes the Philippines’ solicitor-general and the heads of the foreign, defence and justice departments, along with Washingtonbased lawyers hired by Manila, has flown to The Hague to argue the Philippines’ case.

The day’s long hearings are crucial because the Philippines’ complaint against China could no longer be heard if the tribunal declares it has no jurisdiction over the case.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has said that the Philippines would accept any ruling, “win or lose.”

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told reporters in Manila that his government would stick to its decision not to participate in the arbitration and instead renewed China’s offer to resolve the conflict through one-on-one negotiations with the Philippines.

“Our position is consistent.

We’ll not accept nor participate in the arbitration,” Zhao said. “Our door for bilateral consultation and negotiation is still open and will be open forever.”

The Philippines brought its disagreements with China to international arbitration in January 2013, a year after Chinese coast guard ships took effective control of the disputed Scarborough Shoal following a tense standoff with Filipino ships. Manila’s bold move has angered Beijing and strained relations In its complaint, the Philippines asked the tribunal to declare China’s so-called “nine-dash line” territorial claim over much of the South China Sea invalid under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

I 'll die a Christian — Emenike

• Star striker denies he converted to Islam • Leaves camp to complete transfer to Arabian team

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MMANUEL Emenike has dismissed as untrue a report claiming that he has converted to Islam from Christianity.

The Fenerbahce striker was missing when the squad had breakfast on Saturday, prompting the manager to ask of his whereabouts and he responded by telling the coach he was fasting, this coincidentally is within the Muslim Ramadan fasting.

The former Spartak Moscow hit man told AfricanFootball.com he is baffled by the leaking of his personal life to the media.

"The report that I am now a Muslim is absolute rubbish and false. I want the source of the news to re-address it. I have no reason to convert to Islam even though I have lots of Muslim friends. Is there any big deal observing fasting during the (Muslim) fasting period?” he asked rhetorically.

"I am very disappointed seeing the news going viral because it is something I told my coach

Keshi away on vacation when sack was announced • Coach visits family in United States

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S facts continue to emerge on the sacking of the former Super Eagles’ handler Stephen Keshi, NationSport gathered on Monday in Abuja that the leadership of the Football Federation actually allow the former international to leave the country before announcing his sack.

Our reliable source at the Glasshouse secretariat of the NFF said that the former Mali and Togo handler had applied for a vacation to the US to enable him visit his family before the announcement was made "I don't think the Federation is afraid of Stephen Keshi. It was just a mere coincidence. He applied for a week vacation to the United States to enable him visit his family before returning to begin preparations for the AFCON qualifier against Tanzania. The Big Boss may have traveled either on Wednesday or Thursday before the announcement was made on Saturday. It was just a coincidence and nothing more. Even if Keshi had been here, the announcement would have still been made".

The source went further to re-

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja veal that contrary to all speculations that the Technical Director Shuaibu Amodu did not approve the list of players released for the match against Chad, that Amodu actually appended his signature on the list "you know Shuaibu Amodu is a very intelligent and experienced man.

The list was actually submitted to him, but because Amodu was been careful then, because no appointment letter had been given to him. He never wanted to stick out his neck then because no letter was given to him, so, he does not know his limit. But now that he has the letter, with details of his job descriptions, he would not allow such list to pass through without making his input" the source which pleaded anonymity stated.

It would be recalled that the NFF had frowned on the recent invitation of a non-league player Okechukwu Gabriel to the Super Eagles in the AFCON qualifying match against Chad. The player was on the reserve bench in the match wearing the popular NO 10 jersey.

Ejike wants more goals • Nets 9th goal of the season in Kaduna

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EARTLAND'S Bright Ejike has expressed his conviction that baring injuries he hopes to score as many goals as possible before the is concluded.

The Naze Millionaires striker scored his ninth goal of the sea-

RESULTS INT’L - FRIENDLY Amkar 5 - 0 Budapest Karlsruher 2 - 2 FC Ufa NK Celje 1 - 1 Koeben AGF 2 - 1Ljungskile EURO U-19 Greece 2 - 0 Ukraine Austria 0 - 1 France NORWAY - OBOS-LIGAEN Brann 2 - 1 K'sund BK Hoenefoss 0 - 1 Sandnes SWEDEN - ALLSVENSKAN Gefle 1 - 1 Hammarby

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri son in Kaduna in his side's 1-2 loss to Giwa FC at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Sunday and the former Flying Eagles' player has exuded confidence that he still has lots of goals more to plunder this season.

Ejike's goal initially silence the home crowd in the ninth minutes of the encounter before goals from Ibrahim Shuaibu and Amos Gyan in the 22nd and 69th minutes cancelled out his early minute effort.

Speaking with NationSport, the former Sharks of Port Harcourt forward said that with the way his rivals are scoring with fun, it would be a fierce battle for the league's highest goals scorer.

"I am thrilled to score again

• Keshi

in our conversation when he asked me a question and never said I have become a Muslim.

Fasting is not what everybody should know that you are doing and it’s very sad seeing this in the media."

Emenike further told AfricanFootball.com: "I am Catholic, a strong one for that matter, and I came from Christian home. I don't discriminate against anybody and I believe we are all equal in the presence of God, so what is the big deal in fasting?

“Does he know how many time I fast to get closer to God before the fasting periods? It's really sad because I don't see it as a big deal."

However, Emenike has departed Fenerbahce’s training camp to complete his move to a unnamed Arabian team, according to various reports in the foreign press.

The Turkish Super Lig vice champions have given their nod to his switch, with the Nigeria international set to join the Asian club on a season - long loan.

Fenerbahce had been locked in talks with the Arabian team over a transfer fee for Emenike but failed to agree to terms with the buying club.

The Arabian team will pay 3.5 million euros to Fenerbahce as rental fee for Emmanuel Emenike.

The 28 - year - old is believed to be on the radar of clubs in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Siasia, U-23 boys arrive Garden City

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• Amodu but not happy that we lost despite the fact that we started the game well. I am not bothered that I scored because I would have preferred that we secured a point than what we got.

"The race for the highest goals scorer will be fierce and I thank God that I am still with a big chance to win it. I will continue to push for a while, hoping that I will do just enough to put my rivals at bay at the end of the season, Ejike told NationSport.

Apart from Ejike, Ibrahim Shuaibu who netted his eighth goal of the campaign against Heartland, Tunde Adeniji who scored his seventh goal of the season for Sunshine Stars against Lobi Stars at the weekend and Abia Warriors' Chisom Chikatara who has found the back of the net seven times are all still with a chance to end the season as the highest scorer.

HE U-23 National Team, otherwise known as Dream Team, Monday morning arrived in Port Harcourt for its final round, first leg African U-23 Championship qualifier against the Devils of Congo billed for the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, July 19.

The delegation was warmly received by the Chairman of the local organizing committee for the match, Hon. Boma Iyayi, on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, when the Aero Contractor flight landed at about 8.15am.

Players and officials were immediately driven to Hotel Presidential, where accommodation had been reserved for them.

Nigeria and Congo will battle for one of the eight slots at the 2nd African U-23 Championship, taking place in Senegal, 28 November - 11 December, 2015.

The top three teams at that competition will qualify for the Men's Football Tournament of next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, while the fourth -placed team plays off against an Asian side.

Enyeama, Akarandut watch Akwa Utd win

• Enyeama • Akarandut

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UPER Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and one-time Nigeria league top scorer Akarandut Orok were among the fans and dignitaries who watched hometown club Akwa United beat Rangers at the Nest of Champions in Uyo on Sunday.

Akwa United won 2-0 for their first win at the brand-

Olympic Day celebration thrill students

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HAT was considered adult event became the meeting point for students of Doregos Private Academy, Greensprings School and Topmost International School as they took part in this year’s Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) organized-Olympic Day Celebration concluded at the weekend in Lagos.

Over 500 participants took part in the Olympic Run organised by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to climax the three-day event with art exhibition by students in primary and secondary school including a quiz competition.

For 14 year-old Oyinlola Adeyeye of Bolu Tutorial College, taking part in the previous edition has inspired him to be part of this year’s exercise. ''I had fun last year during the run and I made new friends. We were more than this last year and it was more fun. I believe the rain hindered some people from coming,'' he said.

19 year-old Oluwaseun Anani said that she only came to the stadium to train and saw the crowd which prompted her to join.

Anani said that she enjoyed every moment of the race. “It was a great experience and I enjoyed it. I will definitely take part next year if I am in Lagos,'' she said.

17 year-old, Blessing David of Victoria High School, Ilamoye said it was her first time and that her father told her about it. “I taught it was going to be a tedious run but unfortunately my assumption was wrong,'' she said.

13 year-old, Amechi Mbaech said that he is a supporter of

football and also plays it for recreation. “I came to play football but when I saw a crowd of people wearing white shirt with Olympic day written on it I became curious. I went to meet them to find out what was going on and I decided to take part in the run,'' he said.

The speech of the International Olympic committee (IOC) President was delivered by Henry Amike and he thanked Nigeria for joining in the celebration. “Like Nigeria, people around the world are commemorating the founding of the Olympic movement by sharing the joy of sport and fellowship rooted in Olympic values. The day is for everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability. The important thing is to get the couch potatoes off the couch.

Tayo Oreweme, the Liaison Officer, National Sports Commission, (NSC) National Stadium, Lagos said that the children were the future for sports. ''They are very important for sports to grow in this country.

They need to be encouraged and this is one of the ways to encourage them,'' she said.

In the art exhibition Greensprings School, Anthony came first while Headstart Private School and Princeton College were second and third respectively.

For the primary school quiz, the Rockcleft School came first; Margaret Private School was second while Golden Bunch School was third. Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja was first in the secondary school quiz while Greensprings School and Topmost International School, Maryland were second and third respectively.

Zenke hopes to lift new club

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new Nest of Champions.

Interestingly, both Enyeama and Akarandut featured for Akwa United in the past before they moved abroad.

Enyeama now plays for Lille in France, while Orok is with Bahrain club Al Hidd.

Another Eagles’ star, Ogenyi Onazi, was in the stands to watch Lobi Stars play in Makurdi recently.

X-NIGERIA youth international Simon Zenke has said he hopes to score the goals that will see Kerdamir Karabukspor make a prompt return to the Turkish Super League.

Zenke completed his move to Karabukspor on Monday, when he passed his medical.

AfricanFootball.com broke the news of his move to the relegated Super League side on Sunday.

He told AfricanFootball.com his top priority is to score as many goals as possible for the team to

regain their place in the top flight.

"I have completed my move to Karabukspor. I passed the medical and have formalised the deal by signing all the papers too,” a proud Zenke informed AfricanFootball.com.

"My top priority is to score as many goal as I could to take the team back to the Super League."

Zenke also revealed he turned down mouthwatering offers from Iran and Saudi Arabia so as to remain in Turkey.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘The president should weigh in on the side of the forces of legacy, against the careerists. That is his covenant with Nigerians’ VOL.10

NO. 3268

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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INCE President Muhammadu Buhari took the oath of office on May 29, I have been following the political developments with a keen interest, especially the events at the National Assembly.

I have witnessed the attacks on theAll Progressives Congress (APC) leadership by those who lost the elections and those who fed from the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) inept leadership in the last 16 years. I have seen those who should know better attacking APC leadership, insisting that the party is not prepared for leadership. I have seen interlopers, intruders, mercenaries, grovellers, supporters of any government in power and hangers on working so hard to fix themselves back into the system to continue the systematic vandalism of the project Nigeria. In all this, I thank God that we voted PDP out of power even though I know that it is not over until it is over.

Those who lost the elections have not gone home to rest. They are bitter, they are angry and they are cursing and abusing the drivers of this monumental change. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who led the team that showed PDP the way out has been the target of the vicious attacks by these losers. They call him names; they say he is greedy, they say he wants everything including the Presidency and other key positions for himself.

But these people are wrong. The leader wants Nigeria to succeed. The leader put everything in place, both human and material resources, to push this change.

The leader sacrificed time, energy and strength to push this change. Now can a man be punished for doing good? Can a man be crucified for helping to change the way we think, the way we do things, the way we plan, the way we reason and the way we apply our common sense even though common sense is not common?

Can we continue to rubbish our brightest and best because of groundless and unfounded petty jealousy? When has it become a crime to work so hard for your country in times of need?

How can any person ask APC to go to sleep with what we saw at the National Assembly? How can APC allow unqualified politicians in the house it has laboured to build for 16 years because the enemies expect that we should keep quiet and look the other way? How can any man allow what we saw in the hallowed chamber of the Senate when 49 PDP senators ‘purchased’ eight APC senators and closed the door for 51 APC senators because they want Dr. Bukola Saraki as President and Senator Ekweremmadu as Deputy Senate President? Are the teeming supporters of APC throughout the coun-

RIPPLES

POLITICIANS ARE NOT LIKELY TO MAKE HEAVEN, says cleric

MAKE HEAVEN? They prefer to MAKE MONEY

OPEN FORUM BY

JOE IGBOKWE

National Assembly crisis and the real issues

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I think it is better for APC to roll up its sleeves to deal with this Saraki and Ekweremmadu challenge now, instead of patching the leaks. The vessel may capsize on the way and everybody will be drowned •Asiwaju Tinubu

try aware of the meaning of this political calculations and permutations by the defeated PDP? Do we know that APC has plans of what to do with Nigeria and the people it needs to drive the change? Do we know that one odd person in the fold can pull down the whole house? They say a tree cannot make a forest, but one man who is not good can pull down an organisation.

A Senate President and a Deputy Senate President who are not keyed to the APC agenda to rebuild Nigeria may be a cog in the wheel of progress. Students of the Bible must find out what happened to the people of Israel because of one ugly man called Achan or Jonah who endangered the people in a boat because he was running away from God. The same Bible tells us in Isaiah 65: 22 “They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a

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tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” A retired US Army General, General Powel, says: “Organisation does not really accomplish anything. Plans don’t accomplish anything either. Theories of Management don’t matter. Endeavours succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds” The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. A day’s planning is done in the morning. PDP members have been shamelessly dancing and entertaining themselves because they think they are gaining some ground and they are even thinking about 2019. This is a party that got itself nailed in the coffin through rampant and systematic impunity in every sector of our national life. Professor Itse Saggy says: They (PDP) have established a system of very low values, total lack of commitment to the country and have demonstrated utter disdain for the welfare of the

HARDBALL

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OW, this is no harmless pun of Ola Rotimi’s comedy, Our Husband has Gone Mad Again; but a real grim fear at the re-enactment of the Biblical Tower of Babel; an audacious earlier attempt to technologically challenge the natural order of things.

The Bible is a book of faith. But were it a non-religious book, amenable to scholastic critiquing, the Tower of Babel could well pass for an apocryphal tale decrying vaulting ambition — over-ambition, even! — of cocky technology (on one hand) and the Almightiness of God (on another).

Recall: the tower, to link the earth with the heavens (an audacious technological bid in those days, Hardball would imagine), was on course; and Man was a virtual heart-beat away from rudely looking in, into God’s celestial secrets — or so to say — until the Almighty played the language joker.

That clinical break in communication put Man back in his place; and the heavens reigned forever — hallelujah!

But comes a fresh challenge, after that pristine triumph. Hardball talks of no less than the 5-4 US Supreme Court verdict, legalising same-sex marriage (a modern era deodorisation of bad, old sodomy, a pervasion under Mosaic law; and traditional African val-

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

Nigerian people” In the words of former President Olusegun Obasanjo: ”Those criminals, crooks, persons of dubious character, the corrupt and corrupters and those whose track record are so blemished that no amount of white washing and propaganda and re-inventing of their personal profiles can cover up their dirty past must be prevented by all lawful means from corrupting, contaminating and compromising our democratic process” Those who created yesterday’s pain do not control tomorrow’s potential. Actions carry consequences!

This is the PDP that ruined our lives for 16 years, destroyed all things we hold dear and dared us to do our worst. May APC leaders never think that change will come easy. Machiavelli has told us that “Nothing is more difficult to bring about than a new order of things because those who profit from the old order will do everything possible to prevent a new order from coming about” I still share the sentiments of Mr. Warren Buffet that “in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more profitable than the energy devoted to patching the leaks.”

It is a blessing in disguise that these problems are coming from this beginning.

I think it is better for APC to roll up its sleeves to deal with this Saraki and Ekweremmadu challenge now, instead of patching the leaks. The vessel may capsize on the way and everybody will be drowned. This is why I want real APC supporters, the ordinary Nigerians, those Internet warriors, those agents of change who worked with empty stomach, those unknown Nigerians and the poor Nigerians who desire change to continue to stand behind APC in this struggle for a better Nigeria. Great success comes from great support.

For our great and dogged fighter, Asiwaju Tinubu, I urge him to remember once again a page document titled: THE PENALTY OF LEADERSHIP, which the late Chief Bola Ige of blessed memory gave us at the Muson Centre in 2000 when he turned 70. Hear Chief Ige: “In every field of human endeavour, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leader be vested in a man or a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition, the punishment fierce denial and detraction.”

•Igbokwe is APC’s spokesman in Lagos State •Olatunji Dare returns next week

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Uncle Sam has gone nuts again ues), under the axis of human rights.

Too true, President Barack Obama hailed it as a triumph for America. But if you look at the less upbeat side, it is America’s triumph, in its human rights, to wilfully de-populate itself — fair enough, won’t you say?

Still, looked at more deeply, it appears an audacious challenge, maybe the most serious, after the Tower of Babel debacle, to the natural order of procreation — for how can same-sex couples procreate: or do American scientists harbour, in their laboratories, a technological joker to grant Adam and Steve (to borrow that fast-growing cliché); and Mariana and Belinda, the fruit of the womb?

But an Arab lobby is not particularly bothered, even if it views what it terms an American sexual pervasion, with cocky indignation and contempt. It has come up with a documentary decrying what it calls America’s fouling of the globe with its home-made pervasion, rebranding homosexuality and lesbianism, in the guise of some avant-garde culture, that must be zestfully embraced by a new global civilisation.

It, however, figures that by the time America is done depopulating itself by its new-

found sweet poison, the booming Arabs of the generations next would swoop on and take over the American homeland. That, in its view, would be the ultimate sweet revenge for America’s past and present rascality!

Another troubled Nigerian emigrant weighed in with his own troubled musing. ”When I came to America, homosexuality was a crime. Later, it became acceptable. Now, it is legal. I better leave America before it becomes compulsory!”

Well, well, well! Will we soon have neoAndrews, checking out from goddamn America, across the Atlantic, to Naija, the new God’s own country, in a reverse trek of what happened in the 1980s and 1990s, at the height of the military misrule? That would be the day!

Meanwhile, it is heart-warming churches here are quite radical in their anti-gay posture, particularly as it relates to procreation and family life.

If America presses her rights to gay rights, we sure can press our rights to our cherished values of marriage, procreation and family life!

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