The Nation May 05, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

Govt, fuel marketers disagreePage 2 on subsidy

•Alleged money laundering: Fani-Kayode gets June 18 date •Kashamu begs court to save him from extradition to U.S. •Panel summons Okonjo-Iweala, Adesina over waivers MORE ON •Oyo State tribunal to hear 36 election petitions •ANDPAGES 5,6&8

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3205 TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

84 killed in Taraba communal crisis

N150.00

Chibok girls sold off, married by Boko Haram chiefs, says rescued woman

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From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

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ARABA State, Nature’s Gift to the nation, has been turned into a killing field, with no fewer than 84 persons killed at the weekend in renewed communal clashes.

Many houses have been torched and the occupants forced to flee.

The crisis is reportedly between Kuteb/Fulani and Tiv ethnic groups of Takum -the home of former Minister of Continued on page 4

•www.thenationonlineng.net

•Chief of Defence Alex Badeh

ILL the Chibok girls ever return home?

The question yesterday became more pertinent when one of the women rescued from the Sambisa Forest told Reuters at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Yola, Adamawa State that finding them could be difficult.

Aisha Abbas, a 45-year-old

•Life in Sambisa Forest mother of two, said the girls might have been sold off or married to top sect members as promised by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

According to Reuters, none of the women interviewed saw any of the Chibok girls,

but Abbas said fighters who travelled from a camp in Sambisa where they were held to source food would describe the situation.

“They said the Chibok girls were married off this year. Some sold to slavery, then others (militants) each married two or four of the Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: CRUDE RISES ABOVE $67 PER BARREL P11 CONFUSION IN ENUGU ASSEMBLY P59

PDP: First Lady, Fayose caused Jonathan’s defeat Party condemns Fani-Kayode, Okupe hate war How we spent N9b, by NWC From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leaders said yesterday that the hate campaign initiated by the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) was responsible for President Goodluck Jonathan’s crushing defeat in last month’s election.

Jonathan’s campaign spokesman Femi Fani-Kayode, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, presidential aide Dr. Doyin Okupe and First Lady Patience Jonathan led the hate campaign.

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other party leaders were the main targets of the assault.

Most of the hate documentaries were aired by the African Independent Television (AIT) and the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

Tinubu has sued AIT for alleged defamation.

The PDP crisis sparked by its loss boiled over yesterday with the National Working Committee (NWC) intensifying its fight back

•Children rescued by troops from insurgents in Sambisa forest in Yola…on Saturday night.

Continued on page 4

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15, LAST YEAR EVER RETURN?

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We are greatly pained by the fact that a governor like Fayose will call on this NWC to resign ... the party also gave him N250m for his campaign

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•A man carrying a four-day old baby, which was among children and women rescued by Nigerian troops from insurgents in Sambisa forest and handed over to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at Malkohi •A doctor attends to a malnourished child at the camp in Yola…on Sunday camp in Yola…on Saturday night.

•AVIATION P18 •SPORTS P24 •POLITICS P43 •PROPERTY P48 •ENERGY P50 •FOREIGNP60

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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NEWS

Fed Govt, oil •Buhari may inherit debt

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• All Progressives Congress (APC)National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (second right); Managing Director of Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) Limited, Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi (right); Mr jumat Alli-Oluwafuyi (second left) and Dr Ayodele Ogunsan when the trio visited Tinubu at Freedom House,Victoria Island, Lagos.

•From left: Silver Man of the year 2014 and Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan; his wife Shila; Silverbird Extraordinary Achievement Awardee and Minister for Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina and another Silverbird Extraordinary Achievement Awardee and Chairman Innoson Group of Companies, Innocent Chukwuma at the Silverbird Man of the year award in Lagos...at the weekend.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

•Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu (second right), Special Adviser to the Governor on Information & Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji (right), his Commerce and Industry counterpart, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo (left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Mrs. Abimbola Umar at a news conference in commemoration of eighth year anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja ...yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

•From left: Assistant Director/Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission, Fidelis Ajibogun; General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanogie; Winner of the House Prize, Eneh Chijioke and Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Bayo Adekanbi at the prize presentation of MTN Best 11 Promo in Lagos...at the weekend.

ESPITE meeting for several hours yesterday, the Federal Government and the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) failed to agree on government’s indebtedness to members of the association.

But the disagreement notwithstanding, the oil marketers assured Nigerians that filling stations will start to dispense fuel nationwide in a matter of days.

The acute fuel shortage eased yesterday in Lagos as many filling stations sold product to motorists.

Leading representatives of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala met with oil marketers, led by MOMAN’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Obafemi Olowore.

Also at the meeting were Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials led the Governor of the apex institution, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and owners of fuel depots.

At the end of the meeting in Abuja, both parties could not give a consensus figure on the exact amount outstanding after the payment of N154 billion by the Federal Government at the weekend.

The government and the marketers had disagreed on the subsidy claim balance, which Dr. OkonjoIweala maintained, was N131 billion but the oil marketers put the balance at N200 billion.

The minister noted that it will be difficult to get the exact amount of debt owed the marketers because of what she called the “rolling”nature of the business.

According to her, the outstanding claims will be paid even after the assumption of office by a new government.

Her words: “The understanding reached with the marketers, is that all the outstanding debts owed will be paid based on claims processed

by Petroleum Pricing Products Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

“This is a rolling business and there is no one definitive figure. Even as we talk today by the time we leave, the Executive Secretary of PPPRA may have cleared some more Sovereign Debt Notes and as we speak, the Executive Secretary of PPPRA has been clearing and certifying payments and that is why it is really not a fixed sum.”

She urged Nigerians not to “get fixated to that particular amount because once they keep supplying fuel to the country, there will always be something to pay and government is a continuum.”

The minister was suggesting that the incoming administration might have to continue with the policy after President Goodluck Jonathan leaves office on May 29.

Also speaking, Olawore told reporters at the end of the meeting: “What we are saying is this; there is a figure of N200 billion and there is another figure of N131 billion or so.

First, we must get it clear. At what point did we pick that figure”?

“If I’m going to calculate, I will end with what I have supplied today but it depends on the figure that the PPPRA has sent to DMO (Debt Management Office) and the DMO has to scrutinise and send it to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy (CME).

“So, my documents have not passed the process so that is why there is this disparity,” the MOMAN chief said.

Unending crisis Since 2012, the administration of President Jonathan has repeatedly

From left: Olawore; Dr. Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda; Executive Secretary, Petroleum Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed at meeting...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

bowed to pressure from oil marketers and those who benefit from the attendant petroleum products subsidy.

But at no time has the confrontation between the Federal Government and oil marketers been more pronounced than since the fall in prices of crude oil at the international market.

The fall was imminent for about two years, following the discovery and commercial mining of shale oil, particulary in the United States (U.S.) and in some other countries, a development that reduced the quantity of crude oil being exported by Nigeria and which rubbed off on the nation’s revenue and its ability to meet certain financial obligations.

The government’s inability, or lack of foresight to adequately read the signs and plan ahead the devastating outcome and based on the subsidy agreement it reached with oil marketers on the importation of finished products boxed the Federal Government into a tight corner.

The government was had always struggled to fulfill its obligations to the marketers, who often refuse to import fuel and create scarcity at the filling stations as a way of forcing government to meet their demands.

But it was learnt the desire by the oil marketers to get paid their subsidy claims before May 29 largely accounted for the latest round of scarcity.

Only last week, the Federal Government bowed to pressures from oil marketers and coughed out N156 billion from its indebtedness to the marketers. But MOMAN said it got N154 billion.

The ministry of finance, which was caught in the web of the lingering crisis, said the payment was “in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritise payment to marketers despite dwindling revenue.

The latest payment, Paul Nwabuikwu, spokesman for the finance minister, said has two components. The first, he said, “consists of the cash backing of the N100 billion IOU which the marketers were given in March while the second is

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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l marketers fail to agree on subsidy balance

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This is a rolling business and there is no one definitive figure. Even as we talk today by the time we leave, the Executive Secretary of PPPRA may have cleared some more Sovereign Debt Notes and as we speak, the Executive Secretary of PPPRA has been clearing and certifying payments and that is why it is really not a fixed sum.

N56 billion in interest payments for the marketers according to the Petroleum Pricing Products Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template.”

Despite the payments, Nwabuikwu disclosed that “a balance of N98 billion certified by PPPRA as the amount owed the markers,” was outstanding.

Nwabuikwu described the payment as “the latest in a series of significant payments made to the oil marketers within the last five months.

“These include over N300 billion in two installments in December last year and N31 billion in interest differentials recently. In all, oil marketers have received over N500 billion within the past five months.”

Nwabuikwu added that while making the payment, Dr. OkonjoIweala had appealed to oil marketers “to appreciate the efforts being made by the Federal Government to meet up with their payments and reciprocate with some understanding of the situation for Nigerians, who had suffered enough from the biting fuel scarcity.

“She urged the marketers to sustain the distribution and supply of fuel to end the suffering of Nigerians at fuel stations.”

He quoted the minister as saying that “the Federal has made maximum effort, in spite of the wellknown fact that the fall in oil prices has significantly reduced national revenues, to prioritise payments to marketers.

“For the sake of Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of fuel scarcity, the marketers should reciprocate in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation in which we have always tried to engage them.”

But the oil marketers cried foul at the weekend, insisting that the Federal Government was owing them N200 billion and not N98 billion as claimed by the finance ministry.

The counterclaim threw the country into extra days of excruciating fuel scarcity that nearly crippled economic activities across the country.

The twist forced the Federal Government to accuse MOMAN of blackmailing and holding it to ransom. The minister, who spoke in Abuja on Sunday, denied claims that it was owing oil marketers N200 bil-

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Hope rises as eight ships laden with fuel arrive at Lagos ports

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N end may be in sight to the lingering fuel scarcity, it was learnt yesterday. Eight ships, laden with petroleum products have arrived at the Lagos ports, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said.

According to NAN, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) made the disclosure yesterday in its daily publication, ‘Shipping Position.’

The petroleum products include base oil, kerosene and petrol, the publication said, adding that three other ships also arrived with rice in bags and containers.

It said that NPA was expecting the arrival of 27 ships to the Lagos ports between May 4 and May 30.

The publication explained that 13 of the expected ships will sail in with containers and eight others will arrive with food products.

It listed the food products as rice, bulk sugar, bulk salt, frozen fish and buckwheat.

The publication stated that four ships will ferry in general cargoes and one ship each will bring in vehicles and kerosene.

lion.

It was the disputed figures that triggered yesterday’s parley between her and the oil marketers in Abuja. But both parties could not resolve the dispute.

The marketers however agreed to sell their products to help alleviate the masses suffering.

Before the meeting, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, put government’s indebtedness to the marketers in the neighbourhood of N131 billion based on Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency’s (PPPRA) template.

Interestingly, the new figure of N131 billion was not in the press statement released days earlier by the ministry which said the oil marketers were being owed N98 billion.

There were no clarifications by the ministry on how the additional N33 billion crept into it, except that the minister described fuel importation as a rolling business.

The minister blamed the raging fuel shortage on the activities of a group of cartel determined to hold the nation by the jugular.

She expressed surprise at their attitude of the marketers, stressing that “they were more liberal in times past even when their outstanding was in the region of N2.3 trillion.”

The minister said: “It has become a situation where we have a cartel that can ground the nation to a halt at will. I strongly suggest that the nation has to do something about it.

“It has been very stressful for four years, trying to cope with a group that controls a very important sector of a nation and they are small enough to organise themselves.

“This means that they can hold the nation to ransom anytime they want.

And that is what is happening. I remember when I came back as finance minister on August 17, 2011; the first thing that confronted me was this scandal of subsidies.

“By then, more that N1 trillion had already been paid. And we went through that whole thing and since then we cleaned up, restructured and trimmed down.

“You see that the amount we have been paying year by year diminished substantially to about N971 billion a year down from the N 2.3 trillion in 2011.

“We brought it from N2.3 trillion to about N971 trillion that has been in the budget each year. So, we made very substantial restructuring and changes to the whole process that brought the amount down for the nation. But yet we have to deal with this problem and the whole country

has seen us trying our best struggling.”

According to her, “oil marketers are a small cartel that are into no risk business based on the template negotiated with PPPRA a long time ago which factored in exchange rate differential, profit margin guarantee, a situation she said leaves them with absolutely no risk.

She went on: “The template that governs their business is designed to cover all their costs plus a profit margin. That is PPPRA template which I have quarreled with for quite some.

So, it is really no risk business for them. Or very little risk. I am not saying there is no stress. Of course, they have stress. But the risks are all covered by the template that was negotiated with PPPRA long ago. And it is actually that template that we have been quarreling with.

“That template says that they must be paid exchange rate differentials, interest rates, profit margin quarrantee plus the principal amount they spent in the business. Based on that, the government is taking a full risk of their business according to this template.

“Even when we have revenue shortfall, any interest that accrues has to be paid by government. That is what was negotiated.

“So, they are in a no risk business and we have been pleading with them that if that is the case at least, supply Nigerians with the fuel because at the end of the day the government is still paying for all of this.

Why are you making Nigerians suffer? Why these long queues?”

On the difference in amount owed, the minister explained yesterday that the balance has increased to N131 billion based on the last figures obtained from PPPRA. She said the figures constantly changed based on offloading of products.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala lamented: “It has become a situation where we have a cartel that can ground the nation to a halt at will. I strongly suggest that the nation has to do something about it.

“It has been a very stressful four years, trying to cope with a group that controls a very important sector of a nation and they are small enough to organise themselves.

In March, the Federal Government

agreed to pay the N30 billion exchange rate differentials owed the petroleum products marketers over the last couple of months so as to expedite resolution of an earlier the fuel scarcity.

The payment was different from the N185 billion debts owed the marketers which the Federal Government also agreed to offset with the issuance of the Sovereign Debt Note (SDN) by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

But Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said yesterday that the Federal Government has addressed all contentious issues with the marketers. She listed such issued to include foreign exchange rate differentials for which N6 trillion will be paid to mitigate the losses of the marketers.

She informed that the Federal Government was in talks with the marketers in the last 10 days.

The minister said: “President Goodluck Jonathan wants Nigerians to know that his administration is working on the situation and is aiming to resolve the issue in the shortest possible time.

“At the Federal Executive Council meeting, the issue was discussed in terms of pushing forward and making sure things get back to normal.”

She urged the marketers to be patriotic in their dealings with the government as the issue affects all and sundry, even as she commended Nigerians for their patience.

The minister suggested that the incoming administration may have to take a firm stand to check incessant lockdown by oil marketers over payments for imported products or renegotiate fresh terms with for the government to have room to deliver on its electoral promises.

Credit Facilities In his own remark, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele said the apex bank had met with banks and oil marketers to resolve all the contending issues associated with credit facilities.

Emefiele stated that in the last one week, over $500 million worth of Letters of Credit had been opened by banks on behalf of the marketers.

He called on any marketer who is experiencing delays in their Letters of Credit to alert the CBN, promising to step in and ensure amicable resolution.

Olawore, who spoke for the marketers, stated that long queues will disappear for filling stations in a couple of days, as the marketers had moved 495 truckloads of fuel to Lagos, Abuja and environs.

According to him, massive movement of fuel have been transported in the last three days, while three of its members have imported three cargoes of petrol based on the agreements reached with the CBN and the finance ministry.

His words: “Major marketers moved 132 truckloads of fuel to Lagos, while 87 truckloads were moved to Abuja, and this is exclusive to the quantity moved by the NNPC, independent marketers and other marketers.

“No fewer than 137 trucks were moved to Lagos, while 139 trucks were moved to Abuja. You can see that the amount we moved to Abuja was far more than the quantity we moved on Monday. It normally takes between three and four days to transport fuel from Lagos to Abuja; hence we believe the queues will ease off by weekend, latest.

“Our actions are deliberate, to ensure that the queues vanish and normalcy returns. I want to tell Nigerians that tougher days are over; normalcy is expected to return pretty soon.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

NEWS 84 killed in Taraba communal crisis Continued from page 1

•From left: Ebola Survivor, Dr. Ada Igonoh of the First Consultants Medical Centre; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu; and Chief Medical Director, First Consultants Medical Centre, Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri, at the World Economic Forum and World Bank Roundtable on Ebola Crisis in Lagos…yesterday.

‘Chibok girls sold off, married by Boko Haram chiefs’ Continued from page 1

girls,” Mrs. Abbas said.

Mrs Abbas, who was taken from Dikwa, Borno State in April, speaking on the weapons situation with the militants, said the fighters all had guns at first but recently, only some carried them.

Even the wife of their captors’ leader, Adam Bitri, openly criticised him and subsequently fled, two of the women said, with one describing Bitri as short and fat with a beard.

Boko Haram is fracturing as shortages of weapons and fuel foment tensions between its foot soldiers and leaders, women rescued from the Islamist jihadi fighters by Nigerian troops told Reuters.

The group abducted an estimated 2,000 women and girls last year as it sought to carve out an Islamic state in the northeast.

The militants began complaining to their captives about lacking guns and ammunition last month, two of

the women said, and many were reduced to carrying sticks while some of their vehicles were either broken down or lacked fuel.

Of the 275 freed captives brought to a government-run camp for internally displaced people in the Malkohi hamlet on the outskirts of Adamawa State capital, Yola, only 61 were over 18, and many small children hobbled around, visibly malnourished.

Relieving their experience in the forest, the women said they were kept inside, occasionally brought food and sometimes beaten severely.

The children were left to run around or do errands for Boko Haram while those of the fighters were trained to shoot guns.

“One evening in April, Boko Haram followers stood before us and said ‘Our leaders don’t want to give us enough fuel and guns and now the soldiers are encroaching on us in Sambisa.

We will leave you.’” one of

the women, 18-year old Binta Ibrahim from northern Adamawa State said.

“They threatened us but after they went we were happy and prayed the soldiers would come and save us.”

The women said once the militants spotted two helicopters circling at noon on the day of their rescue, they began trying to sell the women for up to 2,000 naira (about $10) each. Towards evening, as the army approached, the captives refused to flee with Boko Haram fighters, who began stoning them but then ran away.

“We heard bullets flying around ... we lay on the floor.

Some of the women were crushed (by army vehicles) and others wounded by bullets. Eighteen were killed. We counted them, they included infants,” Salamatu Mohamed from the Damboa area in Borno said.

The defence ministry was not immediately available for comment.

Mohamed said she gave birth while in captivity and had trouble feeding her newborn as there was not enough food.

Boko Haram seemed almost unstoppable and fast becoming a regional threat after it gained control of an area larger than Belgium last year and increased cross-border attacks on Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

Its six-year-old insurgency has killed thousands and forced 1.5 million people from their homes and the group caused a global outcry when it abducted over 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok.

The women said the men frequently threatened to sell them or bring them to Boko Haram’s elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau, deep in the forest. Nigeria has claimed to have killed him several times. Defence spokesman Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade told Reuters the Continued on page 57

Defence Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and Governor-elect Darius Dickson Ishaku.

Police spokesman Joseph Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said nine bodies were recovered in the attack on Takum township. The casualty figure rose drastically by evening. Kwaji said Sunday’s clash in Takum was between Kuteb and Tiv. A 24-hour curfew has been imposed by the Chairman of Takum council, Caleb Bitrus Babafi, who told The Nation he was meeting with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to ascertain the authentic casualty figure.

Babafi directed the police and soldiers to restrict movement in the area to maintain law and order. No arrest has been made.

Over 20 Tiv residents, mostly students, were massacred in Takum township by suspected Kuteb militia on Sunday night. Five of the students were killed at the School of Health Technology hostel. Others were massacred in their homes during a house to house attack by the assailants.

“We woke, this morning (yesterday) only to see the bodies of our brothers and sisters, mostly students,” a Takum resident told The Nation.

Thirty persons were massacred at a Tiv settlement, Yongogba, along Takum-Kpashe Road, also on Sunday. The invaders also reduced the settlement to rubble.

Butu village was also attacked on Sunday, after it received a notice, said to be from the Fulani on Friday.

Young men and women, fled the village, but an aged man who was left behind was beaten to coma by the invaders. Soldiers took the victim to the MRS Clinic of the 93 Army Battalion, Ada Barracks, where he is recuperating.

Before these attacks, a Tiv laboratory technician, Samuel Ojo, 32, was killed at the Jonas Clinics where he worked. Eye-witnesses said Ojo was in the lab when Kuteb assailants came and dragged him outside and hung a tyre across his neck before setting him ablaze.

A Kuteb source said his kinsmen were taking vengeance on five of their people who were allegedly gun down at Age by Tiv militia.

A source said the deceased, two men and three women, were riding on motorcycles on Barrack-Dogon Gawa Road to a church conference when they were killed.

It was gathered that the fighters of the warring groups have laid siege to many of the Continued on page 57

Witnesses testify as Rivers commission begins sitting

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HE Commission of Inquiry into politically-motivated killings in Rivers State yesterday began its sitting in Port Harcourt.

There were reports last week that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt restrained it from sitting.

But chairman of the Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who presided over the yesterday’s inaugural sitting, said no member has received any court order restraining it from sitting.

Odinkalu who is also the chair of the National Human Rights

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

Commission (NHRC) said “so far we have received about 30 memos from members of the public” pointing out that it would be fair and transparent to all concerned.

He appealed to petitioners and any aggrieved parties in the matters that would be tabled at the commission t to come up with verifiable evidence to enable the commission do its job without bias.

During the yesterday’s sitting, Continued on page 57

PDP: First Lady, Fayose caused Jonathan’s defeat Continued from page 1

against calls for its resignation.

Chairman Adamu Mu’azu and National Secretary Prof.

Wale Oladipo have rejected calls for their resignation.

National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh yesterday spoke in Abuja about the party’s loss.

He told reporters at a news conference: “The decision of the Presidential Campaign Organisation to adopt and execute a hate campaign strategy against the then presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari led to the failure of PDP.” Metuh said the blame being heaped on the party’s leadership by governors and some aides of the President for the loss of power at the centre was misplaced.

According to him, the President’s campaign team failed to heed the advice to desist from the hate campaign, adding that the leadership of the PDP, which could have offered direction, was sidelined in the campaign.

The PDP spokesman added that the negative effects of the hate campaign aimed at northerners, their values, tra-

dition and culture backfired on the party and its presidential and most of its governorship candidates in the region.

He revealed that the party generated over N9 billion before the election from the sale of nomination forms across the 36 states and Abuja as well as for the presidential nomination.

Metuh dismissed the allegation of mismanagement of campaign funds against the party chiefs, saying the party contributed N500 million to the presidential campaign and N100 million each of its governorship candidates in the 36 states. National Assembly candidates also got financial support.

“The monies were paid either directly to the candidates, through ministers or campaign directors in some states,” Metuh affirmed.

He said the NWC was ready for a probe over how it spent the money. He defended the N30 million advance payment, which he said was given to each member of the NWC. According to him, the money was payment for three years backlog of medical, housing and other allowances of the NWC members.

He expressed sadness that Fayose, who was the major beneficiary of the primary election which gave him the governorship ticket, could also join the call for the sack of the party leaders.

Against all odds, Metuh said the party leadership stood its ground to ensure a transparent process through which Fayose emerged.

“We are greatly pained by the fact that a governor like Fayose will call on this NWC to resign. It is on record that because of the internal democracy that we provided, he was able to emerge governor today. He was called all sorts of names but the NWC opened up the process and he emerged winner.”

“The party also gave him N250m for his campaign. We are pained and sad that somebody who enjoyed the transparency of this NWC will call for its resignation,” he added.

He faulted the call for resignation of the party’s elected officials, saying the party chiefs were not assigned any role in the presidential campaign.

“Otherwise, the call for our resignation would have been on moral ground. But the fact that we were sidelined, ask-

ing us to resign is untenable,” Metuh added.

He said former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late President Umaru Yar A’dua would have similarly lost their elections in the Southeast in 2003 and 2007, if they had launched a hate campaign against the late Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who contested against them.

Metuh added: “Our advice and suggestions were ignored. We cannot be held responsible for the failure.

While we are not holding any excuse for them, we cannot be held accountable for issues that were generated, that worked against our candidates in the North. All Nigerians know what happened.

“Let me say this. In 2003, President Obasanjo ran an election against Chief ýOdumegwu Ojukwu in the Southeast. In 2007, the late Alhaji Yar’Adua ran election against Ojukwu. I can tell you, if the PDP had engaged in name-calling or abuse of Ojukwu in anyway, the PDP would have lost the elections in Southeast.

“You will also recall that we had hinted you on several occasions that some fifth columnists working with other par-

ties had been concocting some frivolous allegations and sponsoring amorphous groups against the NWC. “We had also alerted the Nigerian public through you, that some members of our party, including ambitious aides and associates of President Goodluck Jonathan, are using their perceived closeness to him to further their heinous agenda of injecting crisis in the party with a view to hijacking the structure for their selfish interests.

“In the attempt to discredit the NWC, these elements pushed out series of misleading information to the unsuspecting public, alleging that the party leadership mismanaged the presidential campaign funds, leading to the poor performance in the polls and as such NWC should be made to resign.

“When this wicked and baseless allegation was debunked by the NWC after publicly clarifying that it was not involved in the handling of the campaign and its funding; and that such were exclusively managed by the Presidential Campaign Organisation appointed by the President, these divisive elements in their desperation came up

•Metuh

with another allegation, claiming that the leadership embezzled funds belonging to the party.

“Even after the NWC also debunked this despicable allegation, showing that the party’s funds were judiciously appropriated for our state election campaigns, this group resorted to labeling the NWC with attempts to instigate President Jonathan, PDP governors and other wellmeaning members of our party against the national leaderContinued on page 57

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

NEWS Defeated senators, Reps move property from National Assembly From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

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•From left: Communications Manager, MeadowHall Group Ronke Fasalojo; Head, MeadowHall Foundation Kemi Adewale; its chief executive officer, Kehinde Nwani, and Head, MeadowHall Education Ola Opesan, at a media parley on the company’s activities in Lagos...at the weekend.

ENATORS and House of Representatives members who failed in their re-election bids yesterday started moving their personal effects out of the National Assembly complex.

The development came less that about one month to the proclamation of the eight National Assembly.

Personal effects of the lawmakers, including tables and chairs of various sizes, framed photographs, books, standing mirror, centre rug and artworks of various sizes were seen being loaded into trucks.

Apart from those who lost the March 28 National Assembly election, others who are also removing their belongings from the complex included those who lost their primary elections.

Scores of legislative aides were seen loading personal belongings of the lawmakers into waiting trucks stationed at the entrance of the ‘White House.’

One of the legislative aides seen dragging a ‘Ghana must go’ bag filled with books retorted that “soldier go soldier come, National Assembly remains.”

The aide said his boss instructed them to evacuate his office and take his belongings to his new office at the Maitama area of Abuja.

Efforts to speak with one of the Southeast senators, who lost his election, proved abortive as he refused to answer his call.

Court restrains FCT Minister, others from re-allocating Abuja shops

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•Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye (second right), Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Lawal Pedro, SAN (second left), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy Mrs. Oluranti Odutola (right) and Director, Public Prosecution Mrs. Idowu Alakija, at the ministerial news briefing on the activities of the Ministry of Justice as part of events marking Governor Babatunde Fashola’s eight years in office at Alausa, Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

USTICE Othman A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory , Apo has stopped the FCT Minister and three others from re-allocating shops and open spaces at the N6.5 billion Wuye Ultra Modern Market in Abuja.

Also affected by the judge’s order are the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the All Purpose Shelter Limited (APSL) and the Abuja Property Development Company Limited (APDCL).

The judge’s order was contained in the judgment he delivered in a suit filed by about 706 traders, led by Abah Denis.

The traders claimed to have been allocated shops and open spaces in the market.

The judge upheld the plaintiffs’ argument that they hold legitimate allocation letters to the shops and open spaces in the market, containing 1,700 shops.

The market was built on a 7.3 hectares space, and had remained unutilised since it was commissioned by President

Extradition: Kashamu sues IGP, NDLEA, 10 others

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RE-EMPTING his likely extradition to the United States (U.S.) for alleged drug offences, a senator-elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has sued the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and 11 others before a Federal High Court in Lagos to forestall such moves.

In an originating summons brought before Justice Okon Abang, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain alleged that there was a conspiracy between the law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and the U.S. to humiliate as well as prevent his being sworn-in as a senator.

Joined as defendants with the IGP in the fundamental rights suit are Chairman, Nigerian Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Director General, Department of State Security (DSS); The INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB); and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly; the Na-

•Court adjourns hearing till May 8

By Precious Igbonwelundu

tional Security Adviser to the President; Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC); Nigeria Custom Services (NCS); Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Kashamu is seeking nine declarative orders from the court to restrain the defendants from arresting, detaining or otherwise effecting his abduction upon spurious allegation.

The senator-elect argues that the defendants’ actions are illegal, unlawful, ultra vires and a breach on his rights.

He wants the court to direct the Clerk of the National Assembly to accord all facilities and privileges due him as senator-elect.

When the matter was called for hearing yesterday, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, who said he was

yet to see the court processes, prayed for an adjournment to enable him find out which of the agency’s offices was served.

He told the court that the commission was yet to reply to the suit because he hasn’t laid hands on the processes.

Apologising for stalling the proceeding, Oyedepo noted that it would be in the interest of justice, if EFCC was given a short adjournment to reply to the suit.

But, lawyer to the applicant, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), urged the court to discountenance EFCC’s application for an adjournment, on grounds that the matter should be determined expeditiously.

He argued that there was no material fact before the court to exercise its discretion, adding that since EFCC had conceded that they were served and failed to respond after 12 days stipulated by Order 8 Rule 3 of the court, there was no room for extension.

Aside the EFCC, the NIS also pleaded for a short adjournment to enable its lawyer reply the applicant’s brief.

He told the court that the NIS has not been able to respond to the application as a result of the ill health of its counsel.

Other respondents, who have filed their replies did not object the prayers of the EFCC and NIS, prompting Justice Abang to adjourn to May 8, for hearing of all pending applications.

Kashamu, in a 92 paragraph affidavit filed before the court by Izinyon and Riceky Tarfa (SAN), averred that he was incarcerated in Brixton Prisons in London from January 10, 1998 to January 10, 2003.

He stated that his committal order was set aside after a judgment delivered by the Bow Street London Magistrate presided by District Judge Tim Workman.

The court, he added, cleared him of the allegations by the U.S. authorities.

Kashamu averred that the court held that the allegations with regards to importation of Narcotic into U.S. involved a case of mistaken identity and there was no “prima facie” case that he was the person referred to as “Alaji” by those apprehended in the U.S., who had indicated that they had a West African collaborator.

He stated that after the judgment, which was delivered on October 6, 2000, he was re-arrested and brought to face the second extradition proceedings which the U.S. authorities had commenced before the judgment of the high court was delivered.

The senator-elect claimed that when the second extradition judgment was delivered on January 10, 2003, by Justice Tim Workman, he was released and returned to Nigeria to start his business.

As a result of his philanthropic activities, Kashamu said he was lured into politics, which has brought him some powerful enemies, including his erstwhile political leader, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Goodluck Jonathan over a year ago.

Justice Musa, who held that the plaintiffs’ case was uncontroverted, noted that even the defendants’s witnesses further to establish the plaintiffs’ case.

The plaintiffs, who are victims of a 2001 fire incident, which destroyed their shops and goods, said they were allocated shops in the market by the Technical Committee set up by the FCT Administration to relocate them.

They stated that the Technical Committee, in relocating them, later allocated various shops to the plaintiffs at the Wuye Ultra Modern Market, but were prevented in 2012 from taking over the shops by All Purpose Shelter Limited (APSL), which requested the traders to make further payments.

Defendants in the suit included the FCT Minister, FCDA, APSL and APDCL. The plaintiffs refused APSL’s request on the ground that the government had issued them allocation and other relevant documents after they had paid the required amount.

They tendered receipts for payment, letters of allocation and other relevant documents during trial.

They challenged the refusal of the developer (APSL) to allocate shops to them even after they were issued provisional letters of allocation.

The traders contended that the offer letters were released to them because they had met the terms of their allocation.

They urged the court to, among others, order the defendants to allocate shops and offices to them.

APSL said, based on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement it signed with the land owner - the Abuja Investment and Property Development Company Limited (AIPDCL) - it was to build, operate and transfer the market later after recouping its investment.

It said while the market was being built, provisional offers of allocation were issued to the traders, who were expected to make some further payments before they could access shops for their businesses.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

NEWS ‘Presidency, National Assembly must cut expenses’ From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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MEMBER-elect of the House of Representatives from Kano State Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya has called on the incoming administration of Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari to slash the expenses of the Presidency and National Assembly by 50 per cent.

Gaya said this would allow enough resources to be made available to cater for the nation’s capital expenditure.

In an interview with reporters at his residence in Kano yesterday, Gaya, who was elected from Gaya/ Ajinge/Albasu Federal Constituency, urged his colleagues and the Presidentelect to consider his advice.

Until his election as a House of Representatives’ member, Gaya was the state’s commissioner for Finance.

Court okays extradition of ex-Mint boss to UK for trial

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FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has acceded to a request by the Federal Government for the extradition of a former Managing Director of Nigerian Security, Minting and Printing Company, Emmanuel Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, to the United Kingdom for trial on fraud related charges.

Justice Evoh Chukwu, in a judgment yesterday on the Federal Government’s application for extradition filed through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke (SAN), held that the applicant provided sufficient evidence to warrant the grant of the application.

He granted the application and ordered that Okoyomon be remanded in prison until

•Okoyomon appeals decision From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

he is extradited to the UK within 30 days.

But, Okoyomon has filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja against the judgment by Justice Chukwu.

He has equally applied for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of his appeal.

The UK government, through its High Commission in Nigeria, in July 2014 requested the Federal Government to help extradite Okoyomon to the country for trial over his alleged complicity in the bribery allegation involving officials of the Central Bank of Niger-

ia, the NSMPC and the Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.

The offences were said to have violated the provisions of the Corruption Prevention Act of the United Kingdom.

Based on the request by the UK, the government applied to the court for an extradition order, an application which Okoyomon, through his lawyer Alex Iziyon (SAN) opposed via a notice of objection, on the ground that there was no existing extradition treaty between the UK and Nigeria.

He argued that the extradition treaty between the United States of America and the Great Britain, signed in London in 1931 and the Lon-

don Scheme of Extradition within the Commonwealth, relied on by the applicant, were not applicable and justiceable in Nigeria within the meaning of the provision of Section 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Yesterday, Justice Chukwu dismissed Okoyomon’s objection and held that the 1931 London Treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain, made applicable in Nigeria by legal instruments on June 24, 1935, is an existing law by virtue of the provision of Section 315(4) of the Constitution and is applicable in Nigeria.

“Having said the 1931 London Treaty between the U.S. and the UK is applicable in Nigeria and is an existing law, it does not require to pass the crucibles of both 1979 and 1999 Constitution, which must

AU, council laud Nigeria’s polls From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Industrial court fixes June 10 for hearing in suit against NLC

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USTICE Peter Lifu of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, has fixed June 10 for hearing in a suit against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The claimants in the suit, Mr. Emmanuel Yekovie and Mr. Gideon Homano, took William Akporeha, Ayuba Wabba and Joseph Ajaero to court over their exclusion from the NLC election in Delta.

The judge, while adjourning the case, said the motion ex-parte had been overtaken by events because the election had already been conducted.

“Let everybody come, I will listen to all of you, but I do not know the status quo you want to be maintained because you cannot restrain what has already happened,’’ he said.

The claimants’ counsel, Mr. Jude Igudia, had earlier filed an ex-parte motion on April 20, to restrain the congress from holding elections in the state.

He said in spite of the motion, the two factions of NLC held elections with two chairmen emerging, excluding the claimants.

According to him, since the motion is overtaken by events, they would amend the motion on notice and processes to request nullification of the election.

“We want a declaration that: the defendants have no power or authority under the enabling constitution of the NLC to conduct parallel elections.

“Or conduct any election by whatever name it is called or described and deny the claimants the right to vie for the executive offices of the NLC in Delta State.

“We will also request an order of injunction restraining the defendants, his agents, privies or servants from denying the claimants the right to vie for position into the different executive offices of the state’s NLC.’’ The defendants counsel, Mr. M.E Edah, said that the processes were served after the elections had been held.

The judge adjourned the case till June 10 for hearing and further application in the suit.

be subjected to the provision of Section 12 of the same constitution,” the judge said.

On the applicant’s allegations to the effect that the respondent was wanted in the UK in relation to some criminal allegations, the judge observed that Okoyomon raised no defence against the allegations, which formed the grounds of the request for his extradition.

Justice Chukwu, who noted that Okoyomon is a British citizen, said he would never recklessly surrender a Nigerian citizen, and a nonNigerian alike, unless the court was satisfied beyond measure that such a person deserved to be extradited.

The judge held that “the applicant has satisfied the court with materials substantial enough to grant his application,” and proceeded to grant the application.

From left: Kaduna State Commissioner for Information Mr. Ben Bako; Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council Alhaji Yusuf Idris and National President, Alhaji Mohammed Garba at the 2015 World Press Freedom Day in Kaduna...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

HE African Union (AU) and its affiliate, Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), have hailed the Federal Government and the citizenry on the peaceful manner they conducted themselves during and after the general elections.

Chairperson and Nigerian representative at AU ECOSOCC Dr. Tunji Asaolu said this in Abuja at the weekend.

He said the success recorded was made purpose as a result of efforts and roles played by the citizens and the CSO. Asaolu said he was ready to work with the nation’s CSO to achieve and come up with laudable ideas that would reshape the country and the continent.

Alleged money laundering: Fani-Kayode knows fate June 18

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FEDERAL High Court, Lagos, yesterday fixed June 18 for judgment in the alleged money laundering case filed against former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Rita OfileAjumogobia adjourned for judgment after parties in the suit adopted their final written addresses.

She also granted FaniKayode’s prayer to substitute one of his sureties, Wale Ajisebutu, with one Ogbor Elliot, following Ajisebutu’s request to withdraw his suretiship.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to FaniKayode, led by Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the twocount charge against the accused as well as discharge and acquit him.

Adedipe told the court that the defence relied and adopted its final written address filed on April 7, and its reply on point of law to the prosecution’s written address, dated April 27.

He argued that the prosecution’s submission in the case were misplaced and misguided, accusing the EFCC of wanting to show to the world that they have a “big fish”.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

But Adedipe insisted that “there’s no fish here”.

According to FaniKayode’s lawyers, the prosecution failed woefully to prove that the accused received the alleged N1 million, adding that no witness was brought by the EFCC to substantiate its claim.

He said: “It is now an accepted principle of law that the prosecution in all criminal cases must prove its case.

“Nobody gave evidence that he gave or saw the accused collecting money (N1 million). The only evidence was that of prosecution witness Supo Agbaje, whom the prosecution had declared wanted.

“In his statement, the witness said he deposited N1 million in the accused’s account, but never said he saw the accused collecting money.

“What happened after the receipt of money is not the case, but receiving the money. The accused never confessed to receiving money from anybody and there is no such evidence before the court.”

Adedipe described as unreliable, the evidence by Prosecution Witness (PW4), noting that it never stated the

date, place as well as denominations of the money given to him by the accused to lodge in his account.

“It is difficult to know where the lies began and truth resurfaces. Reasonable doubt exists in the case of the prosecution, and under such circumstances, the matter should be resolved in favour of the accused.

“This is a case that cries out to high heavens for lack of evidence. I pray this court to hold that the prosecution has failed to prove its case and to discharge and acquit the accused,” said Adedipe.

But EFCC’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo countered the defence submission and prayed the court to find FaniKayode guilty as charged.

Drawing the court’s attention to Exhibit PW4G, Keyamo held that FaniKayode admitted in his ‘confessional statement’ that he made cash transactions above N500 thousand without using a financial institution.

He argued that there was actual receipt of the cash, urging the court to look at the purpose for the enactment of the Money Laundering Act. “If the law insists that the prosecution must prove the source of fund, it will defeat

the essence of the law.

“As Minister for Tourism, the accused was found with large sums of money, which he couldn’t explain.

“It is not in every case that the burden of prove lies with the prosecution. In the case at hand, the prosecution has discharged its burden by showing that huge sums of money above the limit were found on him and he couldn’t explain where the money came from,” he said.

Keyamo said the burden shifted to the defence to provide documents to disprove the prosecution’s case.

He said: “The only way to have gotten the document to collapse the prosecution’s case was to bring bank statement of that transaction. The court wants to see that the transaction was done through a financial institution.

“It will make mincemeat of the Money Laundering Law and render it ineffective should the court rule that the prosecution must at all time, prove where the money is coming from.

“Even if the transaction is legitimate, the volume of money and its source will be the crime.

“It is irrelevant to try to prove that the money was transaction from his father’s estate because the crime is the

volume of money.”

Keyamo added that FaniKayode had in his confessional statement dated December 22, 2008, admitted to have made transactions above N500,000 in his account arising from his father’s estate.

He argued that the accused also admitted having knowledge of certain cash and cheque transactions in and out of his account that exceeded the limit.

Keyamo drew the court’s attention to the investigation report written by the Investigating Police Officer ( IPO), who said his team did not know where the money came from, praying that Fani-Kayode be convicted for the alleged offence.

The former minster was accused of making a transaction exceeding N500,000 on September 20, 2006, which was not done through a financial institution, by accepting N2.1 million in cash.

The money was allegedly paid into his personal bank account by his aide, Supo Agbaje, while he served as Minister of Culture and Tourism.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence, which EFCC said contravenes the Money Laundering Act.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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NEWS Public lecture on May 23

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SOCIO-POLITICAL group, Ekitipanupo, will celebrate its 10th anniversary on May 23 with a public lecture, public presentation of Ekitipanupo Legacy Book (ELB) and timeless merit award at Alfa Belgore Multipurpose Hall, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

The event has the theme, “Rejuvenation of Ekiti bond and values”.

The public lecture will be delivered by Prof Michael Abiola Omolewa.

The Chairman of the occasion is former Governor Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo while eminent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola SAN is the special guest of honour.

The legacy book was put together by the convener of the forum, Okan Oluseye Adetunmbi. A former Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank S.B Falegan wrote the Foreword while renowned poet Prof Niyi Osundare wrote the preface.

The book will be reviewed by Prof J. O. Aina and Prof Bolaji Aluko.

Former Governor Segun Oni will unveil the book. Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Lanre Olayinka, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye and Yemi Akeju are lead presenters.

Ekitipanupo Forum was formally convened on March 6 2005 as an indigenous think-tank and intellectual roundtable.

The Forum had been privileged to have Prof Akin Oyebode of Faculty of Law, University of Lagos as the pioneer leader of the august forum.

Recipients of the debut award are Prof Banji Akintoye, Chief S.B Falegan, Mrs Adebimpe Okunade, Chief Afe Babalola and Prof MA Omolewa.

The discussions session will be moderated by Chief Wole Olanipekun.

‘Ogun Bullion Van driver has no licence’

Ekiti civil servants lament non-payment of April salary

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KITI State workers yesterday wore gloomy faces as they gathered at the State Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, lamenting the non-payment of last month’s salary.

The workers, who expected their salary on April 27, had their hopes dashed.

Workers at many government offices became sad yesterday on learning they would have to wait a little longer for their salary.

The situation was aggravated by the expiration of a six-month moratorium secured from commercial banks by Governor Ayo Fayose.

Its expiration means that the governor can no longer raise loans from banks to pay workers.

Yesterday, workers were discussing in hushed tones.

A source claimed that a pay cut is being considered by government to find a way out of the prob-

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From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

lem.

The source said: “One of the options being weighed by the government is reduction of salary because government is not willing to retrench them.

“A pay cut of about 20 or 30 per cent is being considered but nothing has been finalised. I think a pay cut is better than retrenching or downsizing.”

A worker said: “We are now in trouble over non-payment of our salary because we don’t know how we are going to survive. The salary delay may not be the fault of the governor but we are in a dire situation.

“Many of us have incurred debts that our salary may not be enough

to offset. Some of us find it difficult to pay our children’s school fees but we pray that one way or the other, the government finds a solution.”

Another civil servant said: “These are hard times for us and surviving has been difficult. No salary, the outstanding September salary is there, no leave bonus.

“It will get to a level that some of us won’t come to office because of lack of fare and food I obtained on credit will soon finish. It is unfortunate.”

The effect of the non-payment of salary is affecting sales. Market women and shop owners are complaining of low sales, which they attributed to the economic situation.

Commissioner for Finance and

Economic Development Toyin Ojo allayed workers’ fear, saying they would not be denied their benefits.

He said government was discusing with labour unions to find a way of managing the situation.

Ojo said: “We are laying our cards on the table. We want our stakeholders to give us suggestions. It is after we have agreed on modalities that we will start paying.

“We are discussing with labour leaders, because it is a matter of concern to Governor Fayose, who had vowed not to owe workers .

“It is our wish to pay them as and when due and that was why we are seeking suggestions from them. As we are doing this, we were showing them evidence of what we have been getting from the Federation Account and how we have been spending it.”

•From left: Zone RS2 Head of Operation, Corps Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) Godwin Ngueku, Zone RS2 Commanding Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Nseobong Akpabio, Executive Secretary, Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative, Ike Okonkwo and Lagos Sector Commander, Corps Commander Hyginus Omeje at a briefing on the UNICEF children week in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Govt’s absence stalls Oritsejafor’s church’s suit

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

BULLION Van driver, Abayomi Komolafe, who allegedly killed a motorcyclist, Gbenga Okesola, at the Abeokuta Central Business District (CBD) last Thursday was arraigned yesterday at a Magistrate’s Court in Isabo Abeokuta, charged with “recklessness”.

The Prosecuting Police Office, Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that Komolafe, who was hired by a first generation bank, drove the vehicle without driver’s and vehicle licences, insurance and road worthiness certificates.

Egbejiale alleged that the driver was reckless, causing the death of the 19-year-old cyclist at the OPIC Roundabout last Thursday.

The prosecuting officer further told the court that the accused, who drove a Mercedes Benz bullion van, marked PF 281 SPY, drove the vehicle that killed the victim.

According to him, the offences contravened sections 18, 7 (1) 14 (1), 25 (2) (b) (p) of Road Traffic Law Vol 4 Laws of Ogun 2006 and Section 31 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Third Party Insurance.

Although no plea was taken in respect of the charge against the accused, he was granted bail bond of N500,000 and two sureties, following an application by his counsel, Israel Shogbamu.

Shogbamu, who applied for the bail on liberal terms, assured the court that the accused would not jump bail.

Besides granting the bail, the Chief Magistrate, Anthony Araba, ordered that the bullion van be impounded in court.

He adjourned till June 5.

•Govt considers pay cut

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HE absence of the Lagos State government yesterday stalled a suit filed by the Word of Life Bible Church (WLBC) before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, seeking to restrain the state in respect of its property on Victoria Island.

The church, owned by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, sued the government to forestall moves to demolish or dispossess it of its property at Plot 21E, Abdulrahman Okene Close, Victoria Island Annex.

Joined as defendants in the matter before Justice Deborah Oluwayemi

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By Precious Igbonwelundu

are the attorney-general and commissioner for Justice; Ministry of Physical Planning; Lagos Building Control Agency, and Lagos Physical Planning Permit Authority.

Although the matter was for Case Management Conference (CMC) yesterday, none of the defendants were present in court.

He notified the court that he was yet to be served with the defendant’s statement of defence.

Consequently, the court adjourned the case till June 15 for CMC. In its amended statement of claim

filed by its lawyer, Kayode Bankole, the church asked for an order of perpetual injunction against the defendants to issue building development permits, since it has fulfilled all the steps expected, including payment of the required fees.

It further prayed for an order compelling the government to refund N3.06 million, being money paid in excess for the issuance of a building development permit.

The church stated that in 2003, it acquired the disputed land with Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) No. 68/68/199AR dated November 1991.

It averred that its application for building plan approval was received and assessed for payment, which it promptly obliged.

In March 2013, the claimant stated that it received a letter from the defendants, directing submission of certain documents to facilitate approval of building plan and payment of N4.5 million.

It added that while waiting for the approval, the defendants posted another demolition notice on its fence, and without waiting for the expiration of the notice, demolished the building.

Fayose dismisses permanent secretary

PERMANENT Secretary in the Ekiti State Civil Service, Tunde Alokan, was yesterday sacked by Governor Ayo Fayose.

Alokan was the permanent secretary, Office of Establishment.

He earlier served as permanent secretary, Ekiti State Liaison Office in Abuja and is believed to be one of the best hands in the civil service.

Alokan’s sack came barely four months after former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Kofo Aderiye, was sacked for allegedly advising against drafting teachers to participate in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally addressed by President Goodluck Jonathan on January 14.

Mrs. Aderiye reportedly insisted that government teachers were civil servants and should not be dragged into partisan politics.

Although no official reason was given for Alokan’s sack, a Government House source told our report-

•Govt: he disobeyed civil service rules From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

er that he was dismissed for his alleged closeness to former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

His “other sin” was turning down an offer to chair a panel to try his elder brother, Tokunbo, for an offence that was not clear.

Fayemi attended the funeral of the father of the sacked permanent secretary, which held in Efon Alaaye in February, which the source said might have angered the government.

Fayemi appointed Alokan as permanent secretary in January 2012.

Another Government House source explained that Alokan’s elder brother, a director (Level 16), may also be dismissed in connection with the funeral saga.

The elder Alokan was attached to the Due Process Office in the Gover-

nor’s Office before he was transferred to the Office of Establishment.

Another source said: “After the funeral the following week, his elder brother, also a civil servant, was asked to report at the Office of Establishment.

“A panel was set up to investigate Tokunbo with the younger brother mandated to chair the panel, an offer which he turned down.

“Although the two of them were pencilled down for sack, that of the elder brother was put on hold to pave the way for his investigation and interrogation by the panel.

“Since his younger brother turned down the offer to chair a panel raised to try Tokunbo, another person will be appointed to perform the task and your guess is as good as mine on the result that would come out of the panel.”

The Head of Service, Gbenga Fa-

seluka, said Alokan's removal has no link with his father's burial.

But the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, said Alokan violated civil service rules by dabbling into politics.

He also denied awareness of any panel to try the sacked Permanent Secretary's elder brother, describing it as "political idle talks".

Adelusi said: "There are rules governing civil service system and Ekiti State is not an exception.

"It is unfortunate that anybody will link his sack to ex-Governor Fayemi.

"For anybody to be sacked, it will be based on strictly civil service rules. His salaries did not accrue to Fayemi.

"The governor is not aware that Fayemi attended his father's burial and he is not aware that there was a burial in the first instance. There is a time to be hired and there is a time to be fired.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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NEWS Olanusi now APC BoT member

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ORMER Ondo State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi has been appointed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Board of Trustees (BoT).

The letter of appointment by the APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, said: ”I am pleased to convey the ratification by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of your appointment as a member of the Board of Trustees of our great party.

“Your selection is in pursuant of Article 12.2(xi) of the Constitution but most especially your laudable contribution in the making of our great party.

“Your appointment is for a period of four years effective July 2014.”

Olanusi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC. He was impeached in a vindictive manner by the Ondo State House of Assembly.

Inmate escapes From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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N inmate of the Benin Central Prison escaped yesterday from the headquarters of the Edo State Prison Service.

The inmate was taken to the prison headquarters to do menial work when he fled.

It was learnt that the inmate escaped through the famous Benin Moat behind the prison headquarters.

Officials at the prison headquarters said the inmate did not escape through the main gate.

Sources said the prison official who was supposed to guard the inmate went to eat when the prisoner fled.

Several prison officials were seen searching the adjoining streets and the moat.

State Comptroller Effiom Etowa could not be reached for comments.

But a source said a report had not been filed.

Lagos records 12, 120 rape cases

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

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HE Lagos State government has recorded no fewer than 12, 120 rape and other sexual violence matters in the last four years, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General Ade Ipaye has said.

He said the government in the last one year also convicted 140 sex offenders.

Ipaye said one of the convicts was a notorious rapist, who bagged life imprisonment.

He said the government established the domestic and sexual violence response team to guard vulnerable persons and prosecute offenders.

The commissioner said the team facilitated the signing of the Executive Order that established the Sex Offenders’ Register.

He also said the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in the last one-year recorded 526 rape cases, with 227 still in court.

He added that the OPD, the agency saddled with responsibility of providing legal aid services to indigent citizens, had handled over 15,000 cases.

• •From left: Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice George Oguntade; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; Diocesan Bishop of Lagos (Anglican Communion) Bishop Ephraim Ademowo and his wife Oluranti at the opening of the third session of the 32nd Synod of the Diocese of Lagos at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Onikan, Lagos... yesterday PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

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Omirin faults Fayose’s suit against impeachment

FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has been asked to strike out the suit seeking to stop the impeachment move against Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The request was contained in a notice of objection by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adewale Omirin, challenging, among others, the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit filed for Fayose by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Ekiti House of Assembly.

The plaintiffs in the suit include Dele Olugbemi, Ajibola Samuel Oyedele, Israel Olowo, Alex Ade Ojo, Adeyinka Adeloye, Adunni Modupe Olayinka and Ayoka Fatunmbi.

The defendants are the Inspector General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Omirin and 18 other All Progressives Congress (APC) members

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•Judge: I didn’t stop impeachment From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

of the Ekiti House.

Justice Evoh Chukwu had, on April 23, after hearing an ex-parte application by the plaintiffs, directing Ominrin and the 22 other defendants to appear in court to show cause why the court should not grant an order of interim injunction restraining them from going ahead with the plan to remove the governor and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola.

When the case came up yesterday, only Omirin (the second defendant) and the Clerk of the House (listed as the 21st defendant) were represented.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ahmed Raji, asked the court to proceed to grant

the order of interim injunction since none of the defendants has filed any counter-affidavit, showing cause why his clients’ prayers for injunctions should not been granted.

He argued that the defendants had disobeyed the order directing them to do so.

Omirin’s lawyer Terrence Vembe told the court that his client was not bound to obey the court’s order made on April 23 because the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Vembe said his client was not entitled to file such counter-affidavit since he was challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

He informed the court

that his client has filed a notice of preliminary objection based on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case because leave of the court was not sought as provided for in Section 97 of Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act. Lawyer representing the Clerk of the House of Assembly D. Owolabi sought for time to file his counteraffidavit.

After adjourning the case till May 21, Justice Chukwu said contrary to the impression created in the media after the April 23 proceedings, he did not make any restraining order on April 23.

He, however, said ordinarily, by the virtue of a previous Supreme Court judgment, parties ought not to take any further step concerning the subject of a case once the case is in court.

NMA decries attack on doctors, nurses in Ekiti

ORRIED by what it called “ i n c e s s a n t harassment and attacks on doctors and health workers”, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ekiti State has called on security agencies to save its members.

The state NMA Chairman, Dr. John Akinbote, who raised the alarm at a briefing yesterday condemned recent attacks on health professionals in some government-owned hospitals.

Some people believed to be hoodlums and drivers’ unions members last week beat up a doctor in Efon Alaaye in Efon Local Government Area.

A nurse was beaten and a doctor threatened in Aramoko, Ekiti West Local Government Area.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

Some drivers’ union members beat up the doctor at Efon for allegedly failing to attend to their injured colleague at the town’s general hospital.

Akinbote, who described doctors and health workers as “endangered species”, warned against further attacks on them.

The NMA boss lamented that health workers were constantly being abused by families of patients and

transport unions members without provocation.

He said: “Some relatives recently beat a nurse in General Hospital, Aramoko, for not sitting with a patient.

“They also threatened to beat the doctor on duty who started begging them to spare his life.

“The doctor is still receiving threat messages for reporting the matter.

“Also at General Hospital in Aramoko, members of National Union of Road Transport Workers threat-

ened to beat up a doctor.

“We are fast becoming an endangered species.

“We, therefore, urgently call on the government and law enforcement agencies to curtail the attack and harassment of our members.”

The NMA called on the government to expedite action on the implementation of the adjusted revised Consolidated Medical Salary Scale Circular issued by the Federal Government since January 1, last year.

Catholic priest kidnapped in Kogi From James Azania, Lokoja

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PRIEST, Rev Innocent Umor, has been kidnapped by gunmen in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

It was gathered that five gunmen carried out the operation.

The gunmen called the Catholic Bishop of Idah Diocese, Bishop Anthony Adaji, using the victim’s phone. They demanded N4 million for his release.

Police spokesman Collins Adebayo could not give further details.

Oyo tribunal to hear 36 petitions From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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HE Election Petitions Tribunal in Oyo State held its maiden sitting yesterday.

The Chairman, Justice J.G Abunsaga, said the tribunal received 36 petitions on the National and House of Assembly elections.

At its sitting in Ibadan, the state capital yesterday, Justice Abunsaga said the tribunal will conclude hearing of the petitions within 180 days as stipulated in the constitution.

Other members of the tribunal are Justices G.C Nnamani and A.N Suleiman.

The breakdown of the petitions showed that two are on senatorial elections; 10 on the House of Representatives.

The remaining 24 are for the House of Assembly election.

The tribunal handling petitions on the governorship election is yet to start sitting.

Justice Abundaga sought the support of counsel handling briefs for petitioners.

He said their cooperation would determine the success of the tribunal.

The chairman also emphasised that the tribunal would not tolerate any extra adjournment.

His said: “We shall be firm on all issues. Election petition tribunal is time-bound.

“Every petition filed must be heard and dispensed within the 180 days stipulated by the constitution.”

Richard Ogunwole, who spoke on behalf of other counsel, assured of their cooperation, declaring that the counsel equally attach importance to the need to work within stipulated period.

The senior lawyer, in return, sought the assistance of the tribunal to impress it on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) on the need for the release of documents required by counsel.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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Police bust three-man gang

Murder: Suspect gets bail

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THREE-MAN carsnatching gang has been smashed by the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Amuche Chukwuemeka, 23; Blessing Idotie, 26, and Enwelikwu Santos Peter, 25, were caught after a February 4 operation at De Heaven Club on 1st Avenue, Festac, Lagos about 9.28pm.

They were said to have snatched Anthony Okeke’s Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked AKD 91 AN. “As he went to urinate, the three suspects sighted him and waited for him to come back to his vehicle. As he made to enter the vehicle, one of the suspects, Chukwuemeka, blocked him, pointed a gun at him and ordered him to cooperate if he did not want to be shot dead. The two others entered with the man. The man sat between Idotie and Peter while Chukwuemeka took over the steering and headed to Second Rainbow, Festac Town. They gave the man N1000 for transport after collecting all his money and pushed him out. They also collected two ATM cards with their pin numbers,” said a police source.

On their way to Onitsha, in Anambra State, the vehicle developed a fault on the Sagamu/ Benin Express road. To get money to repair the vehicle, they were said to have used their victim’s ATM card to withdraw N20,000 in IjebuOde, Ogun State.

Luck ran out for the suspects

•From left: Chukwuemeka; Idotie and Peter...yesterday

By Ebele Boniface

when some soldiers flagged them down for routine checks and found a pistol on them.

A relation of Okeke, who was aware that the vehicle was snatched, sighted it with the soldiers on his way to Onitsha and informed him.

When the suspects could not explain how they came about the SUV, they were taken to Ijebu Ode Police Station from where they were transferred to Eleweran Police Headquarters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Chukwuemeka, who hails from Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, said he is a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State

Bus conductor docked for ‘robbing’ motorist

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20-YEAR-OLD bus conductor, Taiye Taiwo, was yesterday arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly robbing a female motorist, Mrs Vera Denedo of N12, 000 cash and her mobile phone.

Taiwo denied the charge.

Prosecuting police Inspector Livinus Okeke told the court that the conductor committed the offence with others at large, on April 20 at UBA Roundabout on the Marina in Lagos.

He said the accused robbed Mrs Denedo in the traffic.

Okeke said: “The accused and his accomplices took advantage of the traffic to steal from the complainant, who came to Lagos Island for a business transaction. Her LG mobile phone worth N6, 000 and N12, 000 were stolen by Taiwo and others.

“Taiwo, however, ran out of luck when a few days later, the complainant who was driving on the road spotted the accused loitering in the area. At 7.30 a.m. on April 27, the complainant spotted the accused at the same area she was robbed. She immediately alerted the police who apprehended the accused.”

The offence, Okeke said, contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Magistrate L.A. Owolabi granted the accused N10, 000 bail with a surety in the like sum.

He adjourned the case to May 5.

Businessman ‘swindles’ accountant of N1.3m

By Precious Igbonwelundu

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43-YEAR-OLD businessman, Lamidi Moruf was yesterday at a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos charged with defrauding an accountant of N1.3 million.

He pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chidi Okoye told the court that Moruf committed the offence in February at the Lagos Island Branch of Zenith Bank on Campbell Street.

He said the accused induced Mr Olushola Sonaike, an accountant, to part with N1.3 million under the guise of helping him to buy a second-hand Toyota Corolla car from the Republic of Benin.

Okoye said Moruf failed to buy the car after receiving the money. He did not also refund the money.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Sections 285 (1) and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Sonaike was in court as witness.

Chief Magistrate A.O. Awogboro granted Moruf N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case till June 2.

capital, studying Electrical/ Electronic Engineering.

He said: “My mother is in Lagos, while father stays in Abuja. It is 15 years now my parents divorced and we are two boys and one girl. I live in Festac with my mother at 1st Avenue H Close and she is a teacher. I am the gang leader.”

He added: “Three of us sat down at Premier Hotel, Maza Maza and decided to snatch a car. I provided the gun that I bought from a cultist named Cigairo. I told him that if he gave me a gun, I would join his cult Buccaneers. I paid him N15,000 to rent the gun. We went to Heaven Club, sat down opposite the hotel and observed the man. We did not know the man before. He

parked and went to urinate.

When he came back, I pointed the gun at him. Peter pushed him inside the car. We collected N5000 plus two ATM cards and phones and later gave him N1000 to find his way while we proceeded to the East with the jeep. We were arrested by soldiers when our vehicle developed fault along Ijebu-Ode road. We were transferred to Ijebu Ode. “Later, we were moved to Eleweran and Festac Division.

I fainted because they promised us that we would not be taken to Lagos SARS. I became a robber as a result of efforts to get money and continue my education as my father abandoned us.”

Idotie, who hails from

Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said: “It was Chukwuemeka who handed his gun to me when he took over the steering. I knew Peter as a footballer.

I put the victim between myself and Peter.

The third suspect, Peter, said, “I am from Kwale in Ndokwa South of Delta State.

I play football. My father is late and we are four girls and a boy. I am the only son. We live in a one-room apartment and flood used to disturb us and we could not look for another room because of financial incapacitation. Even, we did not have enough money to feed. My sisters that are married are not finding life easy and they are suffering also. I am the fourth in my family.

Hit-and-run driver kills man

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MAN was killed by a hit-and-run commercial bus driver at Sanya Bus Stop on OshodiApapa Expressway in Lagos.

The victim had alighted from another bus on a wrong way and wanted to cross the road.

Passersby tried to save him but other motorists refused to stop to convey him to hospital.

An eyewitness told The Nation: “The man alighted from the bus on the wrong way and immediately he wanted to cross the road, another bus

By Ibrahim Adam

on the right lane from behind knocked him down.

“He was hit badly because blood was coming out from his mouth, nose and ears. All attempts to make motorists come to his rescue failed before he died.”

Another witness said: “The man was trying to cross the road when the accident happened. The government should try to stop this act of bus passing wrong way because many lives have been lost.

“We have witnessed a

number of death cases along this route all in the name of wrong way, it’s getting too much. Nigerians should also stop the habit of not trying to help at the scene of rescue. If we are talking about change, this is how to change situations for better.”

A cell phone was found on the deceased and following a phone call, it was discovered that he left Ajah few hours before the accident.

His remains have been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) morgue in Ikeja.

Hearing stalled in Lagos govt, Oritsajefor case

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EARING in a suit brought by the Pastor Ayo Oritsajefor-led Word of Life Bible Church (WLBC) against the Lagos State Government could not go on yesterday.

Reason: representatives of the government were absent at the Lagos High Court in Igbosere, where the matter is being heard.

The church took the government to court to forestall moves to demolish or dispossess it of its property at Plot 21E, Abdulrahman Okene Close on Victoria Island Annex.

Defendants in the suit before Justice Deborah Oluwayemi are AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice; Ministry of Physical Planning; Lagos Building Control Agency, and Lagos Physical Planning Permit Authority.

Although the matter was

By Precious Igbonwelundu

for Case Management Conference (CMC) yesterday, none of the defendants was present in court.

The claimant’s counsel Kayode Bankole expressed displeasure with the development, adding that he was yet to be served with the defendant’s statement of defence.

The court adjourned the case to June 15 for CMC. In its amended statement of claim filed by its lawyer, Bankole, the church is praying the court for an order of perpetual injunction against the defendants to without delay, issue all necessary building development permits, since it has fulfilled all necessary steps including payment of the required fees.

It further prayed for an order compelling the government to refund the N3.06 mil-

lion, which it paid in excess for the issuance of building development permit.

The church stated that in 2003, it acquired the land with Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) number 68/68/199AR dated November 1991, without any disturbance from the defendants.

It averred that its application for building plan approval was received and assessed for payment which it promptly did.

In March 2013, the claimant said, it received a letter from the defendants, asking for certain documents to facilitate approval of building plan and payment of N4.5 million.

It added that while waiting for the approval, the defendants posted another demolition notice on its fence, and without waiting for the expiration of the notice, demolished the building.

N Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday granted bail to a suspect, Akorede Hammed.

Senior Magistrate, Mr A.O. Komolafe, who granted the accused bail, chided the police for not doing their job “satisfactorily and effectively’’.

The magistrate’s anger followed his discovery that the accused was not the accused as alleged by the police.

“This is not how to do the right job; and I do not see the need to punish or remand an innocent man who is just a victim of circumstance.

“This is only a case of an alibi, would you say because the ‘culprit’ is on the run so you should arraign another in his place?”

The Investigating Police Officer, Corporal Felix Osogu, earlier told the court that the main accused was on the run and he was only following orders of his superior officer to arraign Hammed.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Elizabeth Ekuma, told the court that Hammed, a bus driver, was given a vehicle to supervise and remit an agreed amount to the owner, the complainant (Joseph Emmanuel).

She explained that on February 28 at Igbe Road in Ikorodu, the corpse of one Azeez Idowu was found inside the said vehicle which had been abandoned.

“Hammed had given the vehicle to his friend, one Sunday, to use and remit a token of N4, 000 to him.

“But he failed to do so as the vehicle was found `abandoned’ in Ikorodu with a corpse inside it the following day.”

The accused, 25, a bus driver, is being tried for murder and conspiracy.

Hammed pleaded not guilty.

He was granted N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

The case has been adjourned till June 8.

Two sales’ reps charged with N10.02m theft

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WO sales’ representatives yesterday appeared before a Surulere Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing about 250 cartons of drugs worth N10.02 million from Grace Drugs and Health Care Ltd. They are Frank Edeaghe, 39, and Omotola Hassan, 31.

Prosecuting Sergeant Jimah Iseghede told the court that the accused committed the offence at the drug store, on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street in Surulere between March 2 and April 12.

Iseghede said the complainant, Grace Drugs and Health Care Ltd., discovered that several cartons of drugs were missing during an audit.

Iseghede said the offence contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate A.F. Adeeyo granted the accused N500, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

He adjourned the case till May 21.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Commercial banks are not manufacturing-friendly as their interest rates are usually very high; therefore, commercial banks remain a major challenge to the sector. Even the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) framework, which pegs interest rate at nine per cent, only finances machinery acquisition; it does not cater for working capital.

-MAN President, Dr Frank Jacobs

• From left: General Manager/Head, Listings Sales and Retention, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs Taba Peterside; Executive Director, Wema Bank Plc, Mrs. Folake Sanu; Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Managing Director, Wema Bank Plc, Mr Segun Oloketuyi; Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo; Executive Director, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Ademola Adebise and Head, Main Board, NSE, Mr. Tony Ibeziako at the Closing Gong Ceremony in commemoration of Wema Bank’s 70th Anniversary at the NSE in Lagos .... yesterday.

Govt reviews sanitation policy From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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HE Federal Govern ment has begun the review of the National Environmental Sanitation policy, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, has said.

Mrs. Mallam, in a statement by the Deputy Director (Press), Bem Goong, said the review was imperative because some information contained in the NES policy, which was developed and inaugurated 10 years ago, have fallen short of international best practices and are inhibiting sound public health.

She spoke in Abuja during the inauguration of an InterMinisterial Committee on NES. She said: “With the current trend of developmental challenges and advent of new areas of sanitation practice, it is absolutely imperative for Nigeria to review the existing NES policy in order to comply with international best practices and also to harmonise grey areas that are of concern to stakeholders for the overall maintenance of sound public health.

“The ministry is in the process of reviewing these documents to re-strategise on all goals and implement plans for National Environmental Sanitation.”

Mallam said it was sad that environmental sanitation across the country had been relegated to the background, and stressed that many families hardly comply whenever it was time for the regular monthly sanitation as observed in many states.

She said the cross cutting dimension of environmental sanitation issues, and the magnitude of its problems, call for collective responsibility for Nigeria.

Mrs Mallam said it was against this background that the existing membership of the standing inter-ministerial committee for National Environmental Sanitation Day is being broadened to incorporate more stakeholders.

‘Minister lacks power to grant duty waivers’

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HE House of Repre sentatives yesterday said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina lacked the power under Nigeria’s constitution to allocate rice import or production quota to any company and then waive duties.

The lower legislative chmber argued that the revenue lost to waivers is for the entire federation which consists of the three tiers of governmen.

At the commencement of an investigative hearing of the Leo Ogor-led ad hoc Committee on Rice Import Quota and Duty Payments yesterday, the lawmakers were told how the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development approved waivers for some categories of rice millers and traders without due process.

Chairman of the Committee said: “It is embarrassing not to implement government policy after six months.

“Letter was sent to Customs in July and approval did not come until December. That is not good for a government

• Reps seek review of rice policy From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

that intend to grow local capacity.

“It is the duty of this Committee to see to it that this rice policy achieved its purpose because importers took advantage of dichotomy on duty between brown rice and polished rice to undermine the policy.

“We have to invite the Minister of Agriculture on where he derives power to grant waivers. The minister doesn’t have the powers to allocate rice import or production quota to any company and then waive duties because the corresponding revenue involved is for the entire federation which consists of the three tiers of government.”

In the light of this, the lawmakers have called for the review of Federal Government’s 2014-2017 fiscal measures on rice.

The lawmakers said the policy that was intended to

create consumption sufficiency as well as develop domestic rice production has been exposed to manipulation by industry players.

The Federal Governemnt’s indifferent attitude to the policy gave room for the manipulation of the policy, the lawmakers said.

Consequently, the Ministers of Finance, Dr Ngozi Oknojo-Nweala and Dr. Adesina have been summoned to explain their roles in the manipulation of the rice policy.

Adesina was to explain where he derived some powers he wielded over the policy.

The Committee was also informed how a government policy that was approved in July last year was not accompanied with requisite instruments for implementation untill six months after.

During the submission of Olams Farms Ltd, it was discovered that the company overshot its import quota and failed to pay N3. 6billion

as duty.

The company said it was willing to pay if that was the decision of governemnt.

On the other hand, another major player, Popular Foods claimed that it imported 564,609 metric tons of rice rather than the approved 85.000 tons.

The company said it imported the excess in anticipation of the approval.

The Committee however asked the company if it was its duty to determine what should be allocated to it and others.

In response, the firm said no but argued that it was not satisfied with the 85,000 metric tonns it was eventually allocated.

While an indigenous company, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd also imported 10,000 tons of rice above its official allocation, Flourmill was commended for being law abiding by not importing rice before allocation approval was released.

In response to the Committee’s question, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) said the government policy was

Power supply now 2,979.06Mw

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HE Nigerian Electric ity Supply Industry (NESI) yesterday recorded a marginal increase, as energy sent out by the Transmission Company Nigeria (TCN) hit 2,893.7 megawatts (MW) on Saturday from its 2,834.30Mw supply on April 26.

This resulted in an increase of 56.4Mw in the electricity market, said the Ministry of Power in its power statistics.

In the period under review, the electricity market recorded 68.84Mw stranded power the TCN could only evacuate 2,979.06MW out of the 3,042.90Mw which the Electricity Generation Companies (Gencos) produced.

The ministry noted that the

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

market reached a peak power production of 2,893.7Mw which was an anomaly as energy generation was higher than peak energy.

It would be recalled that having failed to meet a target of 5,000Mw last year, the ministry early this year increased its 2015 power generation target to 6,000MW, next year’s to 10,000 and pegged that of 2017 at 12,000Mw. Although the administration winds down in 23 days time, the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo said there exists a 5,500Mw generation capacity in the mar-

ket, especially with the commissioning of new power plants this year.

In reality, the NESI is yet to actually maintain an average of 4,000Mw power supply steadily in a week.

The highest peak power generation recorded in the market so far was the 4,517.6 Mw of December 23, 2012.

The prolonged challenges in the market have been shortage of gas supply owing to frequent vandalism of the gas pipelines and inadequate water for the hydro power plants in dry season.

According to the chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, this has affected revenue generation

and metering in the industry.

He said: “Two things are holding back aggressive metering : financing and quantity of power. If you are selling 60,000Mw you have more money to finance metering. But if you are because of pipeline vandalisation and others we are selling 3,000Mw, then you have less revenue for metering.

“Let’s be realistic, if we are generating 3,500 or 4,000, there is no way ...we don’t have adequate power for reasons you know. Some of them gas. We are still building the power plants. So even if, you have 6,000 Mw you will not still have 100 percent power supply. “

approved in July 2014 but back dated to June.

According to Customs, allocation and beneficiaries of the policy were not sent to it till December 2014 despite several entreaties to the Finance and Agriculture Ministries.

NCS explained that the new policy created too much confusion as it opened avenues for manipulation by investors.

As a result of the lacuna created by the confusion and lack of quota allocation, NCS resorted to corporate indemnity for the rice millers and traders, while those found to have exceeded their quota would have to pay duty on imports above their official allocation.

Hearing continues today.

Brent crude rises above $67 per barrel

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HE price of oil rose to $67 a barrel yesterday from $64 due to expectations that the crude supply glut would end soon.

Earlier on Friday, oil services firm, Baker Hughes Inc., said prices might further rise due to the number of U.S. active rigs that had fallen for a record 21 weeks in a row.

It would be recalled that Nigeria’s 2015 budget was hinged on $53 per barrel.

Brent crude was up 56 cents at $67.02 a barrel after hitting a 2015 peak of $67.10, while the U.S. crude CLc1 gained 22 cents to hit $59.37.

The U.S. benchmark hit its highest this year at $59.90 on May 1.

Brent has rallied more than 40 per cent from a near six-year low of $45.19 in January.

The collapse in 2014 was due to ample supply and the refusal by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut output.

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Importers may lose N10b goods over N20b duty default

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EVEN rice importers may lose over N10 billion goods for non-payment of N20 billion duty. They allegedly abused their quota.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), it was learnt, may seize their goods, following its inability to recover the cash.

The deadline for them to pay up has since expired.

Sources close to the Federal Ministry of Finance told The Nation that instead of looking for ways to pay, they besieged the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s office last week, to ask for waivers.

It could not be ascertained if the minister has the power to grant

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda MaritimeCorrespondent

waivers. An importer complained of his inability to pay. A source alleged that some of the importers may delay payment until President-elect Muhammadu Buhari is swornin on May 29.

But Customs is insisting that it has President Goodluck Jonathan’s nod to recover the money.

An official of one of the companies, who does not want to be named, said they imported the rice to help Nigerians.

“Our effort was to ensure that Nigerians don’t go hungry, but rather than this gesture being recognised and compensated, the Ni-

geria Customs is busy, breathing down on our necks, asking us to pay.

“We have invested heavily. We ought to be encouraged. Even those the government granted waivers didn’t do half of what we did,’’ he said.

He confirmed that some of them had been given waivers, but provided no proof to buttress his claim.

Waiver, he claimed, was granted to some of them, naming Olam Nigeria Ltd. “Given OLAM Nigeria’s massive rice production and milling investments in Nigeria, being the largest single investor in the sub-sector over the last two years with investments over $120 million, the Min-

istry was willing to reduce the amount owed by 50 percent to 54,000 metric tonnes (MT) to be applied to this year’s allocations.

“Olam’s existing rice production and processing operations and future investment plans have been assessed against the aforementioned criteria and an import quota of 246,000 has been allocated to Olam as a major rice investor for the period, April 2015 to March 2016. This volume takes into account the adjustment for the 54,000MT. “Olam qualifies for a 10 per cent duty and 20 per cent levy waiver allocation,” the official said.

The Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Wale Adeniyi, however, said the position of the Customs, in collecting the duty had not changed, stressing that management would collect the duty in the absence of which it would sanction the importers.

“We are committed to a recovery of the duty payable on excess importation of rice. We have the government’s backing on this.The

President (Goodluck Jonathan) has given us the mandate to recover fully the duty on excess importation on rice and management has no reason whatsoever to shirk its responsibility in this regard.

“It is revenue that is due from any excess importation and we have President Jonathan’s backing to make this recovery. So, despite their foot dragging, they cannot escape paying it,” Adeniyi said.

Asked what the Customs Service would do, should the rice importers remain adamant, the image maker stressed that the service has enough power to recover the duty.

“Some of these importers still import. They are corporate bodies.

So, they have indemnities which we can tap into. We have our cards; and we can very much play it effectively.

“Some of them still have high volumes of imports which they have not started discharging. We may not allow them to discharge.

And even the ones that have discharged; we may not allow them to leave the port, until they meet their obligation,” Adeniyi said.

NSC boss to make port attractive

T • From right: Former President Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) Capt Adejimi Adu; Olopoenia and Financial Secretary Mr Tajudeen Alao at stakeholders’ meeting in Apapa, Lagos. PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Mariners to Buhari: promote ship repairs, dry docking

T

HE Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to promote indigenous ship repairs and dry docking.

Its President, Captain Ade Olopoenia, told The Nation that it is lamentable Nigeria has no functional ship repairs and dry docking firms.

Nigeria, he said, accounts for over 70 per cent of ships coming to Africa, adding that no fewer than 5,400 vessels called at the nation’s seaports last year. With modern repairs facilities, the sector would rake in billions of naira and create jobs.

He said most of the vessels operating on Nigerian waters go to neighbouring countries for dry docking and other routine maintenance, noting that this is at a huge financial loss to the country.

“This significant maritime presence requires that ship repairs with dry docks of varying capacities be established to cope with the maintenance requirement of these vessels.

“Classification society rules and the good maintenance of ships requires that ships be dry docked every 30 months on the average for routine surveys. Special surveys are required at every alternative docking that is once in three years. As the age of a vessel increases, so does the amount of repair work it needed.

“Aside from routine docking, vessels need to come to propeller and ship hull, or damaged caused by ropes or debris, and also mechanical breakdown.

“Sadly, the ship repairs industry in Nigeria is underdeveloped and its

potential untapped. This is largely because the government has not paid meaningful attention to this sector of the economy.

“As a result of the shortage of adequate ship repair facilities, most of the vessels operating in Nigeria waters proceed to neighbouring countries for scheduled dry docking and other routine maintenance works. This is at huge financial loss to the country, while at the same time denying employment opportunities to Nigerians.’’

To reduce the large number of containers and tankers on the Apapa, Lagos roads, the group urged Buhari to give priority to the inland water transportation and provide the enabling environment for the private sector in floating the Nigerian National Shipping Lines.

Olopoenia said while his group supports the move to establish a new national shipping line, he added that the government should support the private sector by providing enabling environment.

“For sometime, there have been calls for the establishment of a national shipping line by the Federal Government along the lines of the liquidated Nigerian National Shipping Lines (NNSL).

“There is sound logic in having a national line bearing in mind the level of shipping activities in Nigeria, which is dominated exclusively by foreign shipping companies.

“While we support this call, the association does not believe such shipping lines should be owned by the government.

“Rather, the government should give support to the private sector by way of financial guarantee to cred-

ible consortium of Nigerian ship owners.

“We can take a cue from the Ethiopian Shipping Line which is the only viable shipping enterprise running in the African continent at the moment.

“It will also ensure that identified challenges are addressed satisfactorily and, ultimately, activities in the maritime sector will adhere to the requirement of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) convention and other international treaties.”Olopoenia said.

He urged the in-coming government to replicate the type of professionalism that has brought about some peace and safety in the aviation industry to the maritime sector.

“A similar process is necessary in the maritime sector that will require core maritime professionals to be brought on board to head the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transport,”he added.

On the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), the group’s chief lamented that more than 10 years after the law was enacted, its objectives were yet to be achieved. Consequently, it called for a review of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, noting that granting of waivers to foreign ships is inimical to the economy.

The group also urged the government to put in place a legal framework that would allow the Shipper’ Council to carry out its role as port commercial regulator.

On the plan to build the group’s permanent secretariat, Olopoenia said the group has acquired some plots of land on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway for that purpose.

HE Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is set to make the seaports attractive, The Nation has learnt.

Its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, it was gathered, is not happy that the ports have lost their comparative advantage in terms of cost and others to other ports, especially in cargo clearance.

Bello, sources close to the Federal Ministry of Transport said, is determined to ensure that the country recoups its the loss, and restore stakeholders’ confidence in the seaports.

The problem came about before the Federal Government appointed the NSC as an economic regulator, after the ports were concessioned.

Sources said this was responsible for the legal tussle the Council is fighting and the inability of Nigerians to reap the full benefits of the port reform programme of the government.

A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Transport who craved anonymity said after the implementation of the Federal Government’s port reform programme, which led to the concessioning of port terminals, the importers and other stakeholders noted a vacuum, the absence of an economic regulator to act as a referee.

This vacuum, the official said, made it difficult for Nigerians to

enjoy the gains of the programme “The inefficiency in the procedures and operations of agencies and port users is adversely affecting and undermining Nigeria’s competitive advantage in international trade, which Bello is now set out to correct.

The officinal said the effective regulation being put in place by Bello requires much more than just competent economic and financial analysis, but must also being able to manage complex interaction with the regulated firms, consumers, politicians, courts, the media and other interests.

“The benefits of a regulated port industry, which Hassan Bello is trying to establish at NSC, would lead to improved revenue generation, infrastructural development, creation of efficient market, reduction of cost of business and improved Global Competitive Index and consequent attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” the official said.

A senior official of the council, who does not want his name in print, said the “regulator needs to provide a level playing field amongst competitors as the regulators need to be independent, transparent, legitimate and credible,” adding that the global competiveness of Nigerian ports has a major role to play in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment.

Sifax gets new image maker

T

HE Sifax Group, one of the Africa’s fastest growing multinational corporations with diverse interests in maritime, haulage and logistics, aviation, oil and gas and hospitality, has appointed Mr Akande Olumuyiwa as its new Corporate Affairs Manager.

The Executive Director Administration of the organisation Dr Phil Nonyeh Ofulue made the announcement in Lagos.

The promotion followed the deployment of former Head, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Mr Oliver Omajuwa, as General Manager, Off-Dock Terminal of the company.

Akande, Ofulue said, is one of the best officers of the company and has been in the corporate affairs department of the company for some years.

• Olumuyiwa

The new image maker, it was learnt, had worked with Omajuwa, and deputised for himon several occasions, a position that afforded him an opportunity to understand the workings of the company.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

18

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

Airlines ‘huge debts’ worry NAMA chief N

IGERIAN Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Managing Director Ibrahim Abdulsalam is worried over what he calls “the huge domestic airlines’debts”.

Though he did not give the figures, he said NAMA has adopted measures to recover the cash. These include reconciliation of the amount owed by each debtor-airline and the appointment of a consultant to assist in recovering the money.

In an interview last weekend, he said appointing a consultant had become necessary because NAMA needs the money to execute some projects, such as maintenance of its air navigation equipment, at airports nationwide.

He ruled out grounding the debtor-airlines, adding that it was better to allow them remain operational to enable them pay.

Abdulsalam said: “When they are not in business, where will they have the money to offset their debts?”

NAMA, he said, also considered the inconvenience of such action on

Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

travellers, who would have prepaid for their flights and made other arrangements at their destinations.

The problem is better resolved through dialogue, rather than applying the big stick, he said, adding: “A consultant is being considered to handle the reconciliation of the debts owed NAMA by Arik Air. However, there is a hitch in this because the said consultant is the same person that handles Arik’s business.The question arising therefrom is, ‘If finally given the nod by the Ministry of Aviation to carry out the reconciliation of Arik debts with NAMA, will the consultant not compromise his job in favour of Arik?’

Abdulsalam went on: “This is why some industry watchers prefer the engagement of an independent accounting/financial consultant to do the job instead of the one that is working for Arik Air. “The second approach being considered by NAMA Management is to hold a reconciliation meeting

between the agency and the umbrella body of all the local airlines - Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) - to look at the debt profiles of member-airlines to fast-track the recovery of their historical and overlapping debts. Arik Air is not a member of AON.” He also spoke of NAMA’s plans by the airspace agency to fix 19 air navigation equipment at airports nationwide which were recently flight-checked by the Dakar-based French company, ASECNA. Abdulsalam said ASCENA was invited to carry out some tests on the equipment to end speculations that some of them were not functioning effectively.

The NAMA boss said: “We are trying to reposition our services to enhance the quality of services to airlines. All our navigational equipment are working well and airlines have confirmed the workability of the systems. That is one of the reasons we invited ASECNA to calibrate the equipment. The body is competent enough to check the effectiveness of the equipment.”

The NAMA chief said the agency

had concluded plans to deploy a new system of air traffic management called multilateration in the Gulf of Guinea region as discussions were ongoing to get approval with relevant bodies for safe-flight operations in the area.

The NAMA boss said the controller pilot communication link has improved in the Nigerian airspace to cover the oceanic and Niger Delta regions where many helicopters operate.

He also said new air routes have been established to save flight time and reduce consumption of aviation fuel for airlines.

The new air routes, he said, were part implementation of the new concept christened performance-based navigation, for which the agency has trained over 40 air traffic controllers.

He said: “We have started the implementation of performance based navigation with the training of over 40 air traffic controllers. Another 40 will resume training soon to keep in touch with the new technology which is saving flight time and fuel

Firm plans 1.5m kg of cargo overhaul FIRM Primeport Logistics is set to deepen its market share in the cargo clearing business at Port Harcourt International Airport by hauling at least 1.5 million kilos of cargo this year.

The firm, which hauled 500,000 kilos of cargo last year, is optimistic of achieving its target because of its structures and growing customer base.

Its Managing Director, Femi Adewunmi, told reporters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital that the firm is set to capitalise on its established structures to explore opportunities within the local environment, having created formidable partnerships with some foreign freight forwarders already.

“As part of our strategies to leverage on the huge potential in this market, we will be introducing freight forward software to process our import documents and by extension boost efficiency of our services, “ Adewunmi said.

He said his firm would also boost its capacity to enable it meet up with the set target.

Cargo clearing at Port Harcourt International Airport has been tipped by industry watchers as a goldmine worth N5 billion with only very few informal operators handling the 17.5 million kilos of cargo yearly imported into the air-

A

•From right: Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam; Director, Safety Electronics & Engineering Services, Emma Anasi and Director of Operations, Segun Ogunmola, at a press conference unveiling their new operations for the airlines at NAMA Headquarters, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

‘Why domestic air cargo growth is slow’

T

HE Executive Vice President, Greater Washington Limited (GWL), Mr Owolabi Awosan, has identified the absence of dedicated aircraft for domestic air cargo as a major problem in Nigeria.

Describing the domestic air cargo market as huge, Awosan said many Nigerians were yet to tap into opportunities in the business because they see air cargo as expensive.

In an interview in Lagos, he urged operators in the logistic and supply chain to acquire big aircraft with huge compartments in its under belly to ferry cargoes as it is done in developed countries.

He called on the government to review the multiple entry point granted foreign airlines which fly cargo into Nigeria, insisting that if a single entry point policy is in place, Nigerian cargo operators

will distribute the cargo flown in by the foreign carriers.

He said over 50 per cent of cargoes coming into Nigeria are carried by international airlines.

He explained that unlike on the international routes where dedicated aircraft is used for air cargo, the scenario is different on the domestic route where same aircraft is used to fly passengers and cargo.

He said the absence of big cargo planes on domestic routes is limiting the growth of air cargo as the operators cannot air lift large size cargo across the country, which would save time of freight and enhance business operations for clients.

He bemoaned the low level of awareness in domestic air cargo as another challenge operators were grappling with.

He pointed out that with this ongoing awareness, Nigeria will

soon discover that air cargo logistics is relatively cheaper, faster and safer, compared to transporting cargo by any other means of transportation.

The executive vice president argued that with air cargo logistics, the pilfering of cargo often experienced in road transport is eliminated, adding that integrity remains the bedrock of the business.

On the possibility of customers tracking their air cargo, Awosan said it could be done using the company’s online real time platform.

According to him, “Through our ‘online real time’ solution which caters to tracking of consignments, incident reporting and delivery mandates; we can keep track of goods sent through our channels from their point of origin to destination which helps to minimise associated supply chain risks.”

consumption.

“The new air routes are Lagos to Conakry, Abuja to Nairobi, Abuja to Algeria, Cameroon to Lagos as well as Accra to Central African Republic.”

He said the agency would not relent in the training of its technical personnel, as more air traffic controllers and engineers were being trained both at home and abroad to enhance their capacity.

Abdulsalam added: “The Kano Safe Tower Project has been completed.

Under this project, air traffic controllers will move into a new control tower in Kano.

“We have advanced further with the provision of air traffic services at new airports including Dutse, Kebbi and Bauchi airports.

“We are installing new air navigation equipment at six airports, the equipment are currently undergoing factory acceptance.”

He listed the challenges confronting the airspace agency to include inadequate funds and resolution of labour-related matters.

port.

However, despite these immense opportunities, stakeholders in the cargo clearing section of the airport have been plagued with series of challenges such as lack of communication tools, ineffective communication.

Last week, the firm distributed 25 new walkie talkies to stakeholders in the cargo section of the airport.

It said it is optimistic that the communication gadgets will not only speed up cargo clearing at the airport by easing some bureaucracy but should also boost efficient service delivery through the cargo clearing value chain in the airport.

On his firm’s reason for the gesture, Adewunmi narrated that after a careful study of the challenges bedeviling the smooth flow of cargo clearing at the airport, it was discovered that the enormous time consumed in tallying cargo at the airport needed to be dwarfed.

“The first process in the clearing process is tallying. Unfortunately this consumes so much time; sometimes as much as 24 hours due to ineffective communication and lack of communication tools amongst the Stakeholders,” the Managing Director disclosed, adding that this setback prompted his firm to take up the challenge of providing the 25 new walking-talking to various stakeholders in the airport.

‘Aviation has huge potential’

T

HE Managing Director/ Chief Country Officer, Citibank, Nigeria Mr. Omar Hafeez, has described the potential in the aviation industry as enormous.

He said the opportunities are huge enough that they could generate huge revenue for the country if well harnessed.

Hafeez, who made this known in Lagos during an interactive session the bank, had with stakeholders in the industry, said the world is looking at Nigeria as a ground for veritable business, especially the stability in the political space.

According to him, the fact that the people of the country realise that their vote’s counts such giant feet is a veritable ground for business sustainability which the aviation industry can tap to its maximum.

He said: “We have seen

By Sina Fadare

infrastructural development that attracts such business.

“This is a new dawn when the people believe that their voices can be heard and their right protected and if given the condusive environment their business will strife.”

He explained that the bank is partnering with the aviation industry globally and serving 442 aviation clients globally across 72 countries.

“A lot of airlines that fly to Nigeria look for banks to finance their operation; we are available.

“When they are looking for premium and collections from these countries, we serve them better. We are bankers to majority of the airline that operates in Nigeria because we have the product and the expertise to serve them better,’’ he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

President’s sour grapes

Abandoned power projects •It is at once cheering and sober that contractors are scurrying back to site

P

OWER-starved Nigerians must find the news that contractors handling some major power projects in the country (who had abandoned them, in some cases for upward of two years), are returning to sites, quite cheering. Indeed, there is every cause for them to be happy, considering the pivotal place of power in the economy. But then, the cause of the sudden change of heart by the contractors gives cause for worry. According to the report, they are returning to site just because of the fear of the incoming Buhari administration. For the contractors, therefore, the fear of Buhari would appear to be the beginning of wisdom.

We do not find this amusing because contract award is serious business. Tenders are supposed to come from various contenders and the best of them is picked

‘All said, we need to build strong institutions, and not strong personalities. It is good that Buhari’s name invokes fear in the minds of people who might want to short-change the tax-payer; but it is better to have a situation where such people would be afraid of the system and the structures that ensure compliance with procedures or punish infractions without fear or favour’

after usually rigorous selection processes.

But what we find in many situations in the country is that, often, due process is jettisoned in the award of contracts, as cronies and relations of people in government are given jobs for which they lack the technical expertise and even financial capability.

The results are the many abandoned contracts that dot the country’s landscape, with huge sums of money gone down the drain. Some of these projects too may have followed that trajectory, but for the Buhari government that is set to take over from the incumbent on May 29. As in similar cases in the past, the contractors would later come up with requests for variation, which in some cases would more than double the original contract cost. Interestingly, many governments would gladly pay the revised costs because their officials are in cahoots with the contractors.

Abandonment of contracts is intolerable for any contract at all; it is even the more inhuman and indefensible in the muchneeded power sector where results were expected as early as yesterday. That these contractors had shunned various entreaties by the present government to return to sites, including threats by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, speaks volumes of the unholy friendship between many business interests in the country and the government.

But what do we expect in a situation where, for instance, the power sector firms are so close to government that both of them keep entertaining themselves with public funds. For instance, even after the

government had privatised the power firms, it keeps granting them loans while the firms, in turn, rubbed the back of the government and the ruling party with a hefty donation of N500million as campaign fund in the last elections.

Anyway, we welcome the contractors back to site, but we must say that we are unhappy that Buhari’s imminent coming on the stage is the motivation. As responsible corporate citizens, contractors who have been duly mobilised are expected to execute the contracts. That even those of them whose projects were delayed based on non-release of funds are also mobilising resources to go to site is indication that things can work in the country where the government decides to make them work. Where are those who were supposed to monitor the contracts in the first place? Were they compromised or intimidated by the closeness of the contractors to the government?

All said, we need to build strong institutions, and not strong personalities. It is good that Buhari’s name invokes fear in the minds of people who might want to short-change the tax-payer; but it is better to have a situation where such people would be afraid of the system and the structures that ensure compliance with procedures or punish infractions without fear or favour. As for the power projects’ contractors who had been duly mobilised, they should be made to account for every kobo they collected. And there should be no room for variations, except where the cause of delay is traced to non-release of funds or late release of same.

Spot on •An industrialist’s kick against incentives for exporting agricultural raw materials makes economic sense

D

IMEJI Owofemi, chief executive officer of Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc, has kicked against incentives for the export of agricultural raw materials. To foster local industrialisation — in which Mr. Owofemi is a key player — that makes economic common sense.

Speaking with the Punch newspaper, Mr. Owofemi decried the blanket incentive given non-oil exports, among which is 20 per cent subsidy, under the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), though now suspended.

That he rightly argued, ab initio, makes the “exporter” enjoy a 20 per cent lower cost profile. Should he now engage in trade round-tripping (export the raw materials to specific foreign factory to add value), the processed good comes back at a premium.

So, Nigeria buys back at a premium, what it virtually auctioned off on the cheap!

The result? Financially, a net-loss — and of course, local de-industrialisation: more blues for local manufacturers; and less jobs for the Nigerian worker. Now, how can a country make a policy that does nothing but eventually beggars it?

In fairness, non-oil raw materials are not restricted to agricultural produce alone.

They could also cover solid minerals mining and allied products. But in its implementation, agricultural raw materials dominate that segment of exports — perhaps because agriculture is the easier to process than mining? That grim reality hits local players hard — and further chronically cut job opportunities.

Hear Mr. Owofemi’s lament: “As a local manufacturer, I turn raw materials into finished products. I use 100,000 litres of diesel to power my generator every month and I pay staff salaries. The exporter does

not need a retinue of staff or warehouse.

Even though we enjoy 30 per cent subsidy on raw materials, the percentage has already been swallowed up by the cost of manufacturing in this environment.”

The grim result? Some 212 of Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc staff, according to the report, are out on “compulsory leave without pay” owing to the adverse business atmosphere. Multi-Trex is only one of hundreds, if not thousands, of struggling local industries which government policy continues to throttle. That must stop.

In fairness, however, this woe is only the segmented face of a harsh, misguided overall economic policy — of selling cheap your prime asset but buying the value-added “import” back at a premium, with devastating economic consequences.

It is the same misguided philosophy that inspired the so-called liberalisation by fuel importation. That was the Olusegun Obasanjo administration’s grand answer to the grand larceny in Nigeria’s petroleum downstream: since you cannot nail thieves embezzling money to fix local refineries, then export crude raw, outsource refining but import back the refined product. Does it not make more common sense to do local refining?

Years after that grant “wisdom”, the fierce argument continues on “fuel subsidy”! Meanwhile, the economy gets overheated, bordering on total collapse — if the “economy” is defined as a deepened local industrial base.

Yet, that basic thinking is nothing new.

Even before Nigeria got flag independence from Britain, adding value to agricultural raw materials was at the root of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s industrial policy.

That fired much of the Ojota, Ikeja, Ilupeju

and other industrial estates in coastal Lagos, fed by raw produce like rubber, cocoa and the like.

How such economic common sense became heresy over the years is just befuddling! And it is certainly an irony of monumental proportion that Segun Awolowo, Awo’s grandson, is mixed up in the present policy morass, as the chief executive officer of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC)!

On face value, even the most attractive of public policies need rigorous interrogation. It could indeed appear a short-term clinch but a long-term trap. Any policy not well thought-out, therefore, almost always comes back to haunt the polity and economy.

That is why Mr. Owofemi is right: the government must re-think incentives to export agricultural raw materials — before it completely denudes the local economy.

Such should be processed and consumed locally; and, if there is excess, export after adding value.

‘That is why Mr. Owofemi is right: the government must re-think incentives to export agricultural raw materials — before it completely denudes the local economy. Such should be processed and consumed locally; and, if there is excess, export after adding value’

S

IR: President Goodluck Jonathan appeared to have embraced his defeat until Thursday April 30. At the submission of the report of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization in the State House, he said, ‘’if you look at the result, the difference is just over two million votes. And if you look at the areas where it is perceived that PDP scored so low, PDP couldn’t have gotten those kinds of scores but the elections are over; we put the country first’’.

Paraphrase: My party remains the darling of majority of the electorate. The margin of votes that put my rival in the lead was unreal. I was cheated. The candidate of All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, did not swat me down by two million votes.

INEC contrived that outcome. Buhari won by favoritism and I lost to partiality.

It sounds familiar. It is an Orubebe echo from another voice.

President Goodluck Jonathan had played like he took his defeat in its stride. He had affected good sportsmanship. He called Buhari to congratulate him before the final vote tally was concluded.

A lot of Nigerians praised Jonathan for achieving the feat of acknowledging defeat. They thanked him for rejecting the temptation to explore other options that could have precipitated a national crisis. World leaders followed our lead and kissed Jonathan better. They sent him tributes. And he liked the appreciation of his stock. His re-election loss, rather than diminish him, burnished his profile. Who has ever had good luck enough to earn global acclaim for declining to pretend that they had lost an election?

It’s the selfsame Jonathan who is projecting himself as a casualty of electoral fraud, calling a pity party.

But Jonathan need not abandon himself to grief.

There is a good chance that a mix of factors is exacting a heavy toll on Jonathan’s psychology: The desertion of his regular hangers-on, the escalation of the work of the Federal Government and Buhari Transition Committees, and the epiphany from the sight of his aides packing his personal effects in preparation for life outside the Presidency. But Jonathan has no reason to badmouth a vote he has would rather not dispute.

There is a prescribed way for interrogating the integrity of an election. If Jonathan is wiser now than before his concession, he can seek redress. If he just awoke to the fact that he was rigged out, it is still morning. He should instruct his lawyers to use the window of opportunity allowed by the Electoral Act and file a petition.

He cannot claim to ‘’put the country first’’ when he is contesting the legitimacy of Buhari’s mandate outside the bounds of the law. He cannot erect the credentials of a peacemaker on mischief. He should approach the court, if he thinks he has a valid case. His judicial challenge will profit the country more than his bitter murmuring.

It’s ironical that President Jonathan is promoting himself as a brand of peacemaker who cannot hold his peace. A lover of peace in Jonathan’s shoes (no pun intended) will not be working hard to revise the context of his defeat. He would be focused on managing a seamless transition. He would be busy clearing his desk. He won’t run the risk of inciting his support base.

We know of a certain Dame, who while actively instigating anarchy in her home state, settled for an alias that was oddly antithetical to her exertions. She christened herself Mama Peace and commanded to be so called!

It was Mama Peace who mounted a campaign rostrum and authorized thousands of attendees to stone their neighbors to death for the heinous crime of chanting the other party’s slogan!

Nigeria needs a calm atmosphere in the run up to the inauguration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari. Not some Papa Peace fanning public disaffection.

• Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu @emmaugwutheman

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: Just as it is said in law that there must be an end to litigation in any dispute, there must also be an end to electioneering in any political contest. I am not aware of any rescheduled elections in Ogun State that could warrant an indirect return to the soap box to canvass for votes. To the best of my knowledge, no poll in Ogun was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the Presidential poll of March 28 and Governorship and House of Assembly elections of April 11. Losers emerged while winners were officially declared.

While one had thought the PDP candidate would take advantage of the olive branch extended to the opposition by the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, during his victory speech by, at least, constituting himself into a credible opposition that is committed to constructive criticisms of government policies, he has merely been regurgitating the same rhetoric, empty sloganeering and other cock and bull stories that dominated the campaign of the

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Ogun guber poll: Between facts and fiction PDP in the run-up to the general elections. Yes, we’ve heard them before. That the governor is so rich, that he bought many private jets, gave one to Obama, one to Putin another to Bill Gates! But the governor is so generous that he did not even remember to buy one for himself! We also heard that he left the planet earth and travelled to Mars and Jupiter, where he built one storey in the former and a bungalow in the latter! These tales by moonlight are actually good for children but not the type that can be relied on to win elections.

While these people may prefer to denigrate the governor and his government, purely for political reasons, those who should know him actually know him. They in-

clude the masses, whose children enjoy free education, which they last enjoyed more than a generation ago. The market men and women, auto mechanics, battery chargers, barbers, hair-dressers, video-club owners, business centre owners, auto-mechanics, autoelectricians, welders, tailors, etc. who benefited from the hundreds of transformers distributed statewide to revive their hitherto comatose businesses. These and others, who now sleep with their eyes closed, were the people that trooped out in their thousands to vote for change in Abuja and continuity in Ogun State. But for the fact that APC was denied thousands of PVCs in its strongholds and the PDP-led centre virtually strangu-

lated the opposition states with funds in order to turn workers against them (which failed woefully in Ogun State), the PDP would not have been able to garner up to one-third of the total votes in the 2015 elections in Ogun State.

How would they when the party (PDP in Ogun) was polarised with godfathers competing for hold on the party? It was evident to all that the Ogun PDP gubernatorial candidate only got, reluctantly, united support of his godfathers just three days to the April 11 governorship election. How can you win such an election against a strong incumbent that has been widely acknowledged all over Nigeria as an outstanding performer?

The PDP candidate Gboyega

Memo to 8th National Assembly IR: The new National Asembly (NASS) is coming after turbulent government and assembly of men and women who, by any standard, cannot be said to have performed credibly well in terms of people-oriented projects and programmes and in the making of corresponding laws that improved living standard and fasten development.

The National Assembly is a constitutional locomotive for any purposeful democratic government; it provides checks to the government of the day and a legal basis for the system in general. This basically accounts for the high respect usually

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accorded and, of course, the attendant high expectation placed on it.

It has been a genuine cause for worry for Nigerians that, despite our series of experimentation with democracy, our legislators have performed far below expectation.

Their handling of national issues has fallen short on constitutional decorum given the experience required of people in that exalted status.

As wise men and women of integrity, we expect them to use reason and persuasion rather rancour in discharging their legislative duties. It is equally expected that they will live above board and their con-

duct would be devoid of fruitless witch-hunt as we saw in the past.

The truth is that the coming of Buhari/Osinbajo administration offers Nigerians the carrot of change, hence the new National Assembly is also expected to not only clean this stigma for good , but also to give our democracy the vision and definition befitting our status as Africa’s leading nation.

We expect the new NASS to start by addressing issues of relevance to the lives of Nigerians which were either left unaddressed or wrongly addressed in the last legislative term.

Given that the budget provides the

economic framework upon which a nation’s activities are organised, we expect the incoming lawmakers to accord it top priority.

It’s my belief that the measure of its success lies in how well it remains steadfast and minds its constitutional role of law making.

Given the prevailing mood of the country, the replacement of majority of members of the NASS by new ones is to be interpreted as a clear demand by citizens for a new beginning for the legislature and the country at large.

• Ahmad Muhammad Danyaro Kano

Isiaka should not dissipate energies and resources on contesting a free and fair election that is clear to everyone, including himself, that he lost. Now is the time to return to the drawing board with a team of respectable citizens as mentors or godfathers.

•Soyombo Opeyemi Abeokuta

Let punishment fit the crime

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IR: I have read with keen interest reactions to the recent executions in Indonesia and I am left wondering why all the initial cry for their pardon. Indonesia is a country where drug traficking, stealing and corruption are regarded as serious crimes. Indonesia is a fast developing society.

Strict implementation of this kind of punishment for most crimes committed in the country have aided their development.

I recommend this for Nigeria if we want to get out of the political and economic qangmire we have found ourselves. Those that commits crime againt the state should be made and seen to face the full wrath of the law. A situation where one is charged and found guilty for laudering N25billion but is given a sentence of paying N25million or N250million will rather encourage money laundering, breed pepertual inequality, poverty, unemployement and underdevelopment.

I expect the incoming government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) to put up a strong case for criminal justice reform.

Let the punishment fit the crime.

• Okorie Emmanuel Uchechukwu, Makurdi, Benue State

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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because the rest of Nigeria had WO different but related events the temerity to tell a Niger prompted this piece.

Delta president, now backed by One was Willie Obiano, the his newfound majestic Anambra governor’s widely reported minority, to up his act! visit to President-elect, Muhammadu Indeed, link up the LNC sourBuhari. grape and Madam Briggs’s bile, Forget voting, forget parties, forget with the Niger Delta former everything, the governor pleaded, but militants’ virtual oath to war, don’t forget to gift Ndigbo appointments! should Jonathan lose, and you Is it then what it is all about — after Olakunle see a familiar, if contemptible, voting, parties, vile electioneering, hate lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola pattern of emotive threats. messages, even killings and maiming on Some comfort, though: before e-day — just appointments, whoever the polls, it was a threat to warwins? Geez! war. Now, after, it is a threat to The other was the April 20 call for jaw-jaw. We thank God for Nigeria’s restructuring, by a body that small mercies! calls itself the Lower Niger Congress Attahiru Jega was the electoral chief!

If roles are now reversed, Still, if LNC and allied lobby were to be less emotive and (LNC). is it not legit democratic change? more clinical, the disastrous Jonathan tenure was the Declared LNC: South East and South-South want Nigeria LNC Chairman, Fred Agbeyegbe’s contribution, adds more umpteenth proof that Nigeria would unravel, without restructured, pronto; and its 75 million denizens would soon interesting perspectives to the debate. restructuring into a productive federation. declare, by democratic referendum, whether they still want to For one, Elder Agbeyegbe has earned his stripes, over the Jonathan, as president, came from a minority bloc. Yet, in be part of Nigeria, and under what terms! years, as a champion of minority rights and unfazed advocate his near-six years in office, he didn’t radically restructure to It isn’t clear if LNG wants restructuring for real; or was just of a politically restructured Nigeria; from its present central underscore economic equity, and structurally cement minority moaning attention-grabbing moans, driven by bitter election parasite to a federal productive hub, fired by ethnic nationalities rights. All he did was play age-old majority game of president loss! creating — and spending — own wealth. as patronage King-Kong!

Still, it’s a worrying déjà vu. Pre-Abacha times, both South For another, despite the whoop of victory and moan of defeat, Then LNC was blissfully quiet — vicarious power must have East and South-South were the 1st Republic Eastern Region — nothing has negated Mr. Agbeyegbe’s stand. been sweet! Old man Edwin Clark even played, to the annoying and post-1st Republic (1960-1966), the old East Emeka Still, Mr. Agbeyegbe’s rhetoric is all too familiar. Hear him: hilt, the power godfather! Now, Jonathan is out in the cold and Odumegwu-Ojukwu and his secessionist braves re-christened “...We, the ethnic nationalities, minorities, owners of the resources, these folk suddenly re-found their federating voices! Seriously?

Republic of Biafra, sparking the tragic Nigerian Civil War victims [italics mine] of and for whose sake the Nigerian brand But just as Jonathan has delivered under-development to his (1967-1970). of democracy was wrought, are aware that their [foreign region as lollies for vicarious power, Olusegun Obasanjo too Might the Civil War still be raging in another guise? powers’] commercial interests in a peaceful Nigeria, overrides delivered under-development to his native South West, in his To be sure, LNC spokesperson, Tony Nnadi, at the body’s any pretended interest in democracy.” press briefing in Lagos, rippled with sour grape and bad faith. eight-year presidency.

That was Fred Agbeyegbe, reacting to Goodluck Jonathan’s He claimed Gen. Buhari’s victory was a “conspiracy” between The North? It is the very epitome of political power as potent loss in 2015. the North and the South West, against the old East. tool for arrested development! If you doubt, just check the But flip back to 2012, when Annkio Briggs, Niger Delta Even if that were true — and it certainly is not — he havoc Boko Haram has caused the region. Could that devilish environmental campaigner, had this take, during the Occupy conveniently forgot that everyone, including the South East group have recruited and brainwashed northern youth, if past Nigeria national strike and protests against a hike in fuel pump and South-South, had a chance to be part of that “conspiracy”, dispensations headed by northerners had given the mass prices.

“If Jonathan, a Niger Delta son is not good enough to but decided to spurn it. So, it is voodoo logic: to exercise your northern poor some hope to live for? govern Nigeria, the oil in his Niger Delta is not good enough constitutional right to differ, lose out in the electoral Gen. Buhari, no doubt, towers with moral integrity. That, for Nigeria,” she said in a communiqué she signed on 15 sweepstakes but turn round to wail about “conspiracy”! with his sound mandate, will combine to forge a formidable January 2012 [exactly 42 years to the day the Civil War officially Both South East and South-South backed the wrong horse, tool for the arduous tasks ahead, in post-Jonathan Nigeria. But ended!], on behalf of a body she called Niger Delta Occupy no democratic crime! But they must live with their choice, even this is no magic wand, as he, with his winning coalition, Niger Delta Resources, (NDONDR). sans any dishonourable bleating. must know!

But she still wasn’t done: “We call on Niger Delta peoples, Besides, how is the 2015 “conspiracy” different from its 2011 Restructuring is imperative — to both unleash regional talent for the sake of our future, to look to our nearest neighbours, cousin, when Southern Nigeria, with the Middle Belt, ganged and genius; and eliminate wanton waste at the irresponsible the Igbo, for immediate and strong alliance to enable the Niger up against the core North? and unresponsive centre. Yeah, Buhari’s vaunted integrity Delta nations and the Igbo nation to face the obvious change Ironically back then, this same Buhari was the “victim”, this would help clean up the system. But even that prospect is still that will come to Nigeria, in strength, justice, brotherhood and same Goodluck Jonathan was the “victor” and this same not good enough. This deep rot calls for a fresh and radical truth.” paradigm — restructuring!

Now what is this — a call for “democratic” secession? That go a tad too far. But certainly, some democratic gangThat is why the likes of LNC, that continue to munch sour ‘South East and South-South backed would up — which played out in the 2015 elections, as the old East grapes over elections won and lost, should further push their the wrong horse, no democratic crime! made its emphatic choice. Does its loss then cancel out the advocacy to fix the fundamental problem of Nigeria’s federal win — and the “majority gang-up” morally inferior power — but not as infantile threats.

But they must live with their choice, majority’s to the “minority gang-up”, thus earning the losers the moral That fixed, Governor Obiano and his people can vote whoever sans any dishonourable bleating’ right to threaten the winners? they want in their enclave, without giving a damn (apologies And don’t forget: the original Annkio Briggs’s threat came to Jonathan) about whoever gets what at Abuja!

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epublican ipples

Restructuring or sour grape?

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OURS sincerely was on vacation when Ngozi OkonjoIweala, President Jonathan’s minister of finance and Coordinator of the Economy took on the self-assigned role of honourary, albeit unofficial adviser to the incoming APC-administration of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). I refer to the widely reported media event tagged “A conversation with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala” staged by the second deity in the presidential godhead (apologies to Azu) in faraway Washington. The outing was as one might expect: magisterial, unabashedly prescriptive –with just enough tips for the incoming Buhari administration to either follow or risk a flounder!

Stripped of self-promotion and plain hubris, I actually wondered what purpose of the media event sought to achieve coming so soon after the Nigerian electorate had decided that ‘change’ was it.

At first reading, my instinctive reaction was to observe that the reality of that electoral loss may have taken far too long to wear off for the hierarchs of the expiring administration to appreciate that power has indeed changed hands. Or was I expecting too much to imagine that her ilk would fade like a thief into the night as part of the necessary rites to bring our 16-year nightmare under their watch to a closure? After a deeper reflection, it became clear to me the extent to which many, yours truly inclusive, has underestimated the resistance to the promise of change!

Of course, the problems wasn’t just that the same cocktail of measures which, though neither original nor particularly new, but which successive PDP administrations including two of which she was a frontline actor either lacked the nerves or the discipline to push through were being recycled as something novel. Or even the attempt to present the current crisis which took the whole of a decade and half to berth, as one that chanced upon us, as if we didn’t have the crisis of the 80s to instruct us.

Rather, it was her disingenuous way of papering over, if not entirely deflect, Pontius Pilate-like, her direct culpability in the making of the crisis via emergency management fantasies – something that have since become her stock in trade. At once, she would have us pretend that we didn’t know where the rains started to beat us; more than that, she would wish that the contributions of her cast and crew of undertakers particularly their free-wheeling policies simply recede from memory!

Of course, I daresay that only in that foreground could Madam Okonjo-Iweala’s gratuitous offer of advice to the incoming government after nearly 10 years of sojourn in the corridors of power, as honourary adviser, finance minister, foreign minister and finally as finance minister and coordinator of the economy could pass for barely ‘credible’!

Guess most Nigerians – outside of the innermost circle of its unrepentant courtiers, that is – know more than the hierarchs of the departing administration would care to admit about its

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Haba; Madam honorary adviser! legacy of broken public finance and unparalleled corruption and profligacy than to take any of their prescriptions seriously. Today, Nigerians must marvel at how our globally acclaimed technocrat, an individual headhunted from the Breton Woods institution to clean up our public finance has only one software of a payroll system to show as evidence of how much work has gone into the clean up, 10 years after! Suddenly, in the twilight of the administration, we are hearing about the hire of a foreign tax consultant said to have delivered additional $500million into the national kitty; now she gleefully recommends this to the in-coming government with a fatuous claim that they could to fetch $3billion over the medium-term!

And now, for crying out loud, our reform-minded minister cannot even pay creditors – you guessed right, fuel importers – without taking to the airwaves to lecture those owed about the virtue of patriotism! Truly, our redeemer liveth! Will somebody get serious?

Talking about the finger-pointing game, isn’t it amazing that our lady is ever too eager to cast the proverbial first stone? For the ‘crime’ of insisting on the sharing the proceeds of the piggy bank – the so-called Excess Crude Account – which the law deems ‘extra-legal’, the governors are adjudged guilty of squandermania before the court of that lone functionary with the double-barrelled office of minister of finance and coordinator of the economy!

Now the question: Which official went on a borrowing spree at a time of unprecedented oil earnings and at such costs that defy logic? Which official insisted that an infrastructure-challenged economy maintain an off-shore savings at a measly two percent while hankering after foreign funds at between 510 percent interest?

Should I go on?

What of the free-for-all bonanza of fuel import subsidies under which payments quadrupled in a space of one year?

Have we forgotten so soon how the N240 billion budgeted for fuel subsidy under the 2011 Appropriation Act ballooned to N1.2 trillion under the watch of the same pretentious patriotminders of the treasury?

I haven’t yet settled on the other ‘stain’ that comes close to undoing everything – the unresolved riddle of import duty waivers that top officials of the finance ministry would prefer buried. It started with the claim by Minister Okonjo-Iweala that her ministry approved only N170.73 billion worth of duty waivers and exemptions in three years. The Customs as the implementing agency would later show that value of waivers processed for the same period was N1.4 trillion!

As against the minister’s claim of N55.96 billion for 2011, N55.34 billion for 2012 and N59.42 billion for 2013, the Customs posted N480 billion for 2011, N480 billion for 2012 and N603 billion for 2013! Imagine, we are talking of a figure that is more than a third of one year’s federal budget lost to the fancies of some top bureaucrats! Years on, while Nigerians waiting for the outcome of the reconciliation and, possibly the justification for the inclusion of such items as aircraft, helicopter, “motor spare parts” furniture, “building materials and cabinet parts for kitchen door drawers”- and wait for it – kolanut in a country battling with high unemployment – our pious minister has long front-loaded a ready defence: ‘Yes, in the past, it wasn’t good but now we have been running a different system for two years.’ Case closed!

It is possible that Madam Okonjo-Iweala served her principals well. However, for change to have its true meaning, it must go beyond the seductions to more-of-the-same preachments of a discredited member of an ancien regime. Nigerians didn’t vote for change for some pretenders to serve them old wines in some refurbished skins. Good grief if they cannot read the signs that the market is over. It’s the broom revolution, and as they say – of what use is the broom if it cannot sweep clean?

The days ahead promises to be interesting.

Glad to be back!

‘For change to have its true meaning, it must go beyond the seductions to moreof-the-same preachments of a discredited member of an ancien regime. Nigerians didn’t vote for change for some pretenders to serve them old wines in some refurbished skins’

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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IS name is now as household as the “report of fashion in proud Italy”. He is a leader of leaders; and a true leader at that; because he commands not from the rear, but he braces, with his chest the heat and the chill of all battles. He is the veritable “Knight of the Garter” of our contemporary politics; “valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage, such as is grown to credit by the wars; not fearing death nor shrinking from distress, but always resolute in most extremes”. Time has proved that where “your ‘good’ word cannot advantage him, your slander never can en-damage him”.

He is petit and unassuming; as ‘modest as the dove’; as ‘temperate as the morning’; “for patience, he will prove a second Grissel”; his words are “bonds and his oaths are oracles”; his ‘truth’ is as the ‘truth’ of Martin Luther; it is ‘Marching on’; his code of battle as mosaic as Malcolm X’s: to “Forerun woe with woe”. His is “courage mounted with occasion”; and although he is not the warmongering muckraker, yet he is one ready always “to parley or to war” -as the occasion demands. That is the stuff that ‘courage’ is made of: namely that although great men should not be “mutinous in peace” yet when the

‘In 16 years it had been ‘nay, nay, nay; they would ‘not let my people go’; yet in just one moment of electoral ‘truth’ -right at the twilight of the month of March, they sang, perforce, another tune: ‘aye, aye’ they said in shame! And the Commander-In-Chief said: ‘I yield, I yield, I yield’’ “If it were left on me to decide whether we should have a government without Newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” – Thomas Jefferson

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HE above quotation from Thomas Jefferson, a former President of the United States, underscores the importance of the media in a democracy. The media is the lifeline of any nation. It provides not only information on what may affect the normal human being in his dayto-day functioning, but also by other features that keep him informed of developments, national and international. In Nigeria, the press has always been in the forefront of the nation’s democratic struggle.

From the colonial era to the post-independent era, the press has been a major rallying point for the people. It is to its credit that it has outlived many anti-people governments, though with many wounds and scars. In the dark days of the military, when men of courage and honour were few, the press, it was, that fought the military to a standstill.

Considering its critical role of the press in a democracy, many have questioned the recent barring of African Independent Television, AIT, from covering the activities of Nigeria’s President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari. Bearing in mind how the press fared during his reign as a military dictator, many have thought and, perhaps, rightly so, that this might be the sign of things to come in the yet to be inaugurated Buhari led government. It is, however, heartwarming that the President-elect and, indeed, his political party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, have both dissociated themselves from the alleged ban. According to a statement from General Buhari, he was neither consulted nor informed about the AIT barring, and only became aware of the matter after the public uproar it generated.

While one welcomes General Buhari and his party’s swift response to the AIT imbroglio, it is however, important o stress that gagging the press would not be in the best interest of any individual, organisation or government. Any attempt to gag the press is an affront on democracy. Restricting the press from perform-

A parody of Shakespeare

By Mohammed Adamu occasion demands they should be no less “bold at war”.

He did once assert that the ruling political dynasty was a deeply rooted eviliroko tree; hard put to uproot except it is axed ‘limbs’, ‘trunk’ and ‘torso’! And now he has proved to us himself that every ‘obstacle’ has odds to which it must yield; and that “many strokes, though with a little axe will hew down and fall the hardest timbered-oak”. Little did we know he was a prophet of his own time; a voice in the wilderness of our troubled democracy, prophesying the looming fall of a ‘behemoth’.

He is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Asiwaju and the Jagaban; once ‘Leader of the Opposition’; now the great ‘masquerade’ himself daring to be opposed –if any the courage have! “The blood stirs more” they say “to rouse a lion than to start a hare”; but who dares to rouse a lion must have more than a mortal’s measure of blood!

Tinubu is the Hannibal of our time; the scourge of the ruling political dynasty – now in its inevitable throes of death. For device and tactic, he has proved another Hercules; for “grim aspect” and for knitted brow in moments of battle, he is the Hector of our age. Thus Tinubu is Hannibal, Hercules and Hector all in one!

It is said that “When ‘Fortune’ means to men most good, ’She’ looks upon them with a threatening eye”. Tinubu did not, yesterday, walk the paved or gilded roads to the hill station of today’s renown; he has braved the dry and dusty weathers of Fortune’s threatening stare; and in reward of which both “Nature and

Fortune have now joined to make him great”. He is now the “theme of Honour’s tongue, Sweet Fortune’s minion and her pride”; but more than else he is today, “among the groove of his rank, the straightest plant”.

“Small curs” they say, “are not regarded when they grin; but great men tremble when the lion roars”. They are right Tinubu, you are truly a Lion in a rare den that is uniquely yours; but they are dead wrong, you are not ‘The Lion of Bourdillon’; that is a den too small for a Lion with your kind of Mane! The Asiwaju is more suited to ‘The Lord of the Nigerian Manor’ – that is a befitting ‘den’ truly your size.

“Strong reasons make strong actions”; or so the Great Shakespeare would say.

Once a troubled nation we did stand as “upon a rock environed by a wilderness of sea”, waiting for the surge of the ocean’s tempests to make of us a sumptuous meal; but just when we were hovering around the precipice, when it seemed almost as “far from help as Limbo is from bliss”, just then Tinubu, in a league of amity with our nation’s greats, alighted right in the firmament of our political woes”; for the inevitable to happen, - a battle long foretold between the army of ‘good’ and the forces of ‘evil’; between ‘change’ to a libertarian today and tomorrow and ‘continuity’ of the impunity and arbitrariness of old.

Let the annals of our history bear witness, that in that battle the Jagaban “stirred as the time”, you were “fire for fire”, you “threatened the threatner and you outfaced the brow of bragging horror; you put the dauntless spirit of resolution; you glistened like the god of war when he

Still on the matter of Buhari and AIT

By Tayo Ogunbiyi ing its constitutional duty is completely against the spirit of liberty and the rule of law in a democracy. It would result in a slide into anarchy. If the media has impeded on the right of any individual or organisation in the discharge of its duty, there are constitutional ways of dealing with such. Taking recourse to constitutional means in addressing such would further help to strengthen democracy.

However, in as much as the media plays a crucial role as the watchdog of the society and by implication the preserver of democracy, it behooves on the media to adhere strictly to ethical rules and conducts in the discharge of its functions. In a democracy, it is essential that the media exercises its duties with utmost responsibility. Democracy can only flourish with a responsible media. Being the watchdog of the society places huge responsibility on the media in terms of objectivity and non partisanship. Though, it is the right of every Nigerian to support a political party, but the media must not be seen to operate in manners that depict partiality. When this happens, democracy would be endangered.

It is, perhaps, in this respect that one could probably affirm that the AIT erred.

It is, for instance, a well know fact that the proprietor of AIT, Dr. Raymond Dopkesi, is a card carrying member of the ruling People Democratic Party, PDP. It was even alleged by the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, that Dopkesi, in the company of some soldiers during the presidential election, “attacked the electorate and disrupted elections at Auchi once they saw that the result being announced so far favoured APC and favoured Buhari”. Though, the media mogul has come out to deny the allegation, it has however cast aspersion on the reliability of his media organisation, AIT.

Many have labeled the AIT has a PDP megaphone based on its perceived biased reportage of political developments in the country and the scratchy documentaries it beamed on the President –elect, General Buhari. As it has been earlier emphasised, Dr Dopkesi is backed by the constitution to support any political party of his choice.

The snag, however, is that it would be unprofessional and immoral to turn a national network such as AIT into a propaganda platform of any of the country’s political parties. This is against the ethics of journalism.

The documentary aired on the AIT against General Buhari has quite a number of wrong information. For instance, the AIT documentary claimed that it was the Buhari administration that expelled Ghanaians from Nigeria. The truth, however, is that it was the Shehu Shagari administration that actually repatriated Ghanaians and other foreigners from Nigeria.

Also, the issue of Gloria Okon disappearing under Buhari’s administration was also false as she disappeared under General Ibrahim Babangida regime .Also, the assertion that Fela’s mother died under Buhari was false because she died after Kalakuta republic was attacked by ‘unknown soldiers’ during Obasanjo’s government in 1978. One also wonders what the death of two of Buhari’s daughters has to do with Buhari’s ability to rule.

intendeth to become the ‘field’!

And behold when the jagged fields of battle are emptied; they attest to the deeds of great men: “blood hath bought blood; blows have answered blows; strength matched with strength; and power confronteth power. And the Jagaban, being last on the field, has become the Lord of it!

Many had “cowardly fled” the battle ground, “not having struck one strike” at all; but you said to the enemy loud and clear: “A crown or else a glorious tomb; a sceptre or an earthly sepulchre”. It was that courage of conviction; that steadfastness in the face of danger that stands you, today above all mortals. And now your sacrifice has become a prologue to a beautiful symphony of liberation.

Happily a ‘crown’ it will be and not a ‘glorious tomb’; a ‘sceptre’ you will have and never an ‘earthly sepulchre’.

In 16 years it had been ‘nay, nay, nay; they would ‘not let my people go’; yet in just one moment of electoral ‘truth’ -right at the twilight of the month of March, they sang, perforce, another tune: ‘aye, aye’ they said in shame! And the CommanderIn-Chief said: ‘I yield, I yield, I yield’; “Oh wonderful when the Devil tells the truth”, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

The Progressives will now sit on the throne of our own democracy, a feat purchased with the illiberal blood of antidevelopment reactionaries; the evil Party “that was wont to conquer others” but which hath now made “a shameful conquest of itself”. And behold Asiwaju, the ‘David’ with the crooked sling. He plucked the eye of vaunted pride; leaving almighty Goliath a giant heap of human debris aground. ‘Might’ which was once ‘right’, now gives way to ‘right’ which now is ‘might’.

All thanks to the Jagaban, • Adamu is an Abuja-based Public Affairs Analyst.

Expectedly, Dr. Dopkesi has come out in defence of his organization’s role in the just concluded general elections with a justification that the Daar Communications, owners of AIT, is a commercial entity and therefore reserves the right to run anything it considers worthy of being televised. He said there is also a right of response available to anyone who feels strongly about any matter broadcast by the station. He said: “What is obviously very clear is the fact that AIT believes that the historical information about the President-elect that were ran, were factually correct. Nothing was done to defame him or impinge on his character or integrity.” But then, based on the several inaccurate information contained in the said documentary, it is certain that Dr. Dopkesi was only being economical with the truth.

The Code of Ethics guiding the practice of journalism in Nigeria demands that every journalist to ensure a strict adherence to the highest levels of ethics and professionalism in carrying out their duties.

One of the main responsibilities of the press is to present and defend the truth as every scientific structure can only be sustained by the truth. When the media trades in lies and half truths, it only does so to the peril of the society. It is the sacred duty of the media to have a perception and a goal of standard morality and ethical revolution if its performance is to have the expected impact on the society it serves.

This is the expectation of the citizenry, especially where morality and professionalism are allowed to dictate the pace.

• Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

‘Democracy can only flourish with a responsible media. Being the watchdog of the society places huge responsibility on the media in terms of objectivity and non partisanship. Though, it is the right of every Nigerian to support a political party, but the media must not be seen to operate in manners that depict partiality.

When this happens, democracy would be endangered’

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

25

’

The reason why Aba was not excised from the concession granted to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, is because President Goodluck Jonathan, preferred to promote political expediency, over success in the power industry...

’

See page 39

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

The frosty relationship between Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko and his deputy, Ali Olanusi, climaxed last week with the latter’s impeachment by the House of Assembly. But constitutional lawyers believe Olanusi’s impeachment is faulty. They advise him to seek legal redress, reports ADEBISI ONANUGA.

•Gov. Mimiko

•Olanusi

Can this impeachment stand?

C

INSIDE:

AN the impeachment of Ondo State Deputy Gov ernor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi be sustained? Lawyers believe it cannot and they are advising him to go to court. Olanusi who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the eve of the March 28, presidential election, was removed last Monday by the House of Assembly for alleged insubordination and anti-party activities, among others.

Curiously, Mimiko defected from Labour Party (LP) to PDP few months ago, without the lawmakers accusing him of antiparty activities. Rather, they jumped ship with him.

Last April 22, the assembly served an impeachment notice on Olanusi, preferring seven al-

Falana petitions African Commisssion over ‘unlawful ‘ arrest of Zambian activist -Page 28

•Lawyers fault Ondo deputy governor’s removal legations against him. Some of the offences bordered on financial misappropriation, absenteeism from official duties and causing disaffection in the state Executive Council (Exco).

A panel set up by the Chief Judge, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi found Olanusi culpable of the seven offences. He was reported to be outside the country when the notice of impeachment was served. He had no pportunity to defend himself before the Chief Magistrate Olatunde Adeniyan(rtd) led panel.

Besides, there was an April 23, court order, restraining the assembly from the impeachment. Another application is expected to be heard in respect of the matter on

Thursday at the state high court.

When the motion for his impeachment was moved, 22 of the 26 member-house voted in favour.

Olanusi’s travails began when he dumped PDP for the APC on the eve of the presidential election. He had earlier defected with Mimiko from LP, on which platform they were elected, to PDP. Mimiko perceives Olanusi’s defection as an affront and insubordination. The offences levelled against Olanusi were: “That Alhaji Ali Olanusi, being the holder of the office of Deputy Governor, permitted and condoned the perpetration of fraudulent activities in the office of the

‘8th National Assembly must be proactive to meet Nigerians’ expectation’ -Page 38

Deputy Governor in that Alhaji Bola Idris Olanusi, the younger brother and Special Assistant in the office of the Deputy Governor procured false LPO’s with the knowledge of Alhaji Ali Olanusi and obtained from one Ehiso Resources International Limited two (02) Trucks of AGO with forged documents and for personal benefits, thereby putting the office of the Deputy Governor into Disrepute 2. “That Alhaji Ali Olanusi being the holder of the office of Deputy Governor of Ondo State and having full knowledge that his younger brother, Alhaji Bola Idris Olanusi, who at all material time was his personal staff had engaged

in activities unbecoming of officials of government refused to sanction, query or discipline the said staff, thus, bringing the office of the Deputy Governor into disrepute” 3. “That Alhaji Ali Olanusi, being the holder of the office of Deputy Governor of Ondo State engaged in Press Release and interview with various media outlets especially at pages 50 and 51 of the Saturday Punch of April 18, 2015 publication wherein false allegations were levelled against the governor who was falsely portrayed as (i) A person who instigated the carting away of Ballot boxes (ii) A person who instigated the killing of people in Ondo State (iii) A person who disrespects •Continued on page 26

There is hope for Nigeria, says NBA -Page 40

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

26

LAW COVER CONT’D The lawmakers acted ‘ unfairly and with gross

•Continued from page 25

the Judiciary. (iv) A person who worked against the interest of the President. (v) A person who bribed the electorate.

4. “That Alhaji Ali Olanusi, being the holder of the office of Deputy Governor of Ondo State, engaged in absenteeism and truancy by regularly absenting himself from office, place of work and other official engagements especially on 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th of April and Monday, 20th of April , 2015 without lawful excuses or authorization but generally acting in a manner inconsistent with the dictates and expectations of the high office of the Deputy Governor of a State, thus, undermining the governance process, an act which amount to gross misconduct under the Constitution.

5. “That Alhaji Ali Olanusi, being the holder of the office of Deputy Governor on or about Wednesday 15th April 2015 caused his security aides to shoot indiscriminately at peaceful protesters along Fiwasaiye/Oba Adesida Road in Akure thus creating panic, breakdown of law and order, and general sense of insecurity within the state under pretext that the said protesters disrupted his convoy, an act unbecoming of holder of high office of the Deputy Governor.

6. “That Alhaji Ali Olanusi, being the holder of the office of Deputy Governor at various dates collected various sums of money for the purpose of traveling and medical bill as follows: 2009 (N8, 175, 410), 2010 (N8, 952, 600), 2013 (N10, 833, 200) and 2014 (N11, 328, 100) when in actual fact, the said Alhaji Ali Olanusi did not travel on the said specified dates or did not travel at all and, or did not expand the approved medical bills as appropriate, thereby unlawfully enriching himself and/causing loss to the State Government.

7. “That Alhaji Ali Olanusi, being the holder of the office of Deputy Governor engaged in political conduct designed to undermine the office of the Governor by ensuring political disaffection and deliberate working at cross purpose with the Governor and the Executive Council of the State with a view to destabilising the state government by openly canvassing for the impeachment of the governor following the Presidential Election conducted on March 28, 2015 which amounts to an act of gross misconduct under the provisions of the Constitution”.

The state assembly members claimed that the deputy governor was impeached “Pursuant to the provision of section 188(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But observers viewed his impeachment as a vendetta for his action. They wondered if the impeachment would have been thought of if he had remained in PDP. Observers are not just worried about the turn of political development in the state after the defection of the governor from the LP to the ruling party, the PDP, with the Deputy Governor opting for the APC. There was concern over the speed with which the impeachment was carried out and also for the disrespect for constitutional provisions as Olanusi was impeached without being given the opportunity of a fair hearing.

Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unambiguous on the need for fair hearing before any action is taken hence it expressly stated, “In the determination of the civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.” Pundits have always argued that the doctrine of fair hearing is an integral part of justice administration and it is derived from the principles of natural justice and fairness. It also requires that in all disputes between two or more parties, judgment should not be based on onesided testimony. The principle of fair hearing, they argued, is not only applicable to the courts or tribunals but also to any person or persons acting in a judicial capacity as in the case of the panel that purportedly investigated the allegations against the deputy governor.

Constitutional lawyers who faulted the procedures adopted in impeaching the deputy governor include Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), a member of the Ogun State Judiciary Council, Abayomi Omoyinmi, Executive Director, Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni and the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Yinka Farounbi.

malice as a result of the Deputy Governor’s recent defection to the other party, the APC. The governor felt slighted and decided to fight back by initiating and backing the impeachment

‘

•Felix Fagbohungbe

•Farounbi

•Omoyinmi

•Mumuni

Can this removal stand?

Fagbohungbe said if there is a subsisting order of the court restraining the house from impeaching him, of course, the order of the court should be obeyed. If they failed to do that, that of course would make the whole process unconstitutional. “Having said that, the constitution empowers the house to impeach but the issue of the non-appearance of the deputy governor makes it a different issue completely. If he was properly served, I expected him to appear before the panel. Also, if there was a court order, he cannot appear since a court of competent jurisdiction has restrained them from commencing the impeachment process as it wont be proper for him to face the panel since there was a court order”, he said. Fagbohungbe, however, agreed that the members of the assembly have not acted fairly with the process. According to him, if the deputy governor wasn’t around as claimed, then he couldn’t have been properly served. They ought to have allowed him to present his own defence.

Omoyinmi stated that Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates the procedure to be followed in removing or impeaching president, vice president, governor or deputy governor. He, however, expressed doubts if the impeachment followed the procedures spelt out in the constitution.

“It is very hard to conclude that the impeachment fully complied with constitutional procedures because the time and days set out by the contitution to carry out the process for the impeachment were not adhered to, and this is very crucial in determination of whether proper constitutional procedure was

followed or not”.

According to Omoyinmi, “the service of the impeachment notice on the deputy governor who was purportedly to be outside the country on medical treatment is another cause for alarm especially on the issue of whether a copy of the notice was caused to be served on him plus whether he has the right to defend himself which provision under the constitution is mandatory.

“His removal was, to my mind, motivated by the fact that Mr. Olanusi defected to APC on the eve of the presidential election. This is malicious and in bad faith”, he stated.

Mumuni explained that Section 188 of the constitution has 10 sub-sections. The constitutional procedure for impeachment is to follow the procedures laid down in sub-action one to 10. If they failed to follow any of the steps, it follows that the impeachment cannot stand. So, whether the impeachment cannot stand or not would depend on if all the steps laid out in the constitution were followed. Again, there is this other issue that the court made an order that nothing must go on, status quo be maintained. So, once there is an order like that and t he court says they should not do anything, they should obey it because it is also part of the process. If the Deputy Governor wants to pursue it, the impeachment may still be declared null and void.

On what may be the motive for the impeachment, Mumuni said: “Impeachment is a political question. It is a political game.

If it is the opinion of the legislators and they are in majority and they say you are not

Impeachment is a political question. It is a political game. If it is the opinion of the legislators and they are in majority and they say you are not doing what is right, there is nothing anybody can do about it

‘

‘

doing what is right, there is nothing anybody can do about it, but what is important is that it must follow all the steps laid out in section 188 of the constitution. As a matter of law, when it comes to impeachment, the motive for doing it is irrelevant. He cited the case of Sarki and Kotoye decided in 1994 by the Supreme Court to buttress his argument.

Farounbi described the action of the Ondo State House of Assembly impeaching the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Olanusi as condemnable. “Impeaching him while an order of court is subsisting is to say the list barbaric and unconstitutional. The legislatures should have taken steps to attend to the court case before embarking on the impeachment. Order of court is meant to be obeyed until set aside”, he emphasised. The NBA chairman stated further “by virtue of Section 36 of our constitution, a party must be accorded fair hearing before being pronounced on. Not according this opportunity to the Deputy Governor is a violation of his constitutional right to fair hearing and where there is proof of no fair hearing, the decision thereon cannot stand.

“The manner in which the impeachment was rushed definitely do not follow the laid down constitutional procedure. The whole process was done within one week. Whereas, there is no way the normal procedure can be accomplished within just one week”.

To Farounbi, “The lawmakers acted unfairly and with gross malice as a result of the Deputy Governor’s recent defection to the other party, the APC. The governor felt slighted and decided to fight back by initiating and backing the impeachment. This is however ironical when one vividly reconnect that the governor himself has changed party more than three times. He was once in AD, PDP, LP and back to PDP. He who lives in glass house must not throw stone”.

The NBA chairman lamented that the nation, particularly those in authority has learnt nothing and are not prepared to learn. “They do not care whether the country survives or not, as long as their personal interests are protected. A nation can only be in peace and harmony when the rule of law is allowed to prevail and the judiciary is given unhindered and uncaged opportunity to perform and operate. One of the ways to allow the judiciary to operate without hindrance is by obeying its orders and decisions even when they are unfavourable. The law gives an aggrieved party the chance to complain by taking step either to appeal or set aside any order or decision, but the law do not allow for self help”.

Way out Fagbohungbe emphasised that the remedy in any situation is always in court. “He can always challenge the impeachment process, that the court should set it aside. Even if the impeachment had held, that would afford him the opportunity to put his record straight rather than having a record of impeachment”, he said.

Omoyinmi advised, “Mr. Olanusi, who has a subsisting court order against the house that status quo ante be maintained before he was impeached, can equally challenge his impeachment further in court of law seeking unconstitutionality, nullity and voiding the procedure for contravention of S188 of the 1999 Constitution”.

To Mumuni, “ if it is clear that the procedures for his impeachment has not been followed, particularly on the issue that he was not given fair hearing, he can head for the court to fight his impeachment and get it remedied”.

Farounbi also posited , “since damage and the illegality has been done, the only civilised remedy open to the Deputy Governor is to approach the court for redress and all things being equal, the impeachment could be set aside. It has been done before and can still be done once the proof is established”.

27

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

NATIONAL BAR Painful farewell for Oronto Douglas

L

AWYERS and activists last week joined other Nigerians to honour environmental rights activist and presidential aide, late Oronto Natei Douglas in Abuja.

The event, which held at ThisDay Dome in the Central area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was a night of tributes for Douglas.

Fondly called OND by his friends and associates, Doug-

By John Austin Unachukwu

las, 48, died on April 9, after a long battle with cancer.

Speakers at the event all eulogised the deceased, just as they narrated how he positively impacted the lives of many Nigerians.

At the event were Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof.

Chidi Odinkalu; Convener, Save Nigeria Group (SNG),

Pastor Tunde Bakare; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim; Ambassador Fanny Amun; and C.E.O. of Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, among others.

Douglas, who was interred at the weekend in his home town in Bayelsa State, was a foremost environmental activist renowned for his intellectual articulation of the Niger Delta struggle.

•From left: Amb. Fanny Amun, Dr. Valerie Azinge and Oliseh Azinge.

•Moji Makonjuola

•Prof Odinkalu

•From letf: Dr. Sam Amadi, Dr. God Knows and Dr. Tunde Ayeni.

• Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim ( right) and Hassan Tukur

•From left; Albert Okumagba, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Bayelsa State, Kemasuode Wodu and Wilson Ajuwa.

•Pastor Tunde Bakare (left) and Arebi Farin Chairman ITF governing Council.

•From left; Dr. Amos Akingba, Prof. Godini Dara and Ms Ankio Briggs.

India- Nigeria Business Forum holds September 10

A

LAGOS-based law firm, Perchstone & Graeys will hold the 2015 edition of India- Nigeria Business Forum (INBF) from September 10 to 11.

The forum, which is the second in the series, is being organised in collaboration with the Federation of India Cham-

By Adebisi Onanuga

ber of Commerce (FICCI).

Briefing journalists last week on the forthcoming event, scheduled for Mubi, India, Mr. Kunle Ajagbe and Mr. Olawale Adebambo, both Senior Partners at Perchstone & Graeys said it will focus on

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and how it can be harnessed to widen the space of commercial opportunities and deepen the exchange of best practices between Nigeria.

Notable speakers slated for the forum include, Mr. Bismarck J. Rewane, one of Ni-

geria’s leading economists, and Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited. ‘’He is expected to speak to the financial architecture to support FCT”, Ajagbe stated.

The conference is expected to serve as a platform to boost investment opportunities in

ICT in Nigeria and raise the level of best practices operators, policy makers and the business communities.

“This year’s theme takes account of the strides India has recorded in ICT and how it has established itself as a global ICT leader. This is, of course, coming at a time when

Nigeria’s rebased GDP indicates that about 10 percent (or $50 billion) is attributed to ICT. In view of the fact that ICT is an indispensable enabler to all sectors of the economy, from all indications, its share contributions to national GDP is likely to witness a steady up-swing.

28

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

NATIONAL BAR

Falana petitions African Commisssion over ‘unlawful ‘ arrest of Zambian activist

F

OLLOWING the arrest and prosecution of an anti-corruption activist, Mutembo Nchito, by the Zambian government, Activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has appealed to the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights to intervene in the case.

In an April 24 petition addressed to the Rapporteur on human rights defenders at the commission, Madamme Reine AlapiniGansous, Falana urged the body to prevail on Zambian government to drop the charges against Nchito.

Tagged: ‘’Request for urgent action in the case of unlawful arrest and continuing intimidation and harassment of a human rights defender and anti-corruption campaigner, Mutembo Nchito”, the petition prayed the commission to compel the government of Zambia to desist from harrassing the activist.

Falana who also copied Michel FORST, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human right defenders, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations, alleged that the charges against Nchito were ‘politically motivated’.

He expressed concern over the unlawful detention and continuous harrassment of Nchito through politically motivated charges, fueled by his anti-corruption and human rights work as the country’s Director of Public Prosecution.

“We, therefore, ask you to urgently assert your mandates to put pressure on the government of Zambia to immediately end all forms of intimidation and harassment of Mutembo Nchito and to drop all politically motivated charges against him. The Special Rapporteur should send a strong message to the government of Zambia that the campaign of unlawful arrest and detention, intimidation and harassment against anti-corruption campaigners is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated”, he stated.

“As Director of Public Prosecutions, Mutembo Nchito has discharged his mandate with a reasonable measure of success.

Since 2002, he has prosecuted many cases of

Stories by Adebisi Onanuga

high profile corruption that have seen him indict two former presidents, a chief of intelligence, a Zambia Army Commander, a Zambia Air Force commander and a commander of another defence force called Zambia National Service. He also prosecuted a former Minister of Finance and his permanent secretaries for corruption and abuse of office among many other high profile individuals.

His excellent achievements as anti-corruption defenders with high conviction rates have expectedly earned him very powerful enemies within the political system’, Falana noted.

He further stated that at the time of the death of Zambia’s fifth president, Michael Sata, in October 2014, Nchito was in the middle of prosecuting former president Mr Rupiah Banda for abuse of office by Banda’s personalising of the proceeds of a government contract which, in concert with his family he banked in Singapore.

He recalled that the funds laundered through Mauritius was transferred to Japan for purchases that were then shipped to Zambia , pointing out that “this money came from the supply of 20,000 barrels of crude oil daily by the late Umar Yar’Adua government to the Zambian government, as supposed Nigeria’s contribution to Zambia’s development. This case has reached an advanced stage as he has closed the state’s case and it is now for the court to determine whether the president has a case to answer.

“However, following the election of Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu as president on January 20, 2015, former president Mr Rupiah Banda switched his support from his own party to Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s ruling party, who publicly acknowledged financially benefiting from Mr Banda for his campaigns.

“Before the Election, The Post, a leading Zambian newspaper published an article that claimed that the quid pro quo for Banda’s support for Lungu was that his cases in court would be stopped. Citing

sources who were allegedly close to the discussions The Post disclosed that Banda and Lungu agreed that a way should be found to remove Mutembo Nchito from the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to make their work easier.

Once this scheme was publicly exposed it appeared that new approaches had to be found.

“On Thursday, February 5, Mutembo Nchito’s elder brother Mr Nchima Nchito SC with whom he practised law before becoming DPP, was called by his former Law School class mate who also happened to be one of president Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s campaign managers. His name is Mr Kelvin Fube Bwalya. When Mutembo Nchito’s brother went for the meeting, Mr Bwalya informed him that he had a message for Mutembo Nchito from the President. The message was to the effect that the President wanted Mutembo Nchito to resign or face an acrimonious removal process. Mutembo Nchito’s brother wondered why the President was using a private individual to deal with the removal of the DPP. He wondered why the President could not call him. He was told that the President did not want to speak to him”.

Falana said Mutembo Nchito has continued to be harassed and intimidated by the new government in Zambia, adding on Monday, February 9, 2015, he received a tip-off from a journalist that he had received information that in order to facilitate the ending of cases involving former President Banda and investigations against members of his family he would be arrested to create a basis for his removal from office.

He recalled that a very close associate of president, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was used to lodge a criminal complaint against Mutembo Nchito and to obtain an arrest warrant on charges that have not been investigated by any competent authority.

He said Mutembo Nchito successfully obtained Leave to commence judicial review proceedings which was adjudged to operate

•Falana

as a stay of the warrant arrest from an inferior tribunal but this order was blatantly disregarded when he was bundled in vehicle and driven 50 kilometres outside Lusaka where he was thrown into a crowded cell like a common criminal.

He believed Mutembo Nchito was supposedly suspended by president Edgar Chagwa Lungu who also gave an order for a tribunal to be constituted to investigate allegations him by a staunch supporter of the former president Rupiah Banda whom he is prosecuting for corruption. As things stand, Mutembo Nchito is facing a removal tribunal without ever having been asked to respond to the charges as a starting point. The tribunal hurriedly set up to investigate the suspended DPP is constituted by three former chief justices.

“It is pertinent to note that two of the tribunal members were forced to prematurely resign from office based on charges of corruption, bribery and abuse of office which were investigated by Mutembo Nchito. It can be concluded that a verdict of guilt is inevitable from such a fundamentally biased tribunal.

Lagos Attorney-Gen. to support NBA

A

From left: Ms. Geraldine Wey; Chairperson of the 2015 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch Law Week Committee; Mrs. Tolani EduAdeola; Mr.Ipaye; Mr. Muoka; Mrs Tara Aisida and Mr Emeka Nwadioke during the visit.

S Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) starts preparation for its yearly law week, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye has pledged government’s support for the group.

He made the pledge when members of the 2015 Law Week Committee visited his office.

While noting that the government had always supported the association, Ipaye said the cordial relationship between lawyers and the government has deepened justice sector reforms.

He stressed the need for continuing legal education to enable lawyers sharpen their skills and remain relevant.

Earlier, branch Chairman, Alex Muoka, who led the delegation, informed the Attorney-General of his aelection to chair the tax session during the Law Week in June.

Muoka said there will be high-profile Law Week Dinner in honour of Gov. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) who would have left office as well as Governor-lelect, Akinwumi Ambode.

N10m suit: court orders firm, landlord to maintain peace

J

USTICE Olamide Akinkugbe of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered a travels and tourism firm, Peacock Travels and Tours Limited and its landlord, Jude Ekwenife to ensure that they maintain peace between them.

Justice Akinkugbe last week while adjourning a suit between the parties for further hearing till May 19, 2015.

She also ordered the counsels for both parties to advise their clients not to take any action that would amount to treating the court with contempt.

The orders were issued after the applicant had told the court that the roof on its office was being removed thereby leaving its properties opened up for destruction.

The respondent on the other hand claimed before the court that the applicant had sent police after him.

Peacock had dragged its landlord, Ekwenife, before the court claiming N10million as damages over alleged harassment and damages of its properties.

Sued alongside Ekwenife was Mrs. Yinka Igandan, who was said to be the former landlady to Peacock before she sold her property and transferred ownership to Ekwenife.

In the statement of claim, the applicant stated that after purchasing the property at No. 136, Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos, the new landlord, Ekwenife, had allegedly refused to recognise Peacock as his tenant and had therefore ordered the firm to pack out even while its annual rent paid to its former landlady, was still subsisting.

The firm alleged that on July 15, 2014, “suspected thugs and other hirelings in the company of the 1st respondents invaded the

business premises of the applicant and proceeded to demolish parts of the structure and in the process destroyed the petitioner’s Internet connection hardware and water tanks.”

The firm claimed that in a bid to forcefully eject it, the first defendant caused a tipper load of gravel to be offloaded right at its office entrance, thus humiliating the firm before its clients and making difficult its daily business conduct.

According to the firm’s Senior Human Resources Manager, Owoade Akinjide, efforts by the police to settle the matter failed after Ekwenife allegedly refused to cooperate with the police.

The applicant said its workers had been working under the fear of being picked up by policemen from the Terrorism and Heinous Crime Unit because Ekwenife had gone to

lodge a complaint against them and had allegedly misrepresented facts of the dispute.

The travel agency is therefore praying the court to restrain Ekwenife from ejecting it forcefully in addition to payment of N10million as damages for its properties that were allegedly damaged by the first defendant.

It is also is seeking a declaration that there is a tenant-landlord agreement between it and Ekwenife.

But Ekwenifin his response, urged the court to decline jurisdiction over the matter and to declare that the applicant had no locus standi to institute the action.

In a counter-affidavit deposed to by himself, Ekwenife denied being the purchaser of the property, and insisted that one Chief Segun Phillip, rather than Peacock was the recognized tenant on the property.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

PAGE 29

INSIDE Largesse for the needy

PAGE 27

Computer skill for 53 prison inmates

PAGE 29 •Main entrance to the trade fair complex

Once upon Kaduna Trade Fair The Kaduna Trade Fair which started as a cherished meeting point for international exhibitors has faded into a local market patronised by even fewer and fewer home traders.

ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE tells why

T

HE glory days seem over.

Once, a resident held up an article to friends and announced with every sense of accomplishment that he bought it at the prestigious Kaduna International Trade Fair. In those days, top-of-the-line exhibitors from across the world converged on the city, displayed their articles and left with lots of cash in their pockets, leaving behind their equally satisfied hosts.

Not anymore. The fair has shrunk to an afterthought, patrons dwindling faster than watchers can keep track of. Even local exhibitors seem to have other things on their minds than the 35-year-old fair.

For several years, the fair was held at the Murtala Square in the heart of the city. In time the complex became smaller and smaller as more countries and firms participated. This created the need

‘Throughout that time, foreign countries used to bring in equipment that could be used for industrialisation and development of Nigeria and African continent as a whole. For those seven days, the whole Kaduna would be shut down for the trade fair, but suddenly things started going down, due to economic problem that Nigeria was facing’ to move to another site.

The Nation gathered that the Kaduna International Trade Fair was solely financed at inception by a famous business tycoon, Alhaji Bawa Garba, popularly known as ABG. To make it a success, the tycoon reportedly invited over 95 German, British and American

companies to participate.

Dr. Garba’s pioneering efforts and the fair’s huge success attracted more companies and state governments across the country annually.

To facilitate the hosting of the All African Trade Fair, the Federal Government invested over US $30m to build the permanent site for the

Despite court order, Minister demolishes expartriates’ homes

PAGE 31

•Dr. Alimi Bello, President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce

One thing Mr. President should do before May 29

fair.

So much has changed over time, and all for the wrong reasons. The state-of-the-art facilities at the fair site located along the Kaduna/ Zaria expressway are now underutilised as many of the pavil•Continued on page 26

PAGE 32

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT •Continued from page 25 ions have become the habitat of reptiles. Even during the regular fair over the years, many of the pavilions are no longer put to use, leading to decay of many of them.

The handover of the complex to the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce was aimed at putting it to maximum use, but this has yet to be the case. Apart from regular political rallies and conferences which take place at the ultra-modern conference centre inside the trade fair ground, over 75 per cent of the pavilions are unused all year round.

The fair also has stopped attracting many foreign participants. Since the All African Trade fair, America and British companies have not participated in the fair while majority of those who now take part are drawn from the local markets within Kaduna and to some extent, Kano State.

A veteran journalist, Alhaji Tajudeen Tijjani Ajibade, who covered the Kaduna fair for several years for the Kaduna-based New Nigerian newspaper told The Nation that the fair at 36 has moved from being an international meeting point to a mere local market. He said, for a very long time, the fair had participants coming from not less than 23 foreign countries, including their embassies. This, he said, was the case until the late 1990s when Nigeria started experiencing economic challenges.

“Throughout that time,” he said, “foreign countries used to bring in equipment that could be used for industrialisation and development of Nigeria and African continent as a whole. For those seven days, the whole Kaduna would be shut down for the trade fair, but suddenly things started going down, due to economic problem that Nigeria was facing.”

The major turning point in fortunes of the fair began in 2000 with the sharia crisis which which occurred barely a few weeks to the commencement of the fair that year. The crisis reduced the number of participants at the fair drastically and the number kept decreasing over the years. However, The Nation observed that, despite the reduction in the number of foreign participants, the fair was not doing

•Fulani fresh milk sellers at the fair

Once upon Kaduna Trade Fair badly until the current security challenges occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgents began.

When The Nation visited the Trade Fair ground along Kaduna-Zaria Express Way, during the just concluded 36th edition of the fair, it was observed that apart from the absence of foreign exhibitors, some prominent local companies were equally absent. This was why some keen observers described the 36th fair as a mere Kaduna Central Market relocated to Rigachikun.

A regular visitor to the fair told The Nation that “The last time I came to Kaduna International Trade Fair was seven years ago and so I was completely unprepared for the transformation I am seen today, First there is hardly anything international about it now. Except if I am supposed to consider the shed I saw, that was owned by some tired looking foreigners who seemed to be wondering what on earth they were doing at such a sleepy fair as “international” participation.

“Secondly, this place is more than seventy percent empty especially when one compares it with the mammoth crowds we used to see

•A police officer helps children who were rescued by soldiers in Yola

‘I remember when people would travel all the way from Yola, Gusau, Maiduguri, just so they could shop at the fair.

Now many people who live right next door to the Trade Fair complex won’t bother to walk in unless you are going to pay them’ in those pre-boko haram days.

Thirdly, even state governments which have permanent stands at the fair ground don’t bother to show up anymore. There were several state government pavilions that seemed as though they hadn’t been opened in a year. I remember when people would travel all the way from Yola, Gusau, Maiduguri, just so they could shop at the fair. Now

many people who live right next door to the Trade Fair complex won’t bother to walk in unless you are going to pay them. This decline in fortunes of Nigeria’s oldest and once biggest trade fair is the starkest depiction of the current state of the economy of Northern Nigeria. The sad thing is the security situation that may have caused this decline hasn’t changed much.”

Senator Walid Jibrin, one of the leaders of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce attributed the low turnout of participants at the 36th edition of the fair to political tension in the country, saying political gladiators as well as the electorate envisaged election crises which eventually turned out to be a victory for all as elections were believed to be generally peaceful.

However, in his goodwill message, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said government through his ministry was putting in efforts, aimed at reforming the Nigerian investment climate and improving the country’s doingbusiness ranking, adding that the ministry has also embarked on a multi-focus trade strategy to tackle various challenges to domestic, regional and international trade in line with their peculiarities. He added that government has been in touch with the Kaduna Chamber’s programmes and other initiatives because of Continued on page 28

•From left: Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu; President, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State praying during condolence visit to Governor Yuguda over the death of his mother Hajia Hauwa Yuguda in Bauchi on Saturday

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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THE NORTH REPORT

Once upon Kaduna Trade Fair

•Continued from page 26

its embrace of the nation’s transformation agenda, promising that government would always prepared to welcome constructive proposals submitted by the chamber especially is such proposals were based on experience and expert knowledge of commercial and industrial practice.

President of the Chambers Dr. Abdul Alimi Bello told our correspondent that the fair would not have been held due to the tension before the general elections, but the chamber decided to hold it in April to send a signal to the international participants that all is well with Nigeria.

He said he was glad that elections which Nigerians and the world at large were apprehensive on has come and gone peacefully. He however called on incoming adminis-

•An exhibition stand at the fair

A lift for the needy

T

HE physically challenged in Kaduna Central Senatorial zone of Kaduna State have got a lift courtesy of Comrade Shehu Sani who has been elected to represent the zone at the Senate.

Human rights activist Sani has been touring the district to thank the electorate whose votes took him to the National Assembly.

One of his latest gestures on the tour was the donation of wheelchairs to physically challenged residents. The effort impressed the recipients, who said that Sani may have reversed the notion that politicians forget those who voted for them as quickly as the ballots are cast.

Even though Sani was yet to assume duty as the representative of his people in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, he gave out the wheelchairs to the needy, saying it was not too early to start appreciating the beneficiaries who were part of the voters who believed in him.

The Senator-elect had earlier paid a thank-you visit to several other communities in the zone shortly after his election, promising to represent them effectively and bring back the fortunes of the erstwhile industrialised Kaduna Central Senatorial zone.

But, Sani said, his visit and donation to the destitute is a demonstration of his concern for the less privileged, adding that the destitute are the lowest cadre of the poor and downtrodden.

Presenting the wheelchairs at the popular beggars colony along Kano Road, Kaduna, the Senator-elect said, “The destitute are the poorest of the poor, therefore they deserve special attention by the government and the entire citizenry”.

While promising to pursue the destitute bill before the National Assembly with vigour, Shehu Sani told the destitute that, his seat in the Senate would be judiciously utilised towards eradication of the plights.

He said, “This presentation is a tip of the iceberg among the good things that will come your way. I have brought these to show that this new regime is a

‘The destitute are the poorest of the poor, therefore they deserve special attention by the government and the entire citizenry...I have brought these [items] to show that this new regime is one that will fulfil promises made’ From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

regime that will fulfil promises made.

“You all know that we are yet to be sworn in, but, we are doing this because you are the ones suffering most among the poor. In fact, you deserve help even from the poor who are not destitute.

“This is the reason I cannot afford to wait until we are sworn in before I come to your aid. Be rest assured that I will represent you well in the Senate and more of good things will come your way,” Sani said.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries who had earlier organised a special prayer for the Senator-elect ahead of his arrival at the beggars colony said, like ‘Oliver Twist’ they will continue to ask him for more.

One of them, Alhassan Haruna, a physically challenged person, said, “We have supported political office seekers in the past. They made numerous promises, but once they get to the office, they forget us. But, this time, we voted Shehu Sani and he has shown that he didn’t forget us. This is a signal that when he’s sworn-in, he will never forget us.

The destitute however urged Shehu Sani to assist them with a vehicle to convey the sick and their pregnant women ýto hospital when the need arises.

•Sani addressing the physically challenged persons

•The wheelchairs presented

tration at all levels of governance, to invest heavily in macro-economy, quickly added that they should take as a priority how to make the business environment conducive. Alimi argued that, the turnout of the fair is a reflection of the nation’s economy, saying if the new government is able to get things right in terms of economy, it will affect every sector of the economy, including participation in the Kaduna International Trade Fair.

As the fair ended last Sunday, participants were hopeful that the General Muhammadu Buhari-led government would revive the comatose industries for a better fair next year.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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THE NORTH REPORT

173 dump PDP for APC I T

HE former senatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the 2011 general elections, Dr. Aboki Zhawa has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Zhawa made public his defection at his Rubochi Ward in Kuje Area Council.

Zhawa, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum, Education and Head of Service, who crossed over to APC with 173 of his loyalists and supporters, was received by the former Speaker of Kuje Area Council, Alhaji Abdullahi A. Galadima and APC ward chairman in the area, Mr. Dogo Nana Bamaiyi, at a brief ceremony held at the party’s office in the area.

Notable among those that defected were former councillorship candidate of the PDP in the area, Luka Danjuma Yemison, former PDP elder, Mr. Galadima Tatari Gbako, Mukaila Ibrahim Zhawa and PDP elders in the area.

The former senatorial aspirant said he and some of his loyalists dumped his party in order to move the country forward.

He said he was compelled to come into the APC fold with his supporters after he realised that indigenous people of the territory have been schemed out of important positions under the ruling PDP. He said, “We are in a world of reality. I have told people severally that we are not born for a party. The party is born for us, as

‘We are in a world of reality. I have told people severally that we are not born for a party. The party is born for us, as we are not slaves…So my decamping to APC with my supporters is a matter of interest…The natives have scattered all over the places.

We do not even know our places again.

As nobody is planning anything for the natives. We are just like lost ship. With the coming of Buhari, natives of the FCT shall regain their status’ From Gbenga Omokhunu and Stella Ayom

we are not slaves.

“So my [defection] to APC with my supporters is a matter of interest,” he said.

He noted that natives of the territory were giving much recognition during the military administrator of the former FCT Minister, General Maman Vatsa, which he said area councils and some ministries were created to carry the natives along.

According to him, many indigenous people of the territory were carried along under the military administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the military administration of Buhari was transparent.

He berated the FCT administration’s land swap policy, saying the PDP-led government has failed

to resettled natives whose farm lands and house have been taken away from them over the years without compensation.

“The natives have scattered all over the places. We do not even know our places again. As nobody is planning anything for the natives. We are just like lost ship. With the coming of Buhari, natives of the FCT shall regain their status, which is why I decided to join the APC with my supporters” he said.

Responding, chairman of the APC in FCT, Alhaji Usman Abdulmalik said the party was elated by the effort of the former senatorial candidate for his wise decision to dump the PDP to join the APC. He said the party would carry him and his supporters along in every decisions of the party in order to ensure that APC delivers dividends of democracy to people in the FCT.

N order to accelerate the volume of trade, investment and industrial development of the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Executive Committee (EXCO) has approved the domestication of the FCT Trade and Investment Policy.

The Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, who disclosed this, said that the EXCO gave its nod during its meeting.

Mohammed reiterated that the overall objective of the domestication policy is to accelerate industrial development by radically increasing value added at every stage, increase total factor productivity by pursuing knowledge and skill for intensive production renewal for industries and encourage innovation.

According to a statement issued

by Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the minister said in the short-term, the policy seeks to increase the number of manufacturing companies in the FCT; work on manufacturing enterprises that experience difficulties with a view to reviving those with good prospects as well as provide support services that can help manufacturers take advantage of existing opportunities for accessing funds.

According to him, the domestication policy seeks to create new opportunities for the development of micro and small-medium enterprises; create more direct and indirect employment opportunities, apart from attracting new investments in medium and large enterprises.

He emphasised that the EXCO also approved the facilitation of the adopted document on the domestication of Trade and Investment

FCTA to domesticate investment policy ‘The policy seeks to increase the number of manufacturing companies in the FCT, work on manufacturing enterprises that experience difficulties with a view to reviving those with good prospects as well as provide support services that can help manufacturers take advantage of existing opportunities for accessing funds’ From Gbenga Omokhunu, Grace Obike and Stella Ayom

Policy in the FCT to the National Assembly for legislation.

The FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke-Akinjide, FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu, FCDA Executive Secretary, Mr. Adamu Ismaila, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, mandate secretaries and some directors attended the EXCO meeting.

•A girl rescued by soldiers from Boko Haram insurgents lines up with others for food at a refugee camp in Yola

•A nurse, Mr Zanna Apagu cleans the eyes of one of the rescued children from Sambisa •Body of late Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Sheikh Musa Muhammed, being forest before handing over the child to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) taken for burial at the Gudu cemetery in Abuja on Sunday at Malkohi camp in Yola...at the weekend

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

Page 33

•The skilled inmates

Computer skills behind bars H

OW everything now looks so different! When they were pronounced guilty and sentenced to various jail terms, glum faces captured their gloom.

Now, they are smiling and looking forward to a fruitful life after serving their terms.

That is the story of 53 inmates of Kuje Prisons, Abuja who have celebrated their graduation from a computer course and were duly presented with their certificates.

The skills will serve them well in reintegrating into the society following their release.

The Controller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Peter Ependu, at the graduation ceremony organised by Global Skill Acquisition Initiative, in collaboration with the NPS, advised the inmates not to see their stay in prison as the end of the world.

Ependu urged them to see the situation as a stepping stone.

T

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB) has said that about 14,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in seven camps in the territory would benefit from the free medical outreach being organised by the board.

The Executive Secretary of PHCDB, Dr Rilwanu Muhammad, made this known in during the inauguration of the April 2015 National Immunisation-plus Days organised to mark the Africa Vaccination Week (AVW) and the World Malaria Day.

What started as a bitter reality behind the prison bars is ending on joyous note. No fewer than 53 inmates of Kuje Prisons have aquired computer skills to prepare them for post-jail life. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports The Controller-General, who was represented by the Controller of Prison in charge of Welfare, Akin Ekijere, said: “You all know that before now it was punishment in the prisons. The intention then was that prisoners should be brought and locked up, subjected to all forms of ill-treatment. But the new approach is what we call reformation. And the key purpose is to identify the ability and talent of an individual inmate and then be able to address the ability. We are playing the expected roll that we are supposed to play.

“The three “Rs” in our slogan is reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration. These are very strategic in this administration. The CGP has had cause to express concern over the

‘To the graduating inmates, imprisonment is just a stepping stone. It does not reduce your capability, personality; your intellect is still intact. So, why allow people to make you feel inferior…Whatever situation I find myself I believe that God Almighty knows that I am there’ welfare of inmates, especially their progress. I emphasised the need for what we call community correction.

The police have what we call community policing. On our part, we have community correction. What-

ever correction that takes place within the institution without relevant or appropriate collaboration with the community cannot be meaningful. It is sad enough that you and I know that anybody that enters the

prison, the society do not want to know if the person was initially guilty or not, but for the fact that you have stepped into the prison, they have a different notion about you.

“You are rejected by the society as if there is no hope again. They say you are not good again. But honestly, with this concept of community correction, it is important to appreciate the kind of collaboration we are receiving. The after care programme also helps the inmates to do well after serving their jail terms.

“To the graduating inmates, imprisonment is just a stepping stone.

•Continued on page 30

14,000 IDPs to benefit from medical outreach From Gbenga Omokhunu

Mohammed said the Africa Vaccination Week, whose theme was “Vaccination, a Gift of Life”, had been scheduled for between April 24 and 30, saying the main goal of the event was to help in strengthening immunisation systems through advocacy, education and outreach services.

He said the event will commemorate the week and seven of the camps located in three area councils which

are Abaji, Kuje, and Bwari had been selected to have health camps for the duration of the Africa Vaccination Week.

“Arrangement to ensure the availability of the relevant services and supplies to meet the demand created for the interventions have been made. This is to ensure that the health care needs of this group are met,” he said.

He, therefore, urged the displaced persons, especially women and children, to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the event to ac-

cess medical care.

Speaking during the inauguration, the Executive Secretary of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr Ado Mohammed, explained that Nigeria had not recorded any new case of the polio virus in the past nine months.

Mohammed, who was represented by the Advocacy and Communication Officer of the agency, Dr Adamu Nuhu, also said that it was necessary to reach out to the IDPs through advocacy, adding that the exercise will

increase access to the underserved population that are hard to reach and the mobile population in the country.

Also speaking on the World Malaria Day, Mohammed said malaria had devastated the people’s health and livelihood, but that the agency has made huge gains in the fight against the disease.

He said new drugs had been made available for the treatment of the disease, promising that the vaccine against malaria will soon be made available.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

Indigenes fault FCDA on out-of-court settlement

T

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has opted for an out-ofcourt settlement in the case between it and the Dagbalo community in the territory, but the indigenous people have issues with the processes of the settlement.

Rev. Danjuma Tanko, who spoke with reporters after the court proceedings at the FCT High Court under Justice Jude Okeke at Daki-biu in Jabi District, explained that the committee was set up by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and his name was said to have been included for compensation as a move for an out-of-court settlement.

Rev. Tanko said: “The truth is that in the case of demolishing a community, if there is the need to talk about compensation, the FCDA has to compensate the entire Dagbalo community. If they want to compensate only me, it is wrong, because I am not alone; I belong to the community.

“That is what they have not been able to conclude. Out of about 100 households, they were able to provide 48 alternative houses and the remaining ones they diverted to unknown places. I have the list with me.

Besides that, were they supposed to enforce demolition for resettlement without being compensated?

“I will never trust the FCDA. If they want settlement out of court, they should include my people. I cannot be comfortable alone, they must go through the due process of compensation. Now, they have cut us off from my community and wiped off the community. Will they be able to get us that kind of community?

Also, while speaking with journalists, counsel to Dagbalo, Mr. Nkem Adolphima explained that it was announced by the counsel to the FCDA that they had a meeting but were yet to resolve the issue and they needed some time to settle everything that •Continued from page 29 It does not reduce your capability, personality, your intellect is still intact. So, why allow people to make you feel inferior.

“So, I like the challenge. Whatever situation I find myself I believe that God Almighty knows that I am there. So, I take complete control of the situation. Do not allow imprisonment to run you down. I see your faces as people that are committed to succeed in life. Take this situation as

•Some of the graduating inmates

‘In the case of demolishing a community, if there is the need to talk about compensation, the FCDA has to compensate the entire Dagbalo community. If they want to compensate only me, it is wrong, because I am not alone; I belong to the community…

That is what they have not been able to conclude’ From Gbenga Omokhunu and Stella Ayom

would lead to out-of-court settlement, that the name of the plaintiff has been short-listed for compensation.

“The fact that both parties have got their evidence and they are working towards ending the case, the next adjoined date will be to adopt the final written address, because we have been told to file our written addresses.

“Hopefully, based on what the FCDA lawyer said, that they have filed out papers and documents, that the names of the plaintiff have •Continued on page 32

•From left: Director Sustainable Business Initiative, University of Edinburgh United Kingdom (UK), Kenneth Amaeshi; Carol Alex-Uzoma of National Pension Commission (Pencom), Jens Hagendorff from University of Edinburgh; Commissioner, Administration Pencom, Ebenezer Foby; and Head, Human Capital Department Pencom, Dan Ndackson during a staff training workshop organised by the commission in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh in Abuja.

R

ESIDENTS of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have accused the Federal Government and marketers of petroleum products of being responsible for the biting fuel scarcity in the territory.

The residents, who lamented the prolonged fuel scarcity, said the situation has worsened with commercial drivers increasing transport fares by 100 per cent because thousands of vehicles are queuing up for fuel at the filling stations.

Samuel Donatus, a motorist, said he spent two days at the NNPC filling station along Kubwa-Zuba Expressway where over 2,000 cars were on the queue for fuel, with no hope of getting the product.

“I have no fuel in my car and I have been sleeping at this filling station for the past two days. I eat

Residents rue fuel scarcity From Gbenga Omokhunu

and sleep here. I do not know when it is going to get to my turn when they eventually start selling the fuel and I cannot afford black market where one litre is sold at between N200 and N250.

“The truth is that this fuel crisis is really a punishment on us. Imagine the suffering we are all going through because of the forthcoming handover. This is not fair. We should not be going through this challenges; we deserve better from the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan administration,” he said.

Gloria Udo, a civil servant lamented that the prolonged fuel crisis has taken a negative turn on the

residents because motorists that were considerate during the beginning of the fuel crisis have been forced to increase their fares.

“From Kubwa village to town, I paid N200 instead of N100. The worst part of it all is that it is difficult to get the vehicles to board to town. Nobody knows what is going on and how long this fuel problem will last.

“We are really suffering in the FCT. Things are getting harder by the day. When the fuel problem began, we thought that it will be just for a moment, but now, it has lasted up to two months and nothing has been done about it. We are suffering and smiling at the same time in this city,” she said.

Computer skills behind bars a challenge. We appreciate the National Open University of Nigeria for this platform.”

Chamberlin Obianigwe, a convict and one of the best graduating students told Abuja Review that he had been in Kuje Prison for seven years and that few months from now, he will be gaining his

freedom.

The elated Obianigwe said: “I have been here for about seven years as a convict and I will be leaving in few months’ time. I am so glad and happy. When this unfortunate journey started seven years ago, I though it was the end of my life and that the world had come to an end for me.

But when the education programmes came into Kuje Prison, I embraced all trainings academically and otherwise to see that I do not relent while I am here. So, I am so happy.

“The advise I have for other inmates is that when you are in prison, you should not limit yourself to just the problem that brought you here but

to engage themselves in every activity that is going on in the prison, pending when God will grant you freedom.

“When I leave the prison in few months’ time, I will be very happy to re-unite with my wife, daughter, mother and the rest of members of my family for they have been supporting me all this while and they always visit me.”

Another inmate who was the class governor of the 53 students, David Dung said the notion that some people outside the four corners of prison walls have is that prisoners are finished.

Dung went further: “But God, in His infinite mercy says no to the thoughts of men.”

The National Coordinator of Global Skill Acquisition Initiative, Ogbaje Ojogbedua said: “The purpose of the programme was to empower the youth in Nigeria, especially the less privileged ones to be self-reliant and self employed. We brought the programme to the prison to empower the inmates to be selfreliant. They came into the prison and one day they will go back to the society. So, we have to reform and re-integrate them through the collaboration with the NPS to give them the hope and future.

“They are about 53 that are graduating. The issue of stigmatisation and discrimination should not be there.

Government cannot do it all alone; it needs every necessary collaboration with the private organisations, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). The Federal Government should also try its best by going into collaboration with private organisations and NGOs.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

•Murum Bula of Mbula chiefdom of Adamawa State, Mr Joram Fwa, leading a procession of dignitaries at the Annual Mbapur festival of Mbula people in Mbula Kuli village of Demsa Local Government Area, Adamawa State

•The demolition in Abuja of houses belonging to non-Nigerians...on Friday

•Women and children rescued from Islamist group Boko Haram in the Sambisa forest by the Nigerian military arrive at an internally displaced persons camp in Yola, Adamawa State

•The demolished structures in Abuja

‘Give us FCT ministerial slot’

T

•From left: Senators-elect Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West); Dr Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central); Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom Central) and David Umoru (Niger East) after an induction course for newly elected lawmakers in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

HE President of the National Gade Youth Assembly (NGYA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Comrade Baba Sani, has appealed to the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to consider appointing a native of the territory as minister of the FCT. Sani, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, said the original inhabitants of the territory have, over the years, not been privileged to be appointed into key positions at the centre.

According to Sani, since the inception of democracy in 1999, natives of the territory that comprised nine ethnic groups have always been treated like secondclass citizens in their ancestral home.

He urged the president-elect to shun those urging him to appoint Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a minister of the FCT, saying there are qualified natives of the territory that can handle such position if given the

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Stella Ayom

opportunity.

“The national Gade Youth Assembly also urges the presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari to shun those urging him to appoint Rabiu Kwankwaso, as FCT minister. Besides, such move is repugnant to national justice, equity and good conscience,” he said.

The group further urged the incoming administration to set up a committee that would look into some uncompleted /abandoned projects, especially at the satellite towns, which he said has direct bearing on the lives of residents of the territory.

“We also plead with the president-elect to cancel the land swap policy introduced by the outgoing FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, because it has robbed the original inhabitants of their ancestral homes, inheritance and democratic rights,” he added.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

C

ONSIGNING the bloodthirsty insurgents to history is one thing President Goodluck Jonathan should achieve before quitting the stage on May 29.

Thousands of innocent souls have been lost due to the insurgency in some parts of Nigeria, which were mainly carried out by the Islamic sect Boko Haram.

Not only have many Nigerians also been maimed and orphaned as a result of the deadly onslaught of the sect over the years, a great number of them have been rendered homeless and life may never be the same again for them, even when the insurgency ends.

Apart from the lives that were lost, maiming and destruction of properties by the sect, a substantial part of Nigeria’s annual budget that would have been used for development was appropriated towards procuring military hardware needed to fight the insurgents.

It is also on record that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is said to be achieving giant strides against Boko Haram in the past one month over and above what was achieved in the past years of the war.

Besides reclaiming almost all lost territories from the insurgents, over 300 women and children in Sambisa Forest were said to have been freed from the clutches of Boko Haram in the past two weeks.

While attributing the recent successes to the acquisition of necessary equipment for the war against the insurgents, President Jonathan has even opposed the deployment of international forces against Boko Haram.

He had rather called on the international community to assist with rebuilding the areas destroyed by the sect over the years.

The President was so confident now against the sect that he even vowed on Thursday last week that he would handover a Nigeria free from Boko Haram to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.

No doubt, Nigerians will be happy if the President can really achieve that on or before the handover date.

But they will be happier if President Jonathan can go further to unveil the ‘real’ sponsors and financiers of Boko Haram before he leaves office on May 29.

Even if there won’t be time for his administration to prosecute the sponsors to logical conclusion, the incoming administration will pick up the cases from where he stopped.

As a Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, many Nigerians won’t believe that President Jonathan has not had access to security information over the years pointing to the real sponsors and financiers of the insurgents.

Not a few numbers of the terrorists were arrested by security agen-

One thing Mr. President should do before May 29 cies in the past five years and, as expected, valuable information on the ‘real’ sponsors should have been gathered by the government.

To wash his hands of the blood of innocent souls shed by the insurgents, President Jonathan should ensure that there are no cover-ups on the sponsors. He should also ensure that urgent steps are being taken to expose and bring them to book, even if that is the last thing he will do before leaving office to start his statesmanship role.

To expose and prosecute the sponsors is very important as it will reduce the possibility of Nigeria and Nigerians experiencing such insurgency in the future.

Again, it will give the incoming administration a clean slate to begin work without the evil sponsors and financiers walking free in the society.

To remain silent and conceal the real identity of the sponsors will not be the best for Nigeria.

And if what has happened over the years were manipulations by some persons in the system for financial or other gains, the President should move against them as there is still time to act before leaving office.

Massive turnout excites Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan was, on last Saturday of April, stunned with the turnout of people for the last and fifth Presidential Prayer Breakfast at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

The turnout was complete opposite

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya of the attendance at the Palm Sunday Service in the Aso Villa Chapel on March 29, 2015.

The Palm Sunday Service, which was a day after the Presidential elections was held across the country, had very few people in attendance.

Even though President Jonathan was yet to concede defeat to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, many of the worshipers, who stayed away probably saw the handwriting on the wall as the results of the election were trickling in from across the country.

Attendance during that Sunday service, besides the choir, did not exceed the first three rows on both sides of the hall while workers and few security aides and media men occupied the rows behind.

In spite that the Chapel was always filled beyond capacity anytime President Jonathan was worshiping there, he however, kept calm in his usual style and didn’t show whether

he was surprised with the low turnout at the Palm Sunday Service.

President Jonathan, who was getting used to the thinning crowd after he conceded defeat, couldn’t hide his surprise when he saw the massive crowd at the prayer breakfast in the State House.

Hear him: “Today, I expected a very low turnout because, in most cases, when government is going, the number of people that attend service here reduces. You will notice that even the number of people that have been coming to the chapel becomes less and less.

“But when I came in, I noticed that the hall is filled up. So, I have to sincerely thank all of you.”

Mohammed’s uncommon gesture to church It is no longer news that a quiet and godly place known as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)

Jubilee Resort and Leadership Centre has been inaugurated and is ready for use in Abuja.

The edifice, located within the premises of the National Christian Centre Abuja, has four suspended floors and a basement, 53 standard double and single bedrooms, two presidential suites, 1,000-capacity conference hall with two-wing galleries, board room, restaurant, two units of elevator, 500 KVA standby power generating set, 500 KVA transformer, 60,000-litre capacity underground water tank with 25.5 distribution pumps, laundry rooms and parking lots.

But what is amazing in the construction of the project is the role played by a Muslim Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed.

Not minding that he was not a Christian, he gave his all to the project that made the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor to single him out among other donors.

He said: “This dream would have just remained a dream without good people, great Christians with great hearts. Many promised to support us, but unfortunately, not many paid, a few responded to our requests. In your presence, your Excellency, we want to recognise them, we want to be able to give them a little plaque representing how we feel about what they have done.

“It all began with the FCT Ministry led by the Hon. Minister, Bala Mohammed. Thank you for being the starting point for us. Also the Minister of State standing by you to support us.”

Indigenes fault FCDA on out-of-court settlement •Continued from page 30 been short-listed.

“If before the next adjoined date, which is June 30, and they bring their evidences before the court, the case will have a different dimension. Otherwise, the court will proceed to adopt the written address and then take a date for judgment. Although, out-of-court settlement may not be the best option, if they present something that is when something will come out of it.

“It is not the issue of the FCDA giving promises, we want to see something that would serve as evidences of what they intend to do; that would show that they really want an out-of-court settlement. It is not just having out-of-court settlement with verbal promises. It is not done that way.

“If we are able to see documents on allocations and compensations, then we will know that we are arriving at somewhere,” she said.

• Chairman of Session and Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (left); members-elect, Lado Suleja and James Faleke during the induction course for newly elected legislators in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY Being text of a paper presented by former NBA President Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN) at the 19th Commonwealth Lawyers Conference at the Scottish Events and Conference Centre, Glasgow, UK.

How to practise in multi-jurisdictions I

N the case of professional qualification requirements, any division of the Bar in the country may admit a legal professional practising outside the country to practise in South Africa provided the person has been admitted as an advocate in a designated country, resides and practises as an advocate in that country, is fit and proper to be admitted, and, has no disciplinary proceedings pending or contemplated against him or her.

Namibia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Lesotho are the only countries that have been designated countries in terms of this particular provision. Advocates from these countries may be allowed to practise across border in South Africa. It is pertinent to note that this provision constitutes a violation to MFN treatment obligation because it is not applied in a non-discriminatory manner to all other WTO member states and has not been listed as an exemption.

East African Community States (EAC) As regards the EAC partner states, they have agreed that the opening of their service sectors within the common market would be progressive. Burundi has agreed to liberalise its legal services by eliminating all market access restrictions by 2015; Kenya agreed to liberalise only the legal advisory and representation services in judicial procedures concerning other fields of law; Rwanda agreed to liberalise its legal sector by 2010; Uganda agreed to fully liberalise its legal sector by 2015 while Tanzania didn’t make any commitment with regard to legal services.9 At the moment, the East Africans are debating the EAC Cross Border Legal Practice Bill, 2014 at the East African Legislative Assembly as at March, 26, 2015. According to the report, the East African Law Society and National Law Societies in the EAC acknowledge the need for the enactment of an EAC Cross Border Legal Practice law to facilitate provision of cross border legal services within EAC, to harmonise legal training and certification, provide common standards and rules to regulate cross border legal practice and facilitate free movement of legal services. Presently in EAC, lawyers are confined to practising within their countries, a situation that hampers them from taking advantage of cross-border opportunities even in instances where there are shortages of skills.

Ghana In Ghana, the legal profession allows a qualified lawyer to practise as either a solicitor or a barrister. Foreign lawyers are permitted to practise in Ghana provided they have the required qualifications from their home jurisdiction, a letter of good – standing from their home bar which must be certified by the General Legal Council. The foreign lawyer must also pass the required exam in Ghanaian Constitutional law and the customary law of Ghana. Non–Ghanaian citizens are also required to demonstrate seven years post qualified experience (PQE) in a country with a compatible legal system.

The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS)

A recent innovation to enhance cross border practice is the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) allows lawyers qualified in foreign jurisdictions to requalify as solicitors of England and Wales. This is a fast-track route to qualification with no experience or training contract requirement. There are now numerous important business centres around the world in which many of the negotiations and transactions are governed by English law. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for locally based, dual-qualified lawyers who can provide English cross jurisdictional as well as local legal advice.10 Issues arising from mobility of Lawyers / cross border practice When lawyers practise law in countries in which they are not licensed, problems of varying degrees and magnitude are bound to arise. It is intended to examine some of those problems as they apply to the African continent. By way of a preface, it has been argued in some quarters that it is a violation of the rules of ethics and that the reason why many lawyers do not consider it risky to engage in some or all of this conduct is that the rules prohibiting multijurisdictional practice are not well defined and is almost entirely unenforced. However, since multi-jurisdictional practice is now a reality the tendency of foreign counsel is at times to operate in host countries outside his home jurisdiction very freely.

Since the practice of law is not confined to litigation, but extends to activities in other fields which entail specialised legal knowledge and ability, there is usually an encroachment into the provision of legal services by other professions i.e. Estate Surveyors, Accountants. Etc. Now, the line between such activities and permissible business conducted by non-attorneys is unclear. Because of this ambiguity, what is, and what is not, the authorised practice of law is best decided in the context of an actual case or controversy.

Again, new areas of law and regulations have created whole new fields for legal services, many transactions have become significantly more complex, the effects of which are not in the contemplation of existing laws of jurisdictions that act as host to foreign lawyers not licensed to practice there. There is, therefore, a need for a constant revision of local domestic laws so as to keep pace with developmental advances in the legal profession brought about by the rapid advances propelled by globalisation.

There is therefore a need to admit that there are indeed problems posed by or associated with multi-jurisdictional practice in Africa.

The most apparent being the uncertainty of legal rules governing the process. Equally engaging are incidences of professional misconduct committed by foreign counsel while operating outside the jurisdiction that ordinarily has the power to discipline them. Proffering solutions to the issue, American contributors to the issue suggested the European Union solution to the discipline of lawyers engaged in unethical practice outside their own shores and identified the issues thus:

“In thinking of solutions to problems posed by multi-jurisdictional practice in this country, it is instructive to consider the approach taken by another large federal system. The European Union consists of fifteen countries bound together by a series of treaties. (It styles itself a “union” and avoids use of the word “federal”.) The EU nations, of course, are highly developed economically with much cross-border activity, and the problems of multi-jurisdictional practice by attorneys are quite familiar there. Each country, of course, regulates practice within its borders and some of them in the past did much to hinder the cross-border practice of law; this hindrance closely resembled the practice of states in this country. Because those crossborder restrictions were inconsistent with the EU’s strong commitments to open markets and the free movement of workers, the EU authorities, backed by the European Court of Justice, whittled away at them. Finally, in 1998, the EU adopted Directive 98/5 (OJ 1998 L77/36) to deal with the situation directly.”

The manner in which the EU dealt with the problem is best expressed in the words of the learned contributors thus: “Under that Directive, an attorney licensed to practise in one member state is entitled to practise law in any other member state. He may do this on a permanent basis, although he must practise under his home-state title ( e.g., “solicitor”) and register with the hoststate authorities. The attorney may give advice on both host and home state law, international law, and on EU law. Attorneys so practising are subject to the disciplinary rules of both the home and host authorities.

An EU attorney who practises continuously in a host state for at least three years can gain admission to its bar without further examination and use the proper host-state title for his practice. The benefits of the new EU process are quite apparent to clients and attorneys alike. What is interesting to an American observer is the belief by the EU lawmakers that, when it comes to regulating the practice of law, the 15 member states have much more in common than their sometimes quite different legal systems would suggest. Thus, the benefits to clients in terms of better service and the benefits to attorneys that come with increased mobility significantly outweigh the possible costs of not being sufficiently grounded in a particular legal culture. It may be time for Americans to consider emulating the lawyers of Europe.”

The need to address all categories of Lawyers Altertanative Dispute Resolution There is a raging controversy as to whether alternative dispute resolution actually constitutes the practice of law. The writer holds the preliminary view that it does, notwithstanding the fact that ADR is engaged in by persons from other professions i.e. engineers, accountants, valuers etc. This is because the advocates who participate with their clients in a form of ADR in seats or venues outside their home jurisdictions for

purposes of neutrality are actually engaged in the practice of law in the multi-jurisdictional sense. This is so as ADR has a positive effect on the legal profession and its success in promoting peaceful settlement of claims impacting on rights qualifies it as multijurisdictional practice of law.

As regards professional misconduct of lawyers in International Arbitration some of the potential disciplinary measures as prescribed by local jurisdictions include issuing an admonition, reprimand or other type of warning. Fines and occupational bans have also been suggested. In some jurisdictions counsel assume civil liability towards the client in case counsel is guilty of a breach of the contract between it and the client and if such breach caused a loss to the client. While most countries observe that the breach of an ethical rule may not per se qualify as a breach of contract. In France ethical misconduct is likely to constitute breach of contract. These by admission are remedies provided by different nations in the exercise of their individual legislative control over the profession. The IBA has made model recommendations, which can be adopted by willing stakeholders although it has been argued that Guideline 26 of the IBA Guidelines might enhance liability risks for counsel, as it allows the Arbitral Tribunal to sanction a party for ethical misconduct of its counsel.

Litigators Litigators are the only set of lawyers that have explicit restrictions to practise law in other jurisdiction. For instance, a Nigerian trained Barrister cannot litigate in a court of law in Scotland except he is authorised by the relevant domestic laws to practise law in Scotland. However, in the United States there are circumstances in which lawyers who are admitted only in one state may be admitted pro hac vice to conduct litigation in another State. A pro hac vice is a legal term usually referring to a lawyer who has not been admitted to practise in a certain jurisdiction but has been allowed to participate in a particular case in that jurisdiction. This process is helpful in two ways. On the one hand, it allows the client to use a particular lawyer of the client’s choice even if the lawyer is not admitted locally. On the other hand, it creates a safe harbor for the lawyer who is admitted pro hac vice and who therefore need not be concerned about engaging in unauthorised practice in the same manner as multi-state business transaction lawyers. Nonetheless, this does not mean that the present system is ideal or even adequate from the point of view of courts, clients, litigators or the public interest14.

Corporate Counsel The problems facing in-house counsel are probably the most severe. As a result of globalisation corporations expand or relocate frequently.The effect of this is that corporate counsel is often required to move with them to other jurisdiction to provide legal services.

If not required to actually move, counsel is often required to handle the many global matters facing the modern day corporation...

The fundamental question this raises is whether this set of counsel can practice law in such foreign jurisdictions. For instance if a Company in England moves to Nigeria can the in-house Counsel practice law in whatever form in Nigeria having not been enrolled to practice in Nigeria...

Book honour for Bulkachuwa

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•Daudu (SAN) left and Gregory Ross at the Conference

HE Centre for Socio-Legal Studies in collaboration with the Court of Appeal will on May 25 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja present a book in honour of the first female President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa. The book is entitled Cases and materials on Election Petitions and Appeals.

The compendium contains 72 leading judgements of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The book has Prof. Yemi Akinseye George (SAN) as Editor-in-Chief, while Prof. Maxwell Gidado and other sound legal minds are on the editorial board.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

38

LAW & SOCIETY Godwin Obla is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He is a prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and has conducted several high profile cases. In this interview with JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he speaks on election petitions, Judges appointment and judicial reforms.

‘8th National Assembly must be proactive to meet Nigerians’ expectation’ THE much awaited change is here, what are your expectations in the justice sector?

gious fanatic neither am I an extremist canvassing a position that is not realistic.

F

IRST and foremost, Nigerians are very expectant now, they are very expectant because they believe that things have not been going the way they expected. But I think that the expectations should be reasonable because the usual thing is that when a new government comes in, the populace expect a magic wand, but life is not about magic, life is about reality. The justice sector to which I belong is a sector that has had a lot of challenges over the years. These challenges are not new but what the populace are looking forward to is a reform that will enhance speedy dispensation of justice without affecting the quality of justice that is dispensed. In criminal matters, especially in matters involving politically exposed persons, the public expects speedy justice.

However, I think that it will be unfair to pigeon hole these expectations in relation to particular category of persons. Politically exposed persons deserve speedy justice, people involved in other forms of crime deserve speedy justice, the business man deserve speedy justice, the banker who lends out money to people desires that his matter be tried on time so that he can recover his money and move on. The person having a land crisis also needs that his situation be dealt with, so also those involved in matrimonial issues or those that have issues of inheritance. So, it is a complete overhaul that we need. May be our procedural laws have been too inhibiting, if they have, then what do we do.

What kind of transformation do we then expect?

It is not an overnight transformation that we are expecting, but the Chinese said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step. So, there will be a lot of interventions in the justice sector. Incidentally, the incoming Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has also cut a niche for himself in the area of Justice Sector reforms, the reforms that the Lagos State Judiciary is experiencing today is substantially traceable to him, so I think that he will work hand in hand with the new Attorney-General and Minister of Justice whoever that may be to bring some serious sectoral reforms in the Justice sector.

A lot of Justice Sector Bills that started their journey in the 6th National Assembly could still not be passed into law by the outgoing 7th Assembly. Naturally such bills will start fresh legislative journey to be passed into law in the forthcoming 8th Assembly, how do we checkmate this unnecessary waste of time and resources in the legislature?.

We need to be realistic with ourselves, most times, blames are heaped on the executive arms of government, and people forget that the system of government that we operate, involves the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive arms of government. We also forget the fact that the three arms are to work in synergy and the failure to work in synergy affects the quality of governance that we all experience. A lot those bills you mentioned will never be passed into law because of the diverse interests that are involved in them, like the Non Conviction bills, Assets Recovery bills, people are looking the fact that some of these bills, when passed into law will impact on them personally, or their businesses later on. So, they actually put their feet down and frustrate it.

Corruption has also affected the activities of the National Assembly, those are not bills that hold any potential for of actually impacting on the members so there is no incentive for the members to pass this bill into law. They are not like the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), or like any other bill that has any serious commercial interest.

So, how do we get over this?

I believe that until the members of the incoming National Assembly change their attitudes, their work ethics and do what is right for the country, no matter how well intentioned the incoming executive may be, you will find out that they will achieve very very little because our laws are the basis upon

What do you mean by this?

Don’ forget that the incoming President is from the North West, Katsina. North East just moved two hitherto PDP states into the main APC but the North Central moved five states into the APC, that number is not a number that you can ignore. The North as it used to be has two religious positions, the Christian minority of the North and then the Muslim majority of the North. Gen. Buhari is from the Muslim majority of the North, the North Central is essentially the Christian belt of Northern Nigeria. As a President, he is already a Muslim and is from the Northwest, there is no Christian member of the incoming government that I know that is a Senator. So if you are moving it to the North East, it is going to be Muslim Muslim thing again from the north. Those of us from the North Central that are Christians, we feel that the history of marginalisation of our people that has always led to rebellion is being made manifest again and that we have been used as guinea pigs in a political laboratory and that we are no longer needed. Of course, we are a very patient people, we are hopeful that it will not come to that but if it does, we will still take a look at ourselves, don’t forget that government is an ongoing thing and that when you get to the National Assembly and all that, we will still be required for purposes of the various permutations that will take place, so it is just a question of time, but I think that the best thing to do is to leave it in the North Central Zone.

•Obla

which they will operate effectively. So, if you don’t have good laws, no matter your good intentions, will definitely meet obstacles on the road.

Law has always been a catalyst for economic development, what is your advice to the incoming National Assembly in this respect so that we can have good governance in the country?

I think that the incoming National Assembly should first and foremost have a proactive perspective of development all over the world and to reflect this perspective on the nature and character of laws we make.

Let me give you an example, commerce now, has largely been influenced by telecommunications and the internet. We are doing a lot of the things that Europeans and Americans are doing here, but do we have the legal framework to support the transactions that we are doing, most times they ask you to pay for items over the internet in Nigeria, you pay for Joint Admissions and Matriculation (JAMB) forms, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) forms, conference forms over the internet, what is the legal framework that support these payment platforms that we are using. The world has substantially changed, there is so much cyber related crimes and offences now, what has the National Assembly done, how far have gone to bring our laws in tandem with all these developments. So, the next National Assembly needs to be very proactive and speed is required in everything that they do. They may think that four years is a long time, but it is a very short period indeed for them to articulate

this bill, bring them out, conduct public hearings, then go back clean them up and then send them to the executive for signature. So, they have to hit the ground running and do the right thing, all these distractions and unnecessary altercations with the executive arm should be a thing of the past.

The race for Senate Presidency is getting hot, your zone, the North Central Zone is contesting for that and your state Benue is in the frontline for it, what is your take on this?

My zone which is the North Central Zone of all the geo-political zones in the country, has been the most dynamic in this election. I say this because it was the zone that changed the equation; it was the zone that was essentially in the mainstream Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Kwara State was in the PDP, Kogi State was there , Benue State was , Plateau State was there too as well as Niger State . All these states made a 360 degrees turn and moved in favour of the opposition party, that was the zone that determined the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in that election. So allowing the Senate Presidency to stay there is not a big deal for a zone that ensured victory, it is just an acknowledgement of what they have done and I strongly believe that the zoning should be left there. Don’t forget that Nigeria is a religious and politically sensitive contraption. I heard that bsome people have said that they want to move it to the North Central Zone, that will be a most unwise decision for the party. I am not a reli-

This the era of election petitions, how do you think our laws, especially the 180 days rule will affect the expeditious determination of electoral disputes?

Well, a lot of the election petitions have just been filed and I don’t think any of the respondents have filed processes in rebuttal of what most of the petitioners have filed.

It all depends on the nature and character of the case, if for instance the Petitioner said that he is going to call 300 witnesses and the Respondent in rebuttal said that he is going to call 600 witnesses, it is within his right. Do not also forget that the right to fair hearing is a fundamental aspect of our constitution and everybody, the Petitioner and the Respondent has a right to be heard.

So if in the course of hearing 180 days elapses, well, that is it, the law has not been changed.

What lessons did we learn along this line from the 2011 experiences, how did the law affect the determination of electoral disputes then?

We ought to have learnt lessons from the 2011 elections and the related petitions that arose there from. My expectation is that may be the National Assembly having regard to the lessons learnt, would have taken appropriate steps to make certain amendments if need be, well they just over looked it and as far as we are concerned it our law, a good law and we are stuck to it.

The process of appointing our Judges has been blamed for most of the ills bedevilling the Judiciary including the quality of Judgments delivered at our Courts, what is your reaction to this?

Well, I think that there is always room for improvement in the conduct of human affairs, but the area that I am most worried about is the area of the perceived secrecy of the process. If our procurement process for the purpose of contract award has been made so open that the entire public participates in it, I don’t actually understand why the appointment of Judges should be like a matter involving the appointment of the Pope where people are secretly locked up somewhere to conduct the process, I don’t really understand this.

If Judges need to be appointed, there should be an advertorial, just the way the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria is also appointed, would-be judges should be made to pass through a filtering process that is rigorous.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

39

LEGAL OPINION

Involve local govts in war against corruption, says don

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ORMER Dean, Faculty of Law of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, has said that there was need for local governments in the country to be involved in the fight against corruption.

He gave this suggestion while delivering a lecture entitled: Promoting Transparency and Accountability at the Local Government/Community level’, at a one-day training/interactive seminar, on the role of local government in the fight against corruption. It was organised by SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in collaboration with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

Prof. Oyewo argued that the local government system is not immuned from the system of bad governance, a phenomenon which he noted has been entrenched in the system.

“Transparency suggests that public office holders should be open while carrying out the business of governance. It is sad, that government officials spend money on things that are irrelevant.

By Adebisi Onanuga

“The Lagos State government remains a model in the aspect of transparency and accountability. It has even passed what it termed the public finance law. But what is not clear is whether the state government has begun implementation of same at other levels.

“The legislative regime in existence today is counterproductive to the Nigerian political process,” he noted.

The Professor of law however urged Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to ensure the use of card readers in the coming local government elections across the country.

Also speaking on the role of local government in promoting citizens access to justice, a professor of public law from Unilag, Professor Ayo Atsenuwa expressed sadness that Nigerians have been ambushed by agents of government.

She explained that the essence of the local government system is to

get citizens to participate in government.

Earlier in his remarks, former Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Babatunde Ogala maintained that for every corrupt political office holder, there is a civil servant aiding him or her.

He further maintained that corruption has eaten deep into the foundation of the country, just as he called on Nigerians to rise up and fight the manace to a standstill.

In his welcome address, SERAP’S Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni explained that the training/interactive seminar is aimed at bringing together local government representatives, civil society, diplomatic missions and embassies, and most especially the Media to discuss the potential role of the local government and its citizens in promoting transparency and accountability and to advance citizens access to justice in the fight against corruption.

•Dr. Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe (left) with Plateau State Governor elect, Simon B Lalong when Enamhe paid a courtesy call last week.

Appeal Court justice decries bad writing by lawyers

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JUSTICE of the Court of Appeal, Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo, has decried the quality of written materials filed by lawyers, saying most of them are difficult to understand.

She said most lawyers need retraining and guidance in the art of brief writing to make the justices’ work easier.

Justice Obaseki-Adejumo spoke in Lagos at a seminar organised by the Commercial Law Development Services (CLDS) Limited with the theme: Pleadings, Written Addresses and Legal Opinions – A Practical Approach.

She said: “Quite frankly, the quality of briefs filed before the Court of Appeal leaves a lot to be desired. My experience has been that I mostly have to read and reread, edit and then translate the contents in a manner that makes some sense to me, before I can proceed to write an opinion thereon.”

According to her, the appellate

By Joseph Jibueze

justices have no choice than to struggle to consider such a brief “no matter how bad or inelegant a form it is written.

“It must be said that the quality of briefs these days makes the work of the court doubly and unnecessarily difficult and cumbersome.

“For improvement, I suggest inhouse training and re-training of members of the Bar organised both by the local and national bodies of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

“Lawyers themselves should take it upon themselves to read literature on the preparation of briefs, and also seek help from their more experienced colleagues,” she said.

She said written advocacy plays an important role in the judicial process, which is why nearly all superior court of record require parties to frontload their

processes before hearing to save time.

“This written argument contained therein is, therefore, the first opportunity a litigant has to persuade the court,” Justice ObasekiAdejumo said.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Sylva Ogwemoh, urged lawyers to limit the use of legal jargons in writing briefs, adding that they pay close attention to language, accuracy, brevity and order of their briefs.

“To write a good brief entails ability to communicate one’s thought in very clear language for the judge to follow easily. A good modern brief writer must be able to teach and communicate,” Ogwemoh said.

The organiser, Mrs Chioma Mordi, said the training was aimed at reducing the incidence of litigants losing cases due to bad presentation of arguments by their lawyers, adding that CLDS would hold similar trainings in the near future.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Buhari and the Igbo power-elites

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WO recent developments, make it necessary to pre-empt the relation ship, between the in-coming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the Igbo political-power-elites. First, was the heart-rending experience of theformer Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji,with regards to his inspiring, but now dithering,Aba Integrated Power Project. An account he publicly rendered, recently. The other instance, was the GovernorOkorocha led visit, of Igbo members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), to the President-elect, and their half-hearted courage, to demand ‘for something’.

To appreciate the challenge facing Professor Nnaji, as he battles his Igbo cousins, who have used their humongous resources to appropriate the exiting national bureaucracy, against his power project; there is the need to examine the two variants, of the Igbo power-elites. Interestingly also, it is the absence of thedominant faction of the Igbo power-elite in the APC;that made Governor Okorocha to lack the confidence, to specifically ask for political posts, from the President-elect, as is the case, with some other interest groups.

As the President-elect, Gen. Buhari prepares to take over power in few weeks’ time, it will be interesting to see his preferences,from the variant Igbo power-elites, in the days ahead. Among that power-elites; there is the poorly educated, excessively rich and rambunctious faction, on one side.

This group can be very useful to the President-elect, for carrying out duplicitous and unconscionable power-projects. Here, I mean the real power, the source from which other powers, cometh –political power. While they may have little or no formal education, they are well heeled in power chicanery.

If the President-elect will prefer the services of this group, he should consult former President Olusegun Obasanjo, under whose watch the group reached the apogee of their power in this republic. I bet he may have the master-list of candidates. I guess also that on that list, will be those, who years back, egregiously put the government of Anambra state to sword, under the watchful eyes of national security agencies. Well, if he prefers to consult a victim, he should call Senator Chris Ngige, for an eye-witness account. While Chris was the Governor of Anambra state, the leading lights of that faction, with the connivance of the federal power, choose to bring him to account. The macabre drama that followed that decision, can be better explained by the Senator.

There is also the other group. They are the fecund, cerebral and highly gifted Igbo power-elites; who would have a lot to contribute, if there services are needed. Professor Barth Nnaji happens to be one of them. The erudite professor is perhaps the most knowledgeable Minister of Power (here, I mean electric power); that we have had since 1999. Interestingly, it was former President Obasanjo that also brought him and similar others into government. This group have been outstanding in their contribution to national development, and there are many others on the side-lines, awaiting opportunity.

If the President-elect prefers the latter group, he could seek them out, and galvanise their God-given talents, to support his team from other parts of the country, to meet the great Nigeria expectation, from the APC. With little political IOUs in the South-East, since the dominant faction of the Igbo powerelites have been drowned with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); it will be a lot easier for the General and his Party leaders to choose only the very best from the Igbos, to serve in his government.Of course, this is not to discountenance the brave efforts of members of the APC, from the South-East.

Some of the Igbo brave hearts that stood for change, even as the majority pushed for President Goodluck Jonathan, during the last general elections, joined Governor Rochas Okorocha to visit the President-elect. Apart from Governor Okorocha and Senator Chris Ngige, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu also stood out, with Senator Osita Izunaso and a few others. No doubt, the highly educated Dr. Onu, deserves whatever promotion that may come his way in the APC, considering that he has showed great tenacity, all the way back to his days, at the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).As the leader of one of the legacy party that saw to the emergence of APC, it is expected that he would gain the necessary recognition and authority.

In opening up the south-east to the APC, the party would need to invest some of the outstanding party members, with political influence and privileges. This column is hopeful that the APC would see the Igbos, as an important partner in their Nigerian project. While a majority of lawful Igbo votes no doubt went to the PDP, during the last elections; there was a lot of unlawful votes, appropriated by the PDP, which in a transparent contest, would have gone to the APC. So, I have implicit confidence that APC has potentials in the south-east. Giving a good deal to the region,would be in APC’s longterm interest.

As for Professor Barth Nnaji and the potential beneficiaries of the Aba Integrated Power Project, their patriotic attempt to promote skill and ingenuity, for the greater good of our country, has been frustrated by the corruption and brusqueness of the alternate power elites. To appreciate what is at stake, Professor Nnaji, in his write-up said: “to date, we have invested over 500 million (dollars) or in today’s money over 100 billion (naira) in this project”. The reason why Aba was not excised from the concession granted to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company,is because President Goodluck Jonathan,preferred to promote political expediency, over success in the power industry. Now, with a new government at the gate, those who orchestrated the sham of a power-privatisation across the country, have every reason to be jittery.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

LAW REPORT

Only a party’s leadership can determine existence or proof of division IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA HOLDEN AT ABUJA ON FRIDAY THE 17TH DAY OF APRIL, 2015 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS MAHMUD MOHAMMED, J.S.C. JOHN AFOLABI FABIYI, J.S.C. SULEIMAN GALADIMA, J.S.C. OLABODE RHODES-VIVOUR, J.S.C. MUSA DATTIJO MUHAMMAD, J.S.C. CLARA BATA OGUNBIYI, J.S.C. KUDIRAT MOTONMORI OLATOKUNBO KEKERE-EKUN, J.S.C. SC.643/2014(REASONS) (2015) LPELR-24588(SC) BETWEEN: HON. IFEDAYO SUNDAY AGBEGUNDE ————————————— APPELLANT AND THE ONDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY & ORS —————- RESPONDENTS LEAD JUDGMENT DELIVERED BY MUSA DATTIJO MUHAMMAD, J.S.C. On 19th March, 2015, having found the appeal and the cross-appeal to which this judgment relates unmeritorious, the Court dismissed the two and promised to give the reasons. The reasons are provided anon.

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HE narrow interpretation suggested by learned Appellant counsel, it was contended, is legally infeasible. Learned counsel inter-alia relied on Victor Adegoke Adewunmi Anor v.The Attorney General of Ekiti State & 6 Ors (2002) 1 SCNJ 27 at 49, Mobil Oil Nig (Ltd) V. Federal Board of Internal Revenue (1977) 3535; (1977) LPELRSC.488/75, and Nafiu Rabiu V. Kano State (1980) 8-11 SC 130; (1980) LPELR-2936(SC) in emphasising that the Appellant does not come within the exception created under Section

68(1) (g) of the Constitution.

The Court stated that the narrow issue to determine in the appeal, is whether or not the two Courts below are right in holding that, by virtue of Section 68(1) (a) and (g) and 222(a) (e) and (f) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the division at the State level the Appellant relies upon indeed entitles him to abandon the party that sponsored him, the Labour Party, for another, the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) and retain his seat inspite of the defection. The Court further stated that

both lower Courts answered this overriding question in the negative. They are said to be concurrent in their findings. Given the facts available to the two Courts and the law applicable to these facts, it their decision that Appellant’s defection to the Action Congress of Nigeria does not come within the purview of the law. the Court held that Learned counsel to the Respondents are correct that the Supreme Court remains hesitant to interfere with such concurrent findings of fact and does so only if same are shown, notwithstanding their being concurrent, to be perverse. See UBN Plc V. Chimaeze (2014) LPELR-SC 204/ 2006, Atolagbe V. Shorun (1985) LPELR592(SC). The Court held that the Appellant can succeed only if he demonstrates that the two Courts below have, in arriving at their concurrent decisions, either ignored facts, incorrectly applied any principle to correctly ascertained facts, took into consideration irrelevant matters or excluded such other matters which are relevant to their findings and, in addition, the injustice the concurrent decisions in the circumstance occasion.

The Court noted that the determination of the dispute the trial Court was approached to resolve turns decisively on the meaning of the word “division” as used by the framers of the proviso to Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Whereas learned Appellant’s counsel contended that “any division”, in the political party would entitle a person who contested and won an election on the platform of that party to defect to another party and inspite of the defection to retain his seat. Learned counsel to the Respondents’, except the 5th & 7th, on the other hand, argued that the “division” in the State structure of the Labour Party only does not entitle the Appellant to abandone the Labour Party for the (ACN). Not being the kind of “division” that affects the national structures and therefore the corporate existence of the

party, learned counsel insisted that the Appellant’s defection does not come within the proviso to Section 68(1) (g) to entitle him to retain his seat in the House of Representatives inspite of his defection to the (ACN) from the Labour Party on which platform he contested and won the seat. The Court held that the position of the Respondents is unassailable. Citing the case of Fedeco V. Goni (1983) LPELR-SC.54/1983 The Court further held that the principles enunciated by the Supreme Court in the cases of Fedeco V. Goni (1983) LPELR-SC.54/1983 and Abubakar V. AG Federation (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt 1041) 178; LPELR-SC.7/2007, is to the effect that only such factionalisation, fragmentation, splintering or “division” that makes it impossible or impracticable for a political party to function as such will, by virtue of the proviso to Section 68(1) (g), justify a person’s defection to another party and the retention of his seat for the unexpired term in the house inspite of the defection. Otherwise, as rightly held by the Courts below, the defector automatically loses his seat. The Court held that in the instant case, the two Courts are right that the Labour Party that has continued to function as a political party by meeting the conditions associations by virtue of Section 221 and 222 of the Constitutions must necessarily meet, cannot be said to have been so factionalised, fragmented, split or divided to justify the defection of the Appellant to another party and retention of his seat inspite of the defection.

On the whole the Court found the appeal unmeritorious on the 19th March, 2015 and dismissed same.

•Edited by Law Pavilion LawPavilion Citation: (2015) LPELR24588(SC) •Concluded

Lawyers laud Fashola’s aide for book on personal income tax

By Adebisi Onanuga

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•From left: Anthony Nwaochei, CPC Chairman Ayuli Jemide, SBL Chairman Asue Ighodalo and CPC member Stella Ogwemoh.

There is hope for Nigeria, says NBA

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HE Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) has ex pressed optimism that Nigeria’s economy would improve under the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Its chairman, Asue Ighodalo, said with the successful conduct of the general elections, the country is poised for new beginnings, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan’s concession of defeat would further boost the nation’s democratic credentials and reputation.

He spoke during a press conference in Lagos on NBA-SBL’s Ninth Annual Business Law Conference to be held from June 7-9 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, with the theme: Regulators as Catalysts for Economic Growth.

Ighodalo said the conference is coming at a time when citizens have higher expecta-

By Joseph Jibueze

tions of the government, adding that the gathering would set an economic agenda for the incoming administration.

He disclosed that the format of the conference has been altered; the opening ceremony would be held on Sunday evening rather than Monday morning.

He said nine plenary sessions will be held, providing a forum for regulators, lawyers and business executives to dialogue on policies and regulations that shape economic growth.

Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah will give the keynote address.

A premium plenary session will hold on June 9, featuring the Chief Economist of PricewaterhouseCoopers John Hawsworth, who will speak on “Long Term Global Eco-

nomic Trends and Implications for Nigeria.”

The session is based on PwC’s World 2015 Report.

Ighalo said the conference aims to attract at least 1,000 delegates, including practicing lawyers, in-house counsel in the private and public sector, corporate Nigeria and the government.

Among the events planned are an opening dinner, a boat cruise, and a closing party and excursion for young lawyers to three top law firms for mentoring sessions.

Some of the sessions’ themes are: Improving Nigeria’s ease of doing business; Is there Nigerian Content for Lawyers?; What’s trending with financing Nigerian projects?; Counsel-toCounsel roundtable; Value based pricing for legal services; Young Lawyers roundtable with senior lawyers; and Nigeria’s power privatisation process: Learning curves and Next steps.

OR writing a book on Personal Income Tax (PIT), an aide to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Lanre Akinsola, has received commendation from lawyers.

Akinsola, who is Senoir Special Assistant to Governor Fashola on Justice Sector Reforms, presented his new book to the public last week.

Among those who praised the author were the Lagos State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Jusyice, Ade Ipaye and his Ogun State counterpart Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu The public presentation of the book, Personal Income Tax Act – Principles and Cases in Nigeria held at the CITN Tax Professional Place, Alausa, Ikeja Speaking at the occasion, Abimbola , who chaired the event, praised the author’s dexterity and interest in administration of taxes in the country.

Abimbola described the book as timely, noting that every organ of government was in search for avenues to shore up revenue base.

She emphaised that the book will greatly impact taxation in the country.

Also speaking, Ipaye said the book captured the author’s wide experience in court over personal income tax matters in the state.

He recalled the key roles played by the author to ensure the success story of the state’s ministry of justice in the area of tax matters, adding that they were exceptional and commendable. Ipaye said the book is a response to recent developments in tax administration in Nigeria.

“With various tiers of government reviewing their tax administration machineries for the purpose of maximising their internally generated revenue, taxation is gradually reclaiming its pride of place as the prime source of government revenue”, he stated.

He added that the book is also an attempt to present the Personal Income Tax Act through the eyes of the courts.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY MAY 5, 2015

The state is now in a conundrum. Whether Akpabio keeps the ‘mandate he has taken by force or surrenders it at the tribunal, the militia he has recruited, trained, armed and let loose will not go away. They did not go away in Rivers. They did not go away in Borno. Instead, they morphed into deadly cobras

’

Akpabio’s legacy tears and blood

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T is appointed unto leaders to take their charge—be it a political party, corporate entity, a state or country— in a direction of their choosing. So it was that Lee Kua Yew took Singapore up the path of progress; and so it also was that Idi Amin Dada led Uganda down the garden path. It is about choice and the dream every leader at a time has for those they lead.

Jonathan, Tinubu and Buhari Back home, we’ve been witnesses to where President Goodluck Jonathan has taken his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), judging by the performance of the party at the last general elections. A bit of back grounding will help here. Dr Jonathan became the leader of the PDP when the party was a domineering, all-conquering, largest political party in Africa. This was in 2009, following the demise of former President Musa Yar’Adua. Six years down the road, see what Jonathan has done to the PDP! The party has morphed from the largest party in Africa controlling about two-thirds of the states in the country and a majority in the National Assembly into a minority political party, having lost control of a majority of the states and the National Assembly.

Compare Jonathan’s dismal record in the management of the PDP to the amazing success story of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and President-elect Muhammadu Buhari whose leadership of the defunct ACN and CPC transformed them through a superbly choreographed merger into an all-conquering political machine, the APC, that not only swept the PDP from power at the centre but has also wrested power from the outgoing ruling party in most of the states and the National Assembly.

Akpabio, the Lord of Manor One of the political leaders that actively and boastfully aided President Jonathan down the path of perdition is Chief Godswill Akpabio, outgoing governor of Akwa Ibom State. Let us now look at the legacy of Governor Akpabio as a leader in his own right.

Akpabio’s record in infrastructure development is already well advertised by his administration and is therefore a common fare in the public space. So we won’t focus on that.

But there is a legacy of the governor that is less known and yet it is pervading and invidious with the prognosis of more harm for

Akpabio’s legacy for Akwa ‘Ibom people therefore, represents a most terrible turn in the road, a lamentable sport of nature, and a regress from an oasis of peace to a war lords’ fiefdom

’

the future. In fact, empirical evidence suggests that Akpabio’s legacy in this wise portends pure danger for Akwa Ibom State.

The danger resides in his private army. The outgoing governor set up, trained and equipped a private army or militia as it is better known and used it to keep power for himself and family through a proxy. In the lead-up to the just concluded elections, it was widely reported that Governor Akpabio was training a 4000-strong militia to be used to wreak violence on the opposition and retain power for himself and family through his proxy, Udom Emmanuel. The particulars of this allegation was that the governor had bought 400 brand new 18-seater buses for use of the 4000-strong militia, sown police uniform and bought arms for them. Locations were given of where the militia were being trained, and names of officials of government tasked with the duties of procuring arms and the uniform were also made known.

Nothing was done about this threat. The opposition could do nothing beyond publicising existence of the threat. The Police authorities and other security agencies were duly informed of the build-up to the mayhem and bloodbath that was unleashed on Akwa Ibom State during the governorship elections, bloodbath that was carried out exactly the way the opposition had warned the nation about it. The opposition, though aware of the danger, had no way to avert it; they had no police force to intercept the arms in transit or raid the training camp of the militia. Thus the havoc of 11 April was bound to come to pass.

We need to warn that the story of private militia and mayhem during the elections is not opposition’s sour grapes. It has been collaborated by independent observers, including the US Government, the European Union Election Monitoring Group, the Civil Societies Organisation, the Akwa Ibom Caucus

democratic rule also, another governor in Borno State set up a personal militia to win political power. Just as in Rivers State, once the goal for the formation of the militia was achieved in Borno State, the paymaster abandoned them. Idle and badly in want of work and in dire need of survival the militia begat sinister byways, and morphed into an extremist group called Boko Haram. The society has become the victims of their fury.

The empirical evidence of history compels a conclusion that the private militia that wreaked havoc in Akwa Ibom before and during the 2015 general elections cannot have a different evolutionary path from those in Rivers and Borno State.

Uncommon tragedy

•Olanihun

at the National Assembly, which is a coalition of politicians of all political persuasions representing Akwa Ibom State at the National Assembly. All of these parties were horrified at the level of violence that vitiated the elections and called for their annulment.

Copycats and sinister byways If these events—the setting up of the militia and the unleashing of violence on the opposition during the polls—ended in themselves and had no implications for the future, we would just shrug our shoulders and simply move on (Soyinka,1985). But our recent national experience does not advise such mechanical response. It is on record that the militants which have held Rivers State to ransom for some time now started as a small band of thugs set up by a sitting governor to win power at the beginning of this democratic dispensation in 1999. Today, that band of thugs or personal militia has become a leviathan known loosely as Niger Delta Militants, who maim and kill at every given opportunity.

Rivers State has not known peace ever since.

The marauding evil called Boko Haram has a similar genealogy. At the beginning of this

Even the mere inspiration for evil that the Akpabio militia holds out is awful. The world is one big copying machine. They, copycats, are watching the macabre drama playing out in Akwa Ibom, and are likely to be inspired to experiment once they see Governor Akpabio successfully seize power through the use of a militia. The immediate implications from this will be the rise of warlords and the mushrooming of private armies all over the place. That is why I echo Wole Soyinka, in his preface to the 1985 edition of his prison diary, The Man Died, that if these events ended in their occurrence and had no implication for the future, it would have been ok to let out a big sigh and move on.

Akpabio’s legacy for Akwa Ibom people therefore, represents a most terrible turn in the road, a lamentable sport of nature, and a regress from an oasis of peace to a war lords’ fiefdom.

Is this the kind of legacy that should be bequeathed to our children? This question demands an answer from those who are celebrating and commending Governor Akpabio for successfully taking Udom Emmanuel into the Hilltop Mansion, which is the seat of power in Uyo. They need to know that the issue is beyond elections. It is about the future and security of our state. It is a dark hint at a prognosis of instability and endless bloodletting in the years to come.

The state is now in a conundrum. Whether Akpabio keeps the mandate he has taken by force or surrenders it at the tribunal, the militia he has recruited, trained, armed and let loose will not go away. They did not go away in Rivers. They did not go away in Borno.

Instead, they morphed into deadly cobras.

The prognosis for Akwa Ibom is therefore dire. The Akpabio years look likely to haunt us for a long, long time.

Otobong Sampson writes from Uyo.

Party chieftains, lawmakers endorse Abiru as Lagos Speaker

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HERE are indications that the Deputy Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the only returning principal officer Hon. Rotimi Abiru, may emerge Speaker of the Eigth Assembly.

His candidacy appears to have received the blessing of the All Progressives Congress, APC leaders and the endorsement of the majority of elected members elect.

Speaking on a condition of anonymity, an APC chieftain explained that the House will vote for merit.

He said, “APC as a party, exclusively noted for celebrating and giving priority to merit, competence and ability to deliver, above all other sentiments shall in consideration of notable and remarkable achievements in the Lagos Assembly under the outgoing leadership which had turned Lagos Assembly to a model and envy of other States’ Assembly that had positively rub on our party and its leadership would not settle for less performance in the next Assembly.

“Therefore,we shall encourage continuity of the remarkable works embarked upon by Ikuforiji led leadership of the House by endorsing the only returning member of the leadership cadre of the House to continue from where the current leadership would stop and I’m sure members elected on the platform of

By Oziegbe Okoeki

the party would embrace the party position for the good of the State when it finally meet with them”.

Also speaking on the composition of the leadership, a member-elect said the excellent leadership and infrastructural developments achieved by the outgoing leadership will continue, if lawmaker should chose among them the most qualified to sustain the current tempo in the House.

“Majority of the returning members have resolved to queue behind Hon. Rotimi Abiru aka Barometre, as the next Speaker of the 8th Assembly to continue with the legacy of outstanding performance that stand out the Lagos Assembly and foster executive-legislative relationship that remains the basis for good government which the State has been noted for since the begining of the current dispensation especially, now that a new governor will be coming on board,” the lawmaker disclosed.

What if the APC decided to zone the office to the Central senatorial district to balance the arrangement since the governor and his deputy are from East and West Senatorial Districts respectively?

The legislator said: “The pupose of governance at any level is to deliever

the goodies to the people, what an ordinary resident of Lagos look up to from the APC government is the dividend of good government not withstanding where the character at the top come from and you will agree with me that the leadership of our party is in tune with this, hence

the composition of the leadership of the current Assembly where the Speaker and his deputy emerged from the same district same as the deputy governor and the state has been the ultimate beneficiary.

“The Lagos House under competent leadership has continued to

partner with the executive to archieve the best for the state and mind you, when we talk of the Speakership of the House, we are talking about the leadership of another arm of government which is independent of the executive arm,” the lawmaker explained.

• Lagos State Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Mr. Folami Oluwhuntele (2nd right), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Oluranti Odutola (right), Director, Department, Information and Strategy, Mrs. Toro Oladapo at a press conference by the Ministry of Justice in commemoration of the Eight Years in Office of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at Alausa, Ikeja.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

44

SHOWBIZ

GOtv dedicates May to African movies

Phizzle returns with new single, Biggest

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ISING musician, Fela Yomi-Layinka, also known as Phizzle, has been absent from the music scene for over a year. He is however back with a new single and a video for his track, Biggest.

The music writer and singer, in a statement, said that distancing himself from the industry as at the time he left was to concentrate on his career and build himself to

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ITH May being tagged the Africa Month on GOtv, the pay TV cable owners have promised the screening of the best homegrown content on its Africa Magic channels, which includes Africa Magic Family, Africa Magic World and Africa Magic Epic.

With favourites like 53Extra on Mondays, Jara on Wednesdays and Star Gist which airs weekdays already on the bill, management says Africa Magic World is introducing a new hourlong music block, showcasing the latest charttopping hits from across the continent.

Popular Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson, makes a comeback in Dumebi Goes to School, a sequel to the hilarious Dumebi the Dirty Girl, directed by Tchidi Chikere. Dumebi Goes to School airs on Africa Magic Epic on the 24 May. More movie moments promised on the Africa Magic channel The Three Widows May 1 and Pawpaw the Guitar Boy on May 27.

Management also reveal that SuperSport and GOtv

F • Mercy Johnson

will be presenting a variety of exciting sporting content, live on the SuperSport Select channels. Throughout the month of May, top African football leagues from the Glo Premier League (Nigeria), Tusker Premier League (Kenya), First Capital Plus Premier League (Ghana) and MTN Zambia Super League as well as the latest in Athletics (Kenya),

Basketball (Nigeria) and International Boxing (Ghana).

Also on the offering are African inspired documentaries like the International Green and Cinema for Peace Awardwinning film Big Men which is centred on the quest for oil in Ghana by Dallas-based Kosmos, among a host of other productions.

• Obi Emelonye

ORMER BBA contestant, Melvin Oduah, on Friday, May 1, survived a ghastly car crash, along Ore-Benin road.

Describing the outcome as a miraculous escape, Melvin posted a photograph on Instagram which he captioned, “So ‘Aero Contractors’ decided to refund us due to scarcity of aviation fuel. I had an important appearance to meet up with in Benin, so I decided to hire a car to take me to Benin, since I didn’t have any other option.

“Just as we were approaching Ore, in Ondo State, one of the back tires burst. The driver lost control.

The picture you are seeing right now explains the rest of the story. Now the interesting part… I came out of this vehicle without a scratch. My tab that I was holding was intact, the dark sunshades that I was wearing was also

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• Tee Mac and Bolaji Rosiji

By Ovwe Medeme

“My fondest memory of mama was her teaching me everything. I learnt fast because while my elder siblings were away in the U.K and U.S., I was home alone with Mama. I remember making my first Eba. It was with ice water and I was wondering why it won’t come together. She just laughed it off.

“She was practically a member of every guild, club and association in the cathedral where I was baptized. She gave as anonymous. She never liked lazy people. She had an incredible eye for details which has rubbed off on me because in all I do, I’m seen to be a control freak; always wanting to make everything almost perfect,” he said glowingly about her.

Obi Emelonye organises screen writing competition

U

• Phizzle

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

without a scratch. Not one single injury was recorded in this accident. Even the driver was not injured at all. I was still able to meet up with the

event in Benin and everything went on successfully.”

He went ahead to call on his fans to help him thank God while offering a word or two of prayers for them.

• Melvin Oduah

Classic FM loses OAP

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K-based lawyerturned filmmaker, Obi Emelonye, is out

become a brand by working with the best hands to bring out something fresh and distinct for his fans.

The Ibadan-born singer revealed that the new song was shot at different locations in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The video, according to Phizzle, is a visual interpretation of selfconfidence.

Melvin Oduah says his accident is miracle

What I miss most about my mother,

by Bolaji Rosiji ORMER president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Bolaji Rosiji, has described his late mother, Mrs. Gbemi Rosiji, as a woman worth celebrating. Speaking to The Nation at her funeral which held on Wednesday last week, Rosiji said that he will miss her and the legacy she has left behind.

“What I miss most about her are the lessons she taught me.

As a young boy, I used to run from mama because whenever she had guests, I will have to go upstairs and pack gifts for our guests. Everyone had to take something home. Today, the lesson which she taught by example of making sure that no one goes home hungry and empty-handed is what I have learnt and expresseds to Nigeria.

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

By Joe Agbro Jr.

with a competition for people interested in pursuing a screen writing career in Nollywood.

He made this announcement via his Twitter handle.

‘This is for real,’ Emelonye wrote. ‘Robesenites, old and new, this is your chance to cement a career in Nollywood screenwriting.’

The writing competition, according to the filmmaker, is for a 26-episode campusbased TV series on any subject matter. Emelonye said there’s a N100, 000 prize to be won.

In an instruction passed on to would-be participants, he noted that “entries should be made in no more than twopage synopsis of the entire proposed series, including breakdown of major characters. Closing date is May 15. By May 18, the best 10 will be shortlisted and their authors will be required to do half-page for each episode.”

Just about three months after winning a laurel at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA), Emelonye’s new movie, Thy Will Be Done, which stars Mary Njoku, is set for premiere at the cinemas on May 15.

HAT started as a rumour in the early hours of Tuesday morning, soon gained credence, when the management of Classic FM confirmed the death of its OAP, Sylvester Ojigbede, aka Sly. The station confirmed the news of Sly’s demise in a press statement yesterday, extending their condolences to their late employee’s extended family, wife and children.

“Classic FM 97.3 deeply regret to announce the passing of one of our presenters, Slyvester Ojigbede, popularly known as Sly, who was the host of ‘Morning Show’ and Saturday morning show ‘Saturday Express’ on our station.

“Sly passed away on Sunday the 3rd of May after a brief

By Ovwe Medeme

illness. Funeral arrangements will be announced by his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, children and extended family at this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace. He will be deeply missed by all of us,” reads the statement.

Sly’s colleagues too have started mourning his untimely demise.

“The hardest worker I have ever worked with. My protégé, co-host and adopted nephew...it’s nothing but smooth sailing now biddy! I’m hurting so bad, but at least I had the honour of seeing you in your final hours. Thank you for being such a good guy. Ciao.

Sly...peaceful journey. RIP,” wrote his colleague, Tintin.

Born in the 70’s, the graduate of Economics from the University of Lagos handled the Morning Show from 6am11am from Monday to Thursday on the station. He also presented the Classic XPress from 6am to 12pm on every Saturday.

• Sylvester Ojigbede

Obi Asika loses mum

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OTHER to the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to President Goodluck Jonathan and founder of Storm Records, Obi Asika, Mrs. Chinyere Asika, passed on Sunday. According to family sources, she died in her sleep.

Announcing her death via her Facebook page, Uju Asika, sister to Obi Asika, eulogised their late mother.

“We have been so lucky,” she wrote. “We have been so blessed. We love you mummy, always. Thanks for all the kind words and support from those of you who heard and are sharing our pain. I know this is a deep, deep loss for so many of you too.

“To those of you who don’t know, we lost our mum.

Quite unexpectedly but peacefully, she passed away

By Joe Agbro Jr.

in her sleep. May she rest in peace with Dad always.”

The Late Asika, who was also a Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo and wife of the late governor of former East Central State, Ajie Ukpabi Asika, is survived by three

• Obi Asika and mum

children - Obi, Nkiru and Uju. Condolences have been pouring in for Obi Asika on Facebook. Amongst them was movie producer Fidelis Duker, who said, “May her soul rest in peace. My condolences to Nkiru Asika and the entire Asika family.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

45

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Mothers, who benefited from In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), have interesting stories to tell despite the pains and frustration in their search for babies. To them, assisted reproductive technique (ART) gives hope to the hopeless. WALE ADEPOJU reports.

Sweet tales of IVF mothers F

OR eight years life had no meaning for Mrs Olubunmi Salako. Her attempts to become a mother were futile. She experienced pains and frustrations until she got to know about In-Vitro Fertilisaton (IVF) and her story changed. She is now a proud mother. IVF, she said, is gaining ground.

But it does not mean that IVF has no flip side. The flip side, according to her, is that women who access IVF or other form of assisted reproductive technique (ART) are maligned and derisively addressed as ‘incomplete’ in Nigeria. Superstitions, ignorance and taboos, she said, are some of the reasons some women are not going for IVF to redress their situation.

She said she damned all consequences with her husband’s support to go through the treatment. Beaming with smiles, Mrs Salako, who shared her experience at the 16th anniversary of The Bridge Clinic in Ikeja, Lagos said her years of pain have now turned to joy.

IVF, she said, is Godly as “it has wiped away my tears”.

“As you can see we are all happy today after years of pain. Our children have removed pains from our homes. Many marriages that would have been broken are now intact,” she said.

Mrs Salako recounted that her husband heard about IVF treatment on television in 2000, stressing that he encouraged her to go through it.

“He, however, said it is a big gamble. This made us stay away from the clinic after our initial visit to the facility. We did not go back there until almost a year. We prayed about it. We believed that it will be possible. This came to past. I became pregnant after our first attempt. My child is 12 years now,” she said.

She said she went back to the clinic for another treatment, which was also successful. “The third cycle failed. But, we did not relent. In 2007, we had twins. When they were about seven months I started feeling funny. I consulted my doctor and I was told that I was pregnant again.

This time, it was without IVF. On October 7, 2008, I gave birth to another baby. I was happy, although it did not allow for spacing because the twins were still very small,” she said.

Mrs Salako said not all women, who did IVF have a success story to tell.

“I remembered the story of a woman who was treated, became pregnant, but lost the pregnancy after five months. I felt for her.This is why I have not stopped praying for them. My advice is that they should

•From left: Mrs Salako, Mrs Kapajie and Mrs Jibor at the event.

not give up. There is nothing impossible for God to do,” she said.

She also spoke of a lady with blocked tubes, who now has two sets of twins. “She was able to overcome the problem because she never stopped trying. She had tried three times without positive result.

“If you do not have babies in the home as an African woman, it is like you do not have anything,” she said.

She said seeking IVF is not devilish.

Like Mrs Salako, life was also empty for Mrs Eucharia Kapajie, who took fertility drugs and did many things to get pregnant, but could not get pregnant for seven years.

“I also did laparoscopy to remove some fibroids. Yet, I could not get pregnant,” she said.

This, she said, made her plead with her husband to allow her try IVF treatment. “My husband,” she said, “refused bluntly”, adding: “However, after much persuasion he agreed and we started the treatment.

By the third month of trying, I was sure it would be successful because of the way it was performed. Sometimes, I get so afraid. And I would say to myself, you will soon be on your own.”

She continued:This is despite peaceful relationship with my extended family. We came for egg collection and then implantation; it was all successful.”

Mrs Kapajie said she worked till about two days to the birth of her baby, stressing: “At work, I passed the performance test. My lifestyle did not change throughout the pregnancy. I lived a normal life.

“I even went to Lagos Island to do a last minute shopping. I was there till 2pm. I had a baby boy. My husband has refused to allow me do a second IVF. But it worked the very first time I did it.”

She continued: “I have a colleague whose mariage is about 20 years .

They have been trying for a long time, but it did not work out. My result prior to the birth of my fiveyear-old son was not fantastic, but God was faithful.”

The clinic, she said, only helps the embryos jump the obstacle into the tubes.

“Some tubes may be blocked or damaged. IVF allows the eggs to go straight into the womb,” she said.

Her uncle, she said, introduced the IVF treatment to her. “He even ad-

vised that I go to India because he was scared,” Mrs Kapajie said.

Another mother, Mrs Eremibo Omojoyegbe, said her husband read about the clinic and he encouraged her to have the treatment.

Getting money for treatment, she said, was a problem as her husband’s income could not support such venture.

The doctor, she said, also presented a no-hope situation to her because her follicles were not doing very well.

“She said I have a slim chance of getting pregnant. She tested me and concluded that I have three feeble follicles in my body. The doctor also advised that I stopped the treatment.

But I insisted.

“They arrived at a decision during their board meeting that I should have the treatment. My mother-inlaw bankrolled the treatment. Those three follicles became my twins,” she said.

Her summation, she said, is that doctors are trying, but God has the final say.

In an attempt to have a baby, Mrs Patricia Jibor said she had several treatments at some IVF centres, but the results were quite frustrating, adding that the practice at those cen-

Ex-commissioner Pitan seeks reforms

F

ORMER Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr Adeleke Pitan has urged the incoming administration to reform the sector.

The incoming administrations, he said, should put the people first in everything.

Pitan spoke at the annual lecture of the Chartered Institute of Environmental and Public Health Management of Nigeria (CIEPHMN), in Lagos.

He said: “If you put the people first, there will be harmony and a guaranteed future for us as a country. The incoming administration should ensure that there is health for all. Also, there will be a basic minimum package, which every Nigerian of about 170 million will partake in. This would be possible through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).”

Pitan, who was also education

By Olatunde Odebiyi

commissioner, spoke about the All Progressives Congress (APC) free health policy, adding that it would be made possible through the instrumentation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).“It is, therefore, compulsory for everybody to come on board,” he added.

He continued: “The mechanism is what the incoming administration is working on. This will be brought to bear. The incoming administration will work the talk and make sure that the manifesto is implemented.”

Director-General/ Chief Executive, CIEPHMN, Prince George Ayoade urged the incoming President-elect Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to strengthen the environment and health ministries

in order to actualise the programmes mentioned in his campaign.

He advised the incoming administration to ensure that existing policies on environment and health are adequately implemented according to international standard.

“Besides, this would help our policies to be implemented to a globally acceptable standard to the extent that other countries will see us as a role model in terms of environmental perseveration and conservation.

“Also, we would be seen to reduce all environmental hazards that we have in the country,” he said.

He advised that qualified personnel should be allowed to handle the environment and health ministry, stressing that the two ministries are interwoven because “health affects environment and the environment affects health”.

tres was unethical. “But I could not complain. This was shortly before I was introduced to The Bridge Clinic,” she said.

Her treatment at those centres, she said, was not transparent because she was not told what she was taking. “But here whatever you are taking is explained to you in details. I was introduced to the clinic by my doctor at the Military Hospital, Yaba, Lagos,” she said.

She said she had troubles conceiving, adding: “The first time I became pregnant, it was an ectopic one. The second pregnancy was ruptured and my tubes were damaged. The doctors removed the tubes. I was in that problem for four years. For almost seven years I could not get pregnant.

It was a period of reflection for me.

This made me give my life to Christ.”

She said she became broke due to the financial demands. “I called on God to send me helpers. He did. My sister paid for my treatment,” she said.

Mrs Jibor said she paid N415,800 to remove a fibroid. “Consequently, I accessed IVF treatment, but it failed. I cried bitterly thinking of who to help me again.

“So, I told my sister that I would jump into the Lagoon, but she calmed me down. And she offered to pay the second time. I had the treatment. After the implantation, a calamity struck. My husband had an accident and he lost his limb.

“Doctors advised that I refrain from anything that can prove stressful. But I had to attend to my husband’s needs. I went in to see Dr Sharon, who was not smiling. I became afraid. On getting inside the consulting room, she congratulated me that the treatment was successful.

“I was able to carry the pregnancy despite the stress that I went through. I gave birth to a bouncing baby girl in February. She is more than a year old now,” Mrs Jibor said.

Community gets free cancer screening From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

A HEALTH-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Universal Basic Development Centre (UBDC), is screening residents of Bonny Local Government of Rivers State for cancer.

Its Executive Director of the NGO, Dr. Okereke Amara, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, said the programme is aimed at creating awareness on the danger of cancer.

Amara said consistent awareness and test for early detection and treatment are the only effective measure to curb the deadly disease.

She said the programme, which begins on May 7 in Bonny, is in partnership with Mobil Nigeria, adding that over 1000 participants will benefit from the gesture.

“We are hoping to see a very large turn out of Bonny people.

The maiden edition of the free health awareness campaign took place in Rumubiakani community in 2013,” Amara added.

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BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

Lagos may begin train transit soon T

HE Lagos light rail will start soon, the Lagos State Government has said. A test run of the trains, would start this year, barring the odds of the importation of the rolling stocks.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Managing Director, Dr Dayo Mobereola, stated this at the ministerial briefing for the Ministry of Transportation, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, the state capital.

Mobereola, who was represented by the Director, Corporate Investment Planning, Mr Olutayo Orekoya, said work might start in the next two months on the light train as the project is 95 per cent completed.

According to him, work on the first phase of the 27km Blue line, from Okokomaiko to Marina, is ongoing with the Mile 2 to National Theatre (a distance of seven kilometres 95 per cent completed).

The second phase, from National Theatre to Marina, which is five kilometres is ongoing.

He said: “The stations and terminus at all our various train stations are already completed. Soon, we would start to test run the signaling, the rail tracks and the joints in preparation for the deployment of the rolling stocks for full commercial activities.”

Mobereola, however, said government would soon announce the commencement date for the flagoff of commercial light rail service in the state.

The rail system, he said, is an integral part of the Strategic Transportation Master Plan (STMP) phase II, which took off two years ago and would end in 2020. He added that due to the attainment of the landmarks of the plan, the agency has extended the plan to 2032.

Under the plan, Mobereola said: “The government would attain its inter modality initiatives which would see the completion of six rail lines, one monorail, 14 BRT corridors, three cable cars and 26 water routes.”

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

He added that a 37-km rail route from Agbado to Marina, to be known as the Red Line is awaiting Federal Government’s approval for construction.

Mobereola said attention is on the development of a virile intermodal system of transportation that would ensure Lagosians continue to enjoy their travel time and reduce traffic headaches.

Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa in his account of stewardship said government will continue to strengthen public transportation and make it more attractive as it remains the only way to reduce the volume of vehicle traffic and make travelling a pleasurable experience in the state.

Opeifa, who declared that Lagos roads today are safer than what the Fashola administration met in 2007, stated that transport infrastructure has improved within the same corresponding period, while quality of vehicle services has also improved for better service delivery.

He said: “The state as a leading advocate of safer vehicles, safer drivers and safer community has achieved 81 per cent reduction in the number of motorcycle-related accidents at the state’s hospitals, 80 per cent reduction in number of motorcycle-related deaths, 80 percent increase in the number of road worthy vehicles and 170 per cent increase in the number of request for genuine driver licence.

“There has been huge reduction in motorcycle-related crimes by police reports, 80 per cent reduction in the number of people driving against traffic, 85 per cent reduction in the number of people violating restriction on major highways, better traffic flow and less green gas emission contributions from transport-related sources.”

Opeifa said the state’s public transportation initiative is benchmarked on road rail and water transportation, adding that

‘Use horn when necessary’

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HE Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola has urged motorists to stop arbitrary use of horns on the roads.

He noted that vehicle horns are meant to draw other motorists’ attention to emergencies that might affect safety on the roads.

He said the No Horn Day event, held last October, was meant to draw attention to the advantages inherent in driving without the indiscriminate use of horn.

He spoke at a forum with taxi drivers at De Blue Roof, LTV ground, Agidingbi, Lagos.

He said: “Time has come to remind ourselves that the horns fixed on our vehicles were not toys to be pressed at will to distract attention of other road users. They are equipment meant to draw attention to any danger or emergencies while a driver is making use of the road. It should be respected and used when absolutely necessary.”

Acknowledging that horn blaring constitutes a major source of noise pollution and a contributory factor to deafness among residents, Fashola said people would be healthier and with a reduction of the noise level.

He praised the Ministry of Transportation for coming out with appropriate No Horn signages, adding that an approval has been given for the deployment of the signs at all public places and institutions.

Motorists, he said, must comply strictly by ensuring that they balre no horn whenever the signs are posted.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Transportation Mr Kayode Opeifa said the No Horn road signs are a build-on the achievement of the event in the state, which according to him was not only reported in 27 countries, but received over 80 million tweets.

He said all public institutions such as schools, libraries, hospitals, Zebra crossing, junctions, secretariat complex, among others would have fixed on them the no horn sign, meaning that honking of the horns are prohibited in such areas.

Opeifa said government will continue to strengthen the safety and security of public transportation and ensure that its people are moved with pride, dignity and honour by the transportation operators.

• Opeifa (second left) briefing the press. With him are: Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba (third right), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Coker (left), Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Yinka Marinho (second right), and the representative, Sector Commander, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Livinus Ibe (right) at the event.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

while government injected 500 buses on the BRT fleet last year, it hopes to push about 250 air-conditioned buses into the system by year end.

He said the state established a passenger carriage company LagFerry last year, with which it planned to inject bigger ferries that would

drive down the cost which according to him, is presently prohibitive.

He said the mile to mile transportation option is by taxi, bicycle or walking, adding that the recently revised taxi system which entails the presentation of free 14,000 licences to all operators is meant to stimulate the growth of the taxi sec-

tor. Among other agencies that equally took time to brief reporters are the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI), LAMATA, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Lagos Bus Assets Company (LAGBUS), LagFerry and the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA).

‘No going back on speed limiter’

T

HE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has said that there’s no going back on the use of speed limiter in Nigeria.

Enforcement of the device’s installation begins across the country on June 1.

Oyeyemi spoke at the flag-off of Joint Mega Rally, organised by the FRSC and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at the Ojota Motor Park in Lagos State. Similar rallies would be organised in the remaining states of the country from next month.

The Corps Marshal said the device is a speed limiting governor which works by controlling the fuel feed to the engine, mechanical and electronic accelerator in a vehicle, adding that it was introduced to reduce accidents arising from over-speeding.

During the rally tagged: Towards an enduring safe Road Culture in Nigeria, Oyeyemi said the initiative was not proposed by FRSC but arrived at with the leadership of all transport unions and other stakeholders to raise the level of awareness for an enduring safe road culture.

He said the unions decided to begin the first stage in Lagos, because the state accounted for almost 40 per cent of vehicular density and chose Ojota Motor Park because of the high number of inter-state buses which daily loads there.

According to Oyeyemi, the unions are telling Nigerians that they are collaborating with the FRSC to make the roads safer for all users.

The unions, he said, provided the facilities just as to fulfill their promises in contributing quotas to the safety of life and property on the roads.

He urged commercial vehicle operators to ensure the speed limiter is installed into their vehicles, noting that it has been agreed by the road union leaders that it must be implemented. He said FRSC has acquired a device that will be used

By Olalekan Ayeni

by the FRSC to detect if a vehicle has it or not.

He said: “The unions have also agreed that on no account must any vehicle leave any Motor Park overloaded. Anyone found overloading is not from any parks and the vehicle must be impounded. He said the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has also agreed that any tanker or trailer that parks indiscriminately on the road must be prosecuted.”

The FRSC chief noted that though the level of accidents had gone down, it desired to push it further down if not totally eradicated.

He appealed to the state governments to support the eradication of the sales of alcohol and drugs in motor parks. He urged motorists to be disciplined, patient and tolerant while on the wheel.

He urged all road users to be more safety conscious and more tolerant of one another, adding that the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway is not functioning well now due to the ongoing construction.

He appealed to all the trucks and tankers to always keep to the right lane while driving and urged motorists to abstain from all forms of distractions such as using phone, eating and drinking while driving, noting that driving safely requires absolute concentration.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa praised the FRSC and the Corps Marshal (COMAS) for bringing all the stakeholders in transportation industry to Lagos to teach all commercial drivers to observe speed limits.

He said: “Our goal in Lagos State has always been to spread the gospel of road safety. All commercial operators must conduct their business with the heart of making money without recording casualty.

Make all the money you can, but don’t kill anyone in the process.”

He said some of the issues raised

by COMAS among them; over speeding, and the sale of alcohol and drugs are covered in the state’s Traffic Law 2012. “The sale of alcohol or drugs is covered in regulation 31 not just motorparks but 100 metres to any bus stop and garages, while over-speeding carries a fine of N100,000 and a likely loss of your driver’s licence.”

Opeifa charged the leadership of the drivers union to ensure full compliance with the law to ensure that people don’t drive under the influence of alcohol, or illegal and illicit drugs.

He said soon, no commercial passenger vehicle in Lagos would be able to operate in Lagos without obtaining passenger insurance.

He said: “No commercial vehicle driver in Lagos will be qualified to operate without a passenger insurance scheme. Recently, we have signed MoU with four brokers and 100 underwriters and the scheme will soon commence.

We have met with your leadership and we have agreed on a rate that would be applicable. This is to ensure that anybody who enters a public transport; be it taxi, okada, tricycle, molue, or mass transit buses in Lagos, or a ferry, is rest assured that if he or she is involved in an accident, he can go to the nearest hospital and be treated free of charge and in the case of death the person is insured to the tune of N2m.” The scheme, he said, would soon come into operation soon.

He said anybody who is involved in public transportation and moves people must be a professional driver and certified. All such drivers must be qualified to be called drivers.

He called on the leadership of the unions to ensure that drivers in their garages have the unified motor vehicle drivers’ licence from the FRSC. Opeifa reiterated that the state is committed to working with FRSC to ensure safety on the roads.

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

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT Despite the growth in the real estate sector, things are still not looking up, say participants at the yearly business forum of International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), Nigeria Chapter, in Lagos,writes MUYIWA LUCAS.

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

Investment in real estate: The REIT alternative

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HE gathering attracted heavyweights and stakeholders in the real estate, financial, investment and allied sectors.

But this was not unexpected, given the estimated 17 million housing deficit.

It was a gathering of the yearly business forum of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), Nigeria Chapter, in Lagos, last week.

The Forum, with the theme: “Real Estate financing in Nigeria: Modalities, opportunities, and challenges” could not have held at a better time considering the much-touted investment opportunities in the real estate sector, especially following the crashing oil price in the international market. Several experts had predicted that the real estate sector is the next money spinner for investors in the country.

But to the average Nigerian, this may be all talks and no actions. Many reasons, including wrong investment options, and lack of funds, acording to experts in their presentations, may be obstacles to this realisation.

This position was aptly captured by the Managing Director, First Securities • Discount House (FSDH) Asset Management Limited, Mr. Olumayowa Ogunwemimo.

In his presentation titled: “REIT as an alternative source of real estate financing in Nigeria,’’ he observed that the growth of the real estate sector has mostly been affected by unavailability of funds to finance real estate projects, noting that the complexity and capital intensive nature of real estate developments/transactions demands proper and adequate funding to make it realisable.

He also noted the major sources of real estate finance in the country to emanate from equities from Real estate developers; private equity companies, insurance companies, governments, individuals, pension funds; primary mortgage institutions, commercial and merchant banks, and development finance institutions.

These, in most cases, have proved to be inadequate in supporting the financial requirements of the sector.

The REITs alternative Ogunwemimo regretted that Nigeria has not fully tapped into the availability of other sources of financing projects in the sector, which would serve as a big complement to the traditional sources of finance to the real estate industry. For instance, he explained that while Nigeria is yet to fully capitalise on the inherent benefits of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), to significantly finance real estate developments, other countries have since keyed into the scheme.

REITs are a form of collective investment scheme regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which pools capital from investors and uses same in the acquisition of income generating real estate, mortgage loans, or a combination of both. The portfolio of underlying assets is placed under professional management to maximise returns to the investors, who are able to hold indirect interest in real estate on a flowthrough basis, placing them in a position as if the property were held as

•Real estate sector... Cashcow for investors?

REITs listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange Type Equity REIT Fund Manager FSDH AM

Sponsor

Size (N) Listing Date Market Share

UPDC

30.68bn 01/07/2013 65%

Hybrid REIT Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc Union Homes Savings 13.94bn 02/07/2010 30%

Hybrid REIT Skye Financial Services

Skye Bank Plc and Loans Plc 2.32bn 26/02/2008 5%

Source: Ogunwemimo’s presentation

a direct investment

Types of REITs Ogunwemimo explained that there are three types of REITs; viz: Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs. He explained that Equity REITs are real estate companies that acquire commercial properties – such as office buildings, shopping centers and apartment buildings – and lease the space in the structures to tenants, who pay rent. After paying the expenses associated with operating their properties, Equity REITs pay out yearly the bulk of the income they collect to their shareholders as dividends. Equity REITs also include capital appreciation from the sale of properties in the dividends they pay. In all cases, this significant dividend distribution is designed to approximate the investment return investors would receive if they owned properties directly.

Mortgage REITs deal in investment and ownership of short or

long-term property mortgages. It loans money for mortgages to owners of real estate, or purchase existing mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. Their income is derived from the interest they earn on the mortgage loans. Both are registered with the SEC, but non-listed REITs are sold directly to investors by brokerage firms and are not traded on any exchange. Equity and Mortgage REITs also can be privately held.

According to Ogunwemimo, Hybrid REITs is a combination of the investment strategies of equity REITs and mortgage REITs by way of investing in both properties and mortgages. Their income comes from rentals, capital appreciation, interest, and loan placement fees.

Benefits REITs has been found to come with alot of benefits. One of this is portfolio diversification, as real estate investment offers an alternative to equities and fixed income securities, especially for investors interested in diversification.

Liquidity is also another benefit accruable from REITs as it makes for

relatively liquid assets (when compared to direct investment in real estate) that can be sold fairly quickly to raise cash or to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

Since a large percentage of property developers’assets are still tied up in real estate assets, REIT provides an opportunity for such companies to free up this cash and still hold indirect interest in a portion of the assets.

Accessibility is also a key component of REITs as it allows investors with small amount to diversify their holdings between various geographic areas and property specialisations, among other benefits.

Challenges Ogunwemimo noted that unlike most countries where REITs enjoy a tax-exempt status when it distributes at least 90 per cent of its income to investors, in Nigeria, the tax laws are not explicit; hence, an unfavourable tax regime.

Another challenge to this scheme is poor investors’ awareness, as investors in Nigeria have little or no knowledge of REITs. Also, Return on investment in REITs is relatively low when compared to risk free government securities, thus making investments in real estate assets unattractive to investors. Equally, the cost of transferring assets from the sponsor to the REIT has hitherto been onerous, constraining the ability of the REIT to generate competitive returns.

However, with the introduction of the Declaration of Trust Structure (DoT), there has been a significant reduction in the charges incurred by REITs when transferring the assets from the sponsor to the REIT.

We’ve done well, says Bello AGOS State Commissioner for Environment Mr. Tunji Bello has praised the ministry for its achievements under Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The commissioner, who spoke at the valedictory presentation of his stewardship, said his team was able to ensure a cleaner, healthier, conducive and sustainable friendly environment for Lagosians.

He said his ministry resolved to attain a flood-free state, especially after the unfortunate incident of July 2011, when the it was submerged by flood. This, he said, was a thing of the past with the deployment of innovative approach and strategies, including efficient management and preservation of storm water in the state.

“We are happy to report that through the special grace of God, that of our team of determined engineers, as well as through the collective support and cooperation of Lagosians, the state did not record any flood-related disaster or major incidence of flooding last year,” Bello said, adding that rather, the state got commendations from the Nigerian Meteorological Service (NIMET) as the only state in the country with a deliberate deflooding programme. He said for this NIMET urged other states to emulate Lagos.

To this end, the Commissioner said the Ministry has further consolidated on the achievements recorded within the last one year, and, intensified efforts to create a livable city that would be hygienically conducive and enhancing for the socioeconomic well-being of the people.

Bello listed the feats to include the judicious use of ecological funds, especially with the construction of new homes for the homeless at Agbowa, the establishment and sustenance of a cordial working relationship with the Ogun/Oshun River Basin Authourity, which has helped in the control of water release from the dam- thus further aiding the deflooding process and storm water management during the rainy season.

He noted that the completion of new drainages in areas, such as Lagos Island, Orile Agege, Ikorodu, Alapere, Kosofe, Abule Egba, Agbado Oke-Odo, Ifako Ijaye, Egbe-Idimu Shomolu, Mushin, Itire, Ojo, Alimosho, Eti-Osa and Epe, was impressive.

“Our Ministry’s enforcement strategies have become stronger and effective though more improvement is envisaged, just as adequate preparation for/ during the rains has become standardised,” he said.

L

•Bello

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BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

JTF recovers 4.2 m litres of oil from two ships

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O less than 4.2million litres of stolen crude oil have been recovered by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Niger Delta.

The oil was found in two ships arrested in March by Operation Pull Shield, an anti-illegal oil bunkering and oil theft unit of the JTF. While one of the ships was arrested in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, the other was caught few metres to Forcados on the Warri waterways in Delta State.

During a tour of oil facilities in the region with JTF operatives The Nation, gathered that the ship in Forcados had 10 compartments and nine were filled with oil. The ship intercepted at Okrika had four compartments filled with oil.

A JTF team leader Captain Sunday Olaleye, said one compartment contains 330,000 litres of crude oil, which can fill a truck, adding that a compartment boasts of 10 trucks of crude.

He said: “When you multiply 330,000 litres of crude oil by nine compartments, you have 2,970

By Akinola Ajibade

million litres. That is for the ship that was intercepted around Forcados. Besides, the ship seized in Okrika region has four compartments filled with crude oil. When you multiply 330,000 litres of crude oil by four, you have 1.32millon litres. Altogether, over 4.2million of stolen crude oil was recovered in two separate operation carried out by JTF. Olaleye said his men arrested the ships on a tip-off.

“Immediately, we are informed by people that the ships were planning to escape, we swung into action by getting into our gun boats. We sped off and was able to arrest the ships. When we move closer to the ship that was arrested around Forcados area, the sailor and other crude members escaped through a boat they snatched on the river.” he added.

The Commander, JTF, Maj.Gen Emmanuel Atewe, said it was unfortunate that some people were stealing crude, Nigeria’s major source of foreign ex-

•Atewe

change earnings.

He lamented that some people were stealing crude oil and making billions of dollars from the illegal business.

He explained that stealing and ferrying of crude oil outside Nigeria was done by people, believed to be experts in that area.

He said when people steal crude oil, they move it to the high sea and from there to their destinations, usually Europe and other continents where they have a market for the product.

Atewe said thieves have a way of stealing, refining crude oil and selling it to their clients who are neck-deep in the business.

He said JTF has located some local oil refineries, destroyed them and make the areas unaccessible for owners of such plants.

Atewe said: “No retreat, no surrender”is the JTF’ slogan when its comes to the issue of fighting crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism. By virtue of my training and the agency I heads, I must defend Nigeria as

NDPHC prepares for NIPP Phase II

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HE Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), owners of the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), is reorganising for the implementation of NIPP Phase 11.

The project will centre on generation from hydro plants as against the Phase 1 that operates on thermal plants. The choice of hydro power is part of the diversification of sources of power supply, especially in the face of the rampant pipeline vandalism.

The General Manager, Communication and Public Relations, NDPHC, Yakubu Lawal, said the Board, at a meeting in Abuja, approved the implementation of the new structure, which was proposed at its meeting in August, last year.

Under the new structure, he said the company has four executive directors to head generation, networks; finance and accounts and corporate services departments. He added that the office of the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser has been upgraded to a director’s status.

Mr. James Abiodun Olotu retains his position as Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer and the head of the new structure, he said.

Lawal also dismissed in situations that the Board made the appointments ahead of May 29 swearing in of the new government to avoid changes.

He said the report could cast aspersions on the integrity, credibility and competence of the chairman and directors of the NDPHC. According to him, the National Economic Council (NEC) in April 2013 approved the execution of the second phase of the NIPP projects, which comprise Mambilla hydro power project and 16 other identified medium and small hydro power projects to create a mix of power generation/supply system for the country.

The Phase 1 NIPP projects have 10 new thermal power stations in the south.

The second phase will contribute about 4,000 megawatts (MW) to the national grid. It has some critical transmission projects,

a territory; protect its mineral resources from the hands of overzealous and wicked people who are bent on improvising people at the expense of their ill- gotten wealth. We have declared zero tolerance against oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other untoward practices that affect the nation’s oil and gas sector.

He said besides 24-hour patrol of waterways, JTF is committed to monitoring and stopping vandals from accessing oil installation centres in the region.

Atewe said JTF is achieving its goal of checking crude oil theft and its associated crimes through a strategic process.

He said the agency relies on combined efforts of the Police, Navy, Department of Security Service (DSS) and other institutions that made up JTF to tackle the crime, adding that communities have been cooperating with JTF on the issue.

The communities, he added, were helping it with information on how to solve the problems facing them.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

which are expected to wheel power from the existing and new power stations as it has the capacity to wheel over 20,000MW to the power distribution chain. The projects are being assembled.

According to the report presented to the Board of NDPHC, four power stations in the NIPP Phase One have been inaugurated

by President Jonathan.

They include Geregu II, 434mw capacity in Kogi state, Omotosho II, 500 MW capacities in Ondo state, 750MW capacity Olorunsogo II power plant in Ogun State and Phase One 504MW Alaoji thermal power station in Abia State. But Benin Generation Company and Ogorode with 450MW capacity each in Edo and Delta states are awaiting opening.

Other projects for completion are the 21.5km gas pipeline Creek town to Ikot Nyong power plant; 18km Ikot Nyong-Adiabo 330kV DC lines to evacuate power from Calabar power plant in Cross River State; completion of 13km 132kv DC Adiabo - Calabar 132/ 33kV substation and reinforcement of this Calabar 132/33kV substation with 1no 60MVA 132/ 33kV transformer and bays to accommodate new lines from Adiabo; completion of the upgrading of Jos 330/132/33kV substation with 1no 150MVA transformer, 1No 75MVA reactor and new 330 and 132kV bays provision to accommodate new lines in and out of Jos 330kV substation.

Others due for completion are the 286Km 330kv DC Jos-Makurdi transmission line; new Makurdi 330/132/33kv substation; 222km 330kV DC transmission line Geregu-Lokoja-Gwagwalada, linking NIPP power plant at Geregu to FCT, 2x150MVA 330/ 132/33kV transformer substation at Gwagwalada in Abuja with a further 90km of both 330kV and 132kV lines to reach Katampe and Apo 330/132/33kV substations in Abuja, among projects.

•From left: Director Corporate Services,NIPCO Plc, Alhaji Abdulkadir Aminu; Company Secretary, Mr Paul Chukwuma Obi; and Executive Director Finance, Mr Ramesh Virwani Plc during the 50th birthday celebration of Obi in Lagos.

Marketers: we are owing transporters N20b

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HE Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) is owing petroleum products’transporters N20billion, its Executive Secretary, Olufemi Olawore, has said.

The debts, he said, arose over the marketers’ inability to get subsidy arrears from the Federal Government. The marketers are Mobil, Forte, Total, MRS, Conoil and Oando.

Olawore said at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos that the association was planning to offset the debts soon.

The matter, he said, was presented before the marketers by transporters, adding that his body would investigate the claims.

He said: “Transporters have told us (oil marketers) that we are ow-

By Akinola Ajibade

ing them N20 billion for helping us to move petroleum products across the country.These are claims, which we are planning to investigate. By the time we reconcile the figures the transporters have with our own, there may not be any difference.”

He said the debt is a confirmation that marketers are in a dire situation, adding that the problems facing marketers are many.

“Marketers are talking about difficulties in getting money to import fuel into the country, while at the same time, battling with debts. The money the government is owing marketers is huge, making it difficult for them to operate optimally. We would

get over our problems as soon as the Federal Government fulfills its financial obligations to us, he said According to him, it is becoming difficult for marketers to work, stressing that marketers are mulling pruning their activities to cut costs.

He said stakeholders would be affected if the association embarked on cutting its operation.

It would be recalled that the issue of petroleum subsidy has generated controversy, pitching the Federal Government and the marketers against each other.

This has resulted in the plans, by the government to withdraw subsidies in January 2013, a development which led to protests nationwide.

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Celebration of a life well spent MAMA MARY ADEKITAN OYEGBILE (Nee ADESINA)

(March 18, 1924- March 3, 2015) The Oyegbile family with gratitude to God announces the glorious home call of our Mother, Grandmother and Great grandmother who was called to glory on March 3, 2015.

BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS SERVICE OF SONGS: Friday, May 8, 2015 VENUE: At her residence, Opposite Soun High School, off Orita Naira, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

TIME: 5 pm FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, May 9, 2015 VENUE: Masifa Baptist Church, Idi Araba, Ogbomoso, Oyo State TIME: 10am INTERMENT: At her residence, Opposite Soun High School, off Orita Naira, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

ENTERTAINMENT OF GUESTS: Soun High School, off Orita Naira, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

She is survived by children, many grand children and great grandchildren.

CHILDREN • Mr. Matthew Akin Oyegbile • Mrs. Adeola Theresa Ehigie • Mrs. Omonike Grace Ogunrinu • Mrs. Taiwo Janet Dina

• Arch. Kunle Kehinde Oyegbile • Mrs. Foluke Idowu Ogunbiyi • Mr. Olayinka Sunday Oyegbile • Barrister Timothy Olawale Oyegbile

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MONEYLINK

UBA, GTBank, others ranked high on human capital development

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NITED Bank for Africa (UBA), GTBank, Ster ling Bank are among the lenders that came top in the Human Capital ValueAdded award for 2014 conducted by the Investment Research Nigeria.

Senior Africa Investment Analyst at Investment Research Nigeria, Jude Fejokwu said UBA for the second time in three years, came first in the 2014 Human Capital ValueAdded recognition promoted by the company. GTBank came second, followed by Sterling Bank, among others.

He said UBA came first in 2012, second in 2013 and first last year in terms of human capital efficiency and productivity. Fejokwu said the last time UBA came first, its stock had the best investment return for 2013 among banks returning 94 per cent adding that this year may just be the same.

He said GTBank which came first in 2013 year is second for last year. The bank’s value added declined by seven per cent though financial productivity dropped by only six per cent. He attributed the feat to employee discontentment with certain realities within the company.

Sterling Bank came third for the second year in a row while spending the lowest amount on its employees on average for the third consecutive year in the Nigerian banking industry. He said the recognition is given to lenders that bring out the best out of their workforce during the 2014 fi-

Stories by Collins Nweze

nancial year.

Fejokwu said six banks have positive human capital valueadded for 2014 down from eight in 2013. He said the analysis will be taken to banks in Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Botswana before the end of this year.

According to the report, Unity Bank moved up eight spots from 12th position, while FirstBank moved down one spot from fourth with its human capital value-added declining from plus four to plus three despite average human capital expense rising by 11 per cent in 2014.

FCMB, he said, moved up one spot from the seventh position, with its human capital value-added remaining at plus one for the second year in a row while average human capital expense rose by nine per cent in 2014.

Also, ETI moved up one spot from eight position, which saw its human capital value-added remaining at zero for the second consecutive year. “This implies human capital is as efficient as they are remunerated. The Nigeria cluster has started turning into an asset after being a liability since the Oceanic Bank acquisition. Financial productivity of its human capital rose by a very impressive 131 per cent from 2013 to 2014,” he said.

Zenith Bank moved down two spots from sixth position, with the bank’s value-added declining from two to zero

•UBA CEO Phillips Oduoza despite a 21 per cent increase in its average human capital expense. “Over the past two years, we keep seeing banks increasing their human capital expense and getting punished for it... Let’s hope the supposed beneficial impact is just lagging and not non-existent,” he said.

Equally, Access Bank moved up one spot from 10th position. This bank reduced headcount by 19 per cent in 2013 and a further 20 per cent last year' while, average human capital expenses rose 26 per cent in 2014 as a result of motivation for others to stay behind and/or there are less people doing more work who may now be better remunerated to carry on the expanded workload. The bank’s employees improved their financial productivity by 14.6 per cent from 2013 to 2014 and are the second most financially aggressive in the industry after GTBank.

ANAN urges capacity building for accountants

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HE Association of Na tional Accountants of Ni geria (ANAN) has reiterated need for continuous training and retraining of its members.

Its Immediate Past President, Dr Sakirudeen Labode, who spoke in his valedictory address at the 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and handover ceremony of the group in Abuja said to achieve the feat, the group organised series of programmes for members both within and outside the country. ‘‘Having realised that human resource is our greatest assets, we have since commenced Masters and Doctorate Degree programmes in Accounting and Finance for both ANAN workers and members at Nasarawa State University, Keffi,” he said.

He said there was increased attendance at the Mandatory Continuing Professional Devel-

opment Programme (MCPD) and the Mandatory Professional Practitioners Forum (MPPF) with increased awareness and the high quality of topics treated, participants at the forum tripled what it used to be.

Labode explained that to become a full-fledged member of IFAC, the association carried out a holistic review of the curriculum of the Nigerian College of Accountancy (NCA) to meet the requirements of International Accountants Education Standard Board (IAESB).

“This of course had put us at par with our sister Professional Accountancy Organisations (PAOs) locally and internationally,’’he said.

Labode said the introduction of French language into the curriculum of the NCA had added value to graduate of the college.

“The idea behind this is to enhance cross border activities,

adding to ease students’ stress, two blocks of hostel, in addition to the existing ones were built for the teeming students in the college,’’ the Accountant said.

He explained that the movement of the college to the permanent site was facilitated through the completion of an ultra-modern administrative block for workers.

ANAN also donated Accounting laboratories to 12 universities and polytechnics in the country. Labode said various books were donated to 18 universities and polytechnics, while research centres were built by the association at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, adding that works were in progress in other centres. He said in its corporate social responsibility, the association Ogic studies (NIPSS).

Skye Bank disburses N50m SME loan

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KYE BANK Plc has dis bursed N50 million Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) support loan under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Intervention fund.

According to a statement, business owners can access the intervention fund if they have a good credit record, loan request is above N5 million, and they operate in any of the following specified sectors of manufacturing, education , agro value chain and renewable energy.

Its Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, was quoted as saying that the bank

would continue to partner with small business owners who are interested in creating value and contributing to the development of the country.

He said beyond loans, Skye bank had put structures and modalities in place to make the SME sector the true driver of development by helping the operators to overcome their problems and grow their businesses through its sectorbased seminar series (Skye Business Seminar) initiative to improve the financial, marketing and managerial skills of the business owners in partnership with affinity groups like BDSPs etc nationwide.

He assured all SME operators of the bank’s support to grow

and expand their businesses, saying the bank’s SME support package takes care of all operators.

It will be recalled that the CBN set up the N220 billion SME Support Fund to provide funding to operators in the SME sector who lack capital to expand their businesses and who find it difficult to access loans from the commercial banks due to high interest rates.

Under the scheme, loan beneficiaries pay a single digit interest on loan facilities granted them, and have a longer repayment period, unlike facilities from commercial banks which attract higher interest rates.

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NEWS Students from Jonathan’s town shut out of hostel

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UNDREDS of male students of the Federal University, Otuoke, President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown in Bayelsa State, have been locked out of their hostels over unpaid two-year rent, amounting to N24 million.

The students, who resumed yesterday, had their belongings thrown outside by a private developer, who complained that the school and the government owed him N24 million.

The 52-bedroom apartment, accommodating half of the school’s male population, was devoid of the usual activities.

The porter and Dean of Students’ Affairs Dr. Marcellina Offoha helped to pack some of the students’ belongings out of the hostel.

The developer, Emmanuel Doyiebo, said he had a legal document from his lawyers to eject the students.

He said he was tired of the antics of the state government and the school authority for failing to honour the agreement to pay him annually for the apartment.

Doyiebo said: “I am evicting the university. They are my tenants, they are owing due to the negligence from the state government. They are owing me two years’ rent. I have given them a quit notice and I hope they are

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

quitting.

“I have spoken to the state government; I have meetings with the secretary to the state government (SSG). I have had meetings with the permanent secretary. I have had meetings with the vice-chancellor, met with the school registrar, but to no avail.

“The reason they gave was that there was no fund from the state government because it was the Bayelsa State government that we have the tenancy agreement with. The state government bequeathed the property to the university. But whichever way, we have an agreement to be paid, which has not been carried out.”

The quit notice, which was signed by R. E. Ndiomu, on behalf of the lawyers, directed the tenants to hand over the property to the owner within seven days.

The letter was copied to the Vice-Chancellor, the Chief Legal Adviser to the university and the SSG, who acknowledged receipt on March 10.

Offoha said the student resumed at the weekend and discovered that their hostel had been locked.

The dean said the students and the school authority were in a dilemma over the development.

Buhari can’t neglect Southsouth, Southeast, says Uduaghan

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S a new government is set to emerge on May 29, the Southsouth and Southeast must not be denied their dues in power sharing and resource allocation, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said.

The governor spoke on Sunday night in Lagos when he received the Man of the Year Award from the Silverbird Television.

He noted that both zones were critical components of the country that should not be relegated in the power equation under any circumstance.

Uduaghan said equity, fair play and justice were essential ingredients to enthroning peace in any society.

He said: “The incoming government cannot afford to ignore the Southsouth and

Southeast whether or not they voted for the party.”

Uduaghan said the three virtues were his constant guiding principles as governor without which the implementation of his developmental agenda would have been more challenging.

He said: “There is no sacrifice that is too much for peace to be won, especially personal sacrifice.”

According to him, when he realised that the peace he laboured to build over eight years would be upset by his desire to seek election into the Senate, he quickly sacrificed his ambition.

“By laying the foundation for peace in Delta State through equity and fair play, we were able to actualise our development programmes and create a new economy under the Delta Beyond Oil initiative,” Uduaghan said.

Kidnapped council chief, doctor freed

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HE abducted Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ahoada East in Rivers State, Cassidy Ikegbidi, has been released.

Also said to have been released is a woman doctor at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Dr. Uju Onatai.

She was kidnapped on her way from work about two weeks ago.

Ikegbidi was reportedly released yesterday morning, while Dr. Onatai was freed on Sunday evening.

The local government chairman was reportedly kidnapped in Ahoada by gunmen, who allegedly dressed in military uniform, following the April 11 elections.

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

The police confirmed the release but could not say the time and whether or not a ransom was paid.

But a source close to High Chief Ikegbidi claimed that no ransom was paid.

Both victims were said to be on admission at undisclosed hospitals.

The doctor’s husband, Mrs Onatai, said his wife was freed with a bullet wound on her leg.

The wound is being treated at the hospital.

The mother of two was kidnapped on April 26 at 7:30 pm in front of her house on the East West Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

•From left: Nollywood artistes: Vie Okujaye, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett and Olu Jacobs, at the media screening of Oloibiri, an action thriller mirroring fear, dread and international exploitation of the Niger Delta people, in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: NAN

One killed as ‘cultists’ lay siege to council

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T least one member of the Udu Vigilance Group in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State has been killed.

Another was shot in the leg, following a siege to communities in the local government area by armed cult members.

It was learnt that the worse hit area was Aladja, where suspected cultists clashed.

A woman was said to have been raped and some residents have reportedly been robbed by the hoodlums in the last few days.

Following the attacks, various communities were

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

said to have taken measures to forestall a recurrence.

Aladja has imposed curfew from midnight to 5 am.

A member of the Orhuwhorun Vigilance Group, identified simply as Irikefe, was reportedly killed by suspected cultists at the weekend and another person shot in the leg. The guns belonging to both men were reportedly taken away.

A community source at Aladja told our reporter that “a lot of cult members have been arrested in Aladja before and after that last week

attack”.

The source added: “The community has placed a midnight to 5am curfew after the cultists’ attack.

“With that decision, peace and normalcy have returned to the community.

“It is a decisive action to curb the menace of cultists.

Vigilantes and youth leaders have begun street patrol and it is yielding results.

“Cultists are now fleeing the town. Aladja has zero tolerance for criminality.

So, it (the attack) came as a jolt. The leaders were sore and they have vowed to deal with anyone caught as

a cultist or criminal.”

It was also learnt that after killing Irikefe at Orhuwhorun, the gunmen went to Ohwase and shot another vigilante.

The hoodlums were said to have abandoned their vehicle, which was suspected to have been stolen. It has been recovered by policemen from Ovwian/Aladja station.

Police spokesman Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the command was aware of the killing of Irikefe.

She added that investigation had begun on the matter.

Memorial service for Oshiomhole’s secretary Oyerinde

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RIENDS and associates from labour unions, human rights community, media and others yesterday held a third year memorial service for Olaitan Oyerinde, a former deputy general secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and principal private secretary to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The sympathisers urged relevant government authorities to apprehend Oyerinde’s killers and bring them to justice.

They criticised the outrageous salary and severance allowances of elected and appointed political office holders.

One of the conveners of the event, Taiwo Akerele, described Oyerinde as a humane person.

“He was prepared for the assignment he was executing at the time he fell to the cold of hands of death. He was a thoroughbred intellectual, with a sound clarity of thought, solid background on administrative philosophy of his boss and a clear ideology on the imperatives of social inclusion in governance and development,” Akerele said.

A former Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner Osagie Obayuwana described the late Oyerinde as “a bridge builder, a tender, humorous, yet fearless” person.

He hoped the police “will feel challenged that an offence has been committed and will not rest until it (the crime) is

•Oyerinde’s wife to Buhari: fish out my husband’s killers

Oyerinde’s property not in dispute, says Ugolor

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HE Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) Rev. David Ugolor, yesterday denied being in possession of documents on the landed property belonging to the late Oyerinde, a former principal private secretary to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Ugolor said the ownership of the property was not in dispute.

He conveyed the late Oyerinde to his home the night he was killed and took him to hospital, following his fatal attack.

Speaking on phone from London, the UnitFrom Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia and Osagie Otabor, Benin

investigated”.

Textile Workers Union’s General Secretary Issa Aremu said the killing of Oyerinde raised the “painful nostalgia of Nigeria’s unresolved individual murder cases - high or low - without an official declaration of war”.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Prof Julius Ihonvbere, who reacted to insinuations that the state government had not done enough to immortalise Oyerinde, said: “I can tell you for sure that the Comrade Governor (Adams Oshiomhole) has not forgotten and we discussed it a week before he travelled. You don’t just name anything that somebody can come and eliminate. It has to be some-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

ed Kingdom (UK), Ugolor said the late Olaitan’s wife, Funke, had not contacted him since her husband’s death.

The cleric said the only document in his possession was where he wrote the personal expenses on the building that was not refunded because of Oyerinde’s death.

He said: “My friend is dead. Will I go and ask him to refund my money? The house is there. The person that sold the building is still alive. I did not say the property is mine.

Funke knows the place. She has not asked me about it.”

In Nigeria, when a minister’s thing appropriate and I am son is affected or kidnapped, sure before the end of next they will fish out the killers. month, we will do the right Why is Olaitan’s case differthing. We cannot forget Oyent? We need justice. erinde.”

“It is good to have a husAlso, Funke, the late Oyerband and wife live together. inde’s wife, has urged PresiI have been living in sorrow. dent-elect Muhammadu BuIt has not been easy. My hushari to fish out her husband’s band considered people bekillers. fore his own. He cared for Mrs Oyerinde said she was people.” seeking Buhari’s help beMrs Oyerinde urged the cause she was tired of the exactivists at the remembrance cuses from the DSS and the to prevail on the Executive police.

Director of African Network The bereaved woman for Environment and Ecospoke yesterday in Benin at nomic Justice, Rev. David the third year remembrance Ugolor, to release doculecture organised in honour ments on her husband’s of her husband. property.

Her words evoked tears Ugolor was among the from the gathering as she resuspects arrested in conneccalled how her son cried for tion with Oyerinde’s killing. three days, asking for his faBut an Edo State High Court ther. awarded N5 million to She said: “This is injustice Ugolor against the police for to my family and especially unlawful arrest and detento my son. He needs justice. tion.

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NEWS PDP: First Lady, Fayose caused Jonathan’s defeat Continued from page 4

ship.

“This is in addition to recent sponsored publications accusing the NWC of corruption with claims that members shared monies generated from the sale of forms from aspirants for the general elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that this national leadership has remained very transparent in all its dealing since coming into office. No NWC member has been involved in any sleaze or embezzlement of party funds.

“Also, no member of the NWC has ever been accused of embezzlement of funds in any ministry, department or agencies of government at any level whatsoever.

“We state clearly that we have not been given any money; rather, this NWC generated billions of naira from the sale of forms from where we funded our candidates for governorship and state assembly elections in all the states of the federation, in addition to funds released to key leaders, including NWC and BoT members, to prosecute the campaigns in their various areas. The NWC is willing and ready to make this account public in line with the freedom of information law.

“We hereby wish to alert the general public and all our members that the main agen-

da of these elements is not only to hijack the national leadership but also to create an impression of division and crisis and pave the way to lure some of our elected members to decamp to other parties, apparently in view of the recent ruling of the Supreme Court which allows defection in the event of leadership crisis at their party’s national level.

“However, we are happy to announce that the leader of our party, President Jonathan, the PDP governors and other key stakeholders of our party including governors and legislators-elect are deeply concerned about this development and have intervened to ensure the desired stability in our party.”

Metuh spoke about the “reengineering in the party, adding that the PDP Post Election Assessment Committee, which is to be inaugurated tomorrow (today) evaluate its performance in the general elections and make recommendations.

“On this note, we wish to state clearly that there is no crisis in the national leadership of the PDP. The National Working Committee under the chairmanship of Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu is duly elected and is fully in control of the administration of the party until the expiration of its tenure in March 2016 in line with the provisions of the constitution of our great party,” Metuh said.

84 killed in Taraba communal crisis Continued from page 4

roads linking Takum, where they remove and kill people from commercial vehicles.

Seven Tiv passengers were removed from a commercial vehicle on Dogon Gawa-Katsina-Ala Road. They were killed. Tiv woman was macheted while riding on a motorbike with her son on the route on Saturday. A military van appeared at the scene and the marauders ran out of sight.

The soldiers took the woman, nearly deformed, to the Rapha Hospital. Her son who escaped into the bush, said the attackers were Fulani and Kuteb.

Four Kutebs and a Jukun were shot dead while trekking down the trough between Kwali and Gbaaondo settlements by gunmen. One of the deceased had his eyes removed when the bodies were recovered.

Three victims could not be identified because their bodies were cut into pieces. This at-

‘Chibok girls sold off, married

by Boko Haram chiefs’ Continued from page 4

man was not a priority target.

Hanatu Musa, a 22-year old mother kidnapped in June from Gwoza in Borno State, quoted the fighters as saying their leader had deceived them into fighting and killing in the name of religion.

While the Nigerian army, which launched its counterattack in January, is confident it has the group cornered in the Sambisa nature reserve, a final push to clear them from the area has been curtailed by landmines.

tack and killing took place on Vingir Road, near Loko. The wives of the deceased were spared by the attackers who asked them to go and break the news at home. The women said the killers were Fulani.

On Wednesday, a Hausa chickens and goats trader, popularly known as Yaro Yaro, was killed with his Tiv business partner, John Chin.

The duo had gone to some villages to buy chickens and goats and were returning home when suspected Fulani gunmen opened fire on them.

Methodist Prelate to Buhari: ignore attacks on NDDC

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ETHODIST Church of Nigeria Prelate Dr. Samuel Kanu Uche yesterday urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari not to pay attention to those claiming that the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC is not living up to expectations.

He spoke at a special Holy Communion Service at Afaha in Esit Eket Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

The Prelate advised the incoming Buhari administration to urgently address the problem of unemployment in the country, stating that the growing army of jobless youths is a threat to the society.

Dr. Uche thanked the NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia for his enormous contributions to the local church in Afaha Circuit and the Diocese of Eket.

Dan-Abia said he felt fulfilled

to have contributed to the building of the church in his village. “I feel strengthened and fortified each time I come into the local church to worship. I also have a sense of satisfaction in seeing the numerous development projects executed by the NDDC which have improved the quality of life of our people,” he said.

He added that it was regrettable even with the ample evidence that the NDDC had executed several development projects in the

Niger Delta, some critics still dismissed such efforts as insignificant.

The NDDC boss said: “Apart from infrastructure, people tend to forget that there was a time kidnapping was the order of the day in the Niger Delta. Today, the NDDC has along with the Presidential Amnesty Programme changed the lives of the former militants through various youth empowerment schemes.”

Support Buhari to deliver, ICSAN President urges Nigerians

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IGERIANS should support the incoming Buhari administration to enable it better the lot of Nigerians, President/Chairman of Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, has said.

Ndanusa spoke at the weekend during the 14th induction of members of the institute in Lagos.

“I urge all Nigerians to support Gen. Buhari to deliver the dividends of democracy to us. He cannot afford to fail. We should assist him and his administration to live up to the expectations of the people”, he said.

He also urged Gen. Buhari to ensure the implementation of all the promises made to Nigerians during his campaigns, adding that the President-elect should let his words to be his bond.

“After the general elections, the expectations of the people from the President-elect are that things

should change for better and that he should improve on what the outgoing administration has achieved so far.

“Security, rule of law, corruption-free society, employment and united Nigeria are among the expectations of Nigeria from the incoming administration of General Buhari, who definitely cannot afford to fail.

“This is not going to be easy but with determination, it will be done and potentials realized for positive result. With determination, corruption will be eradicated. It is important we base everything on merit and we should give Buhari the opportunity to do this”, the ICSAN President stated.

Ndanusa urged members of the Institute to shun all forms of unethical practices and any act capable of tarnishing the good name of the Institute and the nation in general.

Ndanusa told the 165 inductees, comprising 94 graduates; 57 Associate members and 14 Fellows, to be ambassadors of an Institute noted for Professionalism and Integrity, adding that they must always remember and adhere to the oath of allegiance of the Institute.

“As the present and future leaders of the Institute, I admonish you to maintain your stand for integrity, transparency and accountability and refuse to compromise irrespective of the circumstance.

“You are role models therefore expected to be shining examples not only to your generation but also to future generations. You must, therefore, shun all forms of unethical practices and any act capable of tarnishing the good name of our Institute and our nation in general”, he said.

Registrar/ Chief Executive of the Institute, Mr. Dele Togunde, said: “Everywhere you go, anywhere you are and wherever sector of sphere of human endeavours you find yourself, you must be good ambassadors of the Institute. If a task is undertaken with consummate skill culminating in outstanding, sterling result, let it be said it is done by a Chartered Secretary”.

Witnesses testify as Rivers commission begins sitting Continued from page 4

four witnesses appeared, testified and were cross-examined.

The witnesses that appeared are: Mrs Patience Adube, wife of late Chief Christopher Adube who was assassinated in his house in Obrikom, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area alongside three of his children and two others on April 3.

Another witness was Mr Anthony Onyemachi Ogarabe, a

businessman in Obrikom who also testified in the case of the late Adube.

Mrs Precious Adube, the second wife of the late Adube who is the mother of the three children that were killed, also testified.

The names of the three children are Joy, John and Lucky.

Mr. Kennedy Ahiaidu, an employee of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku also told the commission that on January 14, 2014 a group of

young men numbering about 50, attacked her house but did not succeed in killing anybody in the family house.

He said during the election campaigns, they re-grouped, came back and to kill his father, the late Chief Ahiaidu.

After testifying, the petitioners prayed the commission to fish out the perpetrators of these dastardly acts and their sponsors and bring them to justice.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

58

NEWS

Death toll rises to 27 in military, Fulani clash in Taraba

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HE death toll in Karimlamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, where the military carried out what some people called a reprisal attack, has risen to 27.

About 84 persons have been killed in communal clashes in Takum at the same time.

Abuja Chief Imam was a great scholar, says Atiku

•Two soldiers’ bodies recovered From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

At least 25 persons were feared killed in Karimlamido at the weekend, following a retaliatory attack by soldiers who lost six of their colleagues in an attack by Fulani militia.

It was learnt that local militia, last Thursday, killed nine soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in Amar and Kambari villages of Karimlamido Local Government Area. Six bodies were recovered while the bodies of three others were missing.

It was expected that the

military would retaliate as they searched for the missing soldiers.

When they started the search, they reportedly recovered two more bodies.

But 27 persons were feared dead.

It was also learnt that the militia opened fire when the

soldiers were combing the area in search of their missing (dead) colleagues.

But, this time, they returned “fire for fire,” killing 27 of them at the spot. Two of the injured died yesterday.

Many residents were fleeing the area when soldiers said they might return to Karimlamido to “intensify the search” for other missing soldier.

Karimlamido Local Government Chairman Bobboi Bello Bendu confirmed the gun battle between the military and the Fulani militia.

He said two villages were razed during the battle.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

F

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said the late Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Sheikh Musa Mohammed, was a great scholar who worked “tirelessly and admirably” for the unity of Nigeria throughout his life.

In a tribute to the late Chief Imam, the former Vice President recalled that in all his sermons, the late Mohammed devoted his messages to peace, harmony and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of all faith and ethnicity.

He said the passion with which the late Imam devoted his energy to peace “was remarkably worthy of note and respect”.

Atiku noted that the late Chief Imam “was a true face of Islam and its personification of peace”.

The former Vice President urged Sheikh Mohammed’s successor to sustain his passion for inter-faith dialogue to enhance understanding, tolerance and harmony among Nigeria’s diverse religious groups.

•Members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Northwest zone, protesting non-payment of their allowances, in Kaduna ... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Irish petitions IGP over police part in demolition of property

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HE Irish national whose property was demolished at the weekend by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), in alleged violation of a court order, has petitioned Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

The Irish accused the police of colluding with the FCDA to subvert a court order.

A petition on his behalf by Chris Ezugwu of Ivory Chambers, Abuja, accused Chief Emeka Offor, the owner of Chrome Oil Services Limited, one of the parties in the suit before the court, of using the police and other security agencies to aid their disobedience of a court order.

The petitioner said the court had stopped the demolition of the two property at Plot 4072, Maitama, Abuja.

The petition, which was submitted to the Central Mail Collection Office at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, was copied to President Goodluck Jonathan, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief Justice of the Federation and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

The Nation, in its Monday edition, reported the demolition of the property by officials of three agencies of the FCT - the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja Metropolitan

•Petitioner angry over flouted court order From Tony Akowe, Abuja

Management Agency (AMMA) and the Department of Development Control (DDC).

They were allegedly aided by policemen, on Friday, to demolish two houses belonging to some non-Nigerians at Maitama.

The FCT officials, allegedly instigated by Chrome Oil Services Limited, owned

by a businessman, Emeka Offor, were said to have shunned entreaties by owners of the structures, mostly Irish nationals, that the dispute between Chrome and Micad Project City Services Limited, in respect of the land on which the property were erected, was still pending in court.

But in the petition to the acting IGP, Micad Project City Services Limited,

through its lawyer, said while it was not unaware of the fact that the court had the capacity to deal with disobedience of court orders, it was the height of “rascality” for the police to refuse to prevent a clear violation of a court order, but rather actively assist in subverting it.

The petition reads: “We write as counsel to Micad Project City Services Limited to protest in very strong

terms the illegal and wanton use of men of the Nigeria Police by Chrome Oil Services Limited to carry out the barbaric demolition of our client’s property at Plot 4072 Maitama, Abuja, in flagrant violation of a subsisting order of injunction duly made by the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“On March 11, Chrome Oil Services Limited, accompanied by thugs, police, net and bulldozers invaded Plot 4072, Maitama and started

Aliyu sacks political appointees, dissolves boards

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IGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu has sacked most of the political appointees in his administration with effect from May 1.

The governor also ordered the dissolution of all government boards.

A directive yesterday in Minna, the state capital, on the action was contained in

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

a letter by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Saidu Idris Ndako.

The SSG said Aliyu directed that “where a political appointee is the head of the establishment, he is to hand over to the most senior civil servant in the rank in the establishment”.

Aliyu directed that all categories of officers entitled to severance allowance gratuity but had vehicle loans and had not served up to two years to qualify them for the severance, should return such vehicles.

The statement reads: “Any other officer assigned to operational vehicles

should similarly return such vehicles immediately and ensure due clearance”.

The statement said Aliyu’s action was among the measures to ensure a smooth transition and proper handing over to the incoming administration.

But the governor said the commissioners would be retained till May 29.

Task force arrests 22 hoodlums in Ilorin

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HE Kwara State AntiThuggery Task Force yesterday said it has arrested 22 suspected hoodlums at various locations in Adeta and Pakata areas of Ilorin, the state capital.

Alhaji Suleiman Abdulsalam, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security and Intelligence, spoke in Ilorin an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said some of the suspects were arrested at a shrine in Adeta in Ilorin, adding that some weapons and charms stained with fresh blood were recovered from them.

Abdulsalam told NAN that a joint operation, comprising the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), vigilance groups and the police, tagged: Operation Harmony, last Friday, also arrested 32 people at an Indian hemp joint in the outskirt of Ilorin.

According to him, all the suspects are being detained and interrogated by security agents.

Abdulsalam urged the residents to be securityconscious and always give useful information on suspected criminals to security agencies.

NAN reports that the task force was constituted by the state government to curb post-election violence, which led the destruction of valuable property, such as buildings and vehicles worth millions of naira.

Shettima: Boko Haram implant ‘successors’ in raped women

B

OKO Haram insurgents deliberately raped women with to get them pregnant so they would give birth to future insurgents as successors of their violent struggles, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has said.

The governor said there is need for a special programme to break the chain of succession the insurgents anticipated.

He said studies on the practices associated with insurgency showed that insurgents believed that whoever did not share their ideology was an infidel.

Shettima said his wife and property could be freely acquired by the sect’s members with the wives serving as slaves to satisfy the sexual pleasure of their masters.

The governor also said members of the sect believed that children fathered by them would share their ideology later in life and succeed their parents to keep the cycle going.

‘Kidnapped deputy governor’s brother taken out of the state’

M

ALAM Ayuba Ibeto, the younger brother of Niger State Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who was kidnapped last Friday by gunmen, may have been taken out of the state by his abductors,

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

the police have said.

Police Commissioner Olusola Emmanuel Amore addressed reporters yesterday in his office in Minna, the state capital, on the Ibeto’s

abduction.

Amore said: “The victim, Ayuba Ibeto, has been taken outside the state while the kidnappers were in touch with the family.”

It was the first time the police were making an official

statement on the incident since it occurred at 10pm last Friday at Ibeto, Magama Local Government Area.

Amore said the police were working on how to rescue the victim and arrest his kidnappers.

The police chief said the command had deployed a special team to Kontagora axis over the incident.

He urged anyone with useful information on the abduction to give it to the command.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

59

NEWS Obiano, Ekwunife mourn NUJ man From Nwanosike Onu, Awka HE Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and the Senator-elect for Anambra Central, Uche Ekwunife, have lamented the death of the state Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Ifeoma Anumba.

The duo said yesterday in Awka that Anumba’s death was unexpected.

Ekwunife, in a statement by her Media Assistant, Uzor Emmanuel, described Anumba’s death as devastating, especially at a time the country needed her services most.

She said the deceased was a diligent young lady that served with joy. She prayed God to grant her eternal rest.

The statement reads: “It is with deep sorrow and bewilderment that I commiserate with the family of Anumba of Nawfia community, and members of the NUJ, Anambra council, on the death of their daughter and secretary, Lady Ifeoma Anumba.

“The death is painful. We are always forced to relapse and only say it is well whenever we lost somebody so dear to our heart.

“I call on NUJ to see this as a tragedy that befell all of us and not journalists alone; we shall miss her smiling face and doggedness in the sustenance of the ethos of the noble profession”.

Before her sudden demise yesterday, Ifeoma Anumba, who hailed from Nawfia in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, worked with the Federal Ministry of Information in Awka.

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•The ‘new Speaker’ of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba (2nd left front row) and other members of the House...yesterday PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

Confusion in Enugu as nine lawmakers sack Speaker •Faction moves against Chime•’Governor unaware of plot’ HERE was tension yes‘I am still in charge ‘ terday at the Enugu

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State House of Assembly, as the lawmakers broke into two factions— one for Governor Sullivan Chime and the other plotting against him.

The anti-Chime group, led

by Speaker Eugene Odoh, has 14 members and in the majority.

Deputy Speaker Chime Oji is leading eight members backing Chime.

They claimed to have sacked the speaker.

The two groups sat early yesterday, with the antiChime group sitting at 6:20 am, for less than 30 minutes.

Those for Chime sat at 7:05 am, for about 45 minutes.

In their brief sitting, the anti-Chime group, led by Odoh, began the process of Chime’s impeachment for allegedly forging the N12 billion 2012 Supplementary Budget.

The notice was signed by 14 members, including the Speaker.

The Clerk, Christopher Chukwurah, who was absent at the sitting, was directed to serve the notice on the governor.

Oji, who recently won the Enugu North/South seat; Emeka Ogbuabor and Deputy House Leader John Kevin Ukwuta were suspended for alleged antiHouse activities The Speaker and the 13 others entered the legislative chamber at 6:20 am and forcefully sat after the police had barred them from the House.

The lawmakers complained that the governor was using some of their colleagues to disrupt the House for refusing to approve the N11 billion loan he requested.

But at 7:05 am. the Deputy

T

HE Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Eugene Odo, has described his purported impeachment by the nine-man faction of the lawmakers as legislative recklessness and impunity.

Odo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that he was still the Speaker.

He noted that the action of the Chinedu Nwamba group was illegal, unknown to law and unknown to democracy.

“The status quo remains. I am still the Speaker. It is only two-thirds of the 24 lawmakers that can impeach or suspend the Speaker and only eight of them cannot suspend or impeach the Speaker.

“It is true they formed a quorum but a quorum cannot impeach the Speaker,’’ Odo said.

He said he was being persecuted for not From Chris Oji, Enugu

Speaker and seven others, including the Deputy Governor-elect, Cecilia Ezeilo, entered the chamber.

The clerk attended the sitting, which elected Chinedu Nwamba as Speaker to replace Odo. A member, Joseph Agbo Ugwumba, Enugu East Rural, later joined them.

Deputy leader John Kevin Ukwuta moved a motion that Johnbull Nwagu, who was suspended be recalled.

Chinedu Nwamba seconded the motion.

The Chime group, however, lifted the suspension on Nwagu for misconduct and invited him to join the group, bringing their number to nine.

Ukwuta moved another motion for the suspension of Odoh and six others; Anichukwu Nwankwo, Okechukwu Nwoke, Paul Ogbe, Nze Michael Onyeze, Theresa Egbo, Chika Eneh and SKE Udo-Okoye.

The motion was approved by the nine members.

signing a forged supplementary appropriation for 2012, which the governor allegedly wanted him and the clerk to sign this year.

Odo claimed the document had no records in the proceedings of the Assembly.

The Speaker said the crisis started when the lawmakers declined to sign the N11 billion loan sought by the governor less than 60 days to the end of his tenure.

“The governor surreptitiously called some members and gave them N2 million each to impeach the Speaker,’’ he alleged.

According to him, one of the lawmakers, who felt the impeachment was against his conscience, pulled out, leaving only eight of them.

The Speaker said the Assembly would resume plenary today.

The principal officers among those suspended were stripped of their positions and benefits.

Ukwuta moved for their positions to be filled and nominated Chinedu Nwamba, representing Nsukka East, as Speaker.

The motion was approved and Nwamba sworn in as Speaker of the G-9.

Nwamba thanked the group for the confidence reposed in him.

The group also elected Donatus Uzoagbado (Oji River) as leader and Emeka Ogbuabo as chief whip.

Ukwuta told the lawmakers of the letter written by the Attorney General Anthony Ani, informing them they had no powers to probe the State Universal Basic Education (ENSUBEB).

He said the freezing of the account of the ENSUBEB was erroneously done and should be lifted.

Emeka Ogbuabo seconded the motion, saying the House erred by freezing the account of the board, as the petition against the board chairman

was not properly handled.

At 7: 50 am, the House adjourned and factional Speaker Nwamba directed security to ensure that nobody was allowed into the Assembly.

But the state government said yesterday it was unaware of the impeachment plot against Governor Chime.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Chukwudi Achife, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, described the action of the 14-member faction, led by Odoh, as “null and void.”

According to him, the state government was still trying to come to terms with the realities of a change in the leadership of the House.

He said: “What we should be talking about is the new leadership of the House and not what the old one did.

“The process is perpetrated by those leaving the government on May 29 and that is why they are furious.

“No impeachment notice has been served on the governor; we must get that straight.”

‘My administration did well’

A

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has said the legacy projects built by his administration showed that his government did well in laying a solid foundation for good governance.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Umuahia and Aba High Court complexes, Orji said he believed his admin-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

istration, through its many projects, made a positive impact on the state.

The governor said incoming governments would not be bogged down in building similar institutional frameworks but focus on other important aspects of

government.

He noted that before him, there were little or no institutions supporting democracy or durable infrastructure and his government embarked on democratic institutions as a way of building the new face of Abia.

He thanked Abians for their support.

Commissioner for Hous-

ing Kingsley Mgbahuru thanked the governor for replicating the project in Aba. Earlier, in her address, Chief Judge Justice Theresa Uzokwe hailed the governor for the edifices, noting that it’s the first time any government was providing such for the judiciary.

She described it as the best in the Southeast.

Community threatens NIPP project

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HE Nnono Oboro community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State has threatened to stop the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) from Enugu to Akwa Ibom State.

The power line runs through Nnono Oboro.

The community said the contractor did not pay adequate compensation to the owners of the houses marked for demolition.

They called on the Federal Government to intervene to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order.

A community youth leader, Anthony Chinedu told The Nation that their protest was not against the project, which he said was borne out of government’s good intention.

“We are not against the project, but against the nonchalant attitude of the NIPP contractor, who ordered villagers to vacate their homes within two weeks,” Chinedu

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

said.

Chairman of Oboro Council of Traditional Rulers Larry Ogbonnaya Agwu corroborated Chinedu’s stand.

He lamented that the contractor ran the power line through the community, instead of the bush, and refused to pay compensation to affected families.

“What do they want these old people to do, to go live in the bush? Are we going to enjoy the light in our graves? They also intimidate us with soldiers.”

At the work camp of the NIPP, the soldiers said they were there on official duty to provide security for the workers. The workers refused to comment, saying they have no authority to speak on the matter.

The project, when completed, is expected to provide constant power to about three states

Anambra LP elects executive

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NAMBRA State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has elected new state executives.

The 24-man executive will be chaired by Luke Ezeanokwasi and Rich Ejike Onuorah as secretary.

The National Deputy Chairman (South), Chief Callistus Uju Okafor, while briefing reporters at the weekend in Awka, said the party congress began on April 22 in wards, the councils held theirs on April 24, while the state congress was held on April 26.

He described the congress as peaceful; adding that it was the first time people witnessed such a peaceful atmosphere during congresses in the state.

Imo Election Tribunal begins sitting

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HE Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Owerri, yesterday, began proceedings, with five motions before it.

Of the five, the tribunal ruled on two ex parte motions, while the other three were adjourned till May 13.

One of the two ex parte motions was filed by Accord Party versus four others and the other was filed by Donatus Ozoemena of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against Goodluck Opia and six others.

Chairman of the Tribunal Justice A.Y. Sanya, after hearing arguments by the counsel to Ozoemena, granted three reliefs sought by the petitioner and struck out two others.

Ozoemena, through his counsel, urged the tribunal to allow him withdraw the

fourth and fifth reliefs, which sought to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him with the Certified True Copies of the documents in her custody.

The other relief was for the tribunal to deem the processes as properly filed.

The motion filed by Accord Party, which sought relief for the tribunal to allow a pre-trial date, and to serve notices to INEC and Athan Achonu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was granted.

Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Justice Sanya appealed to parties to co-operate with the panel by respecting the ground rules.

He warned the public against unruly conduct, adding that anyone identified for contempt would be punished.

60

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

Royal princess named Charlotte T

HE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace has said.

The fourth in line to the throne will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

She was born on Saturday in the Lindo Wing of London’s St Mary’s Hospital weighing 8lbs 3oz (3.7kg).

The Queen and other senior royals were told of the baby’s name before the announcement was made public.

The BBC’s royal correspondent Peter Hunt said that a Kensington Palace official, when asked about the couple’s choice of name, said: “We’ll let the names speak for themselves.”

Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles, has a long royal pedigree and became popular in the 18th century when it was the name of George III’s queen.

The King bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a family home close to St James’s Palace - it became known as the Queen’s House and is now Buckingham Palace.

Charles is the name of two former Kings and of the Prince of Wales, the princess’s grandfather.

Charlotte also has more recent connections for the royal couple. On the duchess’s side, it is the middle name of her sister Pippa Middleton and on the duke’s it is the name of his cousin Charlotte Spencer, Earl Spencer’s youngest

daughter.

The earl tweeted: “Perfect names. My 2-year old Charlotte Diana will be thrilled at cousinly name-sharing.”

The couple took their daughter home after spending just over 12 hours at the hospital The duke and duchess and their daughter have been at home in Kensington Palace

•Princess Charlotte

since leaving hospital on Saturday evening.

It is understood they will remain there before travelling to their country home, Anmer Hall, on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Earlier in the day gun salutes took place in London to mark the birth.

Soldiers from The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery rode out in a procession from Wellington Barracks, near Buckingham Palace, to sound 41 shots in Hyde Park .

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery mark the arrival of the princess with a 41round gun salute At the same time, the Honourable Artillery Company left their Armoury House barracks in the City of London to fire a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said on Sunday: “The duke and duchess are hugely grateful for the messages of congratulations they have received from people all over the world. It means a great deal to them that so many people have celebrated the arrival of their new daughter.

Two gunmen killed outside Muhammad cartoon contest

T

WO gunmen were killed Sunday after opening fire on a security officer outside a provocative contest for cartoon depictions of Prophet Muhammad in Texas and a bomb squad was called in to search their vehicle as a precaution, authorities said.

The men drove up to the Curtis Culwell Center in the Dallas suburb of Garland as the contest was scheduled to end and began shooting at a security officer, the City of Garland said in a statement.

Garland police officers returned fire, killing the men.

“Because of the situation of what was going on today and the history of what we’ve been told has happened at

other events like this, we are considering their car (is) possibly containing a bomb,” Officer Joe Harn, a spokesman for the Garland Police Department, said at a news

conference.

Police are not aware of any ongoing threat and had not received any credible threats before the event, Harn said.

Saudi Arabia executes five foreigners

S

AUDI Arabian authorities on Monday executed five foreigners convicted of murdering an Indian citizen during an armed robbery in a shop where he worked.

The Interior Ministry said

two of the convicts were Yemenis, while the others held Chadian, Eritrean and Sudanese nationalities.

It said the executions brought the total number of persons put to death in Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the year to 71

compared to 83 in 2014.

Saudi Arabia, which implements a strict interpretation of Islamic Law, imposes the death penalty for offences, including murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, rape and sorcery.

Israel must eliminate racism, says Netanyahu

I

SRAEL’s prime minister has said racism in the country must be eliminated, after protests by Ethiopian Israelis against alleged discrimination.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke after meeting Ethiopian Israeli community leaders and an Ethiopian Israeli soldier, whose beating by police has fuelled tensions.

A protest by Ethiopian Israelis on Sunday ended in clashes with police.

Israel’s president said the community’s grievances “revealed an open and raw

wound” at the heart of Israeli society.

“We must look directly at this open wound,” Reuven Rivlin added. “We have erred. We did not look, and we did not listen enough.”

At least 46 police and seven demonstrators were hurt in the clashes which followed the protest in Tel Aviv on Sunday night, officials said.

Dozens of protesters were arrested, police said.

On Monday, Mr Netanyahu met Israeli soldier Damas Pakedeh, who was beaten by two police officers in a sub-

urb of Tel Aviv last week.

Mr Netanyahu met soldier Damas Pakedeh, who was beaten by two Israeli policemen.

The prime minister praised Mr Pakedeh and told him he had been shocked by the video of the beating.

Afterwards, Mr Netanyahu met Ethiopian Israeli leaders in an effort to reassure the community.

“We must stand together as one against the phenomenon of racism, to denounce it and eliminate it,” he said.

One of the policemen in-

volved in Mr Pakedeh’s beating has been dismissed and the other suspended from the force, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told the BBC. An investigation into the incident is under way.

The protests on Sunday started peacefully but became more violent as night fell.

Dozens of police and protesters were injured in the clashes.

Some protesters threw stones, bottles and chairs at police and tried to enter the Tel Aviv municipality building.

Dr. Ben Carson to seek U.S. presidency

•Carson

R

ETIRED surgeon Ben Carson declared his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination Monday, resting his long shot bid on his vision of the nation as “a place of dreams” where people can thrive when freed from an overbearing government.

Carson, the only AfricanAmerican in the race, spoke in front of hundreds of people at Detroit Music Hall, a few miles from a high school that bears his name.

A choir singing the chorus from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” set the stage.

He told supporters that he’s not anti-government but believes Washington has exceeded its constitutional powers.

“It’s time for people to rise up and take the government back,” he said. “The political

Italian ships rescue nearly 6,800 migrants; baby born at sea

I

TALIAN rescue ships brought migrants by the thousands to the country’s southern ports, including a baby born aboard a navy vessel, as crowded shelters in Sicily and on the mainland struggled on Monday to find room for them.Some politicians based in northern Italy, meanwhile, vowed their regions wouldn’t take in any of the rescued migrants.

In a three-day period ending Sunday, 6,771 survivors were rescued at sea north of Libya from overcrowded rubber dinghies and unseaworthy fishing boats used by smugglers, according to Coast Guard numbers Monday.

Ten bodies were found Sunday on boats or in the sea.Calm seas and mild temperatures brought the spike in arrivals. The relentless stream of migrants this year is on track to surpass the 170,000 rescued at sea by Italy in 2014.

The navy said a woman, in

PHOTO: AFP

labor when rescued Sunday, gave birth to a girl aboard one of its patrol ships. Mother and daughter are fine, and the patrol boat, carrying 654 migrants who were saved in four different rescue operations, headed to port.

Other rescuers had grim tasks. An Italian tugboat, among several commercial vessels saving migrants Sunday, also recovered two corpses, the Navy said.

This wave of arrivals set port town mayors and charity organizations scrambling to find beds for the migrants. Many migrants, from Africa, will seek asylum because of war or persecution, and hope to reach relatives in northern Europe.

Until applications are processed, which could take months or longer, asylum-seekers are supposed to stay in Italy.

In Reggio Calabria, where 780 migrants disembarked in the “toe” of the Italian peninsula, priority was being accorded to families, to keep them together locally.

Suicide bomber blows self up in Syrian capital

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•Dozens of police and protesters were injured in the clashes.

class won’t like me saying things like that. The political class comes from both parties.”

The former head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins hospital has never run for public office.

But he’s a star among some conservatives and will try to parlay his success as an author and speaker into a competitive campaign.

He told his rally: “I’m Ben Carson and I’m a candidate for president.”

Carson was the second White House hopeful to get into the Republican race Monday.

Former technology executive Carly Fiorina declared her intent to run earlier in the day.

Carson earned national acclaim during his 29 years leading the pediatric neurosurgery unit of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, where he still lives.

He directed the first surgery to separate twins connected at the back of the head. His career was notable enough to inspire the 2009 movie, “Gifted Hands,” with actor Cuba Gooding Jr. depicting Carson.

“I see myself as a member of ‘we the people,’” he told The Associated Press in an interview earlier this year, arguing that his lack of experience is an asset.

SMALL group of insurgents, including a suicide bomber, carried out an attack in Damascus yesterday targeting a Syrian military logistics and supply facility, militants and activists said.

Syrian state media said the bombing took place in the Rokn al-Deen neighborhood, and said the militants were killed.

It provided no further details or information on casualties.

The director of the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman, said the bombing appeared to target a general who is responsible for army logistics and supplies. He said the general and two of his guards were

wounded in the blast, and one guard was killed.

The Observatory relies on a network of activists inside Syria for its information.

The al-Qaida-affiliated Nusra Front posted a claim of responsibility on a Twitter account associated with the group. It said three of the group’s fighters carried out the attack.

Syrian state television later broadcast video of what it said was the scene of the attack. It showed the bodies of two men dressed in camouflage sprawled out on the street. The legs of the suicide bomber were on the pavement nearby. Several cars near the bodies had their windows shattered by the blast.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10

NO. 3205

‘For change to have its true meaning, it must go beyond the seductions to more-of-thesame preachments of a discredited member of an ancien regime’ SANYA ONI

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

B

EFORE those who are too young or were too inattentive to remember rush to call it the “Kogi Formula,” I should warn that there is nothing original about it, being more or less a reprise of the “Imo Formula,” an economic stratagem developed on Nigerian soil, by a Nigerian, for Nigerians, unlike those World Bank/ IMF remedies that often proved more harmful than the ailments they were supposed to cure.

First, some background, going back to the period following the overthrow of the profligate, inept and corrupt administration of President Shehu Shagari which, in four years turned the heady promise of democratic rule and economic prosperity undergirded by a vast inflow of petrodollars into a nightmare, to the point that its sacking was greeted with dancing in the streets.

The treasury was empty. Foreign exchange was scarce. Consumer goods were in short supply. To discourage frivolous importation, a regime of import licence was imposed. The currency was re-designed.

There was no relief in sight for public service employees, especially teachers, who had laboured unpaid for months under the previous dispensation.

It was a dire situation requiring dire remedies.

The breakthrough came from Imo – or to place the credit squarely where it belongs – from Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, the state’s cerebral commissioner for finance, and before then a World Bank economist credited with helping South Korea achieve the turnaround that catapulted it to the ranks of the G17 Nations.

It is not entirely clear why they call it the Imo Formula rather than the Kalu Formula.

It may have something to do with Dr Kalu’s trademark self-effacement. I recall that he was reportedly distressed when a wellknown newspaper columnist, writing under the pseudonym Bamako Jaji, bestowed the term “Kalunomics” on the theoretical underpinnings of the loan agreement that Kalu would later negotiate with the IMF as Federal Minister of Finance.

Keep his person out of it. Let his prescriptions stand or fall by their merit.

That, according those who know him well, is Dr Kalu’s philosophy of public service.

There is much to be said for that way of carrying on in a country where everyone who imagines himself or herself a person of consequence wants to hog the limelight.

To return to the seminal breakthrough that was the Imo Formula: Freeze allowances and bonuses for public employees. From the proceeds, pay teachers their basic salaries while the state looked for ways of widening its financial base. In due course, all civil servants and teachers would have some money to take home at

RIPPLES

WHY WE SUPPORTED JONATHAN– Fasonranti’s Afenifere

We all know it’s because of BREAD and Butter

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

The return of the Imo Formula

•Kogi State Governor Idris Wada

the end of the month. Their morale would rise, as would their productivity. These gains would trickle down and check the rising tide of poverty.

In the popular rendering, however, this elegant, heuristic and parsimonious theory was twisted into something far more dreadful. According to this popular version, fixed salaries had been abolished. At the end of each month, the authorities in Imo would determine just how much was available for salaries. The amount would then be paid out pro rata.

It was not the salary you had grown used to, but it was far better than no salary. That, at any rate, was the popular perception of the Imo Formula. They say it worked wonders.

Perhaps that is why, facing the kind of difficulties Imo faced in 1984/85, Kogi State last week resurrected the Imo Formula, at least in substance, if not in form.

At first blush, the Kogi version has something that the Imo original lacked: Specificity. To put the mater positively, unlike other commentators who are forever dwelling on the negative, public service employees who have received no salaries for

several months can now expect to smile home with 60 percent of their statutory pay.

Yes, it is a 40 percent pay cut all right, but why dwell on the negative? Why not emphasise the 60 percent of statutory pay that will now be available where previously nothing was guaranteed?

Why can’t some people be positive for once?

These same negative people have been asking whether the Kogi authorities will now urge suppliers of goods and services to cut prices by 40 percent, so that the new pay will fetch the same basket of goods and services that the old pay used to bring in. Invoking the dubious proposition that “we all buy from the same market,” they say the arrangement is inequitable.

Do we really buy from the same market?

What would they say if circumstances compelled the authorities to cut take-home pay to 50 or even 40 percent of statutory salary, as they well might?

Equitable or not, this arrangement may well be the wave of the future as the newlyelected governments find on taking charge that they had been bequeathed empty treasuries that cannot be restored to solvency unless oil prices rebound dramatically or other resources that can yield quick cash on a sustainable basis are discovered.

Unlike one departing governor, the new people will certainly not be able to hire by the dozen and for each ministry, department or agency, chief advisers, deputy chief advisers, principal advisers, deputy principal advisers, senior advisers, deputy senior advisers and assistant deputy senior advisers, not forgetting chief deputy assistant advisers, principal deputy assistant advisers, senior deputy assistant advisers, and so on and so forth.

But governing in a time of economic adversity may well bring out the best in them.

HARDBALL

E

VERYONE knows Bode George — popular with some, notorious with others, anonymous with none.

Everyone too, knew Andrew — the iconic rogue in that famous television commercial of 1984, threatening to “check out” of the country, just after Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s first coming (as military head of state), to which came the General’s prompt riposte: “Nigeria is our only country. We must stay and salvage it together!”

History, of course, has a way of playing cruel jokes! Could Chief Bode George then be the Andrew of Gen. Buhari’s second coming, this time as elected president?

Just look at the parallels! In 1984, Gen. Buhari and his military junta had just sacked the Shehu Shagari presidency, which 2nd Republic National Party of Nigeria (NPN) administration had collapsed the state and beggared the country.

With that crunch many Nigerians, great ones for fleeing from their problems thinking that would make the problems go away, were threatening to brain-drain. The Andrew commercial was a creative response by the Buhari government — and boy, did it capture popular imagination!

Sure, Andrew didn’t quite nip the braindrain, which became a deluge under the Ibrahim Babangida regime, which played further yo-yo with the people’s destiny. But

Bode George as new Andrew it, at least, showed the resolve of the Buhari government to tackle a clear and urgent problem. That, unfortunately, it couldn’t do; with its dictatorial scowl and martial high-handedness.

But fast-forward, 2015. Like Shagari’s NPN before it, Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had run the state prostrate and the people ragged. But as it put virtually every foot wrong, Presidential Candidate Buhari, with his All Progressives’ Congress (APC) opposition alliance, loomed. It required no especial acuity to project PDP was heading for doom.

Was it then fear? Electioneering rascality?

Soap box hyperbole to rouse the flagging faithful?

Whatever it was, Bode George was emphatic: “I will go on exile, should Buhari become president”! Now, was this earnest, in other words, literal: suggesting that Chief George meant exactly what he said?

Or was it a literary code-speak, suggesting a Buhari win was an impossibility, in the context of an equally misguided Doyin Okupe, the ace presidential bull dog, who kept on

Has it not been said that it is far easier to manage scarcity than superfluity? Up to a point, there is some truth to that.

The good news is that, with oil prices on the uptick and President-elect Muhammadu Buhari set to check the obscene profligacy that has characterised government spending for nearly two decades and root out stealing in the public sector on a scale so vast that one must wonder why the economy has not collapsed completely, Nigeria is unlikely to have recourse to the Sukarno Formula.

Dr Ahmed Sukarno was the swinging, charismatic president of Indonesia, and a founding father of the Non-Aligned Movement. No one ever accused him of not dreaming great dreams or of lacking vision.

The trouble was that his country did not have the matching resources or the economic management skills that would have catapulted Indonesia to a major actor in world politics.

His communist sympathies alienated him from the West. The Soviet Union admired him but did not back its sympathies with hard cash or meaningful support.

As Indonesia’s economy careened toward a terminal collapse, Sukarno tried every standard remedy in the pharmacopoeia of the economists, but nothing worked.

Then he hit upon an ingenious solution.

He would appoint as a cabinet minister any Indonesian who truly believed that he could solve the country’s economic problems.

However, if the person did not deliver the expected results within a year, he or she would be executed by firing squad.

There were no takers.

I have often wondered how such a gambit would have played out in Nigeria.

There would have been a surfeit of volunteers. Within the first six months, the minister would have evacuated his entire family from Nigeria. In the ninth month, he would arrange a foreign trip ostensibly to seal a deal crucial to his mission’s success.

It would be a one-way trip.

Correction Dr Bojuwade is alive and well In last week’s column I referred to Dr Dokun Bojuwade, former Special Assistant to Uche Chukwumerije in the Ministry of Information, as “since deceased.”

I regret this error and hereby offer again my remorseful apologies for the distress the publication must have caused Dr Bojuwade and his loved ones.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above barking and huffing, huffing and barking, his notorious old wives’ tale: Buhari is unelectable! Buhari is unelectable! Wruff! Wruff!

Now, George is a veteran of a sort — at least, in Lagos terms, a veteran electoral loser, even with his succession of great George hopes: the latest being Jimi Agbaje, but earlier dashed hopes being Ade Dosunmu, Musiliu Obanikoro, the late Funsho Williams, etc. On the Lagos front, he was — and is — always a serial loser.

But not at Abuja — not with the seeming impregnable PDP rigging machine, which was to go without stutter for 60 years in the first instance! Could Papa George be thinking of this quiet but happy arsenal when he made his exile boast?

Well, Bode George’s nightmare has come true — Buhari is president-elect! Perhaps to make the grim cup pass over him, Brinkman George grabbed, with both hands, Oba Akiolu’s dire caution before the Lagos governorship poll of April 11, perhaps hoping that the backlash, with reportedly renewed presidential dollars, would do the trick. But no dice! No refuge for our loquacious George!

So, will Pa George play Andrew of Buhari’s second coming, or eat crow?

Hardball is setting up a Bode George Andrew watch!

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