The Nation May 19, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

Governors meet under enlarged forum NEWS Page 5

•Lawan: I’m competent to become Senate President •APC to unveil Buhari’s policy direction tomorrow •Supreme Court bars Chevron from selling oil blocks MORE ON •Scores protest return of hoodlums in Ilorin •AND PAGES 7,8,12&59

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VOL. 10, NO. 3219 TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Cancer patients suffer as drugs get trapped in tariff row

Buhari laments mercenary soldiers’ use

•Centre for Nuclear Medicine writes Buhari

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HE row between Nigerian Aviation Handling Company ( NAHCO) Plc and Customs agents seems to be showing no signs of abating, despite a 20% cut in tariff.

The war of nerves has raged for two weeks and now the cost is being counted –in cash (in some cases) and lives (in others).

Agents eager to deliver goods to their clients are already being told that with the rising dollar rate, many businesses will record losses.

But there is a moving human element to the problem.

N150.00

By Kelvin Osa-Okubor,

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe,

Staff Correspondent

Kaduna

The lives of many patients are hanging in the balance, their life-saving drugs held up at the NAHCO shed.

Among such patients are those at the Centre for Nuclear Medicine –an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Project—at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. They are mostly cancer patients.

“The sudden increase in tariff is unfair. They didn’t consider some special goods that have been imported, not for commercial but for humanitarian purposes. They Continued on page 5

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•From left: National Sugar Development Council Executive Secretary Dr. Abdul-Latif Busari; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Olusegun Aganga; and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibrahim Garba during the inauguration of Nigeria's first Sugarcane OR Y ON P AGE 12 STOR ORY PA Bio-factory in Zaria, Kaduna State ... on Monday. ST

RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday lamented that the military depended on South African mercenaries to battle Boko Haram insurgents.

He also expressed displeasure over what he described as the military’s inability to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.

Buhari, who is due to take power on May 29, said Nigerians must learn to live within their Continued on page 5

•INSIDE: NEITI: GOVT CONCEALING OIL FIRMS’ LICENSING REGISTERS, CONTRACTS P12

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Jonathan under attack over new appointments

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

My removal as UI pro-chancellor rude, says Adebayo NIPC boss sacked From Yusuf Alli, Yomi Odunuga, Augustine Ehikioya and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been told some home truths about the wave of new appointments and removals.

He should be courteous, elder statesman and war hero Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo said. The 87year-old former Western Region governor is displeased at the manner of his removal as University of Ibadan (UI) pro-chancellor.

After his March 28 electoral loss, President Jonathan has gone on Continued on page 5

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As an elder and given the fact that you and some of my children are age mates, I feel an obligation to admonish you to be courteous

’

•University teachers at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti ... yesterday.

•Gen. Adebayo

ST OR Y ON P AGE 11 STOR ORY PA

Lecturers protest Ekiti kidnappings

•MARITIME P14 •SPO RTS P24 •SHOWBIZ P48 •HEALTH P43 •PROPERTY P49 •FOREIGN P61

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NEWS Jonathan under attack over new appointments Continued from page 1

•Senator Ahmad Lawan flanked by Mr. Segun Babatope (left) and Mr. Roy Jibromah, at a news conference in Lagos ... yesterday.

OR Y ON P AGE 8 PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN STOR ORY PA ST

Buhari laments mercenary soldiers’ use Continued from page 1

means.

He spoke in Kaduna when he received members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). He stressed that his administration will promote fiscal discipline and tackle insecurity, unemployment and corruption.

The president-elect who received the delegation privately. He said: “The Nigerian military has never been so incapacitated like now; It is a shame that the military cannot secure 14 local government councils out of the 774 local governments in the country.

“My administration will concentrate on three major

areas on assumption of office, that is insecurity, the economy, unemployment and corruption. We will ensure we nip the insecurity in the bud.”

“The Nigeria Army could not do small things; they have to bring in South African mercenaries to enable them record the recent gains in the Northeast.

“I don’t know how many of you know this; I got to know about it few days ago – that the recent gain in the Northeast was because South African mercenaries were used.”

Buhari promised that the morale of the security forces will be raised and attention paid to needs of thousands of

people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President-elect said his administration will make sure that Nigerians live within their earnings. “A situation where people live above their earnings will not be tolerated,” he stressed.

To him, multi-party system remains the best form of government. “In this system, people will be forced to perform because if they don’t, they will be voted out,” Buhari said.

ACF Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie urged Buhari to address Nigeria’s major problems.

“The level of decay, the collapse of our moral values and level of corruption, crime,

unemployment, impoverishment of the citizenry in general and our rural populace in particular, and the near disregard for human lives have never been manifest as in the last six years,” he said.

Coomassie said the Northeast was devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency and the energy crisis had continued to destabilise economic growth.

He added that the arrangement in which the positions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF) were regarded as superior to ministers in hierarchy is “against the principle of accountability in governance”.

North’s governors to unite Amaechi, Jang governors’ forum factions

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HE Northern Governors Forum, the umbrella body of governors from the 19 northern states yesterday agreed to unite the two factions of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to form a united front.

The two factions, headed

by Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Plateau Governor Jonah Jang, emerged from a disputed election of the Forum in May 2013. Disagreement among the governor was believed to have been instigated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Rising from a meeting of the north governors at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja on Monday, chairman of the Forum and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu said uniting the Jang and Amaechi factions was in the interest of Nigerians.

Aliyu said: ”The goal is to mediate and unite the Nigeria Governors’ Forum that has been fragmented in the past few years”.

•Shettima replaces Aliyu as chair The goal is to mediate and unite the Nigeria Governors’ Forum that has been fragmented in the past few years From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Aliyu also announced Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima as the new chairman of the Northern Governors Forum with Kano State Governor-Elect, Abdullahi Ganduje as the new deputy.

The new leadership is expected to be inaugurated in June, with all former governors of northern extraction expected to be in attendance.

Governor Aliyu disclosed the resolution of the northern governors to address the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, stating that the scourge would would soon come to an end.

He also promised that the governors resolved to address poverty, mass unem-

ployment and other social ills prevalent in the region.

Aliyu further states that the governors had resolved to revive the ailing New Nigeria Company, Kaduna, with assistance from the office of the Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

Governor Shettima assured that the north governors would unite to fight Boko Haram, adding that with the new leadership, the body had become one family, fully prepared to tackle the region’s challenges.

Also present at the meeting were governors of Gombe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Kwara, Borno, Zamfara, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kano Governor-Elect and Deputy Governor of Kogi State.

Governors meet under enlarged forum

O

UTGOING governors, re-elected ones and their incoming colleagues yesterday met in Abuja under an enlarged forum.

It was the first time the governors would be meeting in their numbers after the May 2013 disputed election of the Nigeria Governors Forum where the

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Jonah Jang (Plateau) factions emerged.

The meeting, which insiders said was a reconciliatory move by the governors, started at 8.30 pm at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

Present at the meeting were governors of Rivers, Delta,

Niger, Zamfara, Edo, Kwara, Osun, Kaduna, Borno, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue and Oyo. Others were Deputy Governors of Nasarawa, Imo and Kogi States and the Governor-Elect of Kano State.

The meeting was still ongoing as at the time of filing this report at 10.05 pm.

•Shettima

a strange sacking spree. He has also been making appointments, insisting that he is still in charge till May 29.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against the last-minute action.

Undaunted, the President yesterday removed the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Saratu Altine Umar.

A statement by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, which announced her removal, named Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba as the new Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive of NIPC. Gen. Adebayo, who was eased out of his post less than two years into a four-year tenure , deplored the manner of his removal.

In a letter to President Jonathan, which our correspondent obtained, Gen. Adebayo also fingered Minister of Education Malam Ibrahim Shekarau in the “discourteous” and “disrespectful” way he was treated.

The 87-year-old father of former Ekiti State Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, admonished the President to imbibe the culture of respecting elders in addition to demonstrating civility in his public conduct if given the chance to rule the country again or to be in any leadership role.

Until his controversial removal via a published newspaper advertisement, the former military governor of the defunct Western Region was the chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan (UI).

The letter, dated May 7, also berated Jonathan for not having the courage to inform Gen. Adebayo of his removal considering how he was prevailed upon to accept the appointment.

He got wind of his removal through the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the institution.

The letter reads: “I am constrained to express my most profound dismay at the rather unceremonious man-

ner I came to be informed of my removal as chairman of the governing council of the University of Ibadan. Indeed it was communicated to me by the vice chancellor and registrar, when they visited me at my residence in Lagos.

“I was informed that the Hon. Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau had caused an advertorial to be published in The Guardian Newspaper of Thursday, the 30th of April, announcing the appointment of members of the governing council of twelve (12) new federal universities and four (4) new federal polytechnics, as well as the chairmanship change for the University of Ibadan.

“In effect, through that publication, I had been relieved of my duties as Pro Chancellor and another person had been appointed in my stead without the courtesy of even a phone call.

“At the risk of sounding immodest, I must say that I do not deserve such indecorous treatment from your Minister of Education, who I believe must have acted with a measure of approval from you or your office.

“However, as an elder and given the fact that you and some of my children are age mates, I feel an obligation to admonish you to be courteous in your approach to governance.

“True your time in office is short, but who knows, providence may yet again smile on you, and you might once again mount the saddle of leadership. Whenever this happens and even if it never does, my prayer for you is that you imbibe the culture of civility in your future endeavours.

“This abrupt termination of my tenure, while being seen as a welcome respite by my children and grand children, is all the same quite demeaning of my person.”

Shekarau last month announced the appointments of members of the governing council of 12 new federal universities and four new federal polytechnics, as well as the chairmanship change for the Continued on page 60

Cancer patients suffer as drugs get trapped in tariff row Continued from page 1

should have been exempted from the directive,” a medical source said at the weekend.

The drugs for the centre’s patients, for example, may have expired as they were manufactured and shipped to get to Nigeria within three to four days when they should be taken by patients.

The centre, which “operates more or less like a charity”, being a UN agency, The Nation learnt, may have lost about N500,000 drugs which have remained uncleared –no thanks to the crisis.

The source recalled how the former President, the late Umaru Yar’Adua, approved a special clearance for the centre’s goods. “He was a chemist and he understood it all. He quickly granted the request,” said the source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media.

The centre has written to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to save it the problems of clearing its radioactive ma-

terials.

The letter reads: “The practice of Nuclear Medicine is still in its developmental stage. It has been privileged to enjoy the attention of the Presidency since 2008 when the late President Yar’Adua granted us the privilege of clearing our radioactive imports off the tarmac.

“However, our day-to-day practice has been hampered by external factors, especially Customs and NAHCO who arbitrarily use their so called power to delay the clearance and issue of gate pass for our clearing agents to bring our consignment to us for use of our patients, who are mostly Cancer patients.

“Please, we appeal to our in-coming President GMB to help us in sorting this unnecessary delay in clearing of our radioactive materials for the use of our patients.

“Right now, we have a con-

signment that has been cleared since Tuesday, May 12, 2015 and NAHCO refused consignments to be taken out of their compound and due to an arbitrary increase of 30% in the Agents Tariff.

“Our patients are suffering for this as imaging and treatment procedures are delayed due to these hindrances.

“We appeal to your Excellency to assist the growth of Nuclear Medicine by intervening in this matter once and for all.

“Please sir, help our Cancer patients.”

NAHCO spokesman Tayo Ajakaye said the matter had not been brought to its notice.

In a telephone interview, Ajakaye said: “Nothing related to this matter, in any documented form has been brought to the attention of NAHCO. That is all we can say for now.”

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Tales of so •From left: CEO, Health Plus, Bukky George, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Olumide Akintayo, Dr. Dare Awosika, Managing Director, Ultralogistics Company, Dr. Lolu Ojo during the inauguration of Ultralogistics in Lagos.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•From Left: Member, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initative (NEITI) National Stakeholders Working Group, Mr Dom Nwachukwu; Executive Secretary, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and Deputy Head, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initative, Mr Eddie Rich during NEITI's Prevalidation Workshop in Abuja...yesterday.

PHTO: NAN

•From left: Partner, Helios Investment Partners, Kamar Bakrin, Managing Director, Smile Communications, Michiel Buitelaar; Executive and Partner, African Capital Alliance, Cyril Odu and Global Chief Economist, Renaissance Capital, Charles Robertson at the sixth annual Pan-Africa Investor Conference in Lagos... yesterday.

•Chairman, Airpeace Airline, Allen Onyema (third left)receiving an award from President, Independent Pan-African Youth Support Forum (IPAYF), Comrade Obinna Sixtus Nwoke (right) in Lagos... yesterday. With them are Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director, Mrs. Toyin Olajide (second left) and Director Programmes/Public Affairs, Foundation for Ethics Harmony in Nigeria, (FEHN), Mrs. Joy Imeli.

The Chidi Odinkalu-led panel probing politically-motivated killings in Rivers State is on recess.

Testimonies already given to it drip with sorrow, tears and blood, writes PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA

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HEY swore, mostly with the Bible, and told tales that broke hearts and made not a few shed tears. The tales they told were of sorrow and blood. They were of killings, permanent disabilities and lives fractured forever.

Wives spoke of husbands wasted in their primes. Fathers and mothers spoke of sons taken away for no just cause. A witness even recounted how a father, his three children and others were mauled down in one day. All in cold blood.

The Adubes and two others were killed in the same compound. The father, his two sons and a daughter were killed.

When the River State Commission of Inquiry probing politicallymotivated killings heard the case of the Adubes, it was like nothing could be worse, but more heartrending tales have followed. The testimonies have been heart-broken since the commission began hearing, despite the attempt to stop it.

The Prof Chidi Odinkalu-led commission, instituted by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, is investigating killings, damage to properties and grievous bodily harms before and during the presidential and governorship elections.

Speaking at the commission’s inaugural sitting on May 4, Patience Adube narrated how her husband, Christopher, was killed at home in Obrikom, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

The late Adube was Caretaker Chairman of the local government.

She said aside the children killed alongside their father, his son-inlaw, Ikechukwu, and one of his security men were also murdered.

In her words: “I want them to find those people that killed my husband. Fight those people that sent them because many of them threatened my husband that they will kill him. And they have killed my husband, let them fight them.

“Let them help us, because me and my mates and our family are helpless, let government help us and find them. Because they said they will take power by force and they have already done that by killing my husband and our children.”

Another of the late Adube’s wives and mother of the three slain children, Precious Adube, cried that all her children are dead.

The eldest of the three, Joy was 25. John was 22 and Lucky just completed secondary school.

“I have nothing left. All my children are dead... I ran back to the house and saw everybody dead.”

A relative of the late Adube’s inlaw, Ikechukwu who was also killed that day, Anthony Ogarabe, said: “I was in our compound until about 7.30 p.m. when I left the house. I was told that his (Ikechukwu’s) friend, Silver, asked him out to Chief Adube’s house.

“From where I had gone to, I heard gunshot which made me run back to our house. When I arrived home, I then called my brother to know his whereabouts but received no response from his phone.

“His friend Silver then called me

back to say that Adube and my brother Iyke were shot dead a while ago. I then ran to Adube’s house and I met him in a bath in the toilet with his son, dead. My brother Iyke and Joy Adube also lay down dead close to the toilet.

“I shouted and cried but later organised some boys who brought them out. Someone then advised me to boil water to clean their bodies. I used heater to heat water, took them to the backyard. We used knife to tear off the cloth on their bodies because the blood was thickly gummed to them. We later took them to the mortuary.”

Chijioke Ogbuagu, a resident of Omoku in ONELGA, who also testified on the killing of the Adubes and others, said the killing took place on April 3 (Good Friday).

“The killing started at Obrigom at late Chief C.N Adube’s house, my political mentor. They finished from there and went to the APC office at Obrigom where they killed a boy.

From there they moved to my community.

“People saw them. It was not a hidden something. In Obrigom, they killed seven persons. In Chief Adube’s house, they killed six Adube, three of his children, his security person...

“Two were killed in my premises.

The one that was burnt to ashes, the bone has been gathered and buried.

The Sampson Ezekiel was buried too, his body was taken to Nassarawa State because he’s from there.

As I talk to you, my supporters are no longer living in their homes.

All of them have fled because the lives of APC members are not safe.

“This operation that took place on the 3rd lasted for over three hours.

In my house they said why they were not able to save anything was because the people set the house on fire and supervised the burning.

“The Commission should help us to ensure that the people who committed this violence would not go unpunished. ONELGA used to be a very sweet place that we enjoyed 24 hour free light from Agip facility.”

More sad tales From Port Harcourt to Eleme and other parts of the state, the commission has heard testimonies and inspected scenes of violence.

If you have a heart made of steel, chances are it would have melted on hearing the testimonies of Justice Orikwowu, 19, and his mother, Ruth. Both testified about the killing of their father and husband, Clever. The deceased’s eldest son had just finished writing WAEC, and that all her children, except the baby, are in school.

Orikwowu said he was at home when his father was killed, adding that he saw his body at the police station.

Mrs. Orikwowu, the widow, a house wife, said she collapsed when the news of her husband’s death was relayed to her.

She said: “That fateful day, as APC youth leader, he was a ward collation agent of the party. He went

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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f sorrow, tears and blood

•The late Christopher Adube

•The late Joy Adube •Odinkalu and others inspecting destruction in Etche local government area

‘

I heard gunshots which made me run back to our house.

When I arrived home, I then called my brother to know his whereabouts but received no response from his phone. His friend Silver then called me back to say that Adube and my brother Iyke were shot dead a while ago. I then ran to Adube’s house and I met him in a bath in the toilet with his son, dead. My brother Iyke and Joy Adube also lay down dead close to the toilet •The late Lucky Adube

•The late John Adube

for the election. We are not on the same polling unit.

“In my own unit, I went to ease myself, when I came back, they said some people came in military fatigue and told people to lie down.

They came and carried my husband.

“Please look at me, seven children without a father. I am 41 years old, without anything. My husband served Rivers State government very well. So I’m pleading with this honourable court to assist. The house he was building he couldn’t finish. We live in an uncompleted building.

“People should come to our aid.

We have nowhere else to go, that’s why I returned to the house. And if I take the children out of that place, they cannot go to school again. We need safety from the government.

If my husband is being killed by unknown people, who am I and my children?”

The deceased’s brother also testified about how he spoke with his brother three times in the morning before he was killed on April 11.

He said his late brother, Clever who was 43, was an APC leader in ONELGA. “What we gathered that armed men came and laid down everybody.”

Clever’s remains are still at the mortuary. He is survived by his wife and their seven children. The eldest child is 19 and the youngest is 11 months.

Also left to cater for her children is Mrs. Caleb-Ahmed, a native of Emoh in Abua/Odual Local Government. Her husband left behind four children – 11, 8, 4, and 2 year olds – who are all in school.

“I’m afraid for my life because

what I see (sic) that day was terrible. I don’t recognise their faces but they were not wearing masks. They were just wearing face caps.”

Mrs Caleb-Ahmed, who is an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, said her husband was shot by unknown gunmen three weeks before the presidential election.

“I was pleading with the people, that I don’t want to be a young widow,” Mrs. Caleb-Ahmed told a Commission of Inquiry probing politically-motivated killings and destruction of properties in the state.

“They said my husband is an APC (All Progressives Congress) member. I said ‘please please, he will not do again.’ Before I can finish, they have shot him down in the room. They finished and ran away.

I call the police. He died on the way to the hospital. He was buried the next day.

“I’m afraid for my life because what I see that day was terrible. I don’t recognise their faces but they were not wearing masks. They were just wearing face caps.

“One spoke Abua language. But the ones that came inside spoke English, that ‘I think you are APC member.’ I was shouting but everybody had run away.”

The testimony of Isaac Orikwowu, who was accompanied by a woman nursing a baby whose husband was killed during the election, was also touching.

Orukwowu said petitioned the police on behalf of the widow, who was married to his younger brother.

“When this issue happened, my elder brother informed me. I was

in Port Harcourt. They told me he was killed on election ground when he went for accreditation.

“They said gun men went there, picked him out and shot him at a community primary school, Ward 5, in ONELGA. I was not there.”

Ijeoma Mbamalu, 21, who appeared before the panel bearing an 11-month-old baby, said her husband, 27, was killed at Oprikom. She said her mother is dead and her father is “very old.” She broke down and wept.

“I ask for you people’s help. That very day he wanted to go market before those boys came. The N100,000, he left, they took it away.

As I told you, I don’t have anything I’m doing. And my husband left me with a baby.

“They took my baby that very night and throw him on the bed and told me to lie down. They asked my husband to take them where the landlord lives and all the APC members in the compound. My husband said he doesn’t know the landlord and he pays his rent through his lawyer. At this point they got angry and took my baby from me and threw him on the floor and told me to lie down. They took my husband outside and shot him three times.

“They asked the party we belong and my husband said we don’t belong to any party. They started searching the house maybe to look for any APC evidence. It was then they saw the money my husband wanted to take to market. This year will make it four years we have been living in Oprikom. But we married in September 2013.”

Innocent Ogbuehi, who lives in Emohua Local Government, said his 59-year-old brother, an APC mem-

‘

ber, was killed on election day. According to him, he was shot while he was shaving in front of his house on the day of the governorship election.

He said his late brother was married with five children.

He said he reported to the police and an Inspector was sent to the crime scene and was later told to handover the matter and all the evidence to the State CID “and since then we have not heard anything from them.”

Ogbuehi said he was shouldering the responsibility of taking care of his brother’s widow and children.

“On the 8th of April, he (Mr. Friday) came out to make a comment that the three boys who will killed my brother are in his phone.”

Joe Poroma, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Rivers State, testified about a killing in his house. He tendered photographs, including that of a man identified as Lekia who was shot in the neck in his home, “The bullet went through his neck and shattered the window. It’s unfortunate that on the day that this incident took place, it was precisely by 6p.m. I’m the leader of the APC in my ward. I want a proper investigation because that has not been done till now.”

He said the gunmen also shot at his Hilux van and generator in his home and damaged them.

“Over 22 houses in the community were destroyed on that same day. They went through houses belonging to APC members, shatter your window, break your door.

“When the police came to arrest them, the trigger man was arrested, and unfortunately they outnum-

bered the police and the police abandoned them even the ones they handcuffed and ran away. They mobilised in so many numbers and the police were afraid and ran away.”

HE named those he suspected: Monday Ngbor (the financier), Johnny Ngbor, Mwine Sunday (the trigger man).

Poroma, who said he was living abroad and only returned to Nigeria when Amaechi became governor, added: “I went to the king, we met with the DPO and a joint meeting was called between the APC and PDP leadership and we were made to sign a peace accord to be responsible for any violence caused by any of our groups.

“Not quite three days afterwards, there were gun shots all over the community. Unfortunately, it’s a community where young boys carry guns.”

Destruction galore It was not all tales of killings.

There were those of destruction to men and property.

Thankgod Igwe may not see again. He told the commission how it all happened.

Igwe, 38, said: “On that very day, I discovered there is no result sheet when we started accrediting. As an agent, I have to ask about the result sheet, if there is no result sheet, we don’t know how this election will go. There was a lot of argument between the PDP people and I. “We were there exchanging words. They said election must hold. There was a fight. They beat me up and blind my eyes. As you can see, my eyes are blind.

•Continued on page 10

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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NEWS

•Director of Programmes, Technical Aid Corps, Dr. Oladele Abiodun (middle) and some staff of the corps with volunteers deployed to serve in Rwanda before their departure in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

‘I’m competent to be Senate President’

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Senator Ahmad Lawan yesterday reflected on the battle for the Senate President, saying that he is fit to succeed out-going Senate President David Mark next month.

The senator from Yobe North also explained why the Northeast should fill the slot in the next dispensation, stressing that it will give the zone a sense of belonging.

Lawan, who noted that public expectation about the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari is high, said the country deserved a Senate President, who can assist the next president to accomplish his anti-corruption drive, push for economic revival and security.

Describing himself as a cosmopolitan legislator, he said he has acquired experience in the National Assembly in the last 16 years as a member of the House of Representatives for eight years and senator for another eight years before his recent re-election into the Upper Chamber.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts ruled out the possibility of emerging as a rubber-stamp Senate President, clarifying that he would only be a partner in progress with the executive in an atmosphere of cooperative governance.

Unfolding his vision for the Senate, Lawan, who holds a doctorate degree in Geographical Information Science, said: “I want to provide a 21st century Senate Presidency; a leadership that will ensure that we have a bi-partisan approach to legislative business. I will bring incorruptibility and credibility to the administration. Buhari was elected based on three issues - anticorruption, fight against insurgency and economic revival. I can complement the anti-corruption stance of the President.

Buhari’s due process stance favours Yobe senator

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HAIRMAN of Senate Public Account Committee Senator Ahmad Lawan is favoured going by the declaration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari that “due process” will be followed in the election of the principal officers of the National Assembly, some ranking senators said yesterday.

According to the senators, who had a brainstorming session yesterday, if due process is followed in the elections, “Senator Lawan is the aspirant to beat.”

Order 3 rule 2 of the Senate Standing Order states: ”Nomination of senators to serve as presiding officers of the Senate or on any Parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators. In determining ranking, the following order shall apply;(i)Senators returning based on numbers of time re-elected; (ii)Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives and (iii)Senators elected as senators for the first time.”

The senators added that going by the Order, Senator Lawan is the most qualified among the aspirants for senate president having spent 16 years as a federal law-

maker – split eight years each between the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Other aspirants like Senators Bukola Saraki and George Akume, would have spent a period of eight years each as federal lawmakers at the end of the soon to take off eighth Assembly.

“In fact, Senator Lawan is the highest ranking APC senator in the eighth Assembly and we have no doubt that both President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and our party will be guided accordingly,” a member of the group said last night.

The ranking senators-elect advised the in-coming administration to abide by its change mantra, which means that it would be no business as usual.

The added that even under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled Seventh Senate session, extant rules of the upper chamber were not compromised.

“It should dawn on the party that there is the urgent need to adhere to parliamentary culture already in place in the conduct of the primaries and elections into National Assembly positions,” the ranking senators-elect said.

•Lawan explains why Northeast should produce number three citizen

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

“Nigeria needs a serious anti-corruption fight. If we don’t fight corruption, the resources will go into private pockets. We need to block leakages.

My public accounts background will be of help. The judicious financial management of our resources is a priority. We are coming to power at a time of dwindling resources. Those who pillage the treasury will have to be brought to book.”

Lawan maintained that he is qualified to serve as the Senate President because he has the pedigree, competence and experience.

He said: “I have worked in the two chambers. I know the sentiments, tendencies, and sensibilities of the two Houses. The 16 years of experience

have enabled me to work with three Speakers - Buhari Salisu, Ghali Na’aba and Bello Masari.

“I have learned to be a team player.

I like to work on the basis of consensus. This is required to build a bridge of understanding among political parties in the National Assembly. Good governance must be supported by the National Assembly. There must be service delivery.

“The 20 per cent capital expenditure/ 70 per cent recurrent expenditure ratio is not acceptable to Nigerians. We must balance the budget and reduce recurrent expenditure to have a propeople budget.

“We need to enforce our oversight functions. We should have statutory

or mandatory period for oversight for every committee to go and monitor the usage of funds allocated to all sectors. This will curb embezzlement. We need a Senate that is focused. We need a pro-poor Senate leadership.”

Lawan said the slot should be zoned to the Northeast as a reward for its massive votes for the APC in the recent election and compensation for the disruption of its socio-economic life by the dreadful Boko Haram sect in the last three years.

He added: “I have what it takes to be the President of Senate. Coming from the Northeast is also an advantage. The Northeast has gone through severe troubles; it has been ravaged and marginalised. The Senate Presi-

•Lawan

dency will bring back the Northeast to Nigeria. At a time, we were taken out of Nigeria by Boko Haram, which declared a Sultanate.”

On zoning, the senator said it is up to the APC leadership to decide, adding that the Northeast will also try to convince the party to zone the slot to the region.

He explained that, since the insurgency started, no capital project has been executed in the Northeast because the zone has not been safe.

He added that he has a bright chance because he has been endorsed by the Northwest and Southwest APC Senate caucus, adding that he also has a good rapport with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from other zones.

The senator rejected the notion that he was being sponsored by Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari and the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Noting that the two eminent Nigerians wield influence, he said they have not anointed any candidate. Lawan however, said their “backing is crucial because they are respected leaders of the party”.

He added: “I am seeking the support of our leaders. They deserve respect.”

Uwais, Gambari, others to Buhari: reciprocate goodwill of Nigerians From Blessing Olaifa, Assistant Editor, Abuja

•Buhari

T

HE President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has been urged to reciprocate the goodwill he enjoys among Nigerians by “providing effective leadership based on knowledge and experience”.

The advice was given yesterday by

“The Council of the Wise” chaired by the former Chief Justice, Justice Muhammed Lawal Uwais and facilitated by former Nigeria Representative to the United Nations (UN), Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari.

The council operates under the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development.

It acknowledged the difficulties facing the nation in all spheres of human endeavours, regretting that things have become difficult for the average citizen, notwithstanding the country’s enormous endowment.

Prof. Gambari, who spoke in Abuja on behalf of the council at the opening ceremony of the Post 2015 Elections Conference, titled: “Security and Governance Challenges in Africa’s Largest Democracy”, said it was imperative for Buhari to hit the

ground running on assumption of office since expectations of Nigerians from the incoming government are high.

He said: “The current socio-economic challenges, such as high poverty level, huge youth unemployment, persistent power-blackout despite huge amount of money invested, and above all the perennial disconnect between the government and its citizens that has inevitably led to high levels of distrust on the leaders and the rest of the citizens, must be tackled headlong.

“The government should as a matter of priority open and strengthen communications between the government and the citizens.

“Trust building between the government and the citizens would make the people feel carried along in the business of governance.

“The current wave of insurgency and insecurity in the country has in-

troduced additional dimensions to the challenges facing the country. The recent success recorded by the military in the fight against Boko Haram must be commended and built upon. The non-military threats to national security must now be given utmost priority.”

Prof. Gambari said it has become imperative for the centre to hold the post-election conference to build on the success recorded during the election and discuss “clear and pressing security and governance issues facing the country”.

He added: “While it is good to have successful elections, periodic elections in themselves do not ensure good governance. Elections are not an end in themselves, rather a process leading to the real business of governance.”

Prof. Gambari said recommendations from the conference would be forwarded to the president-elect to

guide him in the onerous task of rebuilding the nation.

Presenting a paper titled: “National Security Strategic Document”, Prof.

Habu Galadima of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, said a new security architecture has been drawn for the nation, taking into cognisance issues that would bring about socioeconomic and political development and prosperity to the country.

He said the era of restricting security documents to security agencies alone has passed as all stakeholders, particularly the media, should be carried along for the enlightenment of the people.

Prof. Galadima, who said the document should be subjected to periodic review by successive administrations, said the ball is already in the court of the incoming government to address security issues facing the nation frontally.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

9

NEWS

National Assembly threatens surcharge as lawmakers remove items T

HE management of the National Assembly has threatened to surcharge some lawmakers following mass carting away of office items.

Such surcharge, it said, will be deducted from the severance package of the affected lawmakers.

The management has also asked outgoing senators and representatives to pack out of their offices on or before May 30.

While 76 of 109 senators will not return to the Assembly, 299 members are affected in the House of Representatives, which comprises 360.

Some outgoing senators and members of the House had been moving out some items from their offices, including those belonging to the National Assembly, it was learnt.

Such items include furniture, photocopiers, refrigerators, book shelves, file cabinets, computers and others.

Disturbed by the development, the National Assembly management has ordered immediate inventory of items in the offices of the lawmakers.

A memo, titled: “Retrieval of office

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

equipment and furniture in the offices of members”, dated May 14 and signed by the Director, Management Services of the House of Representatives, Aisha Mohammed threatened to surcharge the affected lawmakers.

The memo said: “As part of the activities of winding up of the 7th House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House has advised all Honourable members to vacate their personal belongings from their offices to enable the management to prepare the offices for incoming members.

“To smoothly facilitate this exercise, the inventory has to be taken of all items in every member’s office.

“All office equipment are to be left behind, except personal effects like iPad, laptop and Desktop computers.

“Any allocated item taken away by a member will be charged and paid for. Members are advised to inform their aides to kindly cooperate with the officers who have been assigned to carry out the exercise in order to have a hitch-free handover.

“The price of each item will be made available soonest.”

A top National Assembly management worker said: “A similar memo has been sent to outgoing senators as part of preparation for new National Assembly members-elect.

“We are unhappy with what is happening. Items belonging to the National Assembly as an institution are being taken away.

“The implication is that we have to look for scarce resources to buy these items for the new senators and representatives.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Some outgoing sena-

tors and representatives are indulging in this habit.

“We will have no choice than to deduct the cost of such items from the severance package of the lawmakers and their aides. We do not just have the funds to start buying new items.”

The National Assembly has asked senators and House of Representatives’ members to quit their offices on or before May 30.

A senator said: “We actually got a memo to leave on or before May 30.

As for the mass movement of items, I will blame some aides of senators and representatives for this lapse. Some of them have lost their jobs too and they are trying to help themselves with whatever is available.

“I think this is an attitudinal problem. I know if the National Assembly management is firms, we can put an end to this misbehaviour.”

‘President-elect should make emergency proclamations’

H

UMAN rights activist and maritime lawyer Dr. Olisa Agbakoba has urged the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to begin his administration with the rebuilding of the nation.

Agbakoba made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said it was necessary and important that Buhari made an emergency proclamation before the National Assembly to enable him tackle the foundational problems before any meaningful structure could be built.

Agbakoba said that Buhari should also be ready to present his report card for the first 100 days.

“My own advice is that the president-elect needs to build on his massive goodwill and convince Nigerians that in spite of the challenges, he is up to task and he can do what to make Nigerians proud.

“And I think that he must have a milestone to report back the famous 100 days, so by September 6, 2015, he would be giving us his report card.

“But because the tasks are so huge, he must get a big force behind him.

So, I suggest that he does an emergency proclamation before the National Assembly, laying out the broad issues that he wants to tackle.

“First would be the fragile political structure of Nigeria. If you don’t sort it out, it’s unlikely that you cannot build anything on top. So, the constitution is the way to resolve Nigeria’s political challenges.

“But, we have used a model or a process that has failed in the past, that is, each time we want to amend the constitution, we start from A-Z; it is not necessary.”

Agbakoba stressed the need to rebalance the federation through constitutional amendment, “which should involve taking powers from the centre and giving to the states, to get them busy and become responsible”.

•Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode (middle) flanked by the state’s first civilian governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife, Abimbola, during Ambode’s thank you visit...at the weekend.

APC to unveil Buhari’s policy direction tomorrow

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) will tomorrow unveil the policy direction of the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration at the beginning of a twoday policy dialogue in Abuja.

The Deputy Head of Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said this in a statement yesterday.

Abdullahi said Buhari is expected to open the dialogue, which would be chaired by Vice President-elect, Prof.

Yemi Osibajo (SAN).

He added that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be the keynote speaker at the dialogue with theme: “Implementing Change: From Vision to Reality”, adding that input to the roadmap for the actualisation of the policies of the incoming administration would be made by experts drawn from different fields and members of the public.

He said the core areas of focus of the two-day dialogue will include the economy, governance, job creation

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

and security in line with the APC manifestoes for change.

The former minister added that topics for discussion will include: “Improving the National Economy for Shared Prosperity”; “Repositioning Agriculture for Job Creation and Economic Prosperity”; “Developing Infrastructure for National Development”; “Achieving Sustainable Reforms on Oil/Gas Sector”; “Reducing Inequality and Achieving Sustainable Human Development” and “Achieving Holistic and Sustainable Reforms in the Education Sector”.

Others include “Developing an Education System Relevant to Nigeria’s Developmental Aspiration”; “Achieving Qualitative and Affordable Healthcare”, “Achieving Diversity and Inclusion in Public Life”; “Exploring Sports, Tourism and Creative Industry for Job Creation”; “Governance and Improved Efficiency in Public Service”; “Tackling Corruption in Public Sector” and “Foreign Policy and

Agenda for Change”.

Some of the speakers and discussants expected at the dialogue include Ms Ifueko Omogui-Okauru, former chairperson of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Dr. Rilwan Babalola, former Minister of Power; Dr. Tajudeen Umar, former Country Chair, Nigeria –Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Authority; Prof.

Niyi Ayoola Daniels, president, International Institute for Petroleum Energy Law and Policy; Mr. Tunde Ahonsi, Resident Representative, UNFPA, Ghana; Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd).

Others speakers include : Prof. Pai Obanya, chairman, West African Examination Council (WAEC); Dr. Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Economic Associates; Prof. Bolaji Aluko, vice chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke; Prof. Mohammed Tabia of the Department of Islamic Law, Bayero University, Kano; and Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau, former Chief of Army Staff.

WHO to Nigeria: war against polio must not fail

T

HE Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, has advised Nigeria not to relent in its efforts to rid the country of polio disease.

Chan, who spoke at the opening of the 68th Session of the World Health Assembly yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, maintained that overcoming the polio virus disease “is one initiative that must not fail”.

The WHO Director-General, according to a statement by Direc-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

tor, Press & Public Relations, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ayo Adesugba, hailed the country for its ongoing efforts, which has ensured that no new cases have been reported in the last nine month.

The statement reads in part: “The WHO Director General observed that in the past nine months, Nigeria has not had any reported case of the disease and according to her ‘the situation in

Nigeria looks extremely encouraging.”

She added that overcoming the polio virus disease “is one initiative that must not fail.”

Dr. Chan noted that Afghanistan and Pakistan have both made great strides despite severe challenges.

“Nigeria’s recognition by the WHO boss comes as a result of its aggressive response in tackling the Polio Virus. Its efforts have yielded success as no case of the disease has been reported in the southern part of the country for

five years and with the exception of some cases in Kano and Yobe states, no polio virus infection has been reported in the past two years in the northern states.

“The nation has strengthened surveillance and routine immunisation, embarking on house-to-house campaigns to ensure that all eligible children receive the life-saving Polio vaccine.

If Nigeria’s efforts are sustained,

by July 2015, the country will be removed from the list of polio endemic countries by the WHO.”

Jonathan for ECOWAS Summit

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will today attend the 47th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government holding in Accra, Ghana.

The summit, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of ECOWAS, will receive reports on the current situation in Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau and deliberate on issues of democratic consolidation and regional peace and stability.

EFCC re-arraigns Sylva for alleged N2.45b fraud From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva before a Federal High Court in Abuja for his alleged involvement in about N2.45 billion fraud.

Sylva was said to have committed the offence between October 2009 and February 2010 while serving as governor.

His re-arraignment yesterday was informed by the retirement of the former trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello.

Sylva pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before Justice Evoh Chukwu yesterday on a six-count charge.

Sylva also has a criminal charge pending against him before another judge of the same Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

Shortly after his arraignment yesterday, Sylva’s lawyer, Israel Olorundare (SAN), applied orally for his bail.

Prosecution lawyer John Ainetor did not object to the bail application, but urged the court to grant the bail on terms that would ensure that the accused person attend court for his trial.

Justice Chukwu granted Sylva bail in the conditions and terms previously granted by the former trial judge and adjourned to May 25 for commencement of trial.

Sambo, wife seek forgiveness

V

ICE President Namadi Sambo and his wife, Amina, yesterday urged those they offended to forgive them.

The vice-president, who spoke to reporters shortly after a valedictory meeting with his supporting members of staff at Aguda House, Abuja, said he had forgiven all those he had interacted with in the last five years.

According to him, he has enjoyed good and cordial working relationship with all his supporting members of staff.

“Whether in government or outside government, we will continue to contribute towards the development of the country.

“And also, we have enjoyed working together and we have become one family with our staff and we assure them that we shall always be there for them.

“Also, we pray that all those that we have offended during this period, we beg for their forgiveness and we forgive all those that have done anything wrong to us.’’

Sambo thanked the workers for their support and cooperation and urged them to extend the same to the incoming administration.

His wife said the Sambo’s family would forever remain grateful for the support, encouragement and prayers they enjoyed from the staff.

The farewell meeting was attended by all the supporting staff, including Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants to the vice-president and his wife.

10

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

NEWS

Tales of sorrow, tears and blood •Continued from page 7 “There was no movement that day. Everybody started running.

One of my brothers ran to their house, brought a bike and carry me to a clinic. The clinic rejected me and directed me to one of the clinics at Elelenwa. They rejected me again.

They now took me BMH. They kept me there 3-4 days before they moved me to surgery department.

“They said because my bp was high, they cannot take me to the theatre. After three days, they controlled my bp and took me to the theatre.”

Promise Amadi walked up to the witness area supported by clutches.

The clutches, according to him, were necessitated by violence visited on him in Elioparamuo in Obiakpor Local Government Area.

Amadi, a welder, said: “I saw PDP boys shooting, so I turned and they said ‘Yellow man, you again!’

They shot me and I ran to the backyard where I jumped the fence and fractured my leg. I don’t know any of them but they are PDP boys because some of them were telling me to remove that canopy. I’ve spent up to 500 to 600,000 because after they removed the bullet, they still cannot set the leg well. I’ve sent messages to my party (APC) but no one has come for me.”

Uzodinma Silas, a resident of Andoni and All Progressives Congress (APC) agent, tendered photographs of injuries he sustained during the governorship election.

His words: “I want the Commission to bring those who inflicted the injuries on me to book. I also want the Commission to liaise with the government to compensate me. I reported to the police but the policeman I saw on the counter was on mufti. He asked me to narrate what happened and I did. Then he told me to pay N30,000 for them to follow up the case. So I left.

“Some boys came in that morning and were chanting ‘No PDP, no election. No Nyesom Wike, no election.’ Everybody ran away including the people that wanted to vote.

As I speak to you, I’m no longer receiving treatment but I’m still feeling pains because I was hit on the chest. A friend advised me to go for x-ray but I don’t have money.”

Felix Ejechi, a resident of Omoku in ONELGA, said APC offices in the local governments were attacked on January 29, April 12, and April 13.

He joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998 and served two tenures as Councillor. In 2008, he was elected Chairman of ONELGA, and was re-elected again before the APC/PDP split.

“We were going to host the APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, for a rally in ONELGA. In the early hour of 29th, that was when they did all these damages.

For three hours (between midnight and 3 a.m.) they were moving all round and police were there.

“I confronted the DPO on why they would allow those boys three hours to be destroying things and he told me the fire was too much and he had to take cover,” said Ejechi who accused a man he identified as Uche Jeremiah of spearheading the April 13th attack.

He continued: “The way forward is simple. All these perpetrators of

violence must be brought to book.

The police should no longer side one side. They refuse to do their work. I was told the DPO said he was posted there to work for PDP,” adding that he left ONELGA since January.

Christian Alali, who lives in ONELGA, said the house he inherited from his father was destroyed and that he would need N5 million to refurbish it. He later readjusted the figure to N20 million, but the commission told him the amount was outrageous to fix a room.

He said the building, which was burnt by hoodlums, was completed in 2000 and it housed 18 people. The house is now empty.

David Akio, from Abua/Oduah Local Government Area, told the commission that his Mercedes car was destroyed by hoodlums and he was beaten up and chased out of his home by the thugs led by a Special Assistant to the Rivers State governor-elect, Nyesom Wike.

His words: “On that 27th of March, I was attacked in my father’s compound. I don’t know how my opponents monitored me and know I was in the community. I went into hiding and was smuggled out of the community on the 29th.”

44-year-old Akio said he returned to the community on the night before April 11 because he was a contestant for the House of Assembly election.

“After the 28th, most of the people that were chased out of the community returned. I was communicating with them and they said it’s like things have cooled down.”

He said there was a second attack on the night he returned and he went to hide in the bush until the police rescued him.

He said he joined PDP in 1998 and served as a Councillor under the party.

For Victor Amadi, a member representing Etche Constituency 1 at the Rivers State House of Assembly, it was a tale of arson. He said on the night of March 20, his brother told him that over 40 hoodlums came in a bus to burn his uncle’s and father’s houses.

“I didn’t want to look at it as a political issue, I want to see it as a criminal issue. “It’s a build up issue. On 20th December, on my way to the village for a wedding, some of supporters came to inform me that some PDP thugs were brandishing guns and shooting. One of them actually shot himself... “On 20th of March, my father’s house was burnt down.”

Amadi said: “On April 1st, a team the IG sent from Abuja came and took my statement. The next morning, they were on their way to make arrests when the CP called them to abort the mission. The CP told them arrests would mean they are taking sides in a political situation. So they aborted the mission and promised to come back after the election.”

He added that when the hoodlums were burning his father’s house, the police prevented the village vigilante group from curtailing them.

“They are PDP thugs because it was the same persons who came to tear my posters. The vigilante boys identified some of them. The boys mobilised from the house of one

•The late Christopher Eneji

•The late Iyk Ogarabe

‘

Look at me, seven children without a father.

I am 41 years old, without anything. My husband served Rivers State government very well.

So I’m pleading with this honourable court to assist. The house he was building he couldn’t finish. We live in an uncompleted building.

Ephraim Nwuzi, a known PDP member.

“I was reliably told that the CP signed a detention warrant against me, which I immediately informed the governor. The governor quickly called the CP and he denied issuing any detention order and promised to get back to him. He never did.”

Even a policeman The victims are not only politicians. A policeman also came to recount an ugly ordeal. Johnson Onunwa, a police inspector who works in Benin, the Edo State capital, also appeared before the commission. His house was burnt.

His words: “My elder brother called me at about 8.45 pm and I was told that my house is burnt, including his and my senior sister.

“I asked what happened, they said it’s because of this PDP-APC thing. I said I’m not a politician so why will they burn my house.

“When I got home, I ask them for the police station where the case was reported. They said the elders in the community had intervened.

And they said the case had been reported to the state CID.” A Delta State indigene who resides in Rivers, George Oreremie, 69, told the commission of an alleged assault against him on January 10. According to him, he and some 15 others were having a meeting when they were attacked.

“As soon as they came in, they started shouting ‘We don’t need APC in this Rumueme community.

All of you here are APC and you will all die today.’ The next thing they started cutting us with cutlasses and weapons. They used cutlass on me and cut my head. I’ve never seen them and I don’t know them. I’m not from the community so I don’t know anyone…”I don’t know any of them (the attackers). It was my first time of going to that kind of meeting.”

He removed his hat to reveal the machete cut on his head, adding that he was hospitalised for ten days and had been going for medical check-up ever since.

“I used to be a Base Engineer until my company in Calabar shut down, before I came back to Port Harcourt. Before the injury, I do repairs for companies when they need me,” Oreremie said.

Blessing Nwuchegbuo, a known campaigner for the APC, said of the attempt on his life: “Before the burning of my house, I received threats from PDP members. I’m known as a grassroots politician, a very strong one for that matter.

“PDP people said to me one on one, not even on phone, ‘are you sure you will come to this community on that election. Three days after the mobilisation, I was attacked.

I had to leave my car and ran into the bush. It was after three days that I went to retrieve the car.

‘

My elder brother called me at about 8.45 pm and I was told that my house is burnt, including his and my senior sister. I asked what happened, they said it’s because of this PDP-APC thing. I said I’m not a politician so why will they burn my house.

‘

‘

“I reported the threats to the police and they said it’s a normal thing in political setting. After my attack, I equally reported to the police but the man didn’t accept to follow me to the village.”?

Behind camera /legal ‘tussle’ There were also those too afraid to give testimonies in the presence of reporters. So, the commission spent some time listening to testimonies ‘in-camera’ from witnesses on allegations of assault and kidnapping. For the safety of the witnesses, secrecy was utmost.

Also of note is the fact that the PDP sees the commission as illegal.

Its lawyer, Emmanuel Aguma, appeared before the commission arguing that there was a court order restraining the proceedings.

“I wouldn’t want to be a part of a process that does not obey the rule of law, so I’m bringing attention to this. There’s an order temporarily restraining proceedings here till a fixed date,” said the lawyer.

Odinkalu said the commission had not been served the court’s decision.

“We are accepting because you are an officer of the law. We’ve not been served on us. But we are accepting from you.

“We are seeing this for the first time. Do you want a brief on this and we take an argument on this on Wednesday. So serious we need to place everyone on record.”

But Aguma asked: “How do I participate in a proceeding where I have questioned its legality? When I’m questioning the competence of the Commission to proceed?”

Odinkalu said: “The commission does not confer lawfulness where lawfulness does not exist. What I suggest is, we are seeing this for the first time. We will hear arguments about this on Wednesday and listen to judicial authorities. If on Wednesday we cannot continue, it means that all the records will be expunged.”

But the PDP lawyer stood his ground and asked to be excused from the proceedings.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

11

NEWS

Kidnapping: Varsity teachers protest in Ekiti

M

EMBERS of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday marched on the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, to protest the kidnap of their colleagues in the state.

The protest, which started at the gate of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), moved to the Ewi’s palace, and ended at the Governor’s Office.

The placard-carrying protesters, comprising ASUU members from Ekiti State University (EKSU) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, moved round the town, drawing the public’s attention to their plight.

Some of their placards read: “ASUU demands unconditional release of our members”; “Governor Fayose, we are not safe please”; “Kidnapping is a crime against humanity”; “Ensure safety of lives and property in Ekiti State”; “Enough of kidnapping in Ekiti State”; “Governor Fayose, please save our souls”.

The protest was led by EKSU-ASUU Chairman Prof. Olufayo Olu-Olu, OAU ASUU Chairman Dr. Caleb

•Threaten strike •Monarch prays for victims’ release From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

Aborisade and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) ASUU Chairman Dr. Bola Oniya.

An EKSU lecturer, Dr. Folashade Alade, was one of the three women kidnapped last Friday on the Ifisin-Igbole Road on their way to a wedding.

EKSU ASUU gave the government till Friday to secure the release of its members or face an indefinite strike.

The kidnappers are demanding N70 million for each of the three victims.

ASUU members still in captivity are Dr. Alade, Dr. Kikelomo Adegun both of EKSU and Dr. Femi Omisore of OAU. Olu-Olu condemned the kidnappers’ clampdown on lecturers and medical workers, saying the situation should not be allowed to continue.

He said: “These kidnappers erroneously thought our members are rich, but they never knew that we

‘Our fear is that, immediately these people realise that we are not rich, they may decide to kill them.We are pleading with Governor Ayo Fayose to act fast’ have not received salaries in EKSU since March.

“Three of our members are still being held and they are demanding for N210 million; where do you expect us to get such money?

“Our fear is that immediately these people realise that we are not rich, they may decide to kill them.

“We are pleading with

Governor Ayo Fayose to act fast because it seems the police and the DSS have no clue to how the victims can be rescued.”

Speaking in the same vein, Aborisade said OAU-ASUU may relocate its secretariat to Ado Ekiti.

“OAU-ASUU has met and we have given the government till Friday to rescue our members or we will withdraw our services,” he said.

The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, sympathised with ASUU members.

He promised that traditional rulers are working with government and security agencies to ensure the victims’ release.

The monarch said: “The victims are our people. We are working round the clock to unravel this mystery.

“We pray that the Lord would expose those behind this crime.”

At the Governor’s Office, Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola, who received the protesters, said his boss was

in Abuja.

Describing the kidnappings as “appalling”, Olusola said the state would soon get a commissioner of police to curb the tide.

He said: “It is very unfortunate that this is happening at this critical time.

“This issue is not if the victims are rich or poor, kidnapping is a crime to a society.

“This singular act is capable of scaring away investors.

“Fayose’s administration is a responsible one. We have written to the IGP to intervene in this matter.

“Mr Governor himself has gone to Abuja to meet him personally to discuss this issue.

“We have been making efforts and we thank God that our efforts have been yielding results and we won’t leave anything to chance.

“We appeal to you not to withdraw your services. But all we need now is for all of us to turn ourselves into security experts by extracting every useful information that we can give to the security agencies to be able to arrest the situation.”

Amosun: we’ve kept our words

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

The event has the theme, “Rejuvenation of Ekiti bond and values”. The lecture will be delivered by Prof Michael Abiola Omolewa.

The Chairman of the occasion is former Governor Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo.

Eminent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola is the special guest of honour.

The legacy book was collated 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, Architect Lanre Olayinka, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye and Yemi Akeju are the lead presenters.

Fayose to Falana: I never shielded criminals

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday scored his administration’s performance high.

He said the administration recorded “landmark achievements” while executing its rebuilding mission.

Amosun spoke at the distribution of another batch of 500 copies of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to beneficiaries under the Home Owners Charter Scheme.

The governor noted that the administration has fulfilled the dreams of the state’s founding fathers.

He solicited for more support for his second term.

On the Certificates of Occupancy, Amosun said those who have not gotten theirs should be patient.

He said:”As our administration is coming to the end of its first term, it is necessary to inform our people that we have gone a long way in fulfilling the dreams of our founding fathers.

“We do not claim that we have scored 100 per cent but we are proud to say that the landmark achievements, especially in the implementation of our “five cardinal programme” as enshrined in our “Mission to Rebuild” Ogun State, bear testimony that we did our best to satisfy the yearnings of our people.

“Let me appeal again to our people to continue to show their support and understanding, most especially in the face of the daunting challenge of continuous dwindling allocation from the Federal Government.”

Public lecture on Saturday

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

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•Amosun (right) presenting the Cof O to Mrs. Beatrice Chibuzor Fadiya. With them is Deputy Governor-elect Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and others.

Ondo residents decry continued banks’ closure

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ESIDENTS of Owo and Ikare-Akoko communities in Ondo State have decried the lack of banking activities in their domains.

Banks closed shop, following the January 14 attacks on two banks in Ikare-Akoko.

Similarly, Owo town recorded a horrific Thursday, two days to the presidential election when robbers attacked four of the five banks in the town.

Several people, including bank officials, were killed.

Residents of the two communities travel to Akure, the state capital, for banking.

Akure is 45 minutes from Owo and 90 minutes from Ikare-Akoko.

Even those who rely on

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) have to travel to the state capital to make withdrawals or perform any transaction.

An Owo resident, Kehinde Akinola, said the development was affecting commercial activities in the towns.

Mrs. Aina Oyeleye of Ikare-Akoko complained of the agony of banking.

She said even those who need to withdraw N2000 from the ATM spend almost N1000 to get to Akure.

Madam Kikelomo Bobola, a trader, said the banks’ closure was affecting her business.

“I can’t stay in the shop be-

yond 2pm, especially if I have money to deposit.

“I will close the shop and travel to Akure to make the deposit. This is very frustrating.”

Some residents have attributed the continued closure to the fear of another attack but this was dispelled by police spokesman Wole Ogodo.

In a statement, Ogodo said it was not true that the banks have remained shut for robbers’ threat.

He said the command was committed to ensuring security and safety of lives and property.

The police spokesman said the banks recently attacked in Ikare and Owo had not been able to open to customers because of the inability

to renovate them.

“We are ensuring that residents and banks go about their businesses without fear.

“Such intelligence arrangements are not to be placed in the public domain.

The Ikare and Owo robberies were unfortunate.

“Security operatives rose immediately to challenge the robbers, who invaded Owo. “We succeeded in killing some of them and arrested a few.”

“Cache of weapons and cash carted away were recovered. The command assures the people of adequate protection and enjoins anybody with useful information to come forward.”

KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has denied the allegation from Lagos lawyer Femi Falana that he is providing official cover for armed gangs to operate in the state.

Fayose, who described the allegation as “hypocritical, ridiculous and nonsensical”, said Falana’s statement was made out of malice to tarnish his image.

He urged Ekiti people and other Nigerians to ignore the rights activist.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said Falana was yet to recover from the defeat he (Falana) suffered in the 2003 governorship election when he contested on the platform of the National Conscience Party (NCP).

The governor urged Falana to mind his business and stop being pretentious and acting as a “public defender”.

Fayose said: “Falana should be ignored because he is fond of beating about the bush.

“I have never and will never provide official cover for armed gangs. It is only an unpopular or unloved governor or leader who would adopt such unconventional means to rule.”

The governor said the love shown to him by the people was further demonstrated in the last general elections by the pattern on which they voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He added: “Nigerians need to be told that Falana is yet to recover from the humiliating defeat he suffered in 2003 as the NCP governorship candidate. Since then he has not stopped plotting evil.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Court orders GTBank to refund N5.3b illegally withdrawn from customer’s account From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

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HIGH Court of the Federal Capital Terri tory (FCT) sitting in Apo yesterday found Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) guilty of illegally withdrawing N5.3billion from an account owned by one of its customers, Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards of Edwards and Partners Law firm.

Justice Valentine Ashi, in a judgment, held that GTBank was without any defence to its action and ordered the bank to pay the money N5,240,516,186.21 to the owner through his Zenith Bank Plc account.

The judge further ordered that the N5.3billion should attract 10 per cent post-judgment interest, and another 21 per cent interest from December 12 last year when GTBank illegally withdrew the money, until the bank eventually paid Dr. Edwards.

The judge struck out the Central Bank (CBN), the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Jonah Otunla, Minister of State for Finance Ambassador Yuguda, Anaocha Local Government Area and the Incorporated Trustees of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) from the suit as defendants on the ground that they were not necessary parties.

Edward initiated the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/939/ 2015 in January, this year after GTBank carried out the illegal withdrawal of the money on December 12, last year.

The money was paid into Dr. Edwards’ law firm’s account with GTBank on January 2, last year by the AGF as a settlement of a judgment got by his clients, Impecca Services Limited and His Royal Highness, Eze Samuel Ezekwo against ALGON for the consultancy services they rendered to the 774 local governments.

The plaintiff stated, in the suit’s originating processes, that shortly after the money was paid into his account on behalf of his clients, GTBank made some disbursements from the account as directed, but that he was only informed on December 12 by an official of the bank that the CBN has withdrawn the N5.3billion.

Edwards said when he enquired from the bank why it made deduction from his account without his consent, he said GTBank only insisted that the withdrawal was made in obedience to the CBN’s directive, which it could not disobey.

Justice Ashi, in his judgment, faulted GTBank for betraying the banker/customer relationship between it and Edwards.

He noted that it was wrong for GTBank to have withdrawn from the customer’s account without his knowledge and consent.

The judge held that GTBank’s claim that it was helpless and that the withdrawal was at the instance of CBN was of no substance. He wondered whether GTBank would have obeyed a similar directive even if it was illegal.

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

Govt concealing oil firms’ licensing registers, contracts, says NEITI

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HE Nigeria Extractive Industries Transpar ency Initiative (NEITI) yesterday said it is having challenges getting the Federal Government to open up the licensing registers and contracts of oil and gas companies to the public.

The energy industry watchdog was, however, optimistic that the country will still retain its compliant status in the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2016.

Its Executive Secretary, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who spoke to reporters at the PreValidation Workshop in Abuja, said the failure of the National Assembly to debate its audit reports and lack of will to implement its recommendations were also major setback for Nigeria.

Nigeria had signed up to implement EITI in the oil, gas and mining industries in 2003; began implementation in 2004 and became the first

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

country out of 46 nations in the global body to support the process with a specific Law, the NEITI Act of 2007.

Nigeria was designated as an EITI Compliance Country by the global body in 2013.

EITI Compliant countries such as Nigeria are required to undertake Validation every three years. The 2016 exercise is coming at a time NEITI’s reports have led to aggressive public demand for reforms in the extractive industries as exemplified in the country’s decision to introduce the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the National Assembly for consideration and passage into law.

The validation exercise is to be conducted by independent international experts to be appointed by the global EITI based in Oslo, Norway. NEITI is to face the validation examination team in January 2016.

Ahmed said the country has done extensive work in the EITI implementation process which among other things made it the best EITI implementing country in 2012.

She said: “The major challenge we have in Nigeria in implementing EITI is our inability to open up the licensing registers of the oil and gas companies; our inability to open up and put in the public domain operating contracts for the oil and gas sector. Those are our major challenge but we have done in NEITI with the guidance of NSWG is that we have looked at the standards and said okay standards are not really in the public but what did the requirements ask for?

“So we extracted the requirements from the standard and designed a special template to be able to capture key information from those contracts and we send these requests to the companies and to DPR (Department

of Petroleum Resources).

“So, we got those key information we thought was vital from the contracts and from the licences from both the DPR and the companies.

In that regards we have been able to meet the requirements by the standard albeit in this round about manner.

“But it cannot continue to be like that and they will accept it because everybody knows the contracts are not in the public domain. Everybody knows the licence register is not something you can sign up to our website and access.

“Subsequently, we must as a country make sure that these things happen. In Ghana, Liberia, Gambia and a lot other very small countries you can actually click on a website and see these information but it is not so in Nigeria.”

She however noted that the lack of will to take remedial actions by the concerned government agencies was disturbing.

• From left: Executive Director, SystemSpecs [owners of Remita e-payment platform], Deremi Atanda, Brand Ambassador, Remita Corporate Champions Cup and former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai and MD/CEO, SystemSpecs, John Obaro chatting at the Season 2 of Remita Corporate Champions Cup at the Campos Stadium Lagos.

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Nigeria’s first sugarcane bio-factory begins operations

HE Federal Govern ment, yesterday, inau gurated Nigeria’s first Sugarcane Bio-factory in Zaria as part of efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in the sector.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said the inauguration of the one-million seedling per year capacity bio-factory was the first in the series of bio-factories to be established in the next five years, with combined capacity estimated at 12.5million cane seedlings per annum.

He spoke while declaring open the bio-factory at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

He said: “The provision of high grade and quality seedlings of sugarcane is essential for the attainment of the set goals of the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP). A bio-

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

factory is a facility where disease-free crop seedlings are rapidly micro-propagated under controlled laboratory environment for planting in the fields.

“This facility is designed to address a critical constraint facing Nigeria’s sugar industry – timely provision of high quality and clean seeds to sugar estates and farmers across Nigeria. We expect that, in four years, five of this kind of facility would have been established across Nigeria with capacities of between two million and 2.5 million seedlings per annum each.”

The minister explained that the projection in the NSMP was that at least 250,000 hectares of sugarcane fields would be re-

quired for processing in about 28 mills of varying capacities to produce 1.79 metric tons of sugar in the first phase of the Master Plan.

He said: “The event today marks another milestone in the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, which was approved by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in September 2012.

The NSMP is one of the major sectoral policies under the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan, enunciated by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and launched by the President in February 2014.

The ultimate goal is to make Nigeria’s manufacturing sector highly competitive and dynamic.

“The production of sugar is an integrated process with field and factory processes that are

inter-dependent and mutually inclusive. Thus, efficiency in the cultivation and supply of sugarcane is essential for efficient milling and production of sugar and associated byproducts such as ethanol and electricity.”

The minister noted that the vibrancy and efficiency of the Brazilian Sugar industry had been attributed to the investment and innovation services, which institutions like Brazil’s Cane Technology Centre(CTC) were providing to the sugar industry in Brazil.

He said, “This is what the National Sugar Development Council seeks to replicate for the Nigerian sugar industry through the establishment of this bio-factory. Today, I feel fulfilled by the achievements that we have recorded under the programmes and policies that were executed under my charge as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Supreme Court bars Chevron, Seplat from selling disputed oil blocks From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

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HE Supreme Court yes terday ordered Chev ron not to take any step or action regarding the sale of the oil mining lease (OMLs) 52, OML 53 and OML 55 - to Seplat Petroleum Development Company pending the determination of an appeal by Britannia-U Nigeria Limited.

Brittania-U Limited’s appeal is against an earlier ruling by the Appeal Court, Abuja, which vacated an order of interlocutory injunction by a High Court, restraining Chevron and Seplat from proceeding to conclude any deal on the two oil leases.

A five-man bench, led by Justice Tanko Muhammad issued the order, directing parties in the case to maintain the status quo. He said: “No party is allowed to take any step that will affect the res (subject matter) of the appeal.”

The court’s order was informed by the refusal of lawyers representing parties to give undertaking that their clients would not take steps that would affect the case.

Appellant’s lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), had urged the court to order parties not to take further steps on the subject of the case on realising that he would be unable to argue his application for mandatory injunction seeking to reverse steps taken by Chevron to sell the disputed oil bloc to Seplat.

Tarfa reminded the court that it had, during last hearing date of March 24 this year, fixed yesterday, May 18, for hearing of his application for mandatory injunction.

Seplat’s lawyer, Damian Dodo (SAN), though did not object to Tarfa’s position, but noted that the substantive appeal was ripe for hearing, urging the court to hear the main appeal rather than dissipating energy in first hearing an interlocutory application.

Lawyer to Chevron Nigeria and BNP Paribas Securities Corp, Uche Nwokedi (SAN) and lawyer to Chevron U.S.A Inc, Hermant Patel argued in similar vein, following which the apex court ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the outcome of the appeal, which hearing it adjourned to October 6 this year.

Crisis started when Chevron offered for sale OMLs 52, 53 and 55 and invited bids from firms. The sale of the assets became controversial after Chevron, in a bid to ensure transparency put the assets through a public bidding, failed to make a public announcement of a winner, a reserve bidder and unsuccessful bids.

It, then, allegedly turned its back on the highest bidder, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, and began to deal with Seplat behind the scene. Brittania-U went to court to contest Chevron’s action of not declaring it winner after it posted a $1.67 billion bid for the three assets, an amount later revised to $1.015 billion after both companies’ officials met in Houston, United States.

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

ECOWAS common tariff won’t benefit I Nigeria, agents claim

S the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET) of benefit to Nigeria?

No, says the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), which is championing the review of CET by the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration.

CET, ANLCA claims, has made Nigeria’s ports the most expensive in West Africa because of the multiple charges collected from importers.

“These charges are hindering the trade facilitation programme, while businesses in other sub-regional ports like Cotonou are thriving,” the agents said, adding that this is why CET cannot be implemented in Nigeria unless the government reviews it.

ANLCA, it was learnt, has drawn the battle line with the Customs and the Council for Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) over CET’s implementation and practitioners’fee collection.

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda MaritimeCorrespondent

ANLCA asked its members not to pay the fee, which CRFFN would have started collecting since May 11.

In a Public Notice, the CRFFN said: “In exercise of the powers conferred on it under Section 4 (d) and 6 (2) (C) of the CRFFN Act No 16 of 2007, notice is hereby brought to all registered freight forwarders; all seaport terminal operators; all airport cargo terminal handlers and the public that the collection of practitioners’ fee by the council commences on Monday, May 11, 2015.”

Besides asking its members to shun the directive, ANLCA has suspended further discussions with CRFFN. ANLCA said the directive for the fee collection can only emanate from the National Assembly after the CRFFN board must have been constituted by the government.

ANLCA President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, is blaming the high cost of cargo processing on the introduction of what he calls “obnoxious levies”.

Importers, he said, pay multiple charges before collecting their goods, urging the government to address the problem and reduce the cost of doing business.

Shittu said: “Importers pay Customs duties and levies that are not uniform in most of the seaports.

Other tariff that make the ports expensive are the seven per cent development levy; one per cent comprehensive import supervision scheme; 0.5 per cent ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS); NIMASA/NPA Sea Protection Levy (SPL); haulage cost – transportation per 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) and terminal operator progressive stage charges.

“Importers also pay terminal operator documentation; terminal operator examination; terminal operator scan fee; terminal operator scan loading fee; terminal operator delivery; terminal operator terminal handling and terminal operator labour fees.

“They also pay shipping line demurrage, shipping line agency, shipping line documentation, shipping line telex release, shipping line container deposit fees, terminal operators two weeks additional advance rating period, shipping line two weeks additional advance rating period, shipping line minimum of one month grace for container deposit refund, freight forwarders professional fee – unstreamlined, and several inconsiderate charges at the bonded terminals”.

An ANCLA member, Mr Segun Ogusanu, derided the five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) and one per cent Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) charge as some of the multiple charges.

Ogunsanu said for CRFFN to be effective, it must comprise elected practitioners.

“CRFFN is headed by a Registrar, who is the Chief Executive. He is a permanent staff member unlike others who are elected into office or appointed by the Minister of Transport. The Board of the CRFFN cannot remove him without the approval of the Minister, a position that makes the chief ex-

ecutive officer very powerful and issue any notice he likes without consulting the people on whose behalf the council was established.

“Since a new board has not been constituted and election held, the council is a one-man show,” he said.

ANLCA’s National Publicity Secretary Kayode Farinto told The Nation that the National Executive Council (NEC) has suspended further discussions with CRFFN. He said: “NEC has constituted a committee to interface with the management of CRFFN to come up with recommendation towards further engagement.

“The committee is empowered by NEC to discuss, negotiate and take all appropriate steps towards ANLCA professional interest.

“The committee members include the association’s former president, Chief Ernest Elechukwu; Chief Peter Obi; Prince Taiye Oyeniyi; Mayor Ekweche; David Kanikwu; Bayo Oyekanju; Alhaji Umar Ibrahim and Kayode Farinto.”

Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), it was learnt, may intervene in the face-off between the CRFFN and ANLCA to ensure peace at the ports.

Its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, sources said, may summon ANCLA and CRFFN officials to a meeting before the week runs out.

CRFFN Registrar, Sir Mike Jukwe, said the collection of practitioner’ operating fees was a directive given to his agency by the Federal Government.

“As an employee, I will convey the position of ANLCA to the government and will be directed further,” he said.

NPA workers seek better welfare

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•From right: Managing Director, Sifax Group Mr Markus Brinkmann and his Executive Director Dr Phil Ofulue PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA at stakeholders forum in Lagos.

How to achieve 48-hour cargo clearance, by Shippers Council

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HE Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is set to enforce the 48-hour clearance of goods at the ports to make them competitive, its Secretary, Mr. Hassan Bello, has said.

The Council, he said, believes that the ports lost their comparative advantage to ports of neighbouring countries because of bureaucratic bottleneck.

“NSC is not happy with the clearing procedures and the inability to achieve the 48-hour cargo clearance,” he said, adding that he may adopt measures that will fast-track cargo clearance from any terminal to boost trading at the ports, adding that he could resort to automation to reduce human contact in cargo clearance.

The council’s ultimate aim is to provide platforms for cargo clearance so that the ports can meet international standard, Bello said, urging stakeholders to support his organisation in finding a solution

to the problem.

He said: “The idea is that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is the referee in this friendly context, and the more we interact with the service providers and government agencies, the better understanding we will get on quick cargo clearance.

“We need automation in every port instead of doing many things manually. We need to streamline these processes and develop standard operating procedures, and check the presence of government agencies at the ports on what they are doing and the Customs to also up their game in automation.’’

Bello what on: “They have led the way but we need other stakeholders to come and buy in.

Importers need to make genuine declaration of their goods to help the process and the clearing agents too must pay the actual duty to reduce the time. So, we are doing a lot of consultation while we supervise and moderate. Customs has

been leading in so many areas of what our ultimate aim is - which is automation, providing platforms for cargo clearance so that our ports will become efficient. The trade facilitation issue they have pioneered is something very commendable and it is a starting point as far as we are concerned.”

He spoke of the need to streamline cargo clearance procedures and ensure that the ports can compete with others in West and Central Africa.

“Nigerian ports are in competition with other ports within the sub-region, so we have to streamline our clearance procedures – the way we do business - so that we attract more cargoes to Nigerian ports,” he said.

“We need to develop standard operating procedures. We need to check the presence of government agencies in the ports on what they are doing and what they must not do to boost trade,” Bello added.

HE Senior Staff Association of Communications Transport and Corporation (SSACTAC), Maritime branch, has urged Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero to ensure workers’welfare.

The workers blamed the immediate past Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, for what they called “poor remuneration”, urging Bayero not to follow his footsteps.

For almost two years that Abdullahi served as the helmsman, SSACTAC President Comrade Benson Adegbeyeni said, the workers did not benefit from his administration.

“The sacked Managing Director, Abdullahi rose from the Personnel Department of NPA to what he was, but he failed to understand that workers were supposed to be taken proper care of.

“The new MD has inherited so many challenges which the sacked MD failed to address.

“The challenges are numerous, and they included the new minimum wage. For the last four years, our salary has not changed, even during the administration of Abdullahi, it was the same and that is why we are telling the new MD to understand that truly, he has inherited so many challenges.

“We have been promised up to this period, yet we have not earned the new wages, promotion and the issue of financial guide is also there,” he added.

Adegbeyeni also said concessioning of the ports had caused more havoc than good, pointing out that the process was a failure.

Also, the retrenched workers of the NPA have appealed to Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on NPA to pay their entitlement 24 years after they were sacked.

At a conference in Lagos, the chairman of the retrenched workers Comrade Babriel Shotunde said hundreds of their members who were sacked in 1991 have died due to hardship, noting that some families have divorced because of poverty and other domestic challenges.

He added that the workers who were sacked in 1991 had sought redress at the court, stressing that the NPA refusal to obey the judgment of the courts which directed it to pay the sacked workers.

“We are about 2,750 retrenched staff of NPA in 1991, although 7,000 workers were forcefully served letters of retrenchment. Some were due for pension having served 15 years and above while others were due for retirement.

“This has led to premature death of our members as a result of the wretchedness and poverty. For instance, at the Calabar Port, 60 out of the 201 workers sacked from there are dead.

“Our children born 24 years ago when the incident happened now roam the streets because we could not afford to send them to higher institutions,” he said.

Shotunde urged President Jonathan prevail to on NPA to obey court judgement to pay the workers. “We are equally calling on President elect Buhari to intervene on our behalf to end our suffering which started in 1991.

“With no inheritance or property of their own most of our members have become professional beggars and insolvent. We appeal to government to halt the impunity of NPA to pay us our dues.”

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

The subsidy logjam •Would it require this stalemate and a near shutdown of the economy to resolve this so-called subsidy conundrum?

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T is a veritable sign of a near-failed state that the ‘subsidy’ riddle has been with Nigeria for over two decades.

Over this period, the pricing of petroleum products, especially petrol, diesel and kerosene has been a subject of unmitigated angst. While the price of diesel is said to have been deregulated and brought under the harness of market forces, the story is different with petrol and kerosene.

But to put the matter into perspective, Nigeria is among the world’s top crude oil producers with production peaking at about 2.5 million barrels per day (mbp) these past few years. But unlike most other producers, she has been unable to develop this prized asset over the years. In fact, she has merely operated at basic level in which she collects rent from international oil companies that have remained the major producers of Nigeria’s crude oil.

‘What is to be done? First the petroleum ministry and the NNPC need to be cleaned out quickly. It is currently infested with deep-rooted corruption. Second, NNPC must take over the importation of products and simultaneously commence an expedited programme of repairing old refineries and building new ones’

Most of Nigeria’s refining and petrochemical facilities were built in the 1960s and 1980s and they have become obsolete and mainly in disuse. Successive governments have not deemed it fit to upgrade these assets or build modern ones as many of her oil producing peers have done. Nigeria has therefore been exporting a chunk of her crude and importing most of her petroleum products needs.

It has become a vicious cycle that has subsisted for decades and has now come to a head. First, the great kerosene rip-off has gone on in the past four years. According to a Senate committee report, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) spent N634 billion on kerosene subsidy between 2010 and 2012. Much more than this figure must have been doled out since then. But the painful irony is that kerosene, used primarily by poor to medium income consumers is not subsidised at retail outlets.

It has been indeed double jeopardy for the populace as the kerosene ‘subsidy’ cabal made up of the petroleum ministry, the NNPC and the marketers ferret billions of naira from the treasury in the guise of ‘subsidy’ and ‘make’ even more billions of naira from the people by selling at market rate. This racket, which started in 2010, has gone on all through the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan. Yet this scam was not stopped, no question has been asked and no one brought to book. Such is the nature of government run in this last four years.

With the ongoing energy crisis in the country, everything may have come to a head now. Since the crash in crude oil

prices late last year and the attendant sharp drop in the naira to dollar exchange rate, Nigeria’s economy has been on a top spin.

Today, the country has not enough funds to support importation of the quantum of refined petroleum products needed for domestic consumption. Scarcity of products has manifested in the past few weeks as marketers insist government owes them over N200 billion back-log of subsidy payments.

Pump price has increased by more than 50 per cent and there seems to be no end in sight as marketers would not budge unless all outstanding bills are paid. While the populace is in for a long stretch of anguish and economic inertia, not much may be done by the out-going government until the May 29 handover to a new government.

The in-coming Muhammadu Buhari administration will have to act fast and decisively before things get grimmer. The new government would have to come up with a masterplan to deal with the situation. And this it must sell convincingly to Nigerians.

Given the antecedents of the presidentelect, he is likely to get the people’s support even if they are to make initial sacrifices before things get better.

What is to be done? First the petroleum ministry and the NNPC need to be cleaned out quickly. It is currently infested with deep-rooted corruption. Second, NNPC must take over the importation of products and simultaneously commence an expedited programme of repairing old refineries and building new ones. The new government must focus on harnessing Nigeria’s strategic asset, not frittering it.

Prosecution or persecution?

•The president was playing victim, and it took away from the high dignity of his office

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O doubt, Nigerians may have, in the last five years, grown used to President Goodluck Jonathan’s serial gaffes. However, his statement at the thanksgiving and farewell service held at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja, on May 10 would appear to have set a new low in presidential discourse.

With a hint at the fate which he claims await him post-May 29, the President told his audience of fellow-worshippers: “Some hard decisions have their own cost, no doubt about that. That I have run the government this way that stabilised certain things – the electoral process and other things that brought stability into this country, they were very costly decisions which I myself must be ready to pay for”.

He was even more point-blank about the future which awaits his ministers when he stated: “If you take certain decisions, it might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect some people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathise with them; they will be persecuted, and they must be ready for that persecution ... You will have hard times; we will all have hard times; our ways will be rough”.

Those statements, we daresay, are as tendentious and opportunistic; aside derogating from the President’s affectation of statesmanship, playing the victim card is a cheap attempt to whip up needless sentiments, an ignoble attempt to divert attention from the criminal mismanagment of the economy under the watch of the

departing administration. We must say that the presidential charge also fits into the Peoples Democracy Party’s (PDP) now familiar narrative of presenting the President-elect, General Muhamadu Buhari, and by extension his incoming government, as vindictive. The intention of course is to put both the President-elect and his proposed administration into the defensive mode.

What is the basis for the fear of possible persecution after leaving office? Only the President is in the best position to answer.

However, given the abysmal record posted by the administration in its nearly six years in office, the mind-boggling incompetence coupled with criminal profligacy that attended it, there may well be grounds for the President’s fear for his team. As for fears of possible prosecution, would the outgoing President rather have a blanket amnesty – an immunity of sorts – for the officials even in cases where the incoming administrations have grounds to believe that they have questions to answer? Would that not assail the core of public policy? And who says that remedies – within the ambits of the law – would also not avail those who have reasons to believe that their rights are likely to be trampled upon?

The point remains that neither the President-elect nor the hierarchs of the All Progressives Congress has hinted at any extraordinary measures outside of the contemplation of law and constitutionalism in its plan to deal with alleged malfesances. In fact, the President-elect

has continued to allay the fears of the outgoing administration’s officials on the possibility of witch-hunt. More fundamentally however is that the administration has said nothing outside of what Nigerians in their millions have said about the need to open up the books of the administration for public scrutiny. Our shock is that the President who continues to maintain that his administration has nothing to hide would seek to reduce the demands to a mission in vendetta. We consider it uncharitable, and if we dare say, futile.

In the circumstance, we can only advise the incoming administration to ignore the statement. We think that there are simply too many questions begging for answers – issues which it can only ignore to the utter discomfiture of Nigerians. In all, the main considerations should be the law, public morality and due process – not sentiments.

‘What is the basis for the fear of possible persecution after leaving office? Only the President is in the best position to answer. However, given the abysmal record posted by the administration in its nearly six years in office, the mind-boggling incompetence coupled with criminal profligacy that attended it, there may well be grounds for the President’s fear for his team’

Burden of public office

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IR: A few days ago, President Goodluck Jonathan expressed what could be described as the burden of holding public office in Nigeria, saying that the fate awaiting him, his ministers and aides after May 29, would be unpleasant because he believes they will be persecuted. He alleged that the likely persecution would happen because of the “hard decisions” his administration took while in office. He added that experience had shown him that people would at a time desert anybody who took ”hard decisions” like he did while in office.

No doubt, the concerns raised by Jonathan is typical of the fate that befall many people that have occupied public positions in this part of the world. When some people find themselves in exalted offices they never expected, they get carried away that they quickly forget about tomorrow.

Perhaps, due to the perks and paraphernalia of office, they are simply cut-off from reality and this vacuum often lead to disconnect between the leader and the led. Or, why would any leader be afraid of the people after leaving office?

Those occupying top political positions are celebrated, adored and well-respected and adored while in office. Many people do this, not necessarily because such top flight officials excel in carrying out their responsibilities to the society, but simply because they can be of benefit to those currying one favour or the other while seeking for pecuniary gains. The moment they are out of power, all those pleasantries and respect accorded them are thrown way. Oftentimes, they are persecuted and those close to them also suffer the same fate. This singular reason could largely be responsible for why vacating political offices in Nigeria is problematic as public officers always strive to remain ever relevant in the scheme of things; whether needed or not.

But for those who have served meritoriously, any threat of persecution for doing the right thing while in the office should no longer be allowed if committed persons are to be encouraged to serve in the public service. For this class of committed people, I do not see any reason why they should be afraid of either being probed or investigated in the course of serving their fatherland. That is why the assurance given by the incoming administration, is instructive.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had already disclosed that those who are guilty of crimes against the Nigerian people need to be afraid of the incoming administration. According to the party, under the climate of change which Nigerians have ushered in the party with their votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid and that those with a guilty conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves.

Good governance will remain elusive until we imbibe a culture that promotes selfless service to the public life. People that are passionate, credible and experienced should be encouraged to serve the nation without giving any room for them to have any regrets at the end of the day. The trend of worshipping political office holders while in active service but only to crucify them after their tenure is bad and should no longer have a place in modern day politics. Nevertheless, those who truly have a case to answer should be made to account for their stewardship, as transparency and accountability remain the hallmarks of a virile public service.

• Adewale Kupoluyi, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: One of the enduring tenets of democracy is freedom of expression as rooted in a responsible and vibrant press. A responsible media must as a duty hold government and the entire society accountable for their actions. Liu Xiaobo held that, “free expression is the base of human rights, the root of human nature and the mother of truth. To kill free speech is to insult human rights, to stifle human nature and to suppress truth.”

It is expected that the media should be able to speak the truth at all times and send meaningful information and clarification on programmes of government as they affect the society. They are channels for interaction, communication, for dialogue and debate on the major issue of rural and urban development; presenting realistic reportage of events and forces working for and against societal goals for the betterment of the society at large is the goal of the media.

To a large extent, the media sets the agenda and shapes the opinion

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Responsible press and democracy of the society on numerous issues and events on local, states and national levels. That was why Jesse Scott declared that: “People are sheep. TV is the shepherd.” Nigeria got her independence without firing a shot largely due to an intrepid, vibrant, dogged and conscientious media. Since then, the Nigerian media has carved a niche for itself in carrying out its noble professional roles for the betterment of the society. The success story recorded in the just concluded general elections cannot be complete without mentioning the vital role of the media in setting the agenda for decisions and choice of candi-

dates through various programmes and programmings.

Conversely, could be jeopadised by media propaganda against a government, an individual or group and the conscious negative reportage of activities of these. Bad journalism according to an observer “is a consequence of an unregulated market in which, would be monopolists are free to treat the channels of democratic debate as their private property.”

This brings us to the hoopla raised by the alleged barring the African Independent Television (AIT) from covering the president-elect until “issues of ethics and standards are

End culture of abandoned projects IR: As May 29, gradually draws nearer, one hydraheaded monster bleeding this country since independence and which has prevented the masses from reaping maximum benefit from taxes and other sources of public revenue is the culture of abandoned projects. The level of abandoned projects in Nigeria today is not only alarming, it affects the economy in disastrous ways. Every new government considers the projects and programmes of its predecessor more as the legacies and ideas of the past administration rather than as programmes meant to benefit and add value to the wellbeing of the masses.

The National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) of the Obasanjo administration was abandoned by the Yar’Adua administration not because the programme wasn’t good

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enough or people-oriented, but because it was seen as a legacy of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The Seven-Point Agenda of the Yar’Adua administration which replaced the NEEDS was also abandoned by the Jonathan government and replaced with the Transformation Agenda, even though President Goodluck Jonathan was part of the Yar’Adua government.

We cannot continue this legacy of wastefully abandoning projects and programmes merely on the basis of prejudices and ego. Although some people have called for the creation of the project management office in all government establishments to develop and maintain projects standards and methods, there is need to put in place enabling legislations at the national and state assemblies as the case may be, to protect laudable projects, programmes and policies

of government as this is the only way a new administration would not be able to abandon them.

Moreover, if a people or a community is allowed participation in the choice of projects and programmes based on their needs, it would be difficult for an incoming administration to abandon such because the people would challenge the government. Abandoned projects have remained a conduitpipe through which the resources of this country are allowed to waste away. It is no longer acceptable for any government to discontinue or abandon the projects of a proceeding administration after millions and billions of naira might have been spent on them. Time to put an end to the legacies of waste in the interest of the poor masses.

• Hussain Obaro, Ilorin, Kwara State

sorted out.” Although the gaffe has calmed down, W.H Auden captured the mood of the media in all situations even in a democracy as he asserts that; “what the mass media offers is not popular art, but entertainment which is intended to be consumed like food, forgotten, and replaced by a new dish.” Nigerians should equally be aware that the

media is like a two edged sword which can make or mar the society – it could serve the cause of the oppressed; it could equally become a solid instrument to oppress as well.

Therefore it should be carefully handled.

As May, 29 inches closer, the incoming government should bear in mind that governments do not only succeed by having good intentions or well thought out people-oriented policies and programmes, but by the eyes and medium through which citizens, appraise those intentions, programmes and policies.

• Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna

SGF cap fits Onu

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IR: the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is like a very busy road junction which you have to traverse before you get to a big city (the big city being the presidency). Traffic to and from the Presidency, the ministries and other arms of government pass through it.

Such an all-important office must be manned by someone who is resilient, knowledgeable, discreet, reliable and tested.

For that position, I wish to urge the President-elect to look no further, but rather, beam the full glare of his searchlight on the person of the first executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who has all the above-mentioned qualities and more.

He is a principled charismatic man of integrity, who shuns flamboyance, materialism and lucre. At a time when virtually everbody was jumping into the Federal Government pie wagon for juicy contracts and positions, Dr. Onu was never tempted. Rather, he kept to himself and the dream of providing a social welfare people-oriented government that is anchored on service

to Nigerians. It is that vision that has today coalesced (with the effort of other patriots) into the present phenomenal change-agent called APC. As the first governor of Abia State, he initiated many laudable grassroot projects and programmes which later formed the bedrock on which his successors in office built on.

Ogbonnaya Onu is a de-tribalised bridge-builder who is accepted and respected by all and sundry from all, I mean all, the six geo-political zones of the country. His charm and simplicity is a winner any day.

I and a great many other Nigerians see him as that perfect round peg for that big round hole. His appointment as the SGF will gladden the heart of many Nigerians in general, and in particular, the South-easterners who would then have a much needed soothing sense of belonging.

May our President-elect kindly accede because Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has the savoir-faire.

• Sir (Chief) Azaniah Ngozi Nwoke, KSC, Port-Harcourt

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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COMMENTS

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ETWEEN his first and second coming, Muhammadu Buhari’s conversion from the martial man of steel to a self-confessed democrat of reason is quite dramatic.

It is the political equivalence of the rabid, anti-Christ Saul turning the zestful, pro-gospel Paul, on the way to Damascus. But the democratic General’s lifechanging journey to Damascus took no less than 13 rigorous years. lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Within that short period, he ran for the Nigerian presidency four times, got marooned at the courts thrice, while his rivals savoured, with reckless abandon, the fruits of his quest.

Why, his party even once abandoned communists. But the ruling temper was decidedly Russian, him for opportunistic appointments from the rival party, which purported victory he was challenging, in a marathon the clear majority in the union.

Nigeria too stumbled into independence as a Federal Recourt process! public of three, and later, four regions. That federal essence Gen. Buhari told his own tale, when a delegation from Taraba has since been whittled down with a progressive fissuring State paid him a courtesy call in Abuja. into states, the latest number of which is 36 — with the elite By the president-elect’s own account, his democratic evolustill calling for more! tion took a whole of 24 years — from 1991 when the Union of But from the very beginning, and till now, even with the 12 Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) collapsed; to 2015, his year June 1993 presidential election annulment fiasco, the ruling of presidential triumph, after three failures. temper is perceived to be northern.

Though the president-elect spoke strictly in the context of Indeed, that anti-North sentiment, triggered by the late the sanctity of the vote, as the basis of democracy, it is inPresident Umaru Yar’Adua’s Katsina Cabal that tried to stonestructive that his democratic epiphany came with the USSR wall the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan from the collapse.

Presidency, helped to propel Dr. Jonathan to the acme of NiLack of democracy may well be one of the complex reasons gerian power. the USSR collapsed. But beyond ideological colouration and But no sooner did President Jonathan attain that height than ethnic domination, the USSR (1922-1991) fell because it was a he himself attempt a Niger Delta hegemony, in which the faulty federation — a grave similarity it shares with Nigeria, South East sentimentally tagged along. Again, that triggered which even after the proliferation of “states”, remains an a rare North-South West entente, which drove the All ultra-centralised entity.

Progressives Congress (APC) though, to be fair, the South Now, no two situations are exactly alike. Whereas USSR’s East political elite enjoyed a right of first refusal, as it were, in centralised planning delivered rapid industrialisation, that political alliance.

Nigeria’s version has delivered the exact opposite — deBut the South West-North entente, without a formal politiindustrialisation: for varied reasons, of course. cal restructuring, only alienated the Afenifere segment of the Still, not even USSR’s material prosperity could save it from Yoruba dominant political temper. That put them at crossits dire structural deficiency. Again, this plague it shares purpose with Bola Tinubu, the basic driver of the political with Nigeria, though with double jeopardy. Though USSR accommodation. collapsed even if it was one of the globe’s accomplished sciIndeed, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, in his latest book, Nigeria: Politientific and technological leaders, Nigeria would take its surcal Power Imbalance, and earlier ones like Nigeria: Africa’s Failed vival chances, even as a global scientific and technological Asset? had railed at a certain northern power hegemony laggard! treacherously packaged — to eventually undermine Nigeria One final comparison, on the ethnic plane. The USSR was a — by the exiting British colonialists. federal union of “republics” — Ukraine, Byelorussia, etc, even Though not a few have hinted at Sir Olaniwun’s own perif every inch of that vast territory was ruled by the local ceived Yoruba irredentism, his thoughts continue to gather suction, particularly with the ideologues of restructuring as the very minimum basis for Nigeria’s survival as a prosperous nation-state.

But why all this hard analysis? Simple. The whoop of election victory is gone. So, is the terrible moan of defeat.

Now, comes the brass tack.

Gen. Buhari would appear the best deal, by miles, for now.

For one, he is no reluctant leader. He chased power the hard

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epublican ipples

Olakunle Abimbola

When comes a federalist Buhari?

‘Buhari must develop a federalist mindset. That would be a pleasant combo for the latest democrat on the bloc’

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HE fuel queues are back – as if you didn’t know that already. The tragedy isn’t just that OPEC’s one-time sixth largest exporter of crude has again suffered another crushing relapse of the familiar plague of dry pumps – no thanks to the feud between fuel importers and the finance ministry – it’s like the nation has come under a spell of some ancestral curses!

Trust Nigerians for their inventiveness, guess they have since moved on; while we are back to the same old wearisome arguments about whether or not the subsidy exists, our go-go nature appears to have gotten the better of us.

Majority – call it the silent ones if you like – it would appear, could no longer be bothered with either the economics or even the semantics of fuel subsidies, they have since swallowed the full pill of deregulation – this time through the back door. Scarcity or not, I know for a fact that you could purchase fuel in some stations in Lagos without as much as breaking a sweat – so long as you are willing to part with N140 for a litre in the deregulated market downtown! Seems one moment when Nigerians wouldn’t mind to cut their noses – even if temporarily – to get going!

Truly, the subject of fuel subsidy never ceases to fascinate.

As in the round leather game of football, it is one subject that every Kasali, Chinedu and Usman would claim, with some air of certainty, some degree of knowledge if not expertise.

You know why? Everybody is involved – from the jerry-can clutching vulcanizer to the barber next door; what about the welder or even the ubiquitous taxi driver all of whom the liquid gold has come to mean the difference between life and death?

Yes, everyone is involved.

Agreed, subsidy is a touchy subject. I have seen otherwise brilliant minds relapse into some wild, witless garbage when the subject is fuel subsidy. Many would rather be politically correct rather than risk ruffling feathers. And so argument persists that simply because oil is of nature’s finest gift to us, we can continue to dispense with the niceties of economics!

To be sure, I have looked at the contending arguments; it seems to me that the difference between the most vociferous proponents of fuel subsidy removal and their opponents is actually more shadow than real substance! Forget what the marketers and their hordes of middlemen say; the truth is that they want the subsidy regime to continue; it is their surest route to unearned wealth. What about the bureaucrats, the men and women wielding awesome powers over our lives? It is their surest guarantee of raw, invisible power – without control. As one would imagine, the politicians want it for a different purpose; for them, it is a fascinating subject for politricking any day.

Did I hear the “ogas at the top” describe the subsidy re-

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Subsidy: Time to let go gime as “unsustainable”? What their lucre-addicted lordships meant to say is that they could do with more of freshly minted wads in the piggy bank to do as they please.

The irony of course is that a section of the hoi polloi actually believes the lie that the petrol and kerosene subsidy – together with its impregnable infrastructure of graft that services it – actually comes close to their share of the proverbial national cake! That for me is the most tragic part of the raging debate.

Is there really a subsidy? I have heard the question over and over again. To the question I say – we wouldn’t be who we are if we are not found debating whether or not the weekend May 14 Platts reference price of $718.49 per metric tonne (that is N105.55 per litre) is real! Note that this is not yet reflective of distribution costs as well as the marketers’ margins! With petrol price officially pegged at N87 per litre, the above should ordinarily solve the arithmetic.

Next question – why can’t the federal government build new refineries? Or its variant – why can’t the government compel the International Companies (IOCs) to build refineries in the country? Or still, get the private sector to build new refineries? Good question – all of them!

Let me proceed from the known to the unknown. Again, as if we don’t know, the reality is that OPEC’s leading crude oil exporter refines only a miniscule fraction of its domestic fuel needs. Daily requirement for petrol is said to range from 4045 million litres daily of which the four refineries combined is said to deliver a miserable 10-15 percent. To bridge the gap, we rely on imports at deleterious costs to our foreign reserves and the larger national economy. From an ordinarily

way; and is tempered by the gall that getting power — democratic power — is very difficult. So, he is likelier to exercise it responsibly.

For another, he is a self-confessed new democrat. Being a neophyte in that peculiar temper, all glory to democratic redemption, he is likely to dazzle the polity with his new essence, much more than “seasoned democrats”, who take their essence so much for granted that all they hit the polity with are anti-democratic acts!

Besides, contrasted to two of his three immediate predecessors, he speaks of further reassurance. An unprepared Jonathan got power by accident. He dissipated it without much ado. Olusegun Obasanjo was a power megalomaniac, too convinced of his own inherent goodness to fully grasp his place in history. Muhammadu Buhari, thankfully, appears to differ from the two.

Still, all these would count for little, if the president-elect does not get right the structural angle of the immense problems.

Even right now, delegations have been pouring into his door stead; and their pleas are near-uniform: O, presidential emperor and magic worker, only you can solve our problems, as they tender their shopping lists!

But structurally, that should not be so. If you operate Federal Nigeria as it should be, the president and his federal government should not be mythical magicians. Indeed, the federating regions will solve most of the problems, leaving pretty little for Abuja to worry about.

Ripples believes Buhari would be fair to all. But again, that would be resorting to the default-setting of the president as some benevolent emperor. He is nothing of the sort. In any case, he should not be.

What Nigeria needs is a fair and equitable federal system, under which every part of the country works hard and be fair to itself — instead of looking up to some central dole.

Besides, that Nigeria has fallen on bad times pushes the imperative for a paradigm shift. Right now, the federal government is the sole giver. But what the Buhari government must do is open up the revenue-driving base, taking advantage of the federal doctrine, and amending extant laws for every part of the country to drive its own resources.

To do that, Buhari must develop a federalist mindset. That would be a pleasant combo for the latest democrat on the block.

That is why the APC South West caucus must not be coy, pushing restructuring as the ultimate correction to Nigeria’s deficient and defective federalism. If this coalition fails, they would be the first to be conked.

Besides, it would be a travesty to gain democracy and federal power; yet lose sight of restructuring, Federal Nigeria’s potent tool to deliver development.

hefty subsidy bill of barely N250 billion in 2011; the nation has since the literally broken the banks – spending close to a trillion on kerosene and petrol alone annually!

So why can’t the government build new refineries? Guess the answer is obvious: the same reason the government is unable to bring back the national carrier; it’s the same argument about government’s inability to fix the multiplicity of our roads; the reason the power sector is considered as jinxed!

I daresay here that the old cliché about the government not being good at business is true only to the extent that our government lacks both the means and the discipline to run a modern enterprise! The tiny Island country of Singapore is a living exception to that rule!

As for getting the IOCs to build new refineries, it seems rather too easy to overlook the terrible effects of government’s meddlesomeness on the downstream sector. Does anyone still remember that the first refinery in the country was actually built not by government but by Shell? It seems aeons ago when the motorist in Lagos bought fuel at a different price from his compatriot in Maiduguri! That was when market ruled – long before our leaders pronounced that money was not our problem but how to spend it!

I am of course reminded that above everything else that the business of refinery is an investment decision – pure and simple. Those clamouring for the legislation to compel IOCs to build refineries only need to imagine going into a business where product price is fixed before production costs are known!

To my main point. There comes a time in the life of a nation when citizens just have to make hard choices. The current season would appear such a time. The simple truth is that the nation cannot afford, even if it wants, to sustain the current regime of price support called subsidy. Something simply has to give. Moreover, I have stated elsewhere that the subsidy regime is unfair to the extent that the burden is regressive. In short, it is time to let go! Agreed, it is not the end; it’s one sure step on the path to dismantling the infrastructure of fraud currently sapping the nation’s vital juices. That done, with supporting policies, the goal of local refining might actually be closer than many would dare to imagine. I rise!

‘The old cliché about government not being good at business is true only to the extent that our government lacks both the means and the discipline to run a modern enterprise! The tiny Island country of Singapore is a living exception to that rule!’

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

COMMENTS

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S the May 29, handover date from Nigeria’s incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari inches nearer, an air of hopefulness has obviously enveloped the nation.

This high level of sanguineness has become so all-pervading that the President- elect himself, in his characteristic honest candour, had had to plead with Nigerians to temper their boisterous expectations from his government with an understanding of the untoward depreciation of the national economy under the (mis)management of the outgoing administration.

The odd reality of an economy in rapid decline has been underscored with the public admission by Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that the Federal Government has had recourse to borrowing to pay staff salaries and fund the 2015 budget. Borrowing to pay staff salaries can’t be good news in any way at this time, this qualifies many deficiencies in the national economy. The Federal Government budget, has, over the past three years, been described as budgets heavily skewed on recurrent expenditure with funds allocated to salaries and other provisions for the upkeeps of civil servants and political office holders taking up to 90 percent of total budget expenditure. If, despite this huge allocation to salaries and allowances, the Federal Government has had to resort to borrowing to pay its staff and other employees, this interprets to another deep in the national economy decline curve.

Unfortunately, in the face of obvious evidence of an economy that continue to show red on all its vital indicators, some skeptics, especially of the stocks of those that rabidly assailed the nation with those lethal concoction of hate and lies against the President-elect in the run up to the presidential election, have in a most unconscionable twist of reality, turned the near parlous state of the national economy under the PDP controlled Federal Government, to a projectile against the incoming Buhari government as they anticipate, and prematurely celebrate the failure of the programmes enunciated in the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress, the party of the incoming administration.

Some of these are even playing on derision while daring the incoming government to implement any of its populist focused programmes in anticipation of failed

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NE catch-phrase that endeared many Nigerian voters to the campaign of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), was the promise of a “New Deal” for women and youths of Nigeria. Ordinarily, promises such as giving prominent positions to deserving women, would simply be ignored and treated with a wave of the hand by Nigerians, coming from a politician who is seeking political power.

Another is the fact that Nigerians already have a basket full of such promises and have developed thick skins towards politicians who hardly respect their campaign promises once voted into power. Besides, talk is cheap, and drawing from the Machiavellian parlance, the end justifies the means-whatever is said or done in the quest for political power, pales into insignificance so long as the end (acquiring power) is achieved eventually.

But it can be argued that the case here is different. The man at the centre, Muhammadu Buhari is not the normal Nigerian politician whose words cannot be taken to the bank. He is an acclaimed gentleman imbued with an uncanny sense of honesty and integrity which even his opponents find hard to controvert.

So, when he said that his party has a new deal for women, Nigerians did not view those words as coming from an average politician.

This accounted for the overwhelming support he garnered from the women folks during the elections. Besides, many Nigerian women with eyes on the Beijing Declaration believed that government under GMB will respect the global position on the need to place women appropriately in the socio-political cum economic scheme of things; and in the Nigerian context, with at least 35% of total appointive and elective governmental positions.

Their hope stemmed from the very persona of GMB himself, which many believe, is rooted in probity and rare candour.

One of his numerous campaign statements which were made in his characteristic candour reads thus: “We shall commit ourselves to merit based Affirmative Actions to level the playing field for women and provide them with opportunities to be part of decision-making and governance at all levels.

It is against the background that this writer feels compelled to remind the respectable General to, as an article of faith, begin to take

Buhari: Shape of things to come

By Niyi Akinsiju programmes hinging their morbid projection on the empty treasury and low income expectations as a result of dwindling revenue generation from Nigeria’s main export, crude oil.

The excitement of these skeptics is predicated on non-availability of fund to realise to fruition the programmes.

What, however, is apparent is that these doubters do not know Buhari. Some of us that have had cause to work closely with his campaign this past year, can, by our inside knowledge of the President-elect person and comportment assay the fact of a gradual turnaround of the national economy and the establishment of a national value system, the lack of which had made Nigeria’s ship of state rudderless all these years, soon after he takes over the rein of government.

So, what to expect from the Buhari government commencing May 29? A committed fight against corruption will be the hallmark of the government in its early days but not in the way some commentators had imagined. It is a general belief in some quarters that the Buhari fight against corruption will be defined by wholesale attention to instituting probe panels and hounding suspected corrupt governmental officials to prison. Nothing can be farther from the truth. This sort of engagement distracts from the major task of facilitating a national economic turnaround. Though the battle against corruption is scheduled to be the mainstay of the Buhari government, but then, the strategy is to create a synergy between institutions of state to be deployed in this regard with the overall administrative well-being of the government. The immediate task the incoming Buhari government will address is as clearly stated in his 100 Days Covenant with Nigerians. The Covenant is a collection of commitments made by the President-elect requiring the promises contained in it to be used as measure of determining his government’s milestones and achievements in the first 100 days of his administration.

In that document, which shall be printed and circulated across Nigeria soon after his swearing-in, Buhari affirmed that he will work with the National Assembly towards the immedi-

ate enactment of a Whistle Blower Act and also get the National Assembly to guarantee institutional autonomy which will include financial and prosecutorial independence and security of tenure of officials of both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). To further reinforce the pace of investigation and turnaround time for delivery of judgment on corruption cases, the Financial Intelligence Unit is to be extracted from the EFCC to be made an autonomous and operational agency.

It is to these agencies and a properly strengthened police force, that the task and responsibility for identification, investigation and trial of corruption cases would be given.

The President won’t have any personal interest to pursue on what individual or institution is to be brought to justice for breaches of the laws concerning corruption.

In direct correlation to strategies to be deployed in fighting corruption, the Buhari government will be unwavering in its commitment to the rule of law. The incoming President is of the opinion that a government rooted in respect and administration of the rule of law is the ultimate guarantee of equitable access to justice and the enablement of equity in all cases of either interpersonal definition or government to citizen. To this end, on the list of eminent Nigerians penciled down for the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, is a consistent human and civil right activist who is also a world class lawyer.

Some other skeptics have also discountenanced the commitment of the incoming President to democratize access to power and energy with strange argument that the incoming government can’t do better than what the outgoing administration of President Jonathan had done. Thankfully, Nigeria’s next government understands the urgent need to address these twin drivers of the economy.

Different committees of expert have been constituted to design a multi-disciplinary approach to the generation and distribution of a minimum 20,000 megawatt of electricity power over the next four years. The starting point to this may be a review of the

Buhari’s New Deal for women

By Femi Adegbulu steps to implement his campaign promises, especially the ones that touch on gender sensitivity. The General must not be oblivious of a “cloud of witnesses” surrounding him.

Besides, many traducers are waiting eagerly for any mistake or actions that will be tantamount to reneging on some of these promises. Of course, the PDP has a track record of respect for women’s ability; hence, as a matter of deliberate policy, the party can proudly boast of many women who have held and are still holding high decision-making positions(character and competence not withstanding) in its 16 years on the saddle.

Besides affirmative actions and the need to fulfil his campaign promises, GMB should, even if to gratify the women whose dedication and commitment saw him through the topsy-turvy of the elections, appoint women of impeccable pedigree into his cabinet. Besides, he can use his good offices, based on his party’s policy, to convince the party of the imperative of giving women appropriate representation within the leadership of the National Assembly. Moreover, since he is the President, Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces, the face, the leader and the executor of APC’s manifesto and programmes, placing women who have proved their mettle both in the public and private lives should be his prerogative.

The APC is not in short supply of eminently qualified women who can fly the flag of the party in any capacity in government. It can be argued that this advocacy is more germane in the Legislative House where there has been a paucity of women principal officers vis-àvis their male counterparts. If there is any arm of government where the principle of affirmative actions should be strictly adhered to, it should be at the National Assembly, where our laws are made.

Looking at the geo-political configuration

based on current power equation, it appears that the South-west may be favoured to produce the Speaker of the House of Representatives. If this calculation is correct, it is only logical that an experienced woman, versed in legislative processes and procedures, be chosen from the North-east as Deputy Speaker.

This thinking is premised on the fact that the North-east zone is considered the most short-changed in the power equation of the National Assembly since 1991, as no woman from the zone has been privileged to serve as principal officer of the legislative body.

Besides, the North-east is considered the third most populous in Nigeria after Northwest and South-west; having the highest minority tribes who are often the victims of marginalization in the country’s power-sharing arrangement. Moreover, in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, the North-east produced the second highest number of federal lawmakers for the party.

Based on the above, the choice of Honourable Khadijat Bukar Abba Ibrahim from the zone as a Deputy Speaker in the Eighth National Assembly will be a logical step towards righting the wrongs of many years. More importantly, her choice will lend credence to the much vaunted policy of APC on women participation in political leadership position.

However, it is pertinent to state unequivo-

privatization processes of the nation’s power sector.

In addressing the energy sector, there are indications that the near moribund Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which, though, had been introduced to the floor of the National Assembly about four years ago but yet to see the light of the day, may be withdrawn from the National Assembly, reviewed, reworked and updated and then taken back to the National Assembly with a targeted timeline for its passing into law.

The new government is to, also, urgently address the downstream sector of the oil industry; this is speaking specifically about refineries and the importation of petroleum products. Of course, the incoming President’s abhorrence of the subsidy regime on imported petroleum product is public knowledge. To this end, a more focused approach will be applied to increasing the refinery capacity of the nation’s four refineries and engaging the private sector to build their own refineries. The immediate timeline is to get the refineries to produce to satisfy domestic needs within the next 24 months.

On the softer side of governance, the incoming President has committed to openness in government. All federal government officials are to be admonished to be open in all dealings with the public. As far as the incoming President is concerned no subject concerning government business should be kept secret from the Nigerian public. There will also be a commitment to telling the truth at all times even if government may be embarrassed by its act of commission or negligence. This will be the bedrock of the new government.

‘In addressing the energy sector, there are indications that the near moribund Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which, though, had been introduced to the floor of the National Assembly about four years ago but yet to see the light of the day, may be withdrawn from the National Assembly, reviewed, reworked and updated... cally that this advocacy is not geared towards laundering any individual’s image just for the sake of being a woman. Rather, it is premised on a fine pedigree of hard work and a record of excellence of a woman who will be bringing to the legislative business a whole gamut of experience spanning three terms in the legislative enterprise.

Besides, it is anchored on the party’s policy of a “merit based affirmative actions” aimed at providing a level playing field…” for women and provide them with opportunities to be part of decision making and governance at all levels”. The Deputy Speaker of our dream is a foremost Amazon in the war against the vicious and malevolent enemies of modern Nigeria, the Boko Haram. With two local governments under her constituency lost to the savage attacks of Boko Haram, Honourable Khadijat Ibrahim quickly unleashed her adroitness, within her area of competence and jurisdiction, towards liberating her people from the stranglehold of the blood-thirsty monsters. Besides, she has been championing the rehabilitation efforts of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in her state of Borno.

By considering the 48-year old Honourable Khadijat Bukar Abba Ibrahim, the only female lawmaker re-elected from the Northeast zone for the third time, former Commissioner of Transport in Yobe State, chairperson, House Committee on Privatization and Commercialization in both the sixth and seventh National Assembly, the party would be seen to be putting a round peg in a round hole. To many Nigerians, that will be an obvious demonstration of the new deal, for the Nigerian women.

• Professor Adegbulu, a Public Affairs Analyst, wrote in from Lagos

‘The APC is not in short supply of eminently qualified women who can fly the flag of the party in any capacity in government. It can be argued that this advocacy is more germane in the Legislative House where there has been a paucity of women principal officers vis-àvis their male counterparts. If there is any arm of government where the principle of affirmative actions should be strictly adhered to, it should be at the National Assembly, where our laws are made’

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

23

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

25

’

At the moment, the legal frameworks against corruption in Nigeria do not reflect elements of the accountability of the government for the human rights violations faced by victims of grand corruption

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

See page 28

Like his elder brother, former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion in 2008, Michael easily got off the hook after being convicted for a N25 billion fraud on April 30. He was fined N3million in lieu of six years imprisonment.

Michael easily paid the fine just as his brother did seven years ago. Nigerians were outraged by the verdict, with many accusing the judge of encouraging graft. But did Justice Abubakar Liman err? No, say lawyers, who argue that he was only interpreting the law. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports fence under paragraphs (d) to (f), where the offender- (i) is an individual to a fine of not less than N250,000 or more than 1million Naira or term of imprisonment of not less than 2 years or more than 3 years or to both fine and imprisonment; or (ii) is a financial institution or any other body corporate to a fine of not less than N250,000 or more than N1,000,000.00 (1 million Naira) (3) A person found guilty of an offence under this section may also be banned indefinitely or for a period of 5 years from exercising the profession, which provided the opportunity for the offence to be committed.’

Are anti-graft laws weak?

The fight against corruption

•Judge incurs public ire over ‘fame’ verdict •SANs, others: blame the law not the judge Background

H

INSIDE:

ISTORY has a way of repeating it self. Last April 30, Michael, younger brother of former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion, got away easily after being convicted for a N25 billion fraud.

He was fined N3million in lieu of six years imprisonment. A similar sentence was handed to his brother in 2008 after he was found guilty of embezzling N2.8 billion and sentenced to six years imprisonment with an option of N3.5 million fine.

Igbinedion with an aide to the former governor, Patrick Eboigbodin (first accused), and their companies-Gava Corporation Limited; Romrig Nigeria Limited; PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited- were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N25billion fraud, on 81 count charge of money laundering, abuse of office and fund misappropriation.

The offences, contravened Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, and are punishable under Sections 14 and 15.

Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Benin sentenced Eboigbodin to 20 years in prison without fine option.

He will spend two years in prison as the sentence will run concurrently. Igbinedion was sentenced to six years in prison with an option of N3million fine.

The Igbinedions’ cases are not isolated.

About three years ago, former Police Pension Board boss, Yakubu Yusuf was sentenced to two years in prison with an option of N250,000 fine, after he was found guilty of embezzling N23.3 billion. Like the Igbinedions, he easily paid the fine and returned home.

At a time when some are campaigning for capital punishment for corruption, the sentences are perceived as insult on Nigerians and a set back in the fight against corruption.

This has exacerbated public anger and resentment against the judiciary, with many Nigerians accusing judges of protecting

‘How good governance, new legal framework can tackle illicit financial flows from Nigeria’ -Page 27

•Scale of Justice high profile criminals .

They wonder why Justice Liman did not sentence Igbinedion to six years imprisonment without a fine option; or six years in prison with a fine of N3 million to deter other public office holders.

Many see the verdict as a “slap-on-the-wrist” and are accusing the judge of compromise.

But is that the case? Who should be blamed and how do we ensure that the punishment for politically exposed persons found guilty of corruption can contain the vice?

What the law says?

There are legislations on money laundering and corruption related charges. The EFCC Act, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act, the Advance Fee Fraud Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, among others, provide punishments ranging from two to 15 years for those found guilty of corruption.

How presidentelect Buhari can achieve a fair deal for victims of corruption -Page 28

Under the Money Laundering Act, which the accused persons were charged and convicted on, the law provides that a person convicted for such offence is liable to a minimum of two years in prison, a maximum of three years or an option of fine.

According to Section 15, any person who ‘(1) (c) carries out or attempt, under a false identity, to carry out any of the transactions specified in Sections 1 to 5 of this Act; or (d) make or accepts cash payments exceeding the amount authorised to be reported under this Act; or (e) fails to report an international transfer of funds or securities required to be reported under this Act…contravenes the provisions of Section 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 of this Act; or commits an offence under this section. ‘(2) A person, who commits an offence under subsection (1) of this section, is liable on conviction- (a) in the case of an offence under paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) to imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years or more than 3years; (b) in the case of an of-

Like cancer, corruption has continued to permeate all fabric of the national life, with daily reports of mind-boggling looting of state treasury by public officers and their cronies, while critical infrastructures that would have created employment opportunities for the masses, abandoned.

According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2014, Nigeria, with 27 per cent grade, ranked 136 out of 175 countries. Despite the devastated effect of corruption in the polity, majority of the high profile cases have suffered severe setback at various courts across the country.

While the prosecuting agencies continue to secure stiff punishments for ‘lesser thieves’, they have continuously exhibited what observers described as incompetence as well as inadequate capacity to thoroughly investigate and prosecute high profile economic crimes.

Among the cases stalled from arraignment are those against the former Governors Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Jolly Nyame (Taraba) Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Turaki (Jigawa), Chimaraoke Nnamani (Enugu) and Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa).

In spite of several anti-graft laws, there is a feeling of hopelessness among the low and middle class as it is believed that perpetrators of high profile corruption do not fear any consequences and are ‘untouchable’.

But despite the torrent of criticisms that have trailed Justice Liman’s verdict, some analysts think the judge has been unfairly lampooned since his decision was based on the charges before him.

They believe the law enforcement as well as prosecuting agencies are responsible for the lack of successes or the seeming weak sentences handed to high profile criminals.

According to them, rather than carry out thorough investigations and charge these persons under the appropriate laws with heavier punishments, the law enforcement agencies choose to implore lesser charges; living the judges with not much options.

However, some observers think Justice Liman in exercising his discretion, should have considered the effects of corruption, and chosen the stiffest among the provided options under the charge, rather than allowing Igbinedion pay a token N3 million and going home like a free man.

According to them, the most glaring of the complains against the judgment was that the co-accused was not given an option of fine. Critics are of the view that the judg•Continued on page 26

´ Amending the

constitution: Fed Govt v. Nass -Page 37

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

26

LAW COVER CONT’D

•From left Ekwere, Obiagwu and Prof Akinseye-George

To get more lawyers involved in giving free legal service for the public good, a roundtable has been held on NBA’s probono scheme. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports.

NBA urges lawyers on pro bono services

L

AWYERS and civil society groups gathered in Abuja, last week, to develop strategies for the implementation of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) pro-bono scheme.

The roundtable was part of the “Support to the Justice Sector in Nigeria” project funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

It was supported by the Justice for All (J4A) programme. Participants

included Vice-Chairmen of selected NBA branches, the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) of selected states and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that provide pro-bono legal services.

NBA’s bye-laws provide for branch vice-chairmen to head the human rights committees at the branch level, but not many have been functioning optimally.

Vice-Chairman of Enugu Branch, Mr C. Wagbara said he was not

aware that he was the statutory head of the committee in his branch.

“I’ve never been told that I’m in charge of human rights in my branch. NBA should orientate lawyers, including senior ones, on the need to do pro-bono services. It’s part of what we swore to do,” he said.

First Vice-Chairman, Lagos Branch, Mr Nelson Ogbuanya, said some branch chairmen may have been reluctant to carry their deputies along for fear of being over-

shadowed.

He said funding is also a constraint, adding: “Most of the pro bono work I’ve done were all personally funded.” He suggested a coordinating committee of the NBA to oversee pro-bono cases at branch levels.

Osogbo Branch chairman Mr S. B. Ajibade said judges should assist lawyers handling pro-bono case by granting urgent ex-parte applications on human rights issues.

He said some of the judges feel re-

•Continued from page 25

ment showed that the judge was not in tune with expectations of the people, as such, sent a signal that encouraged people to steal more.

Some have queried Justice Liman for adjourning the sentencing to April 30, a day after he found them guilty. They wondered whether it was an opportunity delibrately created to be reached out to or be induced.

According to them, sentencing a man convicted for N25 billion money laundering to a fine of N3 million, has further created an impression that children of the rich can get away with blue murder, while the poor get the full weight of the law for petty crimes.

Lawyers speak Airing his view, a constitutional lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN), said: “You cannot blame the judge.

There are two things to be considered. What is the penal sanction provision? What is the state of the evidence put forward by the prosecution? A judge will not go outside what the law says and must also not go beyond what is before him regardless of how he feels about a particular case.

“Also, for each offence, there is a punishment. While some of the punishments are mandatory, others are left at the discretion of the judge. The problem is not with the judge and it is not with the laws either because we have enough laws to combat corruption.

“Rather, it is as a result of the inefficiencies of the prosecuting or law enforcement agencies. We have a handful of laws that could be applied in cases of corruption or money laundering. There is provision for forfeiture of assets in the EFCC and the NDLEA Acts, which can be achieved through an Exparte Order.

“The challenge is with the flatfootedness of the prosecution. Rather than implore the full provisions of the law, they resort to compromise.

It is not about the general perception of the public, but court decisions are taken based on evidence and facts placed before a judge and the relevant sections of the law un-

•Ozekhome

•Quakers

•Obayuwana

Are anti-graft laws weak? der, which an offence is charged. No matter how a judge feels about a matter, he must not descend to the arena, else it would amount to miscarriage of justice.”

Similarly, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Adetokunbo Mumuni believed a judge cannot act beyond the charge before him. They argued that Justice Liman only exercised his discretion as provided for by the law and could not have gone beyond what was stated as punishment for the crime.

They said the way forward was for the legislature, which is saddled with the responsibility of enacting laws, to amend the enabling legislations in order to provide for stiffer and mandatory punishments for corruption.

Mumuni said serious matters should no longer be left at the discretion of the judge. He suggested the need for the laws to be more categorical and for the fine option on corruption cases removed Ozekhome emphasised that the nation operates accusatorial system rather than inquisitorial criminal justice system, which rests the onus on the prosecution to prove an ac-

cused person’s guilt.

To executive director, Constitutional Watch, Ahams Njoku, the judgment was fair and in accordance with the law.

He said: “They (people) seem to be at a loss on why the money that was said to be laundered stood above the fine to be paid by Igbinedion. The first thing to note is that the offence appears to be a strict liability one.

“Igbinedion was said to have accepted cash payments of the sums of 10million, three hundred and nine thousand naira and also 21 million naira contrary to the Money Laundering Act (Section 15(1) 2004)…

“The next issue to consider is the sentencing under the Money Laundering Act (Section 15(2) 2004 thereof)… In other words, the judge has the discretion to either sentence the person to an option of fine or he can sentence the person the prison.

He can also fine the person and at the same time send him to prison.

But the thing to note is that the judge in exercising this discretion is guided by the law and judicial precedent.”

“By virtue of Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, a court can only impose a sentence as prescribed by the law. It provides: “Subject as otherwise provided by this constitution, a person shall not be convicted of a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and the penalty, therefore, is prescribed in a written law; and in this subsection, a written law refers to an Act of the National Assembly or a Law of a State, any subsidiary legislation or instrument under the provisions of a law”.

“Any attempt by the judge in this case to have imposed any other sentence above the three million naira fine which is the maxim would not only be ultra vires but indeed unconstitutional.”

“One may suggest that the sentencing in this case was not only fair, but according to the law. Anything to the contrary would have been based on the whims and caprices of the presiding judge and the certainty of the law would have been violated. Then the court would cease to be a court of law, but a court of public sentiment.”

To former Edo State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Jus-

luctant to grant such applications because of National Judicial Council (NJC) restrictions on injunctions.

Vice-chairman Owerri Branch Mr Ihediohanma Fidelis said there were challenges of lack of continuity of pro-bono projects and few lawyers being involved to drive the programmes.

Other challenges identified by speakers include victims develop•Continued on page 40

tice, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana there is need for the amendment of the laws to meet with the yearnings of the people.

‘Sentencing should be reflective of social policies. It is social expectations that the legislators in making the law should capture. It was social disapproval of the offence of armed robbery, murder and kidnapping that informed death penalty as sanction for anyone convicted of the offence.

“A lot of people are already calling for mandatory death penalty for corruption and most of the people clamouring for stiffer punishment against corruption are not of the ruling class, but this does not appear to be an area of importance for the National Assembly because they are also exposed.

“There is need for amendment of the criminal law to make punishment for corruption mandatory in order to forestall situations where judges in exercising their discretion, give sentences that defeat the purpose.

“Generally, corruption is perceived as an offence for the rich, not the poor. It entails not just stealing, but also abuse of public office with consequences that are far and wide which impact on millions. If we can be strict in punishing armed robbery, murder or kidnapping, why can’t we be that strict for corruption?

“If we do not want death penalty for corruption, then, it should be punishable with life imprisonment without an option of fine. That way, public officers will no longer be able to escape the weight of the law if found wanting.

“The incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari must take concrete steps to ensure that all those former governors, politicians who have corruption charges but have been frustrating them, are speedily prosecuted.

“In order to deliver on his anticorruption stance, the incoming legislature must amend the legislations for stiffer punishment.

I also think that judicial officers as well as other public officials have to appreciate and match in line with public for corruption and corrupt practices as the bane of present day Nigeria.”

27

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

NATIONAL BAR Dr. Fabian Ajogwu is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and head, Kenna Partners law firm. He has authored several commercial law books. The lawyer, who has handled high profile national and international cases with emphasis on aviation, defence, energy and financial services sectors, expressed concern over the disappearance of about $854 billion from Africa between 1970 and 2008. In this interview with Assistant Editor BOLA OLAJUWON, Dr. Ajogwu bares his mind on the implication of the report of the High Level Panel on illicit financial flows from Nigeria and other African countries, chaired by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki.

‘How good governance, new legal framework can tackle illicit financial flows from Nigeria’ AS an international commercial lawyer and a senior advocate, what is your position on the illicit financial flows report released by the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Nigeria and other African countries? What do you think is responsible for poor enforcement against such financial flows?

Y

OUR question goes to the root of theHigh Level Panel on Illicit FinancialFlows, which report was submitted to the African Union (AU) on January 31and headed by highly-respected Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa. Now, before we get to the issue of the regulatory framework, it’s important to understand first and foremost that the issue of Illicit Fund Flows is wider than samples taken from anyone source. It just means that money is removed from a system in a way that is designed to, not have it tracked - be it for tax evasion purposes, under-declaration of revenues, outright theft, money laundering and corruption. There is a wide range of reasons why there is illicit fund flows. Now, when we understand that it is a wide range, we now look at why is it happening? In that report, the origin was stated to date back to the 1960s when a whole lot of African nations were gaining their independence.

There were already illicit fund flows from those areas administered by the colonial masters, and the emphasis was on driving revenues out to the colonial centre-points, rather than the territories. I am giving you this background because of its importance to answering your question. The legal framework of money flows, appropriation of capitals and financial transparency were essentially all common laws inherited legal frameworks that had developed over the years. So, you can see why starting from the 60s, they were not sufficient enough to deal with the different ways in which money can be illicitly moved. That is the basis from where I would like to approach the question. You must also agree that crime is always ahead of the law. You make the law today, people find loopholes; and then you have to block it to find another one.

Then, they create a whole new one that you never thought of, and you have to legislate on it. The truth is that most African countries, Nigeria inclusive, have been lagging behind in being able to tackle those illicit fund flows. This lag behind varies - some lag way behind, some are trying and close to breakthrough.

So, the truth is that, countries that were affected, their statistics are mind-boggling.

We are looking at about $854 billion that has disappeared from Africa between 1970 and 2008. I am making these points in an objective manner in order to avoid fingerpointing exercise, as to who was responsible. So, clearly, we are not even talking about the lifetime of the present administration.

We are talking of 70s to 2008 - that is what the High Level Panel (HLP) on the flows covered.

Now, what is the make-up of this? You will see that Nigeria has the largest - $89.5 billion, followed by Egypt ($70 billion); Al-

geria ($25.7 billion; Morocco ($25 billion) and South Africa being the least, ($24.9 billion). Looking at this, you will find something very disturbing. The funds have gone out in a quicker pace than the development assistance coming into the country. Yes, Africa receives aids, but the money leaving Africa is in the ratio of 2:1. So, for every $1 Africa is given as aid, $2 has disappeared outside Africa through illicit fund flows.

The question that comes to mind is: what is the legal framework? Much of this fund flows would depend on the sector that is largest in relevance to that country. So, for South Africa, it might be through mineral resources. In Nigeria, it could be crude oil or gas.

Why is the menace so pronounced in national mono-economy?

It happens more in a mono-economy country because the more no value is added to such resource, the easier for it to disappear. It’s easier to dig out five tons of gold and declare four, than for a processed product that has gone from person to person and can be tracked.

When you put this into consideration, we now look at the legal framework of those countries. And of course, governance and determined leadership to stop it would drive the regulatory framework to tackle the problem. If you look at what has happened, much of that illicit fund flows from the report sparked from year 2000 to 2008; it was the highest. In fact, more than half occurred within that period. What occurred during those periods is that the average inflow from West Africa and Central Africa jumped due to the fact that if five buckets of crude oil were stolen and were worth $10 dollars each, the global price of commodity doubled within that period. So, instead of $10 in five places, it became $20 in five places. It looks like it went straight from $50 to $100.

However, what is important to the African person is that, this is the resource that could have been used to develop Africa to be like much of Europe and America. What have we done about this? This happens through sophisticated mechanisms; it happens through major purchasers of these natural resources, resulting in under-declaration and in some instances, non-declaration at all. If you talk about diamond theft, it is rarely the small individual, who has the sophistication to go through the process of mining it; that individual lacks the sophistication of finding the buyers, who will pay the prevailing market value for it.

There is a lot of multinational inputs into the fund flows through sophisticated mechanisms such as special purpose vehicles, operating in grasp scrape land, where there is little or no demand for financial transparency and reporting, schemes such as shareholder loans and inter-company pricing, paying for what you are not getting for instance, and being billed for franchise and royalty fees on expired franchise that are no longer useful.

In addition to blatant theft of it, it is important to stress that these things go together and now come to the point of what do you then do in terms of blocking this?

The legal framework has to be toughened

to bring it from what it used to be to what is actually happening now. Take for example, Nigeria has been singing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) song for nearly a decade. While we are discussing the good idea, it is not yet alive. You can be talking about all the good things you plan to do for your children in the next 10 years, if you don’t do them, they become discussions. It is also possible that the complication and attempt to build a giant elephant out of the PIB may not work. Maybe they should have segmented them into practicable and durable bit of legislation. The absence of this framework has more or less enabled a free-for-all ground, where all of these gaps are exploited by individuals, companies, state corporations and multinationals in taking out funds illicitly from Africa, amounting to $850 billion or thereabout. I think that this is an important area that one needs to tackle and countries should look at what HLP has submitted and not look at it as indicting documents, but as useful documents for reflection.

Is there any need for new legal framework to bring about decency?

First of all, states need to articulate the steps that must be taken in imposing documents. It is not for short-stock angle debate.

It is a big problem. Approaches should be articulated on how to deal with the problem. It is not ‘one cap fits it all’; different states have different problems on how their funds are moved out illicitly. Once we find that out, the HLP needs to be localised now that the report has been received. One of the things that must be done is working towards harmonising our laws, to be able to block these loopholes, to be able to block the issues of theft, to be able to deal with the issues of corruption and also to be able to tackle the issues of under-declaration and non-declaration of resource trading.

In terms of the largest illicit fund areas, it is non-declaration or under declaration of resource trading. You may call it crude theft, mineral theft and inter-companies arrangement that deprive the state of what is due.

Now, having said that, the question may then be, how do you deal with the issue of corruption? For instance, different countries have progressed on this topic.

The existing legal framework is that a man is innocent until proven guilty and that is a very hard legal framework with which to fight corruption. If you look at the United Kingdom (UK) Bribery Act, you now have guilt by inference. So, if we find you with $10 million, the presumption is that it is proceeds of crime. You will have to explain how you came about the $10 million.

If you can prove that 50 per cent of it was inherited, what about the remaining half?

If you show that your salary amounts to $1 million, good. What about the other $4 million? If you can’t account for it, therefore, it is concluded that it is a proceed of crime. It will be impounded and you will also pay for it. The current system we have in Nigeria is that somebody has to first of all prove that there is a $10 million stolen or taken from somewhere, and you can sit back while the prosecution labours and sweats to prove beyond reasonable doubt. I say this because it is not difficult to introduce a

•Ajogwu

doubt in criminal prosecution, except the case is clean, clear and iron-cast. Rarely are cases that way. So, the state at best fights corruption with one hand or two hands tied behind. This is quite different from whether a particular administration is pursuing anticorruption or not. The legal framework as it stands today does not help fight this effectively.

In guilt by inference system, it places the burden on you to explain the source of your money, which is an easier way to tackle corruption. Legal framework deals with resource trading and transparency of it. Rendition of returns deals with for instance, from where you take, to where you deliver.

If we can regionalise some of those laws in the legal framework, it would help. I talked about dealing with corruption by switching from proof beyond reasonable doubt model to guilt by inference in corruption and financial crimes cases only (not the entire criminal system); we need to have a stronger financial framework for financial reporting, so that companies, who do inter-companies, multinationals, and swaps of money that you don’t see, there would be a standard for doing that. I believe that if all these factors are dealt with, I am very sure that we would have cut down our illicit fund flows significantly by more than 60 to 70 per cent.

How can the country deal with the global aspect of the illicit funds flows?

One of the objectives of the illicit funds flow HLP is simply to track it, stop it, and retrieve it. So, we have not been able to do all three.

What has happened from the first point is on an awareness that so much has gone.

Now, the next step will be to track the specifics of where these funds have gone. The third will be while we are tracking it, we must simultaneously stop more from being taken. Because when you want to revive somebody who is bleeding from an accident, you don’t just go looking for blood from the blood bank to give him more infusion, you will also try and stop the bleeding whilst getting more to put in. Both efforts must go on. You need to stop the bleeding because the person may not even be alive to receive the blood.

Therefore, we need to stop the bleeding of Africa. In terms of tracking, we need to be able to go with some of the leads from the panel report and look into those areas I mentioned earlier - from the resource trade, corruption, inter-company, bills and pricing, especially in the multinationals. Now, once we find that, we should then be able to work in collaboration with different jurisdictions; because sometimes, people render differently. We would then be able to work within that framework to harmonise what actually one has lost. The next approach should be to be able to get the money back.

Those, who are the core people, should be •Continued on page 39

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

How president-elect Buhari can achieve a fair deal for victims of corruption

T

ODAY the level of confidence in Nigeria is remarkably high, and president-elect General Muhammadu Buhari has been described by many as embodying ‘the promise of change’. Hardly surprising, given that one of the reasons he became president-elect is because of his apparent zero-tolerance approach to corruption. Nigerians have indeed, continued to offer increasingly passionate support to the president-elect, and have been very busy setting agenda for the incoming government on how it can bring about real change.

Expectedly, high on the list is the need to prosecute and punish corrupt high-ranking government officials.

But one useful complementary legal remedy against corruption has been largely ignored: the use of human rights law to empower the citizens and provide effective remedies for victims of corruption.

Corruption is anathema to effective enjoyment of human rights, but it is often considered an ‘ordinary and victimless crime.’ It isn’t.

Yet the myth that corruption is a victimless crime has prevailed for many years, in part because of the narrowed conception of corruption, and the perceived legal and practical challenges, such as causation, legal stand-ing, and evidence-gathering. However, it is not that those who characterise corruption as victimless completely disagree that it causes harms, especially to the economically and socially vulnerable (that is, any individual or determinate class of persons, who by reason of poverty, or disability or socially or economically disadvantaged and vulnerable position, suffer most the immediate effects of violations of human rights caused by corruption).

On the contrary, the argument often put forward is that since no one victim suffers more harm than others, and that there may be no direct victim, it is probably pointless to labour in search of ‘invisible victims’. This line of reasoning would appear weak and difficult to sustain, for the following reasons.

First, apart from causing both direct and indirect economic and other harms to citizens and the public in the form of the loss of the common wealth and public revenue, corruption also causes non-monetary loss in the form of wide-spread and consistent denial of impartial application of the rule of law.

While it may be difficult to quantify the harms that corruption causes, this doesn’t make the harms less real, less destructive, or less corrosive. In fact, the manifestations and indicators of these harms can be easily recognised in the form of poverty and the systematic, gross human rights violations that millions of economically and socially vulnerable Nigerians have suffered for many years.

As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated during the 2003 adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) corruption: ‘(H) as a wide range of corrosive effects on societies; undermines democracy and the rule of law; leads to violations of human rights; erodes the quality of life…hurts the

By Kolawole Olaniyan

poor dis-proportionately by diverting funds intended for development, and undermines a state’s ability to provide basic services.’

While it is true that the causes of poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria are complex (and no single factor causes poverty), the longstanding problem of corruption is unquestionably one explanation for deficits in the rule of law, a drain on public treasury, and exacerbation of existing vulnerabilities and inequalities.

The Buhari government, therefore, can’t afford to treat grand corruption as an isolated incident if he doesn’t want to be accused in four years’ time of leaving both communities and individual victims of corruption powerless and without effective remedies.

At the moment, the legal frameworks against corruption in Nigeria do not reflect elements of the accountability of the government for the human rights violations faced by victims of grand corruption. The victims are largely neutralised (and virtually anonymous) in the criminal process, with no access to human rights remedies.

The overriding priority for the Buhari government starting on 29 May is, therefore, first, to provide a strong leadership by proposing and facilitating the passage of a bill by the National Assembly that would characterise grand corruption as a breach of national trust and grant the citizens enforceable human right to ensure the eradication of corruption and abuse of power and, second, to establish a Trust Fund for victims of corruption in the country.

With respect to the first point, the Buhari government can take a clue from the abandoned 1995 draft Constitution of Nigeria (proposed, ironically, while Abacha, regarded as one of the most corrupt leaders of Nigeria, was in power), which explicitly grants legal standing to the citizens to sue for violations of their human rights occasioned by corruption. The draft constitution provided in Section 35 that ‘Every person shall have the right to: (a) ensure the eradication of corrupt practices, and abuse of power; (b) protect and preserve public property; (c) fight against misappropriation and squandering of public funds.’

The proposed legislation can also contain provision to characterise the failure of national and foreign banks to prevent stolen funds from being cached in their banks and to aid in their recapture as complicity, after the fact, and itself, a delict.

Secondly, the Buhari government should establish a Trust Fund for victims of corruption, drawn mostly from recovered stolen wealth and other interest that might be generated from this. Given the limited resources available, fines should be imposed on corrupt officials, and such fines should be set aside as endowment for the trust funds. The proposed trust funds can also be aug-mented by support from international development agencies and other relevant institutions and the private sector.

Part of the funds should be used to establish victims’ assistance programmes to en-

•Justice Abisoye Bashua and Justice Ganiyu Safari at the opening of new court in Ogba.

sure the victims’ perspec-tive is fully integrated into the fight against corruption.

The notion of trust funds for victims of human rights violations is a well-established mechanism in international law and relations, such as under Article 75 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (which creates a fund for the benefit of victims of international crimes and their families, the assets of which may originate from money or property col-lected through fines or forfeiture imposed by the ICC on the individual perpetrator).

The idea of a trust fund is also frequently adopted in mass claims pro-grammes (such as the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal of 1981) to provide ‘effective remedies for numerous individuals who suffered losses, dam-age or injuries as a result of an armed conflict or a similar event causing widespread damage’. The existence of armed conflict is not a requirement for mass claims: similar types of claims would arise from environmental disasters, causing widespread damage or injury, or from systematic human rights violations in peace time caused by corruption.

The goal is presumably to achieve ‘practical justice: that is, a justice that would be swift and efficient, yet not rough’. Mass claims cases are clearly similar in kind to the adverse effects of corruption on human rights.

Therefore, the Buhari government should replicate the mass claims principles, and work towards establishing trust funds (as an essential element of remedial justice) for victims of corruption.

By establishing such trust funds, the Buhari government will also be signalling that victims will no longer be marginalised in the fight against corruption.

Indeed, the UN Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power provides some guarantees for victims (including family members of direct victims), such as those that suffer ‘substantial impairment of their fundamental rights’ through acts or omissions, including abuse of power.

Corruption is implied here as the ultimate abuse of power. Victims of human rights violations would be entitled to effective remedies regardless of whether they bring their claims against the state in an individual or collective capacity.

On the one hand, the institutions of gov-ernance and the society as a whole are the victims. On the other hand, corruption disproportionately inflicts grave harms on the economically and socially vulnerable, who, in addition to violations of their specific human rights, are also denied access to effective operation of the rule of law and institutions of government.

In his ‘Covenant with Nigerians’ the president-elect stated ‘I believe if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.’ He is spot-on. But if any significant and sustainable success is to be recorded in the fight against corruption, the Buhari government will need to avoid more of the same.

Nigerians want to see General Buhari taking creative, radical, evolutionary, and bold initiatives to fight corruption and thereby work-

•Buhari

ing to create a state that serves its people’s interests.

Make no mistake, the road to ‘change’ will be filled with ‘potholes and blind curves.’

But four years from now, Nigeria can be ‘a new country’ where corruption is no longer considered ‘normal’ if the Buhari government can show strong leadership, political will, and the courage to do something dramatically different.

As John Maynard Keynes said in his famous speech in Manchester in 1926: ‘The political problem of mankind is to combine three things: economic efficiency, social justice and individual liberty.’ Buhari’s primary task in the next four years is to produce a country that will come closest to passing Keynes’s triple test.

• Olaniyan, PhD, is the author of ‘Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa’

Journal on business and property makes a fresh comeback

By Adebisi Onanuga

T

HE Gravitas Review of Business and Property Law, has hit the news stand again after 22 years of being out of circulation.

The journal, which was first published in 1988, was forced to suspend publication as a result of the socio-economic crisis of 1993.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos last week, its Managing Editor and Chief Executive, Gravitas Legal and Business Resources Limited, Moshood Shehu, told journalists that the journal, which was initially a bi-monthly publication, would now be published quarterly, adding that the new publication came back well packaged than what it used to be 22 years ago.

Shehu said the publication would be a platform for robust and in-depth analysis of business and legal issues by experienced practitioners and academics.

He said the journal would be a resource material to practitioners, businessmen and students of law as it would publish well researched and peer-reviewed articles on all aspects of business and property law including on energy, international finance and transactions, economic crimes and sanctions, capital market and securities, maritime, taxation, project finance, land transactions and intellectual property, tourism and travel law, project finance, arbitration law, labour law, mining law, consumer protection law, estate, wills, trust and their administration, among others.

According to him, the journal would serve as a permanent archive for lecturers and researchers as it would contain their works and business articles by legal luminaries including those of Prof, Yemi Osinbajo, Prof Akin Ibidapo-Obe, Prof. Akin Oyebode among others.

He said articles would also be sourced from other jurisdiction to engender international comparison and distillation of practices.

Shehu disclosed that the publication would also be online full time, on stream as from next month for sale of digital copies to willing corporate bodies and other customers in line with technological trend.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

PAGE 29

INSIDE ‘The disabled don’t need hand-outs’

PAGE 26

N15m for widows, others

PAGE 28

•The protesters in Jos

Youths in Jos, the Plateau State capital, have protested renewed violence in several Berom communities in which no fewer than 30 residents have been killed by gunmen.

The protesters asked why neither the state government nor the military task force has failed to halt the attacks. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports

W

HEN some residents of Jos took to the streets, their protest was not particularly about violence in the Plateau State capital; it was about the bloodbath in several Berom communities in both Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas. Save for the occasional terrorist strikes in Jos, the city has been relatively quiet.

Not so for such Berom neighbourhoods as Shonong, Sopp, Rim, Bangai, Bachi in Riyom, and Zakubang and Vat in Barkin Ladi. In the few weeks those communities have come under consistent attacks in a manner that has everyone wondering not just who the attackers were but why they

Bloodbath sparks protest in Plateau attacked. No fewer than 30 people were said to have been killed in the attacks. The injured are much more than that, while properties destroyed have yet to be estimated, though reckoned to be staggering.

One question the residents are asking is why the attackers strike mostly at the beginning of the planting season.

Series of organised attacks against the Berom people are gradually becoming an annual ritual. The Berom who are predominantly farmers have been attacked in the last few years especially when the people returned to the farm.

Before the latest onslaught, 10 people were killed in attacks on Berom communities in Riyom.

Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local government Hon. Emmanuel Lomang who confirmed the attacks said, 17 people were killed in Vat village while 13 others were killed in Zakupang village, all of Foron District of the local government. She added that the attackers also looted the communities apart from killing the residents.

The recent killings brought back bitter memories of the ugly past,

‘We are in a state of confusion, my people are helpless, I am also helpless, the local authority is helpless, the security cannot protect us as expected, the entire local government is in turmoil, we don’t know what to do anymore’ sending shock waves down the spine of residents of the state.

The residents are also asking why and how the killings could continue with the Special Task Force (STF) on the ground.

The STF code-named Operation Safe Haven has its headquarters in Jos but the troops are not that far from Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas. Investigations revealed that because of the level of

insecurity in these two local governments, the STF created sector commands in both councils, Sector 9 in Riyom, Sector 6 in Barkin Ladi.

Despite the closeness of the federal troops to the people, residents of the two local governments have continued to witness attacks by unknown gunmen. Some residents of the state said the recent attacks left them think•Continued on page 26

Get a piece of Abuja’s fastest growing community

PAGE 29

A farewell church service

PAGE 32

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

T

HE great thing about the outreach is not just that the needy are getting attention but that an erroneous notion is being reversed. Somehow, most people tend to see people living with disabilities or PLWD as perhaps only good for the occasional hand-out, a bowl of rice here, a wheelchair there or N1,000 some other time.

Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi Adebola, a lawmaker in the Kogi State House of Assembly, said he thought PLWDs need a lot more than gifts. Give them education or train them, he said. That way, they will not only fend for themselves; they will also contribute to the growth of the society.

That is why the organisation he founded, the Institute of Disabled Persons (iDP) located in Egbe area of the state is empowering PLWDs with education and skills.

The reporter observed a steady

‘The disabled don’t need handouts’ A lawmaker in Kogi State is reversing the notion that all disabled persons need is occasional gifts. Through the Institute of Disabled Persons (IDP), Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi Adebola is training People Living with Disabilities (PLWD), reports JAMES AZANIA stream of enthusuastic beneficiaries into the iDP office.

Most of them were on crutches or aided by others, but they moved with purpose heading in one direction, somewhere in Iyale, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

It was an engaging sight.

After bidding my time, I approached one of them, Grace Ogalie, a young lady with a cherubic face and countenance, who on crutches moved towards the same direction as the others. After some pleasantries, she hesitantly told me her name

‘They commended the efforts of iDP, saying the organisation has given them a sense of belonging and reawakened their spirit’ and where she and others were headed.

Ogalie was born with healthy,

normal limbs. She only became disbled following a lethal administration of polio vaccination when

she was a toddler.

Ogalie, who is a holder of a Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSCE) has however remained up and coming. Highly talented, she is honing her skills in music, and for this, she was out early this morning to join others in a musical programme being arranged for PLWD by the Institute of Disabled Persons (iDP).

My interaction with her was quite inspiring, as I got to meet others in the programme, who •Continued on page 27

•Continued from page 25 ing that insurgents fleeing from the Northeast may have found another safe haven in Berom land.

They said the attackers’ methods bore a striking resemblance to the modus operandi of Boko Haram fighters, considering the weapons used and tactics deployed. Some of the natives said even the security agencies are scared of the gunmen.

Some even said the security agents became all the more reluctant to face the attackers when the latter killed two troops.

The security agents who include men of the state-owned ‘Operation Rainbow’ and personnel of the STF beat a retreat after the incident while those stationed in Shonong were immediately withdrawn and sent back to the Sector 9 headquarters in Riyom on the orderS of the state Commissioner of Police.

The withdrawal of the security agencies further worsened the situation of the civilians as they became helpless and vulnerable. The only alternative available to the helpless villagers is to flee their homes in search of safer heavens.

Chairman of Riyom local government Mrs. Josephine Piyo is not comfortable with the increasing number of displaced persons in various camps at the local government headquaters, describing the situation as pathetic.

She said in tears, “We are in a state of confusion, my people are helpless, I am also helpless, the local authority is helpless, the security cannot protect us as expected, the entire local government is in turmoil, we don’t know what to do anymore.

“I was aware of the fragile security situation in Riyom LGA before I took over a year ago, so I made it a top priority to restore peace in the various communities; I established a peace parley among all the stakeholders of the local government, I mean the Berom, Fulani, the farmers, the cattle breeders, religious leaders, youth leaders and women leaders. We do meet regularly in my office to dialogue on how to achieve peace.

And the dialogue process has produced results, there has been stability in the localities, the attacks were no more for some period.

“In fact we counted over six months between the second quarter of 2014 up to the first quarter of 2015, there was no single attack by anyone within the period. All of a sudden, we started seeing attacks shortly after the presidential election on March 28, since then the council has not slept, the people are as helpless as the security agencies. If you ask me, I don’t know the causes of the latest attacks, I thought I had succeeded in restoring peace and we were busy planning to make sure the peace we

•The protesters

Bloodbath sparks protest in Plateau ‘The security agencies have tried their best, but the situation has not changed. The attacks continued almost on a daily basis and the gunmen are unchallenged. I think the soldiers on ground need re-enforcement.

I pity the security agencies because they are not finding it easy, several of them are risking their lives, they are overwhelmed; more troops are needed here’

•Major General David Enetie achieved was sustained so that I can concentrate on providing social infrastructure for the people. But now we have been returned to square one I don’t know where to go from here, I need help.

“The security agencies have tried their best, but the situation has not changed, the attacks continued almost on a daily basis and the gunmen are unchallenged. I think the soldiers on ground need re-enforcement. I pity the security agencies because they are not finding it easy, several of them are risking their lives, they are overwhelmed; more troops are needed here.”

On his part, Chairman of Barkin Ladi local government, Hon Emmanuel Loman also said, “The insecurity in Berom land is becoming protracted and devastating, the federal government need to also give maximum attention they are giving to Northeast to Plateau North Senatorial zone. I said so because, since 2010, more than 10,000 Berom people have been killed by un-

known gunmen, we keep crying out but the federal government seems not o take us serious. We have done within our own local power to stop these incessant attacks, the state government have equally done a lot, so what is required now is mass deployment of federal troops to the areas. And how long will the federal government wait to take decisive action, people are been killed on daily bases as if they don’t have the right to live. Something should be done urgently to save the defenseless people”.

The Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly Hon. Daniel Dem believed that those carrying out the attack may be members if the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Majority Leader who represents Riyom Constituency said “As a matter of fact my constituency is under siege by gunmen I suspect to be Boko Haram. They are heavily armed and they operate with impunity. They don’t spare the villagers, they also don’t spare the security agencies,

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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THE NORTH REPORT

•The disabled

‘When we talk of welfare for the disabled, people often think of handouts and feeding, perhaps more of pitying agenda for the disabled. I think the greater welfare is for disabled people to have access to quality education and training so that they can contribute to the development of themselves, the nation and mankind generally. The disabled people have a purpose in life and it is positive.

We must assist them in fulfilling it’

‘The disabled don’t need hand-outs’ •Continued from page 26 spoke of hope and their plans for the future, despite the seeming odds.

A cross-section of PLWDs that I spoke with expressed a feeling of abandonment by government.

They clamoured for the establishment of special schools as obtains in other states like Lagos, where there is a Technical (Special) College solely for the training of PLWD. They commended the efforts of iDP, saying the organisation has given them a sense of belonging and reawakened their spirit.

Meeting with the Founder of iDPs, Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi Adebola, a politician and law-

maker in the Kogi State House of Assembly and why he is lending a hand to PLWD was another eye opener.

Adebola, the House Minority Whip is also the youngest lawmaker in the state and is indeed using his youthful energy and resources to impact positively on the most vulnerable in the society. iDP according to him, took off formally in 2013, but that the urge to lend a helping hand to the needy predates.

Hear him, “Being a lawmaker is public service, working for the disabled is serving humanity, I see it as not too far from each other. The essence of life is to help that cannot help themselves. There is no way we can appreciate God and our ex-

•Hon. Adebola istence other than to care for the people that need help. If you travel abroad; Europe and America, you’ll cry for the disabled people here in

Nigeria”.

Shedding more light on the institute’s programme, Adebola said iDP’s was formed to advance the rights of PLWD, which he said is the most important and to cater to their welfare.

“When we talk of welfare for the disabled, people often think of handouts and feeding, perhaps more of pitying agenda for the disabled. I think the greater welfare •Continued on page 28

N15m jobs tools for widows, others

H

ELP is coming for widows and other needy persons in Kwara State. Jobs tools

•President Goodluck Jonathan; First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and members of their family dancing to the altar during a special thanksgiving church service by the first family at the Aso Villa Chapel on Sunday

worth N15m have been distributed to them.

The items did not come from one source, but two. The Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement teamed up with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Oluwole Foundation to drive the project.

The empowerment materials included sewing machines, big-size deep freezers, motorcycles, grinding machines, weaving machines, threading machines, pop corn making machines.

The empowerment programme was preceded by a church service during which members in the flowing white robes sang praises to God. Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Ilorin, the state capital, the Executive Secretary of the Oluwole Foundation, Pastor Moses Popoola, said the foundation was

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

introduced to help beneficiaries and church members in particular to engage in small-sscale businesses.

Pastor Popoola, who said the presentation was the third, added that the gesture had gone beyond empowerment, adding that it involved award of scholarship to benefiting students.

He also said that the empowerment materials, which were distributed, were based on request by the beneficiaries, adding that they were interviewed to know what they wanted to do to identify their areas of specialisation.

Said he: “Before the commencement of the programme, we took inventory of many amongst us who are living below poverty line. The aim is to assist people •Continued on page 28

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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THE NORTH REPORT

N15m tools for widows, others Continued from page 27 who intend to go into small scale industry.

“The foundation spends between N10 and N15 million every year on the programme as it also involvement granting of scholarship to indigent but brilliant student members of the church.”

Earlier in his sermon, Evangelist Olaolu Adeyemo, talked about “God’s Position on Empowerment”, saying that God has given human being enough to make use of in life.

“Unfortunately, many are so weak in just praying to the lord.

Rather, they fold their hands and believe that the food will flow into their pot and money will fly into their pocket. That’s not what the scripture prescribes.

“So we intend to enlighten the people about their roles in making use of what God has provided, even ahead of our creation.

He has supplied us all and handed it over to us to make good use of them. And charged people to think of what they can do to sustain themselves and others around them.

“However, Christians should know that God has entrusted them with what to do not just anything but something useful that is not derogatory to the name of the Lord.”

Evangelist Adeyemo, while speaking with The Nation said that: “The purpose of the empowerment is to help our members to be independent financially so that they will not constitute to the financial pressure on the society.

“It is targeted at those who are not privileged. We just want to teach them what the bible says about what a Christian must do.

Christianity is a faith and the work is a work of faith. God created all things before creating human beings so that we can work.

“The bible says faith without work is dead. We are trying to let people know that it is not just seeing it as an opportunity to come and collect this we want them to observe the environment and see what problems are there and how they can proffer solution because business is proffering solution to identified problems. From there they can make a living; with that they won’t be permanent beggars all in the name of Christianity.”

•The clerics and the items distributed

‘We intend to enlighten the people about their roles in making use of what God has provided, even ahead of our creation. He has supplied us all and handed it over to us to make good use of them.

And charged people to think of what they can do to sustain themselves and others around them •Items distributed

Continued from page 27 is for disabled people to have access to quality education and training so that they can contribute to the development of themselves, the nation and mankind generally.

The disabled people have a purpose in life and it is positive. We must assist them in fulfilling it.

“Once their rights are enforced they don’t need to be pitied; they have what they deserve, naturally

‘The disabled don’t need handouts’ and socio-politically, based on natural justice. They are human beings.

We have to understand that they can add value to our economy. The disabled people have made giant strides all over the world; they have written books, they are great sportsmen and women and they have been leaders too. So, they have some-

thing to contribute beyond their disability. As a matter of fact, most geniuses in life are often thought to be disabled. Look at Albert Einstein for example”.

Bemoaning the lot of PLWDs in Nigeria, coupled with the attitude of government towards them, the lawmaker vowed to bring to issue

•Gunjang dancers performing at the inauguration of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in Bogoro Local Government Area, Bauchi State

to the public domain. The iDP he said is also will come out with a the “seven things the President-elect must do for the 20 million disabled people in Nigeria”.

As the saying goes that ‘heaven helps those that help themselves’, Adebola stated that the disabled have a role to play in the struggle for their rights, asserting that the profile of PLWD has risen significantly.

Listing the mode of operation of the institute, he said it has developed a template for partnership with reputable institutions for the training of PLWD, identification and development of inherent talents and ploughing monies raised at their shows into supporting them.

His words: “Our ambition is to build the largest campus for the physically challenged in Africa. We have started as an institution liaising with existing colleges, associations and entities that relate to PLWD. We staged a play in 2013 to raise funds for disabled people and in 2014 we realised that some of the disabled people in Kogi State have talent. So, we helped them to produce a music album which was launched at the School of Disabled in Iyale, in Dekina local government.

“We have close to 500 active members. What we do basically is that we keep on exploring their productive rights and in advocating for

their rights which is even more important in the disability struggle.

Government has not done anything so far but when the new government sets in next month we have seven agendas- Promote Disability and Disability Right Agenda, Improve the Educational capacity of Disabled people, Use technology to solve the problems of disability, Improve Medical Conditions, Overseas training for Disabled people, Medical practitioners and Teachers, World Class Research Centre for the Disabled, Employment Quota for Disabled people) that will be jointly executed by organizations, institutions and government- We have been doing it without government but in fact, any government that has conscience will attend to the issue of disabilities. PLWD also vote. And, don’t forget that our profile has increased. In the war against Boko Haram for example, a lot of soldiers have been amputated, blinded and facing serious disability issues, all of which has impacted on the profile and the best thing that can happen is to pass the Disability Rights law immediately. It has been rejected twice in the National Assembly, although we here in Kogi State have passed it, but the governor is yet to assent to it”.

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

Page 33

•Orozo Mass Housing Estate

F

OR some, Orozo community may end with a bitter taste in the mouth, the same way the Maitama District turned out for a Nigerian-born visitor from America back in the 80s.

The visiting lady, so the story goes, was in Abuja hoping to invest in the new federal capital.

She had a drive round town, zooming through the Maitama district which, of course, had no Transcorp Hilton at the time and was far from what it is now.

There wasn’t much to the area, either vast, empty land or boasting local settlements of indigenous people. It was even said that the present location where the Hilton is situated had a small local bar where locals hung out for a drink of locally brewed beer called burukutu.

She saw the prospects and told her husband who was riding with her that the area was good fro investment and that she would like to buy land there.

The man talked her out of it, telling her that it was a local place

A

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation (NGO) High Tech Centre for Women and Youths in partnership with Nigeria Technological Development Agency (NITDA) has trained selected women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Information Communication Technology (ICT).

The training which was cosponsored by CITEX And National Library of Nigeria (NLN) was organised for women leaders in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as opinion makers in the local councils, who are capable of influencing changes in their environments.

The women were enlightened

Get a piece of FCT’s fastest growing community From Grace Obike

that would amount to nothing.

She travelled back without investing in Maitama. Years later, she returned to the same location and wept.

Orozo is probably another Maitama in the making, but do people see it as such?

Twenty years ago, most of the communities and satellite towns that have grown to big cities today were just small struggling communities.

A resident of Kubwa, Raphael John explained what the settlement used to be like.

“I have been in Kubwa since 1990, Kubwa was nothing like it is today. In those days, the indigenous houses were scattered all over Kubwa; in fact a Fulani hamlet used to be in the middle of the road joining Kubwa and Dutse, where the present Living Faith Church in Dutse is now, and we used to go

‘What Nigerians need is not huge and expensive mansions but normal houses like those lowcost houses that will be affordable for the masses, most of the houses in this high-brow parts of Abuja are too expensive’ there to buy fura but today things have changed.”

Some believe that places like Orozo, if well developed, could

help solve the country’s housing deficits.

Kingsley Ode, a resident of Nyanya, said, “During the [Alhaji

Shehu] Shagari era, he tried to deal with the housing deficit in the country at that time by building lowcost and cheap houses for low income earners. What Nigerians need is not huge and expensive mansions but normal houses like those lowcost houses that will be affordable for the masses, most of the houses in this high-brow parts of Abuja are too expensive.”

Orozo, presently the fastest growing community in Abuja, is located after Nyanya, Karu and Jikwoyi. It is partly in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and partly in Nasarawa State but unless you are a surveyor or are •Continued on page 30

NGO trains FCT women on ICT From Olugbenga Adanikin

on coding techniques application development, business and enterprise developments in Information communication technology, empowerment, skills and maintenance computer system among others.

Speaking during the workshop, President of the NGO, Dr. Wunmi Hassan explained roles of women in national development.

She said it was important to train women on ICT and empowerment, which according to her was capable of developing the society.

Hassan encouraged the participants

to think and act like entrepreneurs.

She urged them to take advantage of little business opportunities and transform their livelihood.

The NGO is engaged in training, capacity building and empowerment.

“We are looking at change makers and people that can influence decisions. We want women who through their position can influence other women and their environment through empowerment.

“We want to ensure that the library is well utilised by women ýto drive a change and do much more than reading.”

“We say Nigerian need a change but the change will start with women.

It is the women that will contribute more to moulding thýe society,” she added.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Alhaji Mallam Jato described the workshop as timely.

The CEO urged the present administration to focus more on education, adding that if government could get a grip of the sector, it will hasten national growth.

Jato, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Virtual Library Services Department, NLN, Mrs. Oluchi

Kalu complained over situation where majority in the country cannot read or write which, according to her has slowed down development of the nation.

She said: “When you talk of digital divide that is what Nigeria is actually going through. ICT is in vogue and Nigeria is behind. A situation where many people are not computer literate, they cannot even read or write and this is what one third of our population is suffering from.”

However, she expressed optimism the training would positively influence the participants.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

34

ABUJA REVIEW

Get a piece of Abuja’s fastest growing community •Continued from page 30 aware of the demarcation, you will not be able to tell the difference because of the level of development that is taking over the once small community.

Various estates like the Atlanto Villa Estate, Orozo Mass Housing, Catholic Church Estate, Navy Estate and others have sprung up in the area.

The Atlanto Investment Ultra Modern market, the only market situated in the middle of all the estates, creates business and marketing opportunities for residents trooping into this new community.

Apart from the number of estates, the government has been allocating lands to individuals in Orozo district and although many of those allocated are beginning to build and move over to the area, a lot of them say that they are still waiting for others to come before they move over there.

To make life easier, estates like the Atlanto Villa do not only sell completed houses but also sell land within the estate for one bedroom, two bedrooms and three bedroom bungalow spaces for people to build.

The ultra modern market which is quite spacious and with all the modern facilities found in all Abuja ultra modern markets is also built in bungalow forms which the developers said was for the convenience of everyone, including the aged, handicapped and for individual maintenance.

Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Atlanto Investment and Property Ltd. Isaac Agbanwu said that Orozo is fast developing and is going to be a beautiful place, comparable to other high-brow communities in Abuja in a few years.

He also said, “Orozo, as a matter of fact, is very close to town; in my assessment, what is demarcating Orozo and Garki is just the hill, the highrise that is running from Abacha Barracks to Karshi; when this becomes noticed by the government, a government can just wake up and create a tunnel and that will be all, if it happens, within

five minutes, you will be in Garki.

“Instead having to travel from Jikwoyi and the rest, with the new road to Apo, you just cut out somewhere and will be finding yourself in the Apo roundabout, it’s a very short distance. The proliferation of estates now in Orozo is a wonderful thing, there are so many estates coming up here and of course there is an approved market which is the Atlanto Investment Market that is ongoing which will serve the community, so as a matter of fact, Orozo is fast developing and is going to be a wonderful place in a few years to come.”

Asked the reason for the high cost of housing and abandoned houses in Abuja, Agbanwu said that as a developer, one has to be aware of the price of building materials in the market because high cost of building will definitely lead to high cost to the final consumers.

“Most of the estates around here, if you are buying their house and paying immediately, 3 bedrooms is 13 millioný.

“The major problem with the housing schemes being embarked on in Abuja is the fact that it is being embarked upon by people who are big and got money from big sources, their thoughts and abilities are high, for instance somebody will go and build a four bedroom duplex along airport road for example and they will tell you N75 million, N100m.

“It is the reason for the huge number of empty estates in Abuja, maybe you are working somewhere and are lucky to hitý money in billions and trillions, you decide not to lodge it in a bank but push it, such projects they will also understand how big you are and your source so the cost that they will give to you for construction will be high, where you are suppose to use N1m to build, they can hike it to N3m, so imagine a man who does not understand property and development that spends for example N5m to develop, he will of course want to make a gain of at least N1m which is the reason for the high price in real estate business.

•Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,(right) Chief Commissioner, Public Complains Commission (PCC), Emmanuel Ogbile, National Secretary, PCC, Hurera Hassan, and Chief Whip House of Representatives, Ishaka Bawa, during the Commission’s courtesy visit to the speaker office at the National Assembly in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

‘The proliferation of estates now in Orozo is a wonderful thing, there are so many estates coming up here and of course there is an approved market which is the Atlanto Investment Market that is ongoing which will serve the community, so as a matter of fact, Orozo is fast developing and is going to be a wonderful place in a few years to come’ “But if it is something you do genuinely from your mind so that people can own houses and you also understand the system and not just coming into it because you simply see it as a business, in the aspect of knowing the real price for gravel, cement, the real amount needed to build a two bedroom flat, if you have the understanding with-

out allowing people give you exorbitant prices it will not affect the final consumers, so if the cost of production is high, definitely the consuming cost also will be high.

“So you see big and beautiful houses with no one inside while the masses are still looking for housesý, if the government had continued the way they started by giving land

to people, with the approval to build their houses, it would have reduced the problem of housing in Nigeria.”

The FCT administration at a point began creating a road that will run from Orozo and come out in Apo, which on a normal day would have hastened the development of the area but so far the road is yet to be completed and residents of Orozo are hopeful that if the project is revisted and completed by the incoming administration, it will reduce the traffic gridlock always witnessed on the Nyanya/Maraba road and make life easy for them.

Resident of Orozo, Michael Obi said, “The resean why most people are afraid of this area is because of the terrible traffic witnessed around Nyanya and Karu Junctions but the new road that is being created from here to Apo will actually make the journey faster, if only the new government will finish the road, more people will want to relocate to Orozo and the centre and other parts of Abuja will be decongested because with the level at which developers and private owners are building now in Orozo, this place will not be known in the next two years.”

Indigenes advise lawmakers on good representation

I

•Consumer Protection Fan Club of Nature Nurtured Academy, Chikuku, Abuja, presenting a jingle at the commissioning of consumer protection council in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

NDIGENES of Abuja have called on their representatives at the National Assembly to work towards impacting positively on the lives of the people who voted them into the political offices they are presently occupying.

A community leader in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Daniel Yepwi lamented that indigenes have been left behind in terms of education, employment and job opportunities, which indigenes of other states are benefiting from their states.

According to Yepwi, it is time members in the House of Representatives and the Senate use their political offices to attract empowerment and proper development to the six area councils in the territory.

He said that lucrative vacancies and opportunities made to indigenous people of the FCT are being harnessed by other Nigerians from other states at the detriment of the natives.

“People of the Niger Delta are enjoying today, because their leaders stood firm without compromising.

It is time other area council chairmen start emulating AMAC chairman, Mr. Micah Jiba for scholarships he has given to our children to study postgraduate degrees abroad, with the

From Gbenga Omokhunu

promise to do more.

“The incoming FCT Minister should avoid demolition of our ancestral houses because no nation thrives without a history. Nigerians and government met Gbagyi people here in the FCT and I wondered why every government will come and start demolishing our homes? While in countries like USA, Maryland there are still ancestral homes and buildings owned by the red Indians who still live there till today,” he said.

The indigenes who congratulated the President elect Muhammadu Buhari further advised him to maintain his principles and integrity by making sure he appoints an indigene as a minister, appealing to the incoming government to carry the indigenes along and avoid any thing that will plunge the youths into crisis like the Niger Delta youths.

“We want the incoming administration to dwell more on projects and programmes that will benefit us, not like the Bala Mohammed-led administration that uses the military to demolish and humiliate us in our land,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

T

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has achieved a literacy level above 70 percent and ranks among the highest in Nigeria.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed this at the just concluded 58th Annual National Congress of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).

The Minister, who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu said, “This was solid dividend of investment in this sub-sector by the FCT Administration”.

Mohammed remarked that the education sector in the Federal Capital Territory has enjoyed a priority position in its budgetary allocations under the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The Minister recalled that the greatest challenges his Administration had encountered on assumption of office was the unbearable high level of congestion in the classrooms due to the ever influx of people into the Territory.

Mohammed, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, reiterated that his Administration confronted the problem through concerted programme of massive construction of more classrooms and establishment of new schools.

His words: “In addition, to the

FCT literacy level above 70%, says minister From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

provision of infrastructure, attention was paid to the procurement of instructional materials, as well as recruitment, promotion and development of teachers”.

He revealed that in the wake of the Ebola scare last year in the country, the FCT Administration expended N100 million to safeguard its school children and teachers.

While appreciating the corporation and understanding of the FCT ANCOPSS, he urged them to continue to ensure prudent management of available resources to make our schools a better place.

Senator Mohammed also appreciated the National ANCOPSS under the leadership of Hajiya Fatima Abdulrahman for bringing its National Congress to Abuja, which has the theme “A good School Community Relationship; A Tool for Effective Implementation of the New Curriculum”.

The FCT administration Secretary for Education, Mallam Kabir Usman also advised Principals of Secondary Schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and entire Nigeria to ensure a harmonious relationship with the communities where their schools are located.

‘In the FCT where school based management system is being implemented, the support of the communities have been actively sought and this has yielded positive results, saying that the success of the newly introduced trade subjects is also heavily hinged on the support of the community’ Usman said that the role of the community in the school administration structure is very important.

According to him, in the FCT where school based management system is being implemented, the support of the communities have been actively sought and this has yielded positive results, saying that the success of the newly introduced trade subjects is also heavily hinged on the support of the community.

The FCT president of ANCOPSS, Mohammed Ladan, said that in spite of the remarkable feats achieved by the FCTA in the edu-

cation sectors, there is the need for recruitment of more teachers, completion of on-going projects some FCT Secondary Schools, also provision of computers to all junior and senior secondary schools in the FCT. “The minister should also consider the perimeter fencing of schools yet to be fenced in view of the current security challenges, also the appointment of Principals into key positions such as making them board Chairmen, Executive Secretaries, Advisers and Special Assistants.

“The promoting of Principals to Grade Level 17 as it is the case in some states, the posting of well trained security men to all schools in the FCT, organising and sponsoring principals, vice principals and teachers to capacity building workshops within and outside the country, the provision of land for building FCT ANCOPSS headquarters and the provision of an 18 seater bus to ANCOPSS, as it is in the case in all the states of the federation,” he said.

The National President of ANCOPSS, Fatima Abdulrahman also appealed to state and federal government to urgently address the persistent challenges bedeviling the educational system, particularly at the basic and post basic levels.

Abdulrahman also highligted some of the major challenges facing the education sector, to include, inadequate number of teachers, inadequate science laboratory equipment and lack of trade subjects equipment, among others.

She stressed the need for a more robust ICT and E-learning resources in Schools and the construction of new schools to meet the ever increasing population of children of school age.

Indigenes seek role in new administration

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NDIGENES of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to involve them in his administration, in order for them to benefit from the positive change which they have prayed for, after been marginalized by past and present administrations.

The leader of Dagbalo community, Rev. Danjuma Tanko, who made this appeal on behalf of the indigenes in a press briefing on the future of Abuja natives, said explained that the people of Abuja

From Gbenga Omokhunu

has suffered endless marginalization, which has made them to wonder if they are part of the country.

According to Rev. Tanko, since the existence of Nigeria, the people of Abuja have never been given the chance to participate in the affairs of governance, saying that after the independence, during the North Western state, it was the beginning of marginalisation for the people of Abuja.

“This situation was equally visited during the days of the military rules, when we expected participation during the second republic. The incoming administration should build a bigger hope for the people so that the people will feel and participate actively in this change that we have been praying for.

“Because, no political appointment has been offered to indigenes.

The people of Abuja have a lot of graduates today, but there are no jobs for them. Our means of survival has been ceased from us and converted into buildings and road

Free HIV/AIDS screening for 1500 women

N

O fewer than 1,500 grassroots women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will benefit from free HIV Aids screening and medical services in the 2015 Medical Women Association of Nigeria summit, Chairperson, Local Organising Committee of the summit, Dr. Fatima Zara has said.

She said purpose of the summit was to converge women to improve their health care.

She spoke during MWAN

From Olugbenga Adanikin

Donor’s Parley Meeting held in Abuja.

Zara said maternal and infant mortality have continued to affect women development and their children.

She identified need for the private sector to continue to respond to empowering women in the country.

Among other thematic areas listed include immunization, Ma-

laria, breast and cervical cancer screening and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The 2-day summit is scheduled to hold in July.

Secretary of the Association, Dr. Eno Usoroh disclosed that the association having about 30 chapters across the country has designed programmes to partner with private sectors and international organisations.

constructions.

“Even with the present degree of development in the city, it is highly worrisome if this is an invasion, as we wondered since the amalgamation of Nigeria to this day. We are law abiding people and we pay our taxes directly and indirectly,” he said.

Tanko further said that the federal allocation which the FCT benefit from in theory and not in practical, other Nigerians who are already benefiting from their states come to the FCT to control the revenue allocation without considering the interests of the indigenes.

“The end result on how they manage the FCT allocation is a to-

tal neglect of indigenous communities and advancement of act of impunity, whereby they cease our plots of land without alternative means or compensation. Developing and providing infrastructures on the ceased farmlands, while the indigenes lack good roads and electricity in their communities.

“Our traditional status should also be upgraded and given the chance to contribute actively in the affairs of nation building. It must be noted that this people have sacrificed their kingdoms for the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria, so they must be carried along in the scheme of things,” he said.

‘The federal allocation which the FCT benefit from in theory and not in practical, other Nigerians who are already benefiting from their states come to the FCT to control the revenue allocation without considering the interests of the indigenes’

•Continued on page 32

•From left: Marketing Executive ,Transcorp Hilton ,Ijeoma Osuji, Pupils of Junior Secondary School ,Durumi with the Senior teacher ,Mr Oricha Yusuf, Founder and President Ace Charity Foundation, Mrs. Kiki James and Public Relation Manager Transcorp Hilton, Mr Shola Adeyemo during the 2015 Youth in Hospitality Program of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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ABUJA REVIEW

W

ITH ten days to the handover date, President Goodluck Jonathan is not only in the winding down mode but has started to roll out the drums to celebrate seeing the end of his administration.

Whether he danced at all or his dance steps matched the tunes from the gospel music or not are a different kettle of fish.

The celebration is also for Almighty God, who has spared the life of his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan throughout the tenure despite evil predictions that only one of them would leave the seat of power alive.

Jonathan’s story, however is different from his predecessor, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who died in office after illness.

To give glory to God for His mercy and guidance throughout his tenure, Jonathan led the first family for a Thanksgiving and Farewell service in his honour last week Sunday at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life-camp, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

Determined to be part of the thanksgiving service, the First Lady, who fell sick about two and half years ago and divinely came back to life after several surgical operations abroad, was present during the service.

She had laid low, not appearing in any public function or church service with her husband since he lost the March 28 Presidential election.

Jonathan, who traced how God has been good to him at the thanksgiving service from the scholarships he got during his school days through his political life from Deputy Governor to Governor to Vice President and President, however could not transform the gratitude in his heart to the desired dancing steps for God during the service.

Giving reasons why he could not loosen himself and dance to honour God like King David in the Holy Bible, he simply told the congregation that he was not endowed with the dancing and singing gifts.

Not even the challenge to him by the Aso Villa Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, during one of the Sunday services in the Villa early last month, could save the day.

Onwuzurumba, had urged Jonathan to feel free anytime he is in the presence of God by replicating his campaign dancing steps in church, even if that is the only dancing steps he knows.

Besides the Primate of the Church, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh specifically charging Jonathan to dance like King David when it was time for the first family’s thanksgiving last week Sunday, Onwuzurumba’s wife also urged Jonathan to dance

A farewell church service during the service.

But when the time came, Jonathan did not heed the advices of Onwuzurumba, Archbishop Okoh and Onwuzurumba’s wife.

When given the opportunity to speak during the service, he said: “In fact, when the Primate was giving the message, he said that I should dance like David.”

“And as we were singing one of the hymns, the wife of my Chaplain came to whisper to me that I was not dancing.”

“I said how I wish I could dance even more than David. Unfortunately for me, there are certain things that I wouldn’t say God didn’t give me, but I am not good at. I don’t know how to do it.”

“I don’t know how to sing, I croak.

If I try to dance, I miss my steps. So I also stop dancing. Otherwise, I would have danced and danced, and even danced more than the scripture which says David danced to the extent that one of his wives had to curse David for dancing that way.”

“Probably, my wife would have been angry too. But unfortunately, I don’t know how to dance. But I have all the reasons to thank God.” The two Sundays between the Thanksgiving service at the Cathedral in Lifecamp, Abuja and the May 29th handover date are also for the President’s farewell and thanksgiving services.

The Sunday church service at the Aso Villa Chapel two days ago, was for Jonathan to thank God in the chapel where he had worshiped

Free HIV/AIDS screening for women •Continued from page 31 She said the association could give small grants, monitor and evaluate projects as well as enbark on humanitarian service.

She added that the association would also support community based organisations and women associations to showcase need of the women to relevant stakeholders.

In her remarks, President of MWAN, Dr. Valeris Okon said the 35 years old association was founded to cater for women helalth care delivery.

She said in order to meet medical needs of the women, the association had to extend offices to some of the north eastern states.

She said: “We saw our chibok girls taking away. That is the reason we have expanded MWAN to Yobe, Kano and we are extending to Mauduguri very soon.

“We realised that women are more interested in looking after their husband instead of their children” “Women are mostly affected in Cancer and HIV, Coronary diseases. We made them know that they need to take care of themselves instead of looking for funds like the husband. If women care about their health, then we will be able to get better world we want,” she added.

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya since the time he was Vice President of Nigeria under Late Umaru Yar’Adua.

Jonathan will also have the opportunity to thank God and bid the Nigerian Christian community in the Federal Capital Territory farewell at next Sunday’s interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, which is part of the programmes towards the inauguration of the incoming government.

Not now, Mr. President Many journalists covering the Presidential Villa were shocked to their marrows last week Monday.

The source of their shock was the de-accreditation of a member of the State House Press Corps, Mr. Musa Ubale of the Deutsche Welle (German Radio).

His offence was that he asked the

visiting Chadian President, Idris Derby, questions right in the presence of President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau’s whereabout and the link between the troops of the Multi-national Task Force and mercenaries from South Africa.

He asked the questions while the Chadian President was briefing journalists on the purpose of his visit and discussions at closed door meeting with President Jonathan.

But Ubale’s State House accreditation tag was withdrawn immediately the Chadian President left with the claims that the Presidency was embarrassed by the questions.

The government’s actions have somehow generated sort of arguments among journalists within and outside the Villa.

Majority of them felt that noth-

ing was wrong with the Ubale’s questions and that he was just doing his work while the Chadian President had the liberty to either answer the questions or ignored them.

Only a very few journalists not more than the number of fingers on my right hand believed that Ubale should have exercised some restraints especially in a security environment like the Presidential Villa.

A great number of the journalists and other Nigerians however felt that the Presidency shouldn’t have taken the action especially as it has prided itself over the years of being the government that signed the Freedom of Information bill into law.

This group also pointed out that President Jonathan has severally declared that his government has been good to all and no journalist has been gagged or incarcerated for doing his or her work.

They believed that the Presidency ought not to take that kind of action now which goes contrary to President Jonathan’s image that was boosted globally following his concede of defeat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Jonathan, they felt, should be more concerned and focused on his glorious exit from power coming up in a matter of days and not let anything tarnish his image.

•One of the Beneficiaries, Mrs. Unice Aikulola (right) in a handshake with the Managing Director, Femaz Microfinance Bank (FMB), Mrs. Sandra Nwugo. With them are President, Omo Oodua Yoruba Community (OOYC) in FCT Abuja, Prince Adewale Adelabu, and Chairman of FMB, Mr. Henry Nwugo, at a empowerment event in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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LAW & SOCIETY The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch has held its 2015 Continuous Legal Education Programme, a platform intended to sharpen the skills of its members and make them more knowledgeable about new developments around the world. The two-day programme, which focussed on various aspects of the law, was attended by justices of the Court of Appeal, judges of the High Court of Lagos State, the National Industrial Court (NIC) and other legal practitioners, reports ADEBISI ONANUGA

Wrongful dismissal: Lawyers want labour laws reviewed

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EGAL practittioners, including justices of the Court of Appeal, judges of the High Court of Lagos State and the National Industrial Court (NIC) and other lawyers converged on Ikeja, penultimate week to sharpen their skills, share knowledge in new areas of their profession and exchange ideas in order to keep themselves abreast of developments around the world.

The occasion was the two-day continuous legal education programme (CLEP) of the NBA Ikeja branch. The programme, which held at the at Adetiloye Hall of Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Cathederal Church, Ikeja, afforded the legal practioners oportunity to examine new areas of the laws, review basic practice and trial principles.

The lead speaker and expert on labour laws and industrial relations, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), in his 34-page presentation, dealt essentially on “the termination of private employment, employment with statutory flavour on grounds of misconduct with or without element of crime: How validly done; effect of such termination on employee’s entitlements, legal remedies available to such employees, Defences Available to the Employer, Impact of section 12 of the National Industrial Court Act 2006 allowing departure from applicability of Evidence Act to Labour litigation”.

Owonikoko, who enumerated the type of employment available in Nigeria to include employment made under the common law, employment with statutory flavour, employment where office is held at pleasure of employer and hybrid employment, said the crux of his paper was specifically on the determination of employment, that is, how to put an end to working relationship between employer and employee. Pointing out that there are just two ways by which an employment relationship can come to an end, he explained that determination of employment can either be by termination or dismissal.

The senior advocate took time to explain the determination of employment under the different types of employment available to employees. He explained that the effect of termination of employment under both private/common law employment and statutory employment generally, is that there ceases to be a contractual relationship between the parties and that, neither of the parties are bound by the terms of the employment contract.

Citing various authorities to support his submissions, Owonikoko dealt extensively on legal remedies available to employees after determination of employment, which include remedy of damages and entitlement to a remedy of reinstatement. On how to challenge wrongful determination of employment, the erudite lawyer said “the omnibus provision of section 254(c) (1) of the 1999 Constitution

(as amended), gives the NIC original jurisdiction to hear matters involving employment determination. It thus follows that the appropriate court with jurisdiction to hear matters of this nature is the NIC and that the procedure to follow is to come by way of a General Writ of Complaint.

The senior lawyer, however, identifies a gap in the employment laws, which he noted, does not make for fairness in employment relationships, that is in the area of wrongful dismissal. According to him, injustice exists in the Nigerian labour market.

According to him, the courts, the employment and labour laws are yet to adequately embrace the challenge of unfair dismissal as contrasted with wrongful dismissal.

He explained that unfair dismissal covers a whole range of unspoken, but apparent ill motivated grounds for causing an employee to lose his or her job. He stated that generally in Nigeria, motive is not a ground for contesting termination of employment. He said employer can terminate for good or bad or no reason at all. ”Except for the omnibus of Section 42 of the Constitution, there does not appear to be clear labour employment specific law in Nigeria that protects employees from unfair termination as a result of discrimination on grounds of sex, age, religion, ethnic group, gender, birth and HIV status, among others.

“This lacuna in our laws should be given urgent attention, especially as we transit into a new era of change with the in-coming administration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the federal level that has made job creation as one of its cardinal manifesto commitments,” he said.

Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), in his paper titled: “Preferring and Quashing Bare Charges, Holding Charges, Remand Charges etc”, citing relevant authority, said it is only when an accused pleads either guilty or not guilty to a charge as the case may be, that issues are joined in a criminal trial. He said until this happens, the accused person is technically outside the pale of the court’s jurisdiction”.

On the effect of making an application to quash a charge, the senior lawyer pointed out that “any objection to a formal defects in the charge should be taken before plea, otherwise the objection is taken as having been waived.

Citing Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Act, Pinheiro counselled lawyers that a want of jurisdiction, which ordinarily could be raised at any stage of the trial, is better raised before plea is taken.

He said in other jurisdiction, either party may move to quash either the whole of the indictment or a count.

“The obvious time for doing so is before the accused is arraigned, although it would be seem that the defence may make the application at any stage of the trial,”he said.

He explained that the effect of a successful application is that the

•From left: Owonikoko (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), Prof. Joseph Abogu and Dosu Ogunniyi.

•From left: Monday Ubani, Alhaji Lekan Yusuf (SAN) and Lateef Adegbite (SAN).

• From left: Richard Komolafe, NBA Ikeja Chairman Yinka Farounbi and Niyi Adewunmi.

• From left: Ezekiel Afolayan, Mrs Stephannie Ojeikere, Imran Abdul, Mrs Kehinde Bello, Mr. Victor Opara (Chairman) Ms Elizbeth Effiong-Ibah, Mr. Kunle Awoma and Mrs Stella Maris-Irua Femi.

accused may not be tried for the indictment (or particular count to which the motion relates). “However, this does not mean that the accused is thereby acquitted,” he said.

An accused person, according to Pinheiro, does not have to enter the dock when challenging a charge preferred against him, even if present in court. Citing an authority to support his view, the senior lawyer posited that the appellant can only be ordered by the learned judge to enter the dock and plead to the charges when he had heard full arguments on the objection and ruled one way or the other.

Titilola Akinlawon (SAN), in her

paper titled: “Adoption of Children: National and International Perspective”, said it is impossible to adopt a child without a court order. According to her, “a mere agreement in which a parent seeks to transfer his rights and duties to someone else, is ineffective and will not be recognised as an adoption. The idea of defacto adoption, that is, an arrangement where the child lives permanently with people, who have put themselves in “loco parentis” to the child is ineffective to give the carer, parental responsibility to remove that of his parents”.

Akinlawon explained that the Child Rights Act 2003 addresses children generally, but has specific pro-

visions relating to adoption. She explained that Section 277 of the Act defines a child as a person under 18 years while Section 128 provides for when a court can make an order for adoption of a child and listed children that could be adopted to include those with no surviving parent or those abandoned, neglected, persistently abused or ill treated, and that for which there are compelling reason in the interest of the children on why they should be adopted.

The senior lawyer, however, clarified that provisions of Sections 145(1) and 131(1)(b),(c) and (d) put it beyond doubt that inter-country adoption is not allowed under the Child Rights Act.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

Firm asks court to set aside judgment on property

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LAGOS based company, Johnson Products Nigeria Limited, has filed an application before a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, to set aside the execution of a judgmnent which granted possession of a property located at Plot B, Ikosi Road, Oregun Industrial Estate, Ikeja to Jagal Nigeria Limited.

In a Motion on Notice supported with an affidavit of urgency before Justice Olabisi Ogungbesan, the firm is praying the court to restore the status quo ante pending the hearing and determination of a pending application before the Court of Appeal.

Joined as second defendant in the suit was, Chief Samuel Agboola Akintan, who was said to have earlier leased the property to Wire Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited for 20 years, having had a Deed of Conveyance dated 1971.

Justice Ayotunde Phillips, (now a retired Chief Judge of Lagos State), had on July 11, 2008 delivered a judgment in suit no. ID/1466/98 in which judgment was given in favour of Jagal Nigeria Limited concerning the Oregun Industrial Estate property.

Jagal Nigeria Limited and Johnson Products claimed to have executed a Memorandum of Agreement on April 17, 1980, under which Jagal was said to have assigned its ‘unexpired interest in the said property to Johnson Products for a consideration of N1, 340, 000: 00 (One Million, Three Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira).

However, Jagal claimed at the lower court that the Memorandum of Agreement entered into with Johnson Products in 1980 was ‘inchoate and transferred no interest in the property’ to Johnson Products; that the N1, 340, 000:00 paid by the Johnson Products to Jagal was in consideration of the sublease of 1982; and that Johnson Products holds the property only as ten-

By Adebisi Onanuga

ant/sub-leasee and not as an assignee.

It was this premise that Jagal claimed at the lower court.

However, while Jagal claimed that its relationship with Johnson Products was that of a landlord and tenant, Johnson Products claimed that the relationship was that of an assignee and assignor.

But Johnson Products averred at the lower court that the Memorandum of Agreement executed by the two parties on April 17, 1980 “effectively transferred Jagal’s interest in the property” to it upon the payment of N1, 340, 000: 00; that Jagal issued a receipt No. 1351 dated 2 June 1982, which ‘clearly stated that the payment is for the assignment of the property in question.

Johnson Products further averred that Jagal acknowledged its ownership of the property in a letter addressed to Ault and Wilborg (Nig) Limited.

Delivering judgment on the matter at the lower court, Justice Ayotunde Philips (as then was) of the Lagos High Court, held the claims of Jagal as the court affirmed that the Memorandum of Agreement ‘transferred no interest in the property to Johnson Products.’

Not satisfied with the decision of the court, Johnson Products Limited, appealed against the judgment on July 16, 2008 and claimed to have filed its Brief of Argument as at December 8, 2010.

The matter assumed a new dimension on December 8, 2010 when the matter slated for hearing by the appellate court, was struck out for lack of legal representation for the appellant, Johnson Products.

Consequent upon the new development, and alleged ‘misrepresentation’ of its position to the Court of Appeal, Johnson Products Limited applied for a relisting of the suit at the Court of Appeal.

However, while waiting for the relisting to be done, Jagal Nigeria Limited, obtained a Writ of Possession of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja to effect the 2008 judgment of Justice Philips against the first defendant (Johnson Products).

In a letter to the Administrative Judge of Lagos State, dated May 4, 2015, counsel to Johnson Products, Dr. Wale Olawoyin (SAN) claimed that Jagal’s action was “contrary to trite principle of law’, urging the court to set aside the claimant’s (Jagal Nigeria Limited) execution order and further execution of the judgment. ”The staff of the first defendant (Johnson Products) no longer have any office space to work from and are now constrained to operate from the personal office of its Chairman in GRA, Ikeja.

“We have now filed a Motion on Notice together with an Affidavit of Urgency to set aside the claimant’s execution and further execution of the judgment and restore the status quo ante pending the hearing and determination of the pending application before the Court of Appeal,” the letter read in part.

At the fresh sitting on the new application last Friday, Justice Ogungbesan urged all parties in the suit, including an inter-pleader, Olayiwola Dada, to file their responses to Jagal’s application and other applications already filed before the court.

Dada, who joined in the fresh suit, told the court through his counsel, Emmanuel Ogbitisen that although the previous judgment of the court did not affect him, but he urged the court for an order to “allow us to maintain the machines and have access to them so as to service them”.

Counsel to the claimant (Jagal), Qudus Mumuneey, however, opposed any order of the court until he replied to all applications before the court. Mumuneey averred that

as far as his client is concerned, “the case is technically dead”. He further told the court of his client’s intention to move a preliminary objection on the jurisdiction of court to hear the fresh application.

But counsel to Johnson Products, represented by J.O. Omisade, his client was misrepresented before the Court of Appeal that his client ‘had not been diligent in prosecuting the appeal by its failure to file its Brief of Argument.

“However, as shown in our Motion before the court and contrary to the misrepresentation of the claimant to the Court of Appeal, the 1st defendant (Appellant) had filed and served its Brief of Argument since 8 December 2010,” he said.

Justice Ogungbesan has, however, adjourned the matter till tomorrow to address all the applications by the parties.

Johnson Products Limited, in its brief of argument before the Court of Appeal listed four main issues for determination in line with its ground of appeal and the facts and circumstance of the case.

It asked the court to determine “whether the trial judge was right in holding that the Memorandum of Agreement dated April 17, 1980 and admitted as exhibit 8, has not conveyed any interest recognisable in law to the appellant; whether the learned judge was right in holding that the appellant”s payment to the first respondent was not payment under exhibit P8 when the payment receipt, exhibit D2, clearly states that the payment was for the assignment of the first respondent’s unexpired residue”.

The company also asked the court to determine “whether the appellant failed to prove its allegation of fraud against the first respondent at the lower court considering that the whole evidence adduced by the appellant in proof of the fraud was

Activists, others seek re-classification of youths

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•From left: Chief Registrar, Lagos State High Court, Emmanuel Ogundare, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye and Director Public Prosecution, Idowu Alakija at the opening of Justice Samuel Ilori Court House.

LEGAL JOKES

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S Mr. Smith was on his death bed, he attempted to formulate a plan that would allow him to take at least, some of his considerable wealth with him. He called for the three men he trusted most - his lawyer, his doctor, and his clergyman. He told them: “I’m going to give you each $30,000 in cash before I die. At my funeral, I want you to place the money in my coffin so that I can try to take it with me.” All three agreed to do this and were given the money. At the funeral, each approached the coffin in turn and placed an envelope inside.

While riding in the limousine to the cemetery, the clergyman said: “I have to confess something to you fellows.

Brother Smith was a good church man all his life, and I know he would have wanted me to do this.

The church needed a new baptistery very badly, and I took $10,000 of the money he gave me and bought one.

I only put $20,000 in the coffin.” The physician then said: “Well, since we’re confiding in one another, I might as well tell you that I didn’t put the full $30,000 in the coffin either. Smith had a disease that could have been diagnosed sooner if I had this very new machine, but the machine cost $20,000 and I couldn’t afford it then. I used $20,000 of the money to buy the machine so that I might be able to save another patient. I know that Smith would have wanted me to do that.” The lawyer then said: “I’m ashamed of both of you. When I put my envelope into that coffin, it held my personal check for the full $30,000.”

When a person assists a criminal in breaking the law before the criminal gets arrested, we call him an accomplice. When a person assists a criminal in breaking the law after the criminal gets arrested, we call him a defense lawyer.

A mother and son were walking through a cemetery, and passed by a headstone inscribed: “Here lies a good lawyer and an honest man.” The little boy read the headstone, looked up at his mother, and asked “Mommy, why did they bury two men there?”

wrongly rejected by the trial judge” and “whether from the totality of evidence presented before the lower court, the trial judge was right in holding that the relationship between the first respondent and the appellant was landlord and tenant’s and not that of assignor and assignee.

On the first issue, the appellant, citing authorities to support its argument, submitted that on the basis of exhibit P8, obtained valid and subsisting equitable interest in the subject matter of the appeal and urged the court to so hold.

It further submitted that the payment of N1,340,000 by the appellant to the first respondent evidenced in Exhibit D2 was validly made and stands as the consideration under exhibit P8.

It argued that the trial judge was wrong in holding that the first respondent is entitled to possession of the res, arrears of rent and mesne of profit and urged the court to so hold.

The appellant urged the court to sustain its appeal and reverse the judgment of the lower court on the ground that the memorandum of agreement conveyed equitable interest in the property, subject matter of the appeal, to the appellant contrary to the decision of the trial judge; that the sum of N1.340,000 paid to the first respondent and acknowledged by the first respondent, is a valid payment under exhibit P8 and was never converted to any other purpose.

It further submitted that the evidence adduced by the appellant in proof of its allegation of fraud was improperly evaluated by the trial judge and that occasioned miscarriage of justice and emphasised that by the totality of evidence adduced before the trial judge, the relationship between the first respondent and the appellant is that of assignor and assignee.

CTIVISTS and stakeholders in youth development have called for the review of the 1999 Constitution to legally re-classified youths as persons between the ages of 18-45 years and accommodate them within the constitutional age requirements for elective positions.

The demand was made at one-day summit of the Nigerian Arise/Nigerian Youth Think-Tank Group Summit, Western Region Summit, themed: “Generation Change and Transformation in Government: Nigerian Youths and Young Professionals Arise: re-write your history, take your destiny in your hands, looking beyond 2015”, held at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja.

The Nigerian 2009 National Youth Policy defines youth in Nigeria to include all members of the Federal Republic of Nigeria aged 18–35.

Activist and Lead Advocate, Constitutional Rights and Peoples Development Advocacy Initiative (CRAI), Ikechukwu Ikeji, in his paper titled: “An Analysis of Youths and Young Professionals Involvement in Governace from the first republic: The prospects in 2015 and beyond”, called for an immediate review of the Nigerian National Youth Policy of 2009 to reflect changes taking place around the world and the setting up of a National Youth Commission to serve as the regulatory organ for Youth Affirmative Action.

Ikeji advocated for a Youth Affirmative Action in political and elective positions for at least 35 per cent representation of youth in all structures, positions, committees and congresses of political parties, and that which would ensure that at least 35 per cent quota is reserved for young people in all elec-

tive and non elective positions as well as reserving the position of national youth leader in all political parties for young persons within the age bracket of 20-45 years.

Drawing from experiences from European countries, Ikeji argued for more involvement of youths less than 50 years of age in the governance of the country and cited various studies to buttress the fact that productivity in the elderly persons declines by the time they attained 55 years.

According to him “a study on “Age and individual productivity: a literature survey”, by Vegard Skirbekk, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, 2003 found that people’s numerical and reasoning abilities are at their best in their 20s and early 30s; that a study for America’s Department of Labour showed job performance peaking at 35, and then declining while another study by Fredrik Nerbrand of HSBC, a bank, shows that worker’s productivity peaks somewhere between the ages of 30 and 50, and declines more quickly after the age of 55".

To buttress his argument, he cited Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, who assumed office at 43 years of age; British Prime Minister, David Cameron who was 43 years when he became Prime Minister 5 years ago; American President, Barack Obama became President at 46 and Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi assumed office at age 39, among others.

He lamented that the nation’s laws, including the Constitution completely excluded the youths from participating in the governance of the country.

39

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

Amending the constitution: Fed Govt v. Nass

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N the decision of the Supreme Court to halt the constitutional amendment process being undertaken by the National Assembly, I think it is a good decision which will allow the incoming National Assembly the opportunity to start the process afresh, if need be. This raises the issue of setting up a separate Constitutional Court to whom all issues of political and constitutional implication ought to be submitted so as to free the Supreme Court proper to deal with the litany of cases before it.

It has to be noted that for now, the case has not been fully decided as what the court ordered is for parties to maintain status quo, which in effect put in abeyance or suspension the constitution amendment process for now.

The point the Federal Government is making is that the National Assembly appears not to have followed due process in the process of amending the 1999 Constitution. My own take is that, if you have been panel beating a car severally, is not better to buy a new one especially where you can afford it? Clearly, Nigeria can afford to make a completely new Constitution instead of the incessant amendments and alterations being undertaken on it. The confusion is so much that it is becoming difficult to know exactly what the provisions of the Constitution are especially since the National Assembly has not made any effort at producing one single document that incorporates all the amendments and alterations, excluding, by the document, all the

By Ikechukwu Ikeji

deleted provisions.

The National Assembly seeks to amend the Constitution such that the process of amendment of same is made similar to what obtains in the amendment of an ordinary Act of the National Assembly. To me this is against the tenets of the principle of Checks and Balances, which modifies the principle of separation of powers to the effect that each arm of government should serve as a check on the other arms so that no single arm arrogates to itself absolute powers within the government. What the National Assembly seeks to do is to arrogate to itself absolute powers in the law and constitution making processes. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts, so says Thomas Jefferson. I am not in support of the proposal by the National Assembly. I think the powers of the executive represented by the President to have a say in constitution making and amendment must remain sacrosanct.

We shall however have to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court as to the constitutionality or otherwise of the procedure being adopted by the National Assembly.

Another point to note is that the process of making or amending an ordinary Act of the National Assembly is quite different from the process of amending the Constitution, while the process of amending the Constitution itself is different from the process of amending Section 9, Section 8 and Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution (on

fundamental rights).

Section 9 of the Constitution, which is the relevant section provides as follows: “9. (1) The National Assembly may, subject to the provision of this section, alter any of the provisions of this Constitution.

(2) An Act of the National Assembly for the altertion of this Constitution, not being an Act to which section 8 of this Constitution applies, shall not be passed in either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is supported by the votes of not less than twothirds majority of all the members of that House and approved by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than twothirds of all the States.

(3) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of altering the provisions of this section, section 8 or Chapter IV of this Constitution shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is approved by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of all the members of each House, and also approved by resolution of the House of Assembly of not less than two-third of all States.

(4) For the purposes of section 8 of this Constitution and of subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the number of members of each House of the National Assembly shall, notwithstanding any vacancy, be deemed to be the number of members specified in sections 48 and 49 of this Constitution.”

This provision is clear. For the National Assembly to amend the Constitution, it is enough if it gets

two thirds of the entire membership of the National Assembly and two thirds of the States Houses of Assembly vote in support of the amendment. But for it to amend Section 9, it must get at least four fifths of the entire membership of the National Assembly in addition to the two thirds of the States Houses of Assembly.

In purporting to amend Section 9 to make it unnecessary to get the President’s assent to amendment of the Constitution, did the National Assembly get the requisite four fifths of the entire membership of the National Assembly? Section 9 made reference to Sections 48 and 49 in deciding how members are required to vote. It clearly portends that the calculation must include all members (whether present or not) of both Houses, Senate and House of Representatives. This means 103 Senators plus 360 Members of the House of Representatives making a total of 463 members of the National Assembly. Four fifths of this figure is approximately 370 members. Has 370 members of the National Assembly voted in support of the amendment of Section 9? This is the question before the Supreme Court.

We cannot go into the answers at this stage since it will amount to subjudice and contempt of the Supreme Court to start commenting on the substance of the case until the court gives its decision.

But it must be stated that the step taken by the Federal Government is a good one submitting, as it were, to third arm of government.

•Ikeji

Again, the Federal Government should also be commended because it might as well have left the National Assembly to do what it was doing knowing that the effects can only be felt by the incoming Buhari administration thereby possibly causing it problems.

All in all, we must wait on the Supreme Court to hear the case fully and give its verdict. For now, the court is asking whether or not the case was properly instituted or not in the sense of whether it was not better for the President to have brought the case in his own name instead of bringing it through the Attorney General of the Federation. The court’s decision in this regard will go a long way to enrich the Nigerian jurisprudence.

‘How good governance, new legal framework can tackle illicit financial flows from Nigeria’ ing out regulatory framework.

What is your take on the repatriation of more Abacha loot?

•Ajogwu •Continued from page 27

brought to book to face the wrath of the law, because this deprived generation of Africans of wealth that should be used for its development. If, for instance, we are able to achieve it, reinvesting part of those returned will strengthening the mission of getting back more and blocking the leakages.

Today, information is scanty, but there has to be commitment from the different states, especially Nigeria, to getting that information through an organised way. It is possible with a bit of effort to get bodies like Transparency International (TI), United Nations Office for Trade and Financial Crimes, Global Financial Integrity and a host of others, who are committed as non-profits to help with this.

They should be worked with in partnership to try and stem the tide of illicit funds flows, in addition to changing and tighten-

Well, it should be understood that in those periods, almost $40 billion left our shores on accounts of trade mispricing; under-declaration of customs duties, importation and so on. Yes, there should be a political will plus the legal framework to repatriate such loots. In a critical democracy where the three arms of government are independent acting as checks and balances on the other, the legal framework will need to be driven by legislative arm. They would make the laws, there has to be political will, strength and courage to implement those laws. There has to be integrity on the third arm to interpret the laws and find guilty people who are in breach of the laws. The three working together would produce the results we desire. So, no one arm can deal with the problem alone; co-operation between the three arms is needed.

In terms of how to go about actualising this, we do need to have a discussion on the subject as to how to get it.

You will notice that a country like the United States (U.S.) for some bribery off-shore get a $100 million fine. There is no reason why we shouldn’t index that; and if you are found guilty and have to pay fines for something you done there, here you will pay 1.5 times of that. So, for every $100 million you pay in the U.S., you will pay $150 million here.

There is no reason why we should not do that here because, if a person is paying for crimes committed here and not even in the U.S., but because they have legislated their Foreign Corrupt Practice Act, they are able to sanction firms and individuals.

We need to also be able to have a track on offshore tax-shelters, where people set up businesses solely to avoid tax or to just not declare the true returns that they make. You will see that transfer pricing, using phony companies to maximise profits, bad ethics, dishonest officials, corruption and all of those things add up to the illicit outflows. We need to be able to strengthen the fight against official corruption, by having simpler ways of reporting them, whistle-blowing and of dealing with those things in a manner that is not burdensome; and also strengthening of our prosecution mechanisms. With time, we will be able to deal effectively with the issues of corruption and illicit funds transfers.

Are there specific areas you can cite in the Nigerian laws that must be amended or fine-tuned?

Yes, the ‘prove beyond reasonable doubt theory’. We still approach financial crimes and corruption as we would approach theft of a car or murder.

They are all classed as criminal offence. In criminal offences, there is burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt, and it is embedded in the constitution. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says every man is presumed innocent until

proven guilty. In corruption cases as you would find in the UK Bribery Act, as an illustration, we can have something similar because the principles they address are not different from the principles that we face.

If they come across $10 million with you, instantly it is impounded -- it is the proceeds of crime; you then prove us wrong.

That is the big loophole being exploited here and that hampers the fight against corruption, which is why you see that sometimes somebody is arrested is put in two trial and they can’t prove him guilty.

A number of financial transactions go with sophistry done on i-Pad and phones. You can transfer millions from your i-Pad and there would be no trace and there would be no boxes of money being moved. So, we do need to bring our legal framework, fast-forward it a bit to 2015 by bring it from where it is in the 60s and 70s and bring it here. Again, our statutory books still prescribe fines in figures. For instance, ‘anybody who does this is guilty and liable upon conviction to a fine of N2, 000’.

It is like pressing pause on your remote control. Two thousand naira in 1999 is not N2, 000 in 2015. The time value of money also applies to penalties, whereas N2, 000 in the 70s and 80s may be $3, 000. Extrapolate it to today; you may then be talking about almost N600, 000 frozen in the statutory book and it remains N2, 000 in 2015.

These are practical issues that don’t require any genius to deal with, but the willingness of our lawmakers to tackle, of the Ex-

ecutive to enforce and of the Judiciary to interpret. If we do this, we should have a better society but to ignore it and not deal with it leaves us exposed to what Mbeki rightly said and I always like to repeat him, he says “seizing these opportunities will be difficult, squandering them would be unforgivable and indefensible.”

There is now an opportunity for African states, Nigeria inclusive, to look at the big question of illicit fund flows, and I think that even though it’s difficult, we should seize the opportunity now. The solution does not appear to lie in looking at the West for help, but should come from Nigerians and indeed Africans. Help from the West will usually come in the form of aid and policy conditionality, with its own price tags. Nigeria should ensure that democracy and the rule of law (with the necessary checks and balances) remain. It should embark on judicial reforms, transparency and accountability in government, strong institutions of restraint (e.g. a strong legal system, civil service, financial system, etc.) In doing so, Nigeria and indeed Africa will be able to harness its competitive advantage in making the best of its natural and human resources, in encouraging manufactured exports and gearing for the transition from the primary to the secondary sector of economic development.

It will check and reverse the illicit fund flows. Nigeria’s problem and indeed Africa’s problem is for it to solve – No one owes us a living.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

40

LEGAL OPINION

Try corrupt judges before retirement, NJC advised

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JUSTICE of the Court of Appeal, Olubunmi Oyewole, has advised the National Judicial Council (NJC), to henceforth prosecute judges found to be corrupt before their retirement to serve as deterent to others.

Justice Oyewole made the suggestion last week in a lecture tittled: “The role of the bar in exterminating the termite of impunity from Nigeria”, delivered at the Alao Aka-Bashorun annual memorial lecture, as part of activities marking the 2015 law week of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

He insisted that lawyers, who encourage impunity in the administration of justice through filing of frivolous applications, should also be discouraged from such acts through appropriate rules. ”We must not venture the thought that it is only through corruption that lawyers encourage impunity in the administration of justice.

“When frivolous applications are filed to frustrate trials, when unceasing interlocutory appeals are filed, when we totally turn professional ethics upside down all to satisfy clients, we as practitioners are engendering impunity.

“When we look the other way while our clients jump bail, interfere with witnesses and in the conduct of our cases do everything to impede the flow of justice under an unbridled commitment to our clients, we encourage impunity.

“And when we, as Judges, grant unnecessary adjournments, delay rulings and judgments, fail to take control of our proceedings and apply extant case management strategies, we unwittingly encourage impunity.

“Impunity is a pattern of behavior that challenges the very fabric of any organised society, done out of a consciousness that the particular society lacks the institutions or is too weak to prevent or punish deviance. It is a conduct without (fear of) consequence or repercussion; crime without (fear of) punishment,” he emphasised.

By Adebisi Onanuga

Justice Oyewole, who is of the Benue State division of the Court of Appeal, lamented a situation whereby electoral offenders goes freely without being punished.

He said: ”We have just gone through a nerve wrecking electoral process which questioned the very essence of our being as a nation.

Today, many of our courts are engaged in the unending rituals of election petition adjudication, leading to a development of needless and unhelpful jurisprudence, all because our electoral process is far from being transparent.

“A little scratch will reveal the presence of impunity. Year in year out, perpetrators of electoral offences go unpunished. In many instances, they are never apprehended and where apprehended, they are processed through the justice system and freed once the tendency they worked for, gains political power.”

He berated the bar for being part of this abberation. “The Bar appears disengaged while the criminal justice system is routinely abused in this manner. Leading members of the Bar even join the clamour for there to be put in place an Electoral Offences Tribunal so that electoral offenders could be brought to justice.

“This is a mantra regularly chanted after every election as if the criminal codes do not capture these offences or that offences involved are not triable by the regular courts.

“Murder is murder whether committed during electioneering campaigns or at any other time.

Ditto for possession of dangerous weapons, and other violent conducts characterising our electoral process.

“Our criminal codes are sufficiently capable of capturing the essence of these unacceptable conducts unless we want to be hypocritical,”he stated.

Justice Oyewole decried human rights abuses in the country in spite of constitutional provisions on the need to respect

other person’s right to dignity.

Said he: “When Courts impose penalties for human rights abuses by law enforcement agencies and tax payers are made to compensate the victims via damages paid by the agencies and not the offenders who in most cases even continue their careers as if nothing went wrong, impunity is enthroned.

“It will be interesting to compute how much actually goes into settling damages imposed by courts against the Federal Government for human rights abuses annually. I have an inkling that the result would be very very interesting.”

The Justice of the Appeal Court expressed regret at the level of drug abuse in the country, noting, “it is routine these days for flights in and out of Nigeria to be disrupted on account of the presence of suspected drug traffickers.

“Many Nigerians have met their untimely deaths in some less tolerant jurisdictions on account of drug trafficking. A review of our investigative, prosecutorial and adjudicatory approach to the drug problem will reveal a systematic perpetuation of impunity over the years.

“A few years ago a Nollywood star was caught attempting to ferry hard drugs across our borders. She got off with a slap on the wrist; a light penal sentence with an option to pay a ridiculous fine, amounting to a seeming judicial endorsement of her illicit activity.

“Apparently encouraged, a couple of months after the sentencing, another Nollywood star, this time of the male specie, was arrested for a similar offence and he similarly got off,” he said.

Justice Oyewole viewed piracy as an area where impunity has equally done grave damage to the rule of law in the country. “This time with our Nollywood stars, musicians and other creative talents as victims is in the battle against piracy,” he said.

•From Left: NBA Ikeja Chairman, Yinka Farounbi, Alhaja Kudirat Aka-Bashorun, Chairman of the lecture, Iwerebon and Justice Oyewole.

NBA urges lawyers on pro bono services •Continued from page 26

Director, Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) Mr Chino Obiagwu urged lawyers not to focus their pro-bono services on prison decongestion.

“Go to slums. Go there and fight for social justice,” he said.

Another area lawyers can litigate on, he said, is the issue of estimated electricity bills and non-issuance of pre-paid meters.

“It is the role of lawyers to go to court and challenge this. Un-metered houses are not supposed to be billed. Lawyers should fight these

big corporations. What about dropped calls by telecoms companies?

“Why should consumers pay for service not rendered? The money belongs to us. If every lawyer does one pro-bono case per year, the country will be better,” he said.

Urging NBA to do more litigation for the public’s good, Obiagwu said: ”People say that NBA is a sleeping elephant, so it should wake up, especially now that we have a reform-minded Vice-President-elect (Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) whose reform legacies in the judiciary we can all see.”

It was suggested that provision of pro-bono services should not be mandatory for new lawyers, but voluntary.

Lawyers were urged to make donation towards pro-bono services, while each NBA branch should appoint a desk officer to record cases handled.

Other recommendations are that a monitoring team from the secretariat should ensure compliance, and it should be made compulsory for those applying for silk to make mandatory donations towards pro-bono services.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Death for Morsi and life for Mubarak

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AIR trial under the rule of law, surely has variants. One uncanny type, is the Egyptian model.May be because, democracy there, is in infancy, despite the age of that ancient civilisation. Last Saturday, May 16, an Egyptian court sentenced the first democratically elected, but ousted President Mohammed Morsi and 105 others, mainly from the abolished, but feared Muslim Brotherhood, to death, for their role during the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. A week earlier, an Egyptian court after several rigmarole, also sentenced former President Mubarak and his two sons, to three years in prison for corruption, during his 30 years rule.

Morsi and company were sentenced to death for their role in a mass jail break, during the 2011 uprising that eventually ended the Mubarak era.

According to media report, armed members of Hamas entered Egypt through illegal tunnels during the uprising and taking advantage of the crisis, they fought their way to various prisons, to release Morsi and several other members of the Islamic brotherhood, who were in jail. In the process many prison guards were killed, while thousands of other prisoners were set free. Parts of the jails stormed by the attackers, were also destroyed.

Amnesty International (AI) has, however, described the trial, as a charade. According to Al Jazeera report, Al said: “condemning Mohammed Morsi to death after more grossly unfair trials shows a complete disregard for human rights … he was held for months incommunicado without judicial oversight and that he didn’t have a lawyer to represent him”.

Again Morsi and 12 other defendants were last month sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, for their role in the detention and torture of protesters outside the presidential palace, in the uprising, in December 2012; that eventually culminated in his ouster bythe military. For Morsi, there will be several more trial days ahead, as there are many more charges against him.

While it may be tenable to hold Morsi and his Islamic Brotherhood, partly responsible for mismanaging the gains of the 2011 revolution that toppled the authoritarian rule of Mubarak, it is ridiculous that a so called democratically elected government of Gen Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, would allow this abuse of the judicial process, for temporal gains. Unless there is a change, Egypt’s sputtering democracy may wobble and fumble to a final stop, in the nearest future. According to assistant Professor Abdullah Al- Arian of Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service in Qatar, there are over 41,000 Egyptians in prison on political charges.

In an article: “The many trials of Mohammed Morsi”, the history scholar holds the judiciary, as an accomplice in the degradation of democracy in Egypt. He wrote: “There is a method to madness that has become the Egyptian judiciary.” He furthered, “not to be outdone, the Egyptian judiciary has played an equally critical role throughout these events. Its ruling throughout the post Mubarak’s transition from the dissolution of Egypt’s democratically elected parliament to its failure to convict any official from the former regime ensure that any attempt at revolutionary change would be thwarted”.

Conversely for former President Mubarak, he and his two sons got a mere three years jail term, for what had been dubbed by the media, as the ‘presidential palaces’ affair. The media has not missed the irony that Mubarak’s trial was conducted in the same court, were Morsi was earlier sentenced to 20 years in jail. Again unlike Morsi, Mubarak was granted bail in 2013, and has since been staying at a military hospital. However like Morsi, he faced several charges after his ouster in 2011, but the tide changed in his favour, as soon as the revolution that toppled him was truncated, following the ouster of the Islamic Brotherhood, which won the first democratic election, but couldn’t manage their victory.

In December 2012, this column had forewarned President Morsi thus: “Political power apparently tastes like a honeyed alcohol or a sweetened intoxicant. And when there is substance abuse as in most third world countries, the result is ruination. But for the eternal vigilance of Egyptians, President Mohammed Morsy’s careless overdose of that dangerous drug would have turned to an addiction. Nonetheless, Morsy and his Muslim brotherhood despite warning signals from their countrymen appears hell bent on taking that historical country through the ignominious road of the disgraced former President, Hosni Mubarak. By his request to be allowed to exercise autocratic powers for a period, the President was asking for a medical clearance for a pre-arranged insanity in other not to be culpable for a planned murder”.

That advice was offered in 2012, when Morsi stated the unconstitutional journey that eventually consumed him and his party. Morsi who worn a democratic election sought for emergency powers, to suspend free speech among other democratic fundamentals. Probably he wished to rule like Mubarak, apparently to deal with the so called enemies of the country.

Unfortunately, those who took care of Mubarak were still at the gate, and with the connivance of the military, they also came for him. From hindsight, it is clear that deposed President Morsi and his Islamic fundamentalist party, played into the hands of the military. The military merely waited for Morsi to show the hubris of the African big man, and as they say, the rest is history.

Unfortunately that history is still unfolding for Egypt, and unless common sense prevails, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his power apparatchik, may further plunge Egyptian into greater instability. While Morsi may have misfired as a democratically elected president, a state organised extermination, under the cloak of judicial trial, is a sure road to perdition for Egypt, if not now, later down the road; as the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood isn’t dead.

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HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Breast cancer can be cured, says expert

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REAST cancer can be cured if detected early, an expert has said.

But many women with breast cancer come to the hospital when the tumour has advanced to stages three and four, says Consultant Clinical and Radiation Oncologist Dr Omolola Salako.

Breast cancer forms in breasts’ cells. It is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the country. It can occur in both men and women, but it’s more common in women.

According to Dr Salako, women with breast cancer go late to the hospital largely because of lack of information, ignorance, care cost, stigmatisation, treatment and side effects’ fears, negative cancer press, and lack of family support and employment benefits, among others.

Dr Salako spoke at a briefing heralding her organisation Sebecily Cancer Care’s yearly activities to create awareness about cancer.

The events come under the theme: Light Lagos pink.

According to Dr Salako, substantial support for breast cancer awareness and research funding has helped to improve the screening, diagnosis and advances in its treatment.

Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths has been declining because of early detection, a new personalised approach to treatment and a better understanding of the disease, she said, adding: “And that is the main aim of our annual programme, Light Lagos pink.”

Dr Salako said: “Cancer is killing more people in the developing world, such as Nigeria, than HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria

•From left: Babatunde Mayowa, Representative of Bristow Helicoler, Sebeccyle Cancer Ambassador, Chuwa Akpotha, Founder Sebeccly Cancer Cancer Centre, Dr Omolola Salako, Representative of the Wife of Lagos State Governor, Ladun Ogunbanwo, Board Member, Sebeccly, Adetoro Omojole and Head of Department, Radiotherapy, EKO Hospital, Prof Josbert Kofi-Duncan.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

combined. In fact, 70 per cent of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and cancer has already surpassed infectious disease as the leading cause of death in many of these countries.

Moreover, one-third of these cancers are preventable, and an additional one-third of cancers can be

detected and treated while there is still hope.

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer and principal cause of cancer deaths. Breast cancer accounts for 27,304 new cases and 13,960 deaths annually (GLOBOCAN 2012) and over 80 percent of breast cancer patients present in stage III and IV.”

To stem the challenges, Dr Salako suggested: “Awareness; promotion of breast awareness and available resources (services).

Initiating action amongst women to go for breast screening and increasing access to cancer care to indigent patients.”

She went on:“Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

‘The reasons women with breast cancer go late to hospital are largely due to lack of information, ignorance, care cost, stigmatisation, treatment and side effects’ fears, negative cancer press, and lack of family support and employment benefits, among others’

a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue; bloody discharge from the nipple; change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast; changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling; a newly inverted nipple; peeling, scaling or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin and or redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange. If you find a lump or other change in your breast, even if a recent mammogram was normal make an appointment with your doctor for prompt evaluation. All these steps answer the question of when to see the doctor.”

Tips on breast cancer REAST cancer risk factor is anything that makes it more likely you’ll get breast cancer. But having one or even several breast cancer risk factors doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll develop breast cancer. Many women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors other than simply being women.

Factors that are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer include: •Being female. Women are much more likely than men are to develop breast cancer.

•Increasing age. Your risk of breast cancer increases as you age.

•A personal history of breast cancer. If you’ve had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast.

•A family history of breast cancer. If your mother, sister or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly at a young age, your risk of breast cancer is increased.

Still, the majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

•Inherited genes that increase cancer risk. Certain gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most common gene mutations are referred to as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes can greatly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, but they

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don’t make cancer inevitable.

•Radiation exposure. If you received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or young adult, your risk of breast cancer is increased.

•Obesity. Being obese increases your risk of breast cancer.

•Beginning your period at a younger age. Beginning your period before age 12 increases your risk of breast cancer.

•Beginning menopause at an older age. If you began menopause at an older age, you’re more likely to develop breast cancer.

•Having your first child at an older age. Women who give birth to their first child after age 35 may have an increased risk of breast cancer.

•Having never been pregnant.

Women who have never been pregnant have a greater risk of breast cancer than do women who have had one or more pregnancies.

•Postmenopausal hormone therapy. Women who take hormone therapy medications that combine estrogen and progesterone to treat the signs and symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer decreases when women stop taking these medications.

•Drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.

Source: www.mayoclinic.com

•From right: Lagos Health CommissionerDr Jide Idris; former Director General, Nigeria Insitute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr Idigbe Oni and Malariologist/Researcher at NIMR, Dr Sam Awolola at the workshop organised by the institute to mark this year’s World Malaria Day.

•Dr Akande

FROM next month, Dr Joel Akande will be contributing to The Nation Health pages as a columnist.

Dr Akande of Strategic Insight is a researcher who provides Clinical services; diagnostics; education and training as well as medico-legal consulting.

According to Dr Akande, migration of health professionals from Nigeria to developed countries has greatly reduced the availability of affordable standard healthcare. These immigrant professionals have acquired valuable training in developed countries that could enhance healthcare capacity in Nigeria. The challenge and cost of relocation of these highly skilled indi-

viduals remains quite prohibitive.

However, these healthcare professionals still retain significant sympathy and allegiance to their country of origin manifested by the proliferation of diaspora organisations organise medical missions to tackle some of these healthcare challenges.

Medical missions last from days to weeks; treat a targeted but limited number of patients and provide little or no follow-up. As a means of enhancing health capacity they represent an inefficient use of these highly skilled workers.

For more insight into sundry issues, keep a date with him, Every Tuesday, starting next month.

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SHOWBIZ

AFRIMA 2015: Stakeholders meet in Uganda

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N continuation of its drive towards this year’s programme of events, the organisers of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) will be holding a stakeholders’ conference in Kampala, Uganda, tomorrow.

Scheduled to take place at Hotel Africana, the event, is the second in the series of other engagements with music enthusiasts across Africa, coming after a successful AUCAFRIMA joint conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, recently, according to PRM Africa, producers of the event.

A statement from the AFRIMA Secretariat in Lagos revealed that the Kampala conference will bring together, media executives, artistes, record label owners, artistes’ managers, music entrepreneurs, music enthusiasts and relevant government officials to discuss strategies and actions needed to facilitate a better involvement of stakeholders from Eastern Africa in the Awards scheme.

The AFRIMA team is also expected to

speak on public entries for the 2015 Award, which opened yesterday, as well as other build-up events towards the main ceremony in November.

Ahead of tomorrow’s event, AFRIMA will today, be partnering with Uganda’s music industry at its annual music industry conference tagged The MIC. The conference will have“The Social, Economic, and Political Impact of Music” as its theme.

One of the speakers at the conference is AFRIMA’s Project Director, Adenrele Niyi, will be speaking on the topic: What did Nigeria do to dominate African music business?

Speaking on the project, Mike Dada, the Executive Producer of AFRIMA, noted that, “AFRIMA is more than just an award ceremony but is also interested in capacity building of music entrepreneurs, and artistes as a tool for the economic growth of the music industry in Africa. We are glad for this collaboration, and I promise that AFRIMA will be beamed live in Uganda.”

Curiosity over Blaise’s whereabouts

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

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UNKE Martin-Luther, popularly known as Blaise, has been missing in the music scene for some time. And it appears no one knows her whereabouts or what she is doing at the moment, except that, according to her colleague, Niyola, the last that was heard about the rapper was that she now stays in Ibadan, Oyo State.

It will be recalled that Blaise, who hails from Isheri Olofin area of Lagos State, started her music career with Sasha, Kemistry and Bouqui.

Known for her Freestyle prowess, the artiste made some remarkable impact, featuring in hit songs with these notable artistes.

Blaise who got her stage name from a comic book character called Modesty Blaise, is a graduate of Architecture from The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

After graduating from the polytechnic, Blaise in one of her interviews said her love for music drew her closer to it. She is a poet, songwriter, and is also known for playing the guitar.

• Blaise

Freedom Park to host all-female concert

By Joe Agbro Jr

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MAGINE a concert where everyone involved in making the show happen are females. This is what the situation will be this Thursday evening, at Freedom Park,Broad Street, Lagos, as the venue hosts an all-female concert.

Scheduled to perform at the concert which starts by 7:00p.m., are singers such as Nana Aisha, Ruby Gyang who is signed under Chocolate City, Esther, Ire the Stage Devi who specialises in singing folklore songs, Donna Ogunnaike, R-Cube and Oba. Also on the line-up are Wome Uyeye and Oyinkan

• Artistes performing at Freedom Park

Braithwaite as spoken word poets. Other performers are Phisayo, Topsticks and Thelma.

By Joe Agbro Jr

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My challenges shooting A Place in the Stars -Steve Gukas

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HE director of A Place in the Stars, winner of Best Movie (Drama) at the recent Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), Steve Gukas, has revealed some of the challenges he encountered while shooting the movie.

Speaking as a guest on Jara, an Mnet program on DStv, Gukas said the film had to be reshot to meet other unforeseen demands.

“It was a tough decision we had to make after summiting the movie for post production. I got a call and was told that the audio was different from what was shown on the screen. We also discovered that the picture could not go well on a small monitor and moderate-size TV too.

“But with the kind of budget we had in mind, we had to go back to re-shooting because the movie was meant for the cinema. But the actors were very generous,” he added.

A Place in the Stars focuses on how fake and adulterated drugs are being traded for billions of dollar.

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

Gukas said he decided to make a film on fake drugs, having been inspired by the activities of the late Dora Akunyili as Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

According to him, the zeal and dedication of Akunyili, helped in reducing the prevalence of fake drugs in Nigeria during her time.

The film, which was partly funded by the National Film and Video Censors Board, is a co-production of Native Filmworks and Jungle FilmWorks, Massive Entertainment, Consolidated Media Associates, Pepper Fruit Consult, Michel Angelo Productions and T-Large Media.

According to Gukas, the film was shot over a period of five years, gulped well over 1million US dollars. He gave funding as reason for the overstretched duration.

Moyo Lawal recounts Okpekpe race on Instagram

Sammie Okposo, others storm Benin with Praise Party

OPULAR Nigerian gospel musician, Sammie Okposo, alongside other musicians is set to shake the ancient city of Benin on Saturday, May 30. Okposo took to his Twitter account to announce the

• 2014 AFRIMA Best Reggae, Ragga and Dancehall Winner, Radio and Weasel

show. ‘Benin City, are you ready?’ He asked his fans and followers on the social media network.

The event takes place at CGMI Unusual Conference Centre, GRA, Benin City. It features other artistes such as Buchi, Victor Atenega, Eben, Tim Godfrey and Nikki Laoye. Other artistes performing at the event are Onos, PITA, Efe, Anny, Akpororo and Joan Paul. The event which begins with a green carpet by 3pm is expected to kick off by 5pm.

Okposo recently dropped the music video for SYP, while his new single ‘Mighty God’ featuring Nikky Laoye is expected to drop on May 30.

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OLLOWING her participation in the recently held 10km Okpekpe road race, Nollywood actress, Moyo Lawal, has said the event challenged her physically.

‘My fitness was totally challenged,’ Lawal said, taking to her Instagram account to recount her experience, posting pictures she took along the 10km route.

‘I had to remove my kicks after walking for 3km... So I walked, jogged for 7kms... got a lift... the lift broke down...

So I had to walk the remaining 1km... So, I literally walked almost 8kms.’

It seemed it was a gargantuan experience for the actress.

‘Like seriously am still in shock yoooo,’ she continued. ‘I wanted to do the ten but when my legs no gree and the sun was out biko (all my ikoyi bridge runs with @belindaeffah be paying off).’

She had joined fellow Nollywood practitioners such as Desmond Elliot and Kanayo O. Kanayo to

• Moyo Lawal

By Joe Agbro Jr

participate in the third edition of the 10km Okpekpe road race which held on Saturday, in Okpekpe, Edo State.

The Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, completed the race in 88 minutes.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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THE NATION

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

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

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CCOUNTING and auditing giant PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has predicted that the real estate sector’s value will next year rise from $9.16billion to $13.65 billion next year.

In its report, titled: Real Estate: Building the future of Africa, it said the sector is growing at a rate of 8.7 per cent, making it the sixth largest in the economy. The reasons for the expected growth are not far-fetched. Apart from the volatility in crude oil price since July, high networth individuals (HNWIs), going by PwC’s report, invest 25 per cent of their assets in real estate. This is seven per cent more than the 18 per cent or less investors in this category that invest in equities and other instruments.

PwC also noted that in commercial real estate, the influx of institutional, foreign and private businesses into the country and the growth of indigenous businesses and multinational oil companies in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt have kept the segment vibrant.

It observed that rents in Lagos are among the highest in the world with achievable rents of more than $1,020/m2 (about N200, 000/m2) yearly.

But as expensive as Lagos appears, the city does not rank among the top five on the continent. PwC, in a separate study, titled: “Into Africa”, a comparative research study of 20 African cities of opportunity deemed to be among the most dynamic and focused on the future, ranked Lagos as seventh. The overall ranking of cities by the report placed the top five cities as Cairo (Egypt), Tunis (Tunisia), Johannesburg (South Africa), Casablanca (Morocco) and Algiers (Algeria).

The study, based on the methodology, research, and analytical framework of PwC’s global Cities of Opportunity report - the seventh edition of which will be released next year, ranked the 20 cities on 29 variables grouped into infrastructure, human capital, economics, society and demographics.

Jonathan Cawood, Capital Projects and Infrastructure leader for PwC Africa, observed that from the study, a strong correlation among infrastructure, human capital and economics is noticeable. He said cities that score well in infrastructure also score well in human capital and, expectedly, also score well in economics.

He explained that with city infrastructure under pressure, many of Africa’s cities cannot maintain their current levels of population and economic growth without enhancing their infrastructure. ”The demands for infrastructure vary from city to city based on stage of development, priorities and affordability.The basic needs for power, water and sanitation, transport and logistics, housing and ICT top the list

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•Lagos.

PwC: real estate value to hit $13.65b in 2016 Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

for most. The wisdom of the choices Africa’s cities make in balancing political, social and economic agendas will become even more critical in managing finite financial and environmental resources,” Cawood warned, adding that smart, creative, ambitious human beings will congregate and invest their labour and capital where it is most advantageous and livable for them to do so.

For him, and other experts involved in the study, the focus should not be all about more infrastructure, but better infrastructure.

Therefore, they submit, rethinking urban design that improves the way people work, live and play, integrating energy efficiency and renewable resources, leveraging technology and smart city thinking, promoting

•Lagos is seventh on African top cities sustainability and the green agenda, smarter public transportation and supply chain solutions are all part of the recipe for Africa’s cities of opportunity.

The PwC’s study did not however fail to highlight the problems facing the real estate industry. These, it noted, to include problems with access to finance, especially with a lack of long-term debt financing and underdeveloped mortgage market, as mortgage loans represent less than one per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). The cumbersome and time-consuming processes for land acquisition and ownership documentation; expensive land in urban areas; high cost of building materials and construction;

reliance on expatriate workers resulting from a shortage of expertise in the local construction industry, and security considerations as a result of local unrest, need to be tackled for the sector to attain its full potential.

PwC, in its report, also indicated that there is considerable room for profitable investments in the real estate sector due to the huge housing deficit in the country. It noted that if this growth pattern is sustained and improved on, numerous jobs will be created in the process and the housing deficit will be bridged sooner than later.

PwC further noted that African cities offer opportunities for economic enterprise. The consistent growth of its cities over the next decade will alter the continent’s socioeconomic landscape, it said.

Cornerstone, US investors seal deal on housing

O up the ante in real estate sector, Cornerstone Real Estate Limited has entered into a partnership with an American investment firm.

The firm, Aesbus Knowledge Solutions, which has interests in manufacturing, telecommunications and real estate related busi-

nesses, last week sent a high-powered delegation to inspect housing development projects being handled by Cornerstone.

Aesbus representatives, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Earl Castor, and one of its directors, Dr. Solomon Olatoye, follow-

•From left: Castor, Olatoye, Okupe and Mr. Moshood Ajayi, Project Co-ordinator, during the investor's tour of Cornerstone Estate, Phase II... at the weekend.

ing tour of Cornerstone’s Oregun Phase II Housing Project in Lagos, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the site. “This is one of the best housing projects, especially in terms of quality of work done, including the finishing aspect, that we have seen during our short visit to Nigeria,’’ the team leader said.

The partnership also positions Cornerstone to trade in real estate, seeking such services in any part of the US, thereby expanding its operations beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The Chairman, Cornerstone Real Estate Limited, Mr. Lanre Okupe, hinged the success of the firm on the prudent management of materials and manpower, which has lead to the delivery of high quality products at competitive prices.

The Oregun housing scheme is one of the several estate development schemes the firm is working on. After completing and selling out the Phase One of the Cornerstone Oregun Phase I Housing Project, works is nearing completion on the Phase II of the scheme, which is being developed on a five-acre land in Ikeja, Lagos. The Phase Two consists of 14 units of various duplex types, comprising two units of three-bedroom detached houses, with one room boys’ quarters; six units of four-bedroom semi-detached houses with one room boys’ quarters and six units of three-bedroom terrace house.

Okupe explained that each duplex sits on an approximate land area of 350m2-400m2 , comprising an all en-suite four-bedrooms, while the ground floor space area includes the entrance lobby, foyer, main living room, dinning, kitchen, visitors’ toilet, guest room en-suite.

The first floor space area include the family lounge with balcony, two-bedrooms and the master’s bedroom, spacious living and dining areas with exquisite wood work, well-finished wardrobes and kitchen cabinet as well as P.O.P ceiling. It is fitted with stainless steel aluminum railings, among others. The terrace houses, Okupe said, would also be finished with P.O.P ceiling, stainless steel aluminum railings, well-finished wardrobes and kitchen cabinet, among others.

Owning a house in the scheme is easy, says the Cornerstone boss. Explaining the procedure, Okupe said payment by intalments is allowed, with 30 per cent down payment while the balance is spread over a year. The duplexes sell for N85 million per unit, while the terrace houses go for N75 million.

In its over 27 years of operations as housing estate developer, the company has delivered over 10 residential housing estates across Lagos Metropolis and won several awards for delivering qualitative housing projects.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-05-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-05-15

Skye Bank leads equities’ rally as Q1 profit rises by 82%

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KYE Bank Plc recorded the highest gain yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as the bank released its first quarter earnings report indicating that profit before tax rose by 82 per cent in three months to N6.2 billion.

Skye Bank’s share price rose by 9.68 per cent, nearly the highest possible daily gain, to lead the overall market to a bullish close. Pricing rules at the NSE allow for a maximum of 10 per cent movement by any stock in a trading session. Forte Oil placed second on the gainers’ list with a gain of 9.10 per cent while NEM Insurance, which declared a dividend of six kobo, rose by 8.82 per cent.

The All Share Index (ASI), the value-based benchmark index that tracks all quoted equities on the NSE, indicated average gain of 0.99 per cent to close at 34,781.46 points as against its opening index of 34,439.40 points. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose from N11.697 trillion to close at

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

N11.817 trillion.

The bullish start helped to reverse the negative overhang and left the market with a modest average year-to-date gain of 0.36 per cent.

Key extracts of the interim report for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 showed that Skye Bank’s pre-tax profit rose by 82 per cent to N6.2 billion in 2015 as against N3.4 billion recorded in the comparable period of 2013. Profit after tax also rose by 85 per cent to N5 billion as against N2.7 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2013.

Further analysis showed that fee and commission income which was N6.2 billion in 2013, increased to N10.2 billion in the first quarter of 2014, representing a growth of 64.5 per cent. The expanded business activities of the bank also manifested in a big rise in its gross earnings which rose to

N42.3 billion from N34.3 billion in 2013, appreciating by 23 per cent. The shareholders’ fund also rose to N137.3 billion from N132 billion.

Total assets rose to N1.43 billion as against N1.42 billion during the same period in 2013. Similarly, its total liabilities, including total deposits, stood at N1.3 trillion as against N1.2 trillion in the preceding year.

Group managing director, Skye Bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said the first quarter performance was a demonstration that the bank is set to deliver superior value and returns to the shareholders as it enters its new strategic growth phase.

Oguntayo said the bank would leverage on the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank to take its services closer to its customers – current and prospects - and expand its bouquet of value adding offerings to meet the diverse needs of its stakeholders.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 18-05-15

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

55

MONEYLINK Court rules June 2 on theft charge against Atuche, others

CBN pegs interest on N200b agric loans at nine per cent

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday released the revised guidelines of the N200 b illion Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS). The guidelines stipulate that henceforth, payment of interest on the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) shall not exceed nine per cent, inclusive of all charges.

CBN Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Kelvin Amugo said the charges will be shared in ratio of seven per cent to the partaking bank, and two per cent to the CBN. He explained that section eight subsection two of the CACS guidelines has been amended accordingly to reflect the revised interest sharing ratio.

He said the funds will be released to the participating banks at two per cent interest rate after a confirmation of its intent/readiness to disburse the funds.

The CACS was meant to fast-track the development of the agricultural value sector of the economy through

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Stories by Collins Nweze

the provision of credit facilities at a single digit interest rate to large-scale commercial farmers.

The applicable interest rate under the scheme has been retained at nine per cent even as the fund has continued to be disbursed to eligible applicants through the deposit money banks.

The banking watchdog admitted that the future of agriculture in subSaharan Africa is clouded with several uncertainties that include increasing resource scarcity, heightened risks from climate change, higher energy prices, demand for bio-fuels and doubts about the speed of technical progress.

Analysts insist that access to agricultural inputs, market linkages, and technical support services as well as access to financial services are key to reviving Nigeria’s ailing agriculture sector. The value chain financing will ensure the flow of financing within the agricultural sector, across all value

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele chain actors, thereby getting agricultural products to the markets.

It is believed that challenge of financing small farmers is more than just the provision of finance; it is also about providing a complete solution to small holder farmers to ensure long term sustainability, food security and higher standards of living. The institution acknowledged Nigeria’s huge agricultural resource base and the great potential it offers for growth of the economy, which is increasingly priming itself to empower farmers.

Access Bank, KIA Motors partner on auto finance

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IA Motors Nigeria has teamed up with Access Bank Plc to offer a flexible, hassle-free car finance scheme with attractive interest rates and loan tenure to make owning brand new Kia vehicles easy and convenient.

More often than not, customers are presented with wide range of options for financing a car or securing an auto loan which makes it difficult to choose a tailor made scheme that perfectly fit their aspirations. This auto finance scheme is tailored to suit customers’ needs with manageable monthly repayments and is best suited for individuals, organizations, corporate bodies and institutions to avail a convenient and easy access to finance options making it easy to drive away their brand new Kia.

At the launching of the joint promotion held at Kia Showroom, Victoria Island, Lagos, Kia Motors Nigeria partners Access Bank to offer competitive auto financing to Kia range of vehicles.

Speaking at the launching of the finance scheme, Jacky Hathiramani, C.E.O., Kia Motors Nigeria said “our core competitive edge in the auto industry is the offering of best in class vehicles at an affordable price and we are delighted to partner with Access Bank to make owning the Kia range of vehicles affordable with flexible payment options”.

The finance scheme has a flexible payment option for up to four-year repayment tenure and a competitive equated monthly installments (EMI) as low as N44,423. From its entry level cars like

the Kia Picanto and the People’s Car, Kia Rio to its luxury sedan Kia Quoris, all KIA range of vehicles are covered in the finance scheme. Customers can have access to this scheme at over 20 Kia sales and service outlets in Nigeria and all Access Bank branches nationwide.

The Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu stressed that “the finance scheme is aimed at making all customers own a brand new car with ease and tailor made payment options. He further stated that “the joint promotion offers a subsidized insurance and registration fee, with improved access to auto loan to enable customers drive their dream car.”

LAGOS High Court sitting in Ikeja has fixed June 2 this year to rule on an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asking it to adjourn indefinitely, the trial of a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, Mr. FrancisAtuche Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo fixed the date after hearing submissions from both the prosecution and defence counsels.

The EFCC is prosecuting Atuche, alongside his wife, Elizabeth and a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Mr. Ugo Anyanwu over alleged theft of N25.7 billion belonging to the bank.

Atuche had filed an application asking the court to quash the charge, arguing that like the case of the former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Okey Nwosu, the state high court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Justice Lawal-Akapo had on March 2 this year fixed April 13 this year for ruling on Atuche’s application but could not deliver the ruling after EFCC’s counsel, Dele Adesina (SAN) informed the court of the commission’s pending application.

In its application dated April 2 filed

by Adesina (SAN), the EFCC had urged the court to adjourn the ruling sine die pending the outcome of its appeal against the Court of Appeal judgment of November 21, 2013 at the Supreme Court.

The Court of Appeal had in its November 21, 2013 judgment struck out the theft charges preferred against Nwosu and others for lack of jurisdiction.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, Mr. Sylvia Ogwemoh (SAN),the lead counsel to the third defendant , also asked the court to dismiss EFCC’s application on the ground that such application is un-

By Adebisi Onanuga

known to law.

Ogwemoh said the application is only seeking to tamper with the judge’s freedom and urged the court to apply the law as it is today and not as it might be or shall be.

Ogwemoh submitted that the law as it is today is the decision of the Court of Appeal on Nwosu’s case and that the court is under compulsion to apply that decision.

Counsel to Atuche, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), had at previous sitting of the court maintained that the cases were similar because they emanated from capital market transactions.

Oyetibo submitted that the charges against Atuche bordered on issues which derived from capital market transactions, over which he said only a Federal High Court could adjudicate.

He drew the attention of the court to the decision of the Court of Appeal, which, on November 21, last year struck out the theft charges preferred against Nwosu and others by the anti-graft agency.

Counsel to the EFCC, Adesina told the court that the commission had filed an appeal against the judgment at the Supreme Court, adding that the matter has been granted expeditious hearing due to its importance.

Atuche’s lead counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) had asked the court to dismiss EFCC’s application on the ground that the court cannot engage in speculation as to what the decision of the Supreme Court will be on EFCC’s appeal on Okey Nwosu’s judgment.

Idigbe argued that Atuche’s application is challenging the jurisdiction of court and court granting EFCC application will amount to it already assuming jurisdiction on the matter.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.1978 1.3117 0.7319 1.1349

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.1912 0.7203 0.7203 1.1349

O/PRICE

SKYEBANK 2.17 FO 173.23 NEM 0.68 PRESCO 30.00 DIAMONDBNK 4.37 MAYBAKER 1.60 UBA 5.20 CONOIL 39.92 HONYFLOUR 3.47 UACN 40.00

C/PRICE

CHANGE

2.38 189.00 0.74 32.55 4.65 1.68 5.46 41.91 3.64 41.90

0.21 15.77 0.06 2.55 0.28 0.08 0.26 1.99 0.17 1.90

LOSERS AS AT 18-05-15

SYMBOL TRANSEXPR

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) April 1, 2015

Inflation: Febraury

8.4%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$28.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

CHANGE

Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 18-05-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

April 31

May 6

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)

4 May 34,649.3 11.8 3,385 564,28 6,087.80

5 May 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

1.06

1.01

-0.05

43.00

41.00

-2.00

VONO

0.94

0.90

-0.04

T-bills - 91

12.44

CUSTODYINS

4.17

4.00

-0.17

T-bills - 182

13.85

VITAFOAM

6.38

6.24

-0.14

T-bills - 364

13.92

WAPIC

0.54

0.53

-0.01

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

ETERNA

2.70

2.65

-0.05

CILEASING

0.69

0.68

0.01

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

CHAMPION

7.09

7.00

0.09

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

CAP

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

56

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

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•Silas at the hospital...yesterday

•Another injured motorcyclist

•The burnt motocycle

JIGBO, the oil depot town in Lagos, and environs were a no-go area yesterday as hoodlums and commercial motorcyclists/triyclists clashed.

Guns, machetes, bottles, disused tyres and sticks were used in the free-for-all.

Now fewer than 16 people have been injured and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in the fight which started in Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos last Saturday and spread to Ejigbo, Canoe and Ajao Estate.

Although the fight was said to be between motorcyclists/ tricyclists and area boys over the latter’s alleged extortion of the former, members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) were said to have joined in the fight yesterday when one of them was attacked after a hoodlum was chased into their premises.

Eyewitnesses said trouble started when a hoodlum attacked a motorcyclist for refusing to pay more than the N500 daily ticketing fee.

Following last Saturday’s scuffle, it was gathered that the police intervened and directed the hoodlums to stop extorting money from the motor cyclists/ tricyclists, who usually part with N2, 000 daily.

But yesterday, hoodlums

Panic as motorcyclists, hoodlums clash

By Precious Igbonwelundu

around filling station were said to have beat up and impounded the motorcycle of a rider who insisted on paying the stipulated N500 fee.

A hoodlum, who gave his name simply as Sunday, said: “But the okada rider refused and showed the man his ticket. The area boy was so furious that he started boxing the rider.

“It was around 8am. As they were fighting, more bike riders parked to defend their own. When the hoodlum saw that he had been overpowered, he started running, but the angry mob pursued him.

“They were shouting Ole! Ole ... and pursuing him as he ran towards the NNPC depot in Ejigbo.

Before we knew what was happening, bottles started flying everywhere.

“So many men with guns, cutlasses, planks, fuel and lighter started beating people. They attacked every okada and keke rider on the road. They freely used bottles and knives on them, while they burnt their cycles.

“It was the agberos (touts) that even destroyed peoples’ shops too and burnt down the kiosks of ordi-

nary citizens who had no business in their fight.”

Scores of motor cyclists/ triyclists, who got wind of the incident, were said to have stormed the NNPC depot.

The motorists were said to have wounded some of the area boys and NUPENG members at the depot.

It was gathered that police in Ajao Estate contained the crisis, but their counterparts in Ejigbo were reportedly overpowered by hoodlums. Their guns and tear gas canisters were allegedly seized.

The remains of burnt motorcycles, tricycles shattered bottles and glasses littered the scene.

It took about seven police patrol vans with no fewer than 50 armed personnel.

Victims of circumstance He cut a pitiable sight as he lay on the floor groaning. Drenched in blood with wounds all over his body, Monday Silas, a commercial motorcyclists muttered to himself, with tears running down his cheeks.

As he used his Tee-shirt to drive away flies, all Silas could say was “God why me? Why me?”

Silas had run into the hoodlums

Lagos Assembly honours cleaner who returned N12m at MMIA

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AGOS State House of Assembly yesterday honoured Miss Josephine Ugwu, the cleaner who returned N12million she found at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, in January.

Deputy Speaker Kolawole Taiwo, who presided yesterday, presented commendation letter and an undisclosed sum to Ugwu.

The letter hailed her “for her act of honesty and patriotism for returning the N12million on Friday 23 January, 2015”.

It went on: “Your action is a great inspiration to many who believe in the future of Nigeria; your conduct has positively affected the image of Nigeria in-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

ternationally. It is an act worthy of emulation, because of this, we decided to hold a special parliamentary session to celebrate your honesty, integrity, uprightness, sincerity, truthfulness and patriotism. We truly believe in you”.

Earlier, Segun Olulade urged the House to employ Ugwu or recommend her to the governor for employment to encourage other Nigerians to emulate her.

Rotimi Olowo urged the state to immortalise her by naming any institution or monument after her.

Thanking the House for the gesture, Ugwu said: “I never expected to be honoured in this Assembly talk of being

recognised and honoured by this institution.”

According to her, she was just doing her duty and following the rules of the organisation she is working with and also living according to the training she received from her parents.

“My family trained me not take anything that does not belong to me. I also want to prove to the world that Nigeria is a good country with people of integrity unlike the wrong impression they have about the country”, she said.

She said it was the third time since December 2014 that she was returning money left behind by passengers to the Airport security. Ugwu was accompanied by the Managing Director of her company.

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Oshodi, Lagos.

The prosecutor said the accused were caught during raids by the agency.

According to him, the offence contravenes Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation.

He urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody and an adjournment to enable him review the facts of the case.

The duo pleaded guilty.

Justice Mohammed Idris said the accused should be kept behind bars and adjourned the case to May 27 for facts and sentence.

There were others like him at the hospital.

A young man, who shared the same room with Silas said some motorcyclists broke his head.

“The worst part is that I was just going to work when they attacked me. It was the motorbike riders that beat me to a pulp. They were just cutting my head with cutlass and bottles. My whole head has been stitched and bandaged,” he told one of his visitors.

Others with injuries were on drips in the adjoining wards.

NUPENG denies involvement

Meawhile, officials of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) unit of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) at Ejigbo have debunked claims that they took part in the duel. They said they only intervened to safeguard national assets.

The chapter’s Secretary, Onifade Adesina, said their men stopped the motorcyclists from invading the NNPC depot.

He confirmed that some of his men were injured and rushed to the hospital, adding that the association only chased the cyclists out to prevent lawlessness at the depot.

Monarch directs subjects to disregard water bills

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HE traditional ruler of Onigbongbo in Ikeja, Lagos, Oba Munirudin Yusuf, yesterday directed households in his community to disregard water bills from the State Water Corporation.

Munirudin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the corporation had continued to bring outrageous bills to a community which has not benefited from its services.

“I have ordered every household to disregard such bills while we manage our pipe borne water,’’ the monarch said.

The community, he said, expected the government to have

yielded to its clarion call long ago.

According to him, the government has yet to fulfil its promises for pipe borne water for the community and the construction of a pedestrian bridge on the highway.

He said: “As a way out, the community has independently dug boreholes because of the serious challenge encountered in getting water. We want the state government to fulfil its promises on the provision of pipe borne water to allay water problem at Onigbongbo.

“Instead, the Water Corporation has continued to bom-

bard the community which has not benefited from its services with outrageous bills. For this, I have ordered every household to disregard such bills while we manage our pipe borne water.”

The monarch said the community had also urged the government to construct drainage around Onigbongbo to solve the problem of flooding during the rains.

“Everyone usually got stuck in gridlock whenever it is raining as there are no drainage systems in the community. A lot of properties get damaged each time flood occurs,’’ he said.

2015 Afribaby emerges

Two men plead guilty to drug trafficking WO men - Ismaila Cole and Succeder Ogbonna - who pleaded guilty to trafficking in 3.1 kg of hemp, were yesterday brought before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The prosecutor, Mr Orji Kalu, a lawyer with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), told the court that Ogbonna, 24, unlawfully dealt in 2.7 kg of hemp on March 23 at Gatan Kowa Market, Abule-Egba, a Lagos suburb.

He said Cole, 27, unlawfully dealt in 400 grammes of hemp on March 17 at Mafoluku,

and commercial motor cyclists/ triyclists clash at Ejigbo.

Silas, who was coming from nearby Ikotun where he picked up a passenger going to Ejigbo, said he was robbed.

“I don’t know what I did. I don’t even know what was going on. I don’t know the people who attacked me, but they almost killed me. They burnt my bike, used cutlasses and bottles on me. I don’t even know how I got to this place.

That is all I can tell you,” he said.

When this reporter tried to find out why he was not taken to hospital, some hoodlums said they did not care if he died.

They said they would not take him to hospital because he is a motorcyclist, adding that his colleagues injured about six of their men.

It took the intervention of one of their leaders before the mob allowed one of the men who escorted this reporter to the scene to take Silas away.

Sympathisers offered him water and milk; a police patrol stopped and rushed him to Isolo General Hospital, where this reporter deposited N4, 000 for his treatment.

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FRIBABY, a company, which specialises in selling baby care items, has hosted a breastfeeding competition for exclusive mothers at the MRC Auditorium, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja Lagos.

Xavi Ugbana, a sevenmonth-old baby boy who was crowned the Afribaby of

By Patience Ekeowa

the Year as the grand winner went home with a lot of items including Vitafoam mattress, baby chair and baby mattress.

Xavi’s mother, Mrs Uche Ugbana was grateful to Afribaby for the opportunity given to her and her baby to participate in this

year’s award competition.

She also praised the organisers of the programme, Chief Mrs Bintu-Fatima Tinubu, Iyalode of Lagos; Board of Trustees; founder and president of Afribaby, Dr Oscar Odiboh; Director of Afribaby, Mrs Olayinka Odiboh and the editor, Mr Adet Udoh, among others.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

57

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Man charged with murder

AN Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday remanded one Lucky Nnaeto, 33, in Ikoyi Prison for allegedly causing the death of 39-year-old Tunde Odutola.

Magistrate Adefioye said the accused should be kept in prison pending receipt of legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).

Adefioye adjourned the case to June 17.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Corporal Iyobosa Onaiwu, told the court that Nnaeto and others at large, beat Odutola to death.

Onaiwu said the accused committed the offence on April 19 at Awe Crescent by Shipeolu Link in Onipanu, Lagos.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 221 and 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Nnaeto pleaded not guilty.

Man, 38 ‘defiles’ girl, 9 A 38-YEAR-old man, Cyprian Edundu, who allegedly defiled the nine-year-old daughter of his co-tenant, was yesterday charged before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Soji Ojaokomo told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 10 at his residence.

Ojaokomo said the accused, who lives in the same house with the mother of the minor, lured her into his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

“The complainant said the accused threatened to kill the minor if she dared to tell her mother about it. The girl, however, told her mother how Edundu had lured her into his room in the past and how he attempted to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her again,” Ojaokomo said.

The prosecutor said the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Senior Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya, said the case file be duplicated and a copy sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

Adekomaiya granted the accused N100, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum and adjourned the case to June 10.

Vehicle owner gets ultimatum The Ogun State Police Command, have warned the owner of Scorpion car marked QJ 686 FST, Nissan Sunny JW 560 AAA and 33 motorcycles parked at Ilaro and Idiroko Divisions to remove them within 14 days of this publication or lose them to members of the public.

•The protesters...yestrerday

Traders protest monarch’s planned demolition of market

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CORES of traders yesterday stormed Lagos State House of Assembly, appealing for its intervention over alleged the planned demolition of IdiOse market in Apapa by a monarch, Oba Fatai Aromire Ojora.

The traders said the royal father had given them up till Thursday to vacate the market or have their property

By Oziegbe Okoeki

destroyed.

The protesters displayed various placards, with inscriptions such as: “Oba Ojora wants to become Baba Oja,” “Oba Fatai Ojora: stop harassing Idi-Ose market, your wahala too much;” “Lagos!

Save our souls from Oba Ojora from selling Idi-Ose market to an hotelier,” “Oba Fatai Ojora, leave Idi-Ose

market alone, don’t sell it to an hotelier” and “Oba Fatai Ojora, instead of selling IdiOse market to an hotelier better sell the palace,” among others.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the Apapa-Iganmu Iyaloja-General, Alhaja Nike Owoseni, said she got the information about the proposed demolition last Thursday, adding that no fewer than 16 markets under her,

she has been making moves to resolve the impasse.

“When they called me on Thursday that they wanted to pull down the market, we went to police station to complain and we tried also to see the monarch, but we were told that he was celebrating a festival. So I told my people to maintain peace.

“This morning, I was called again that some

Air Force men beat up FAAN official

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FEDERAL Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) official was yesterday allegedly beaten up by two Air Force men at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

The incident occurred while the airmen were carrying out routine air traffic duties at the airport’s departure.

It was learnt that the FAAN official, Mohammed Shuaibu, of the Protocol and Passages Unit, told his friend to come and pick him at the airport.

When he came out of the terminal building, the airmen were seen removing the number-plate of his friend’s car for having stayed too long where it was parked.

Shuaibu went to beg the

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

airmen not to take away the number-plate, but they reportedly rebuffed him despite showing them his identity card.

Shuaibu reportedly collapsed from the beating, with blood oozing from his nostrils.

A FAAN official said Shuaibu was first taken to the FAAN clinic from where he was moved to the airport hospital.

At the time of filing this report: (about 5.49 pm), he had yet to regain consciousness.

“Shuaibu is one of our staff at the protocols and passages section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. He asked his friend to come and pick him. When his friend came, he parked

at the departure unit and called our staff who went to meet him. By the time he arrived, he saw two airmen standing with him and insisted on removing his number-plate.

“Shuaibu begged them and introduced himself as a FAAN staff, but they seemed not to care so an argument ensued and they started beating him. By the time other people arrived on the scene, Shuaibu had collapsed and blood was flowing from different parts of his body.

“We first moved him to FAAN clinic where they said his heart beat was slowing and he was finding it difficult to breathe, so we have to rush him to the airport hospital,” the FAAN official told reporters,” he said.

About three months ago,

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HE Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) yesterday said the Lagos State Government order to its members would have a devastating effect on the economy.

Its President, Mr Salimon Oladiti, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the multiplier

TRADER, Blessing Ebele,31, was yesterday arraigned before a Surulere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N3.2 million from a businessman under the pretext of supplying him 1,800 cartons of matches.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Jimah Iseghede, told the court that the accused committed the offences on August 12 at Iddo Market, Lagos.

He said the accused fraudulently obtained N3.2million from one Mr Abiodun Adeniyi, under the pretext of supplying him the goods.

According to the prosecutor, the accused did not supply the goods as promised and also refused to refund the money when it was demanded.

The accused, pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.F. Adeeyo, granted the accused N500, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned the case till May 26.

effect of the directive might have grave consequences for the country.

“The implication of the vacation order to truck owners/drivers will have devastating effect on the nation’s economy,” he warned.

Oladiti, represented by his spokesperson, Mr Abdulkadir Garba, said the drivers were ready to comply with the order.

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HE Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, yesterday warned against storing petroleum products at home to prevent fire.

He gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, the fire service has observed that the scarcity of fuel has led to

He, however, said it would not be easy to return the trucks to Lagos to lift fuel after being chased out hurriedly.

The union, he said, had met with the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and directed all its members to comply with the 48-hour ultimatum to leave the road.

On May 13, the govern-

31-YEAR-old medicine hawker, Monday Okorie, who allegedly dealt in different types of psychotropic drugs, was yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) preferred a threecount charge of drug peddling against Okorie, who resides on Oniwaya Road in Agege, Lagos.

The Prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, a lawyer with the NDLEA, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 19 at his apartment.

He said the accused unlawfully had in his possession 60 kg of Tramadol, 2.4 kg of Diazepam and 800 grammes of Rohypnol, psychotropic drugs similar to cocaine and heroin.

According to him, the accused sold the harmful drugs to unsuspecting members of the public.

The offence, Aernan said, contravenes Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending trial.

The accused pleaded not guilty and his counsel, Mr G. U. Okaka, urged the court to grant him bail.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke will rule on the bail application tomorrow.

A •Shuaibu...yesterday

a trolley operator at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Lagos airport died following attacks by a naval rating.

ment gave the ultimatum to the drivers to vacate the bridge.

The ultimatum followed the persistent traffic gridlock in Apapa which spilled over to other parts of the metropolis.

The drivers, who parked within 300 meters of fuel depots, were ordered to relocate to safe parking lots pending the availability of petroleum products.

Don’t store fuel, says fire chief panic buying and storage of products at home.

He said: “This has led to fire outbreaks across the state. In the first 14 days, the fire service received 71 emergency calls which is regarded as outrageous.

“Fuel scarcity should not be a yardstick for illegitimate and

youths numbering about 20 were in the market harassing the traders. Our people wanted to retaliate by fighting them but we had to appeal to them for calm,” she said.

Also speaking, the secretary of Idi-Ose Market, Pastor M. A. Adeoye, said the oba was maltreating them like slaves, adding that they were asked to vacate the market since last year.

Chairman House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security Segun Olulade promised that the House would intervene to resolve the issue.

He said: “We have received your petition and I can assure you that within the next 24 hours, we shall invite all the necessary parties that are involved.”

NDLEA arraigns man for drug trafficking

Tanker drivers decry Lagos Govt vacation order

Trader ‘dupes’ businessman of N3.2m

A

PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES

inappropriate storage of fuel to the detriment of lives and properties. Landlords and tenants should be observant and desist from storing fuel at homes and commercial areas.”

He said out of the 71 emergency calls, 64 were fire calls, five rescue calls and two turned out to be false calls.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

58

NEWS ‘Illegal structures will go’ From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE Ogun State government has said it would review the planned demolition of illegal structures in six communities in Ifo Local Government Area, following appeals for leniency.

Over 2000 homes and structures in Onala, Ilupeju, Unity Estate, Araromi and other communities in Agbado Oke-Aro were marked for demolition.

The communities carried out a peaceful protest yesterday, urging Governor Ibikunle Amosun to review the decision.

The peaceful protest was led by the spokesman of the communities, Ademola Olojede.

But the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, who received the protesters, said many of the houses in the communities were erected on waterways.

Adeoluwa said:”We have checked with relevant agencies and discovered that most of the houses are on water pipelines.

“That is wrong. It is against the present effort to set a standard for doing things right in our state.

“The governor will never abandon you. That is why a new team will be visiting you soon to see how adjustments can be made.

“However, the houses which are on the pipelines will have to give way because building on water pipelines, gas lines or construction under high tension cables is dangerous and we don’t want accidents to happen to our people.

“The team will come back to take an audit, but like I said the houses on the pipelines will go.”

Transition committee in Ogun

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has inaugurated a transition committee.

The committee has seven sub-committees, including media, programme content, protocol, entertainment, logistics, security and venue management.

It also has a coordinating committee headed by the Deputy Governor-elect, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga.

Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa, Head of Service Mrs. Modupe Adekunle and Chief of Staff are members.

The governor, who performed the inauguration in his Oke-Mosan office, urged the members to leverage on their professional capacity to come up with a ceremony that will be a reference point.

He said the ceremony would not be elaborate because of the economic situation in the country.

“It should be of Ogun standard and reflect on our selfless service.”

The heads of the committees are Remi Adetayo (Media); Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo (Programme Content); Mrs. Yewande Amusan (Protocol); Mrs. Funmi Ajayi (Entertainment); Alhaji Teju Kareem (Logistics); Lekan Adegbite (Venue Management) and Olayinka Balogun (Security).

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (sixth left); Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (fifth right) in a group photograph with the Head of Service, Mrs. Folashade Jaji (fifth left), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Nike Animashaun (fourth right) and other state officials at a special session with BRF by the Public Service tagged "Time Out with BRF: Indelible Footprints" at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos.

LASU resumes after two-month recess

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HE crisis in the Lagos State University (LASU) may not end soon even as academic activities resumed yesterday after a two-month recess declared by the university management.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions told The Nation yesterday that it was not workers but the university management which had been “on strike”.

A statement by the university’s spokesperson, Mrs. Ronke Osho, said LASU resumed officially yesterday, following an agreement between management, Governing Council and the Student Union executives.

The statement, however, accused workers of being “adamant”, despite repeated moves to compel them to shift grounds.

It reads: “As agreed by the Lagos State University Governing Council, management and the executives of the Stu-

•Obafunwa will not resume, workers insist Staff Association of Nigerian •They are adamant, mgt Universities (SSANU) Oseni

By Adegunle Olugbamila

dents’ Union, normal academic activities resumed on Monday, May 18.

“The decision to re-open the university was reached at a meeting of the university Governing Council, management and executives of the Students’ Union held on Tuesday, May 12 at the Medical Research Centre (MRC), Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos.

“Consequent upon this development, staff and students are expected to return to the campus for normal academic activities.

“However, all the four staff unions (ASUU-LASU, SSANU-LASU, NAAT-LASU and NASU-LASU) have remained adamant, despite the advice by the Acting Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Jide Adesoye, to fol-

low the path of peace.

“All staff, students and the university community have been advised to go about their businesses without any fear of molestation.”

Hundred of policemen from Area E, Festac, converged on the university’s main gate in Ojo to forestall any likely breakdown of law and order.

Sources said the deployment of the security officials may not be unconnected with the return of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa, which may fuel fresh crisis.

Workers insisted that they would agree to all terms, except Obafunwa’s return to campus.

Obafunwa was marched out of the university by protesting workers on March 16, forcing the planned 20th convocation to be aborted.

But Chairman of the Senior

Saheed said a meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow, where all parties are expected to sign a communiqué on pending issues.

“It is true that workers held a congress yesterday and agreed to resume.

“But the truth is we have not yet reached a conclusion with council and management.

“In every crisis, there must be resolutions. We have scheduled another meeting for tomorrow where every party is expected to sign a communiqué.

“Unfortunately, management has not shown much commitment.

“The key issue has been the VC coming back to LASU and if that happens, it has made nonsense of all our past efforts.

“Obafunwa is the bone of contention. We know he has been waiting to force his way

Ekiti CNPP condemns media attacks HE Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in on Fayemi, others Ekiti State has condemned

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what it called “series of coordinated media attacks” targeted at former Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi and his predecessors, Chief Segun Oni and Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

The body said the “coordinated media campaign of calumny” was aimed at painting the former governors in bad light to undermine their political standings and demean their achievements.

In a statement yesterday by its Chairman, Tunji Ogunlola and Public Relations Officer Ayo Adelabu, the body said it was unfair to blame the collapse of democratic structures in the state on the former governors.

The Ekiti CNPP said the trio deserve to be commended for the achievements they recorded in office and the dignity with which they conducted themselves while in power.

The CNPP said: “The most virulent of these attacks in form of hate write-ups have been directed more on Fayemi.

“We noticed that the frequency of media attacks on Fayemi increased after he appeared in a media picture with the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Mr. Garba Shehu while Buhari was receiving

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Defence House.”

The CNPP said it was appalled by the “pull him down tactics” that characterised these media attacks.

“Contrary to their callous denigration of Dr Fayemi, sincere Nigerians appreciate that ordinary Ekiti man on the street fared better during his time when they benefited

from empowerment programmes, such as the social security for the elderly, job volunteer’s scheme, conditional cash transfer, youths in commercial agriculture and many more.

“Apart from these, workers’ salaries were paid as at when due. Unfortunately, all these life-supporting schemes have been scrapped but our hate campaigners are not saying anything about it.

IG deploys special squad in Ekiti, Kogi

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HE Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has assured the people of Ekiti State of rapid response to the spate of kidnapping.

Arase spoke when Governor Ayodele Fayose visited him in his office. He promised to deploy special teams to Ekiti and Kogi states within the next 48 hours.

The IG said the police will do everything to ensure that all states are rid of criminals. Arase assured the governor that Ekiti will soon become safe for economic activities.

Fayose congratulated the IG on his well deserved elevation, noting that he was at the Police Headquarters to intimate the IG on the

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

state of security in Ekiti.

He said the dimension of kidnapping in the state was strange, noting that about eight people have been kidnapped in the last three weeks.

The governor, therefore, appealed to Arase to deploy experts to the state.

He said people were becoming agitated and the government is very much concerned.

Addressing reporters, Fayose expressed his readiness to continue to create an enabling environment for the police to thrive.

He said all must work together, irrespective of party affiliations, to ensure a peaceful Ekiti.

back into the university.

“Once the Obafunwa factor is resolved, peace will return to LASU.” ASUU Chairman Dr Adekunle Idris said yesterday’s congress resolved that workers must begin lectures.

He added that some of his colleagues even taught and supervised projects yesterday.

Idris said: “We believe very strongly that the management’s press release was not truthful.

“We also met with the Acting Chairman of Council on Saturday night and made it clear to him that our members are not on strike.

“We are glad that students are now being recalled by management, which created the crisis in the first place.”

But when asked if the union would tolerate Obafunwa’s return to campus, Idris did not respond.

“I have no comment on that,” he told our reporter on phone.

Council caretakers sworn in From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

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IXTEEN newly appointed local government caretaker chairmen in Taraba State were yesterday sworn-in by Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi.

Chief Judge Justice Josephine Turktur administered the oath of office at the Government House Executive Council Chambers.

Among them is Danladi Danfulani Suntai, a younger brother of Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai. He will take charge of Bali council.

The newly sworn-in caretakers include Philemon Bitah (Ardo-Kola), Danladi Danfulani Suntai (Bali), Barnabas Ibrahim (Donga), Mohammed Umar Gyam (Gashaka), Tukura Bashiri (Gassol), Iliya Mohammed Ajibu (Ibi), Hassan Bappa (Jalingo) and Barnabas Yusuf (Karimlamido).

Others are: Ibrahim Stephen Agya (Kurmi), Nelson Banka (Lau), Mohammed Tepsy Warwar (Sardauna), Caleb Bitrus Tabsi (Takum), Abershi Musa (Ussa), Daniel Angyu (Wukari), Zakari Buba Nyala (Yorro) and Haruna Konko (Zing).

The caretakers are to serve for three months. Each of them has a deputy, secretary and nine supervisory councilors to work with.

The acting governor said the tenures of the (former) elected council bosses expired on May 17.

He said: “According to the provision of Section 15(2) of the State Independent Electoral Commission Law, the commission ought to have conducted fresh election 30 days before the expiration of their tenure.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

59

NEWS Two suspected robbers set ablaze in Benue

El-Rufai to probe N2.744b SURE-P fund K ADUNA State Governor-elect Nasir ElRufai has said his incoming administration will probe the N2.744 billion Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) money the outgoing government allegedly got approval to spend in the twilight of the administration.

The governor-elect was reacting yesterday to the attempt by the outgoing Mukhtar Yero administration to secure approval to spend N2.744 billion SUREP fund.

El-Rufai alleged that the government had put pressure on the House of Assembly to approve the money, barely two weeks to the end of its tenure.

The Nation, last Saturday, reported that the All Progres-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

sives Congress (APC) caucus in the House of Assembly had threatened to impeach Yero over the SURE-P fund.

A statement in Kaduna by spokesperson for the governor-elect, Samuel Aruwan, said the incoming APC government would punish anyone found culpable in the SURE-P fund diversion.

According to the statement, El-Rufai said:, “I have been made aware of desperate attempts to secure approval to spend N2.744 billion SURE-P funds. Less than two weeks to its exit, the outgoing government of Kadu-

na State is seeking to pressure the outgoing House of Assembly to permit it to spend 50 per cent of the money on Kawo Road, while the 23 local government areas will share the balance.

“As governor-elect, it is my duty to caution every official involved in these lastminute deals that the incoming government will ensure that there are consequences for illegal conduct, breach of trust and stealing of public assets. Our government will certainly insist on accountability, and no one should be in any doubt about our resolve - be it the instigators of any impropriety or those who facilitated and executed

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•El-Rufai

it.

“Our transition committee is daily inundated with reports about the dire financial straits in which the outgoing government has placed the state.

“While I await the formal submission of the committee’s report, I am compelled to publicly affirm that we cannot and will not turn a blind eye to bad behaviour.”

Scores protest return of hoodlums in Ilorin

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CORES of youths, market men and women yesterday protested in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, over alleged return of street urchins, called “Area Boys”, to the metropolis.

A combined team of the military, last month, clamped down on the “Area Boys”, following the fracas at Agbarere in Ilorin.

Three persons were killed in the fracas.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, alleging that some of the hoodlums arrested had returned to the street and were threatening to attack the residents.

•Police urge ‘thugs’ to surrender arms From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

It was learnt that the protest followed the alleged threat the traders and the youths received from the suspected hoodlums after they were freed from detention.

The traders heaved a sigh of relief when the thugs were arrested.

One of the protesters said: “We got information from some of the ‘Area Boys’ that they are now back and would resume their operation.

That’s why we staged this peaceful protest.”

The protesters marched on

the palace of the Emir of Ilorin.

The Emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari, urged the protesters to be patient.

A palace official, who confided in our correspondent, said: “The Emir gave them audience. They stated their grievances and the Emir assured them that he would convey their grievances to the appropriate quarters.”

Also, the police command advised suspected thugs to surrender their ammunitions to avoid arrest and prosecution.

Police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP),

spoke yesterday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin, the state capital.

Okasanmi noted that it was illegal for any youth or thug to possess firearms and other dangerous weapons.

He said anybody caught with such items would be prosecuted according to the law.

The police spokesman said the joint security operations in the state had restored normalcy to the areas affected by the recent fracas in Ilorin.

He dismissed allegations that some innocent individuals were being arrested as suspects in the clampdown on suspected thugs who unleashed mayhem on Ilorin.

Kano pension fund trustee: N20b not missing

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HE Senior Special Assistant to Kano State Governor on Pension Matters, Comrade Balarabe Ibrahim Gwarzo, yesterday dismissed the allegation that N20 billion is missing from the State Pension Fund.

Gwarzo also disassociated himself from a statement credited to him by a national newspaper that he con-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

firmed the missing of N20 billion in the coffers of the pension fund.

The governor’s aide disagreed with Comrade Ali Manir Matawalle, a former Chairman of Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who claimed that N20 billion was misappropriated from the

pension fund.

According to him, Matawalle’s allegation has the potential of damaging the reputation of the state government, the pension fund and the NLC. Gwarzo said: “I wish to state clearly that there is no verified information or evidence of any missing funds from pension. But it is desir-

able on our part to evolve a transparent and credible way of confirming and verifying the allegation made by Comrade Matawalle. This would mean involving credible, honest and trusted stakeholders to carry out the verification.”

He urged NLC leadership to set up a committee to verify the alleged missing fund.

Ortom, Akume, others back state reconciliation

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ENUE State Governor-elect Samuel Ortom, Senators George Akume and Barnabas Gemade and other political leaders in the state have backed the reconciliation agenda set by religious leaders.

Catholic Bishops and the Synod of the NKST Church, at the weekend, organised separate thanksgiving services at St. John’s Cathedral in Gboko and College of Health Technology at Mkar to praise God for peaceful polls.

The religious leaders prayed for the outgoing administration and its incoming counterpart.

They urged political leaders to put behind them the electioneering period and reconcile with one another to chart a development course for the state.

Bishop of Gboko Diocese, William Avenya, urged elected public officials to improve the lives of the people who he said were passing through untold hardship.

The Tor Tiv, Dr Alfred Torkula, urged the leaders to show tolerance, accommodation, magnanimity and forgiveness.

These, the monarch said, are among the necessary ingredients for peace, unity and peace.

A former Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University, Prof Akase Paul Sorkaa, urged the incoming administration to place priority on health care, education, potable water and rule of law.

Mrs Helen Bendega expressed optimism that Benue State would be reinvented.

She called for the involvement of women in rebuilding the state.

Prof Saint Gbilekaa, the Chief of Staff to Governor Gabriel Suswam, said there should be emphasis on agriculture in the job creation agenda of the incoming government.

He urged youths to abandon crime and embrace legal means of livelihood.

Suswam, who was repre-

sented by Deputy Governor Steve Lawani, expressed appreciation to the people for the opportunity to serve the state for eight years.

The governor regretted the mistakes his administration might have made, adding that no government can record 100 per cent achievements.

Akume hailed the religious leaders for the reconciliation initiative.

The senator urged all to contribute to the regeneration of the state.

He advised Suswam to embrace the healing and reconciliation of the state.

Akume also hailed the NKST for pioneering evangelism and education.

The Senate Minority Leader said the church had produced eminent Nigerians.

He urged youths to shun cultism and other crimes and embrace education.

Akume advised those keeping arms to turn them in to the government.

Gemade described the thanksgiving services as mile-

stones for the healing of the state.

The senator noted that the greatest lesson from what has happened was that man should allow God to take preeminence.

His wife, Chief Mrs Victoria Gemade, urged Christians to persevere in prayers and those who promote discord to desist from the practice.

Ortom said a new dawn had come to Benue State.

The governor-elect urged the residents to embrace the rule of law.

He advised the church to also intervene in agriculture as it did in education and health.

Rev Philip Tachin took the sermon from Matthew 6: 9-13.

The cleric urged all to work for the coming of the kingdom of God. President of the NKST Synod, Rev. Ayohol Ate, urged the leaders to address the alleged moves to annihilate the Tiv and their neglect in appointments at the Federal level.

WO suspected robbers have been lynched and set ablaze at Aliade, headquarters of Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.

An eyewitness said the robbers attacked a motorcyclist, Orjimin Numve, who was conveying three passengers.

It was learnt that as the cyclist dropped his passengers, three suspected robbers pulled out a gun and started beating him.

The suspected robbers allegedly snatched the machine and attempted to escape with it.

But they were said to have run into a road block

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

mounted by some cyclists, who heard of the attack.

Two of the suspected robbers were overpowered, lynched and set ablaze.

The third reportedly escaped into the bush.

Police Commissioner Hyacinth Dagala condemned the killing.

He urged the public to always hand over suspects to the police for investigation and prosecution.

Gwer East local government Area Chairman Fidelis Humbe urged commercial motorcycle operators not to take the law into their hands.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

NEWS Govt okays Med-View for London

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HE Federal Government has designated Med-View Airline on additional 10 foreign routes.

The routes include : London, in the United Kingdom, Lisbon in Portugal, Douala in Cameroon and Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Other routes are; Abidjan in Cote D’Ivoire, Bamako in Mali, Monrovia in Liberia, Conakry in Guinea and Freetown in Sierra Leone.

The approval was contained in a letter addressed to the airline management dated April 23rd by the ministry of aviation.

The letter was signed on behalf of the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, by the Deputy Director, Air Transport Management in the ministry, M.S. Noibi.

The letter gave the airline a deadline to commence operations to the affected routes or lose the right.

“You are advised to comply with all the rules and regulations of the aeronautical authorities of Nigeria and the respective countries.

Also, failure to operate any of the routes mentioned above for more than six International Air Transport Association (IATA) seasons will lead to revocation of the designation in accordance with extant policy on designations.

Preparations have been set in motion by the management to put all logistics on ground for the commencement of operations to these routes.

When Our correspondent

•Lagos State Deputy Governor Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire (third left), Commissioner for Establishments Training & Pensions Mrs Florence Oguntuase (right), Prof Olufemi Biniro of the Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan (left), Prof Gbolahan Omodeinde of the Department of Fisheries, Lagos State University with students at the first exhibition of the Lagos State Research and Development Grant (LRDG) projects...yesterday.

•Chidoka

By Kelvin Osa-Okubor, Staff Correspondent

visited the airline, preparations were ongoing to put all logistics on ground for the commencement of operations to the routes.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

NPDC workers on strike over OML 42 operators

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ORKERS of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), have begun an indefinite strike over the award of operatorship of oil mining lease (OML 42), to Neconde.

It is an indigenous oil firm that bought Shell’s divested stakes in the asset. The NPDC was the operator of the oil block before the operatorship was withdrawn and transferred to Neconde for lack of capacity.

The NPDC workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Na-

•Mediation on in Abuja

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

tional Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) started the strike on Sunday night and they are calling for the reversal of the award of the operatorship right back to NPDC. They claimed that the NPDC, contrary to reports, have the capacity and competence to operate the said field.

The workers, The Nation gathered, are angry that they were not carried along by management in the entire process, and are also concerned that the decision would threaten their jobs and jeopardize the

future of the industry.

The strike has affected all NPDC operated assets as productions are shut-in, which is also affecting indigenous companies in joint venture with it except for Neconde that prior to the crisis, had been awarded the operatorship of OML 42 that currently is being secured by the Joint Task Force (JTF) Other indigenous firms that bought Shell’s divested stakes in other oil blocks that are waiting for the award of operatorship of their blocks such as Elcrest (OML 40), Shoreline OML 30 and FHN/ Afren (OML 26) have been shut in and oil evacuation from OML 34 which relies on the OML 30 pumping station is hampered.

The shut-in according to industry operators would have a devastating effect on Nigeria’s economy. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele recently said: “Nigeria has

faced continued pressure from spiraling debts, in the face of dwindling revenues resulting from falling global crude oil prices. Many of the 36 states of the federation are barely able to meet their obligations to contractors and workers from their monthly allocations from the federation account. Foreign reserves have slumped to about $29.9 billion as at March ending.” Therefore, further decline in the nation’s revenues will be very bad, they said adding if the strike is allowed to persist, it will also affect the power sector as NPDC supplies at least 30 per cent of gas required to generate electricity.

NPDC has been under attack for alleged lack of technical and financial strength to operate Shell’s divested assets. The indigenous firms that bought Shell’s stakes said under NPDC’s operatorship, oil production from all the assets have de-

clined leading to sharp drop in revenues and obligations to host communities are also not met. According to them, they could have gotten more production out of the oil blocks as operators than NPDC does as operator. The Federal Government has seen the gap and is giving back the operatorship to the private sector led firms just as it did to Seplat Petroleum.

Seplat in July 2010, acquired a 45 per cent participating interest in OMLs 4, 38 and 41, and was appointed operator of the assets with NPDC holding 55 per cent.

Seplat produces an average of 70,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) from the assets more than all the SPDC’s divested assets operated by NPDC. A source at the NNPC, however, said the top management of the corporation (the Group Executive Committee) has been meeting with the officials of the NPDC PENGASSAN and NUPENG and will continue to engage them until the issue is amicably resolved.

Jonathan under attack over new appointments Continued from page 5

University of Ibadan.

The governing boards have since been inaugurated. A new pro-chancellor had been appointed for the premier university.

Also sacked by the president after his electoral defeat are Inspector General of Police Sunday Abba; Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC) Gbenga Elegbeleye; Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi and Executive Secretary, Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Mrs Sharon Kasali. They were all replaced.

There were comments yesterday on the President’s actions.

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties(CNPP) and a senator-elect, Comrade Shehu Sani, condemned the “lastminute” appointments being made by President Jonathan.

They said the appointments were in bad faith to create landmines for President- elect Muhammadu Buhari.

The CNPP, which spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Osita Okechukwu, said it was unethical for the President to make such appointments

when he has technically become a lame-duck leader.

Okechukwu said: “It is unethical to make such appointments. Although the President may be hiding under the law, the ethics of the presidential system does not allow it.

“In America, from where we copied the presidential system, once it is one year or six months to the presidential election, you become a lameduck president. You cannot order or initiate a drastic policy. You are now restricted.

“Jonathan’s actions are unethical and suspicious of laying landmines for the incoming administration. Decency portends that whatever you did not do in office for five years, you cannot do it overnight.

“As a loser of an election, the best Jonathan can do is to tidy up his files for the incoming administration instead of embarking on reckless appointments a month or two weeks to his exit. All he is doing is in bad faith.

“Jonathan seems to be confirming the narratives that some forces attempted to stop the announcement of the results of the March 28 presidential election.”

Rights activist Sani said Jonathan was using the belated appointments to vent

his anger against those he felt betrayed him.

He also said Jonathan was manifesting a sign of frustration after political undertakers had failed him.

Sani said: “President Goodluck Jonathan’s lastminute hiring and firing policy is aimed at venting his anger against those whom he felt betrayed him and at the same time planting new lackeys who will act as fifth columnist and internal saboteurs for the incoming administration.

“Behind the facade of a ‘heroic leader who accepted defeat and congratulated President-elect Buhari’ GEJ is a disappointed and frustrated man who felt betrayed after torrents of assurances by his friends, hangers on and political undertakers who led him to the grave of his political career.

“GEJ built his tower of dream for second term from a foundation of political deceit and perfidy.

“GEJ’s exit plan is to create and leave behind stooges whose activities in the next government will make Nigerians turn back to appreciate GEJ “President GEJ is a wounded lion who is in a traumatic state of confusing smile for a jest and even a handshake as a mockery.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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FOREIGN NEWS Burundi: President fires ministers as protest continues

Protesters demonstrate in the Musaga neighbourhood of Bujumbura after the failed coup, despite warnings from the government.

PHOTO:AFP

Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen resume after truce expires

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AUDI-LED airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Shiite rebels resumed yesterday and fierce clashes were underway across the impoverished country after a five-day truce expired, as one-sided talks boycotted by the rebels offered little hope of ending the conflict.

The cease-fire had been repeatedly violated, with the Houthis, and Saudi-backed forces loyal to exiled Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi trading blame for the continued violence.Dozens of politicians and tribal leaders have

been holding talks in the Saudi capital to discuss a way out of the crisis, but the rebels boycotted the meeting and Iran, which supports the Houthis, objected to the venue.

The coalition accuses Shiite-majority Iran of arming the Houthi rebels as part of a larger struggle with Sunni Saudi Arabia over regional influence, something the Islamic Republic and the rebels deny.

The Riyadh dialogue is set to conclude today. The Houthis reject the main aim of the talks - the restoration of Hadi, who fled the country in

March in the face of rebel advances - and their location in Saudi Arabia, which since March 26 has been leading an air campaign against the Houthis and allied military units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The truce appears to have allowed the Houthis and their allies to deploy more troops to Aden, where there has been heavy fighting for weeks. Hadi had declared a temporary capital in the southern city before he fled.

The Houthis captured Sanaa last year.In Taiz, Yemen’s third largest city, street battles raged

throughout the cease-fire.

Medical officials there said more than 41 civilians have been killed and 230 wounded over the past month. They blamed most of the deaths on what they said was random shelling on residential areas

by Houthis and allied forces.

Coalition airstrikes meanwhile struck rebel positions, artillery pieces and tanks in several neighborhoods of Aden after the cease-fire expired at 11 p.m. (2000 GMT) Sunday, Yemeni security officials said.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because

EU to launch anti-trafficking action soon

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EUROPEAN Union naval operation to go after the trafficking networks that send thousands of migrants across the Mediterranean into Europe could be launched in the coming weeks with NATO ready to help out if needed, officials said Monday.The EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said she expects a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers to agree to establish the operation.

Once that is done, it will have to find the ships and equipment and work out a proper military plan before action can be taken.

Officials added that some parts of the plan could be enforced independently but that the destruction of boats would need U.N. approval.

The 28-country EU has been under increasing pressure to take action to clamp down on the trafficking networks that’s seen thousands die in the wa-

Three EU nations pledge cooperation on developing ‘Euro-drone’

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ERMANY, France and Italy have pledged cooperation to jointly develop a “Euro-drone” for intelligence-gathering and surveillance of the skies.The three yesterday committed to a two-year study to have a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System ready within a decade.They said in a statement that “once operational, the system will perform long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.”The nations also see the project as a way to strengthen defense cooperation in Europe’s fragmented market.

ters of the Mediterranean over the past few years.

More than 10,000 people have been picked up alive from the central Mediterranean in recent weeks as they attempted to enter Europe from Libya.

The International Organisation for Migration estimates that nearly 1,830 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean this year compared to 207 in the same period last year.

Islamic State killed hundreds as it took Iraq’s Ramadi

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SLAMIC State militants likely killed up to 500 Iraqi civilians and soldiers and forced 8,000 people to flee from their homes as they captured the Iraqi city of Ramadi, a provincial official said yesterday, while the extremists went door-to-door looking for policemen and progovernment tribesmen.

Iraq’s government and Iranian-backed Shiite militias vowed to mount a counter-offensive and reclaim Ramadi, the capital of the overwhelmingly Sunni Anbar province.

Iran’s Defense Minister Gen. Hossein Dehghan flew to Baghdad on a surprise visit for urgent talks with Iraqi leaders.

The fall of Ramadi was a stunning defeat for Iraq’s security forces and military, which fled as the Islamic State extremists overwhelmed the last hold-out positions of progovernment forces, despite the support of U.S.-led airstrikes targeting the extremists. Online video showed Humvees, trucks and other equipment speeding out of Ramadi, with soldiers desperate to reach safety gripping onto their sides.

The figures could not be independently confirmed, but Islamic State militants have in the past killed hundreds of civilians and soldiers in the aftermath of their major victories.

Mogherini said EU nations “can move forward with the planning and possibly launch the operation in the coming weeks” once Monday’s decision is taken.

Those weeks coincide with the high season for migrant crossings.

Though NATO has not yet been approached for help, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Western military alliance stands “ready to help if there is a

request.”Stoltenberg said the alliance, 22 of whose member states also belong to the EU, is also ready to help Libya’s government with defense-capacity building “when the situation on the ground allows for that kind of cooperation.”

He added that he strongly welcomes U.N. efforts to forge a government of national unity and achieve a cease-fire. Underscoring the need for action on the traffickers, Stoltenberg said “one of the problems is that there might be foreign fighters, there might be terrorists, also trying to hide, to blend in” on the vessels trying to cross over into Europe.

The EU is looking for U.N. backing to make its naval operation as comprehensive as possible, especially since any backing from a Libyan government with limited authority on the ground could raise questions, even among EU nations.

9 dead, scores wounded and 170 arrested in Waco, TX fracas

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OLICE knew there could be trouble and had officers on the scene even before five rival bike gangs began shooting and stabbing each other, in a brawl that spilled into the adjacent parking lot of several familyfriendly businesses, police said.

By the time the melee at the Waco, Texas, Twin Peaks restaurant was finished, at least nine people were dead, 17 were hospitalized and the arrest tally soared into “the 170s,” Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said.

What police saw was more brutal than what they’d anticipated — and that might be an understatement. Swanton said in his 35 years of law enforcement experience, “this is the most violent and gruesome scene that I have dealt with.”

The scores of suspects locked up in the McLellan County Jail on Monday morning face charges of engaging in organised crime in connection with the shootout, Swanton said.

Prosecutors and investigators could elect to level other charges, including capital murder, he said, but the organized crime charge is “pretty serious.”

“It doesn’t get much more significant than that,” he said.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has shut down the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco for the next week, Swanton said.

they were not authorised to brief reporters.

BURUNDI’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has sacked three cabinet ministers while protesters returned to the streets days after a failed coup attempt.

The defence, external relations and trade ministers were dismissed in a cabinet reshuffle.

Burundi and Rwanda were German colonies from the 19th century until the end of the Second World War. Then Belgium took control of the so-called “Rwanda-Urundi”, modern day Rwanda and Burundi.

Burundi gained independence and established a constitutional monarchy in 1962. It became a republic in 1966.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

NATION SPORT PWC Chess4Change: Kings College wins Best School, Individualtopsprizes as the best individual

LMC wants three referees, six assistants investigated K

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HE League Management Company (LMC) has lodged a complaint with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Committee against three center referees and their assistants for poor officiating in some of the Match Day 9 fixtures played on Sunday, May 17.

The LMC asked the Referees Committee to have the officials stepped down from further games

should they have been appointed pending the outcome of investigations. The match officials are facing allegations of poor officiating, questionable calls and lack of diligence.

Center Referee Henry Ogunyamodi of Ondo State and his assistants are being investigated for the match in Nnewi between hosts Gabros International and Sharks of Port Harcourt. The assis-

tant referees are O. O Awosakin of ondo and Justin Takyun of Nasarawa Also to be investigated are the Referees that handled the Wikki Tourists versus Lobi Stars match in Bauchi. They are Center Referee Ahmed Dan Zaria from Kaduna State and his assistants Alfa Abdulganiyu from Jigawa and Muktar Ismail from Kano State.

The other match under investigation is the fixture in Lafia between

Nasarawa United and Sunshine Stars which had Patrick Nworie from Enugu as Center Referee and Iriabor A of Ebonyi and Ubani Andy from Imo as assistants.

The LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar said later that the LMC will continue to monitor match officials to protect and ensure the integrity of the outcomes of the games. He appealed to the host clubs to refrain from acts of intimidation and other possible acts that might diminish the spirit of the game.

INGS College, Victoria Island and its student, Babalola Peters emerged the winners in schools and individual categories of the maiden PriceWaterCooper (PWC) Chess4Change Grand Slam for Secondary Schools organised by the Lagos State Chess Association (LSCA) which held in Lagos from Wednesday, May 14-16. The tournament which is supported by the foremost accounting and audit firm, aims to equip the students with the skills for applying strategic thinking in solving day to day problems of the larger society.

Kings College finished

player and was followed by Benjamin Haruna of Akande Dahunsi Memorial Secondary School and Obasi Samson of Falomo Senior High School in second and third positions respectively.

To win the competition, Kings College won in all four rounds and were rewarded with four computer desktops and a printer which will be installed in the school’s ICT room. The first and second runnersup, Akande Dahunsi Memorial Secondary School and Falomo Senior High School got two desktop computers with the first runners-up also getting a printer.

All set for finals of GTB Lagos Principals’ Cup

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HE finals of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Lagos State Principals Cup competition holds tomorrow at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

The biggest grassroots football competition in West Africa enters its concluding phase as four schools in the male and female categories are set to compete for the highly coveted winners trophies.

For six years consecutively, the competition has provided a developmental platform for young talents

to be identified, nurtured and contribute immensely to the development of grassroots football.

615 teams drawn from secondary schools across 6 districts in Lagos State, featured in this season’s competition which is tagged "Smash all Barriers. Players like Salisu Anuoluwapo from Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun and Moshood Akano from Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Sabo, are notable names to look out for. Both players scored 5 and 3 goals respectively, and emerged as the most valu-

able player 3 times in the course of the tournament.

In the build up to the finals, Keke High School, Ijaiye defeated Ifako Comprehensive Senior Secondary School Gbagada by a lone goal, while Ikorodu Senior High School, Ikorodu lost to Birrel Avenue Secondary School Sabo by 2-1. In the female category, Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu knocked out CMS Girls Senior Secondary School Bariga 4-3 on penalties, just as Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun edged out government Senior College,

Agege by 3-1. Third Place matches will be played on Monday 18th May, 2015.

This year’s finals promises to be full of pomp and glamour as new sets of young stars will be ushered into limelight.

The female final match starts at 11am while the male final match will kick off from 1pm. The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Segun Agbaje are expected to hand over trophies to the winning GTBank-Lagos State schools.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘Buhari must develop a federalist mindset.

That would be a pleasant combo for the latest democrat on the bloc’ VOL.10

NO. 3219

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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ORMER British Prime Minister Tony Blair, also known as Phony Tony, and as Tony Bliar, came calling last week in Abuja, one of the few capitals where he can still count on a respectful welcome. It was his third visit in just a little over four years.

In February 2010, his hands still wet with the blood of tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis liberated from this world and from their relations in a military invasion that he helped gin up with a raft of lies, Blair was invited – along with fellow war criminals former U.S. president George W. Bush and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice – by one newspaper basking in false affluence to speak at a ceremony in Abuja honouring distinguished Nigerians past and present.

Blair even got to meet acting President Goodluck Jonathan, as he then was, to discuss “matters of mutual interest” between Nigeria and Britain, and how he would like that relationship to remain strong.

He was back nine months later, declaiming with the unctuousness that becomes him so well that the “international community” was nursing a great deal of interest and excitement in Nigeria’s elections scheduled for 2011.

More to the point of his new career as a money-grubbing influence peddler, he declared, with JP Morgan chief executive officer Jamie Damon beside him, that the global financial giant’s decision to upgrade its Nigerian office to a full branch was a demonstration of confidence in Nigeria and in President Jonathan’s effort to transform the economy.

Shortly after that visit, JPMorgan bagged a huge chunk of Nigeria’s controversial Sovereign Wealth Fund, even as it recorded huge losses resulting from reckless transactions.

His most recent visit to Abuja was no accident. It was designed to secure future access in the Buhari dispensation for the major players in international high finance, for which he is a well paid lobbyist.

It was entirely in character that Blair should have presumed at every stop to speak for the “international community,” though he holds no public office and is in fact a hugely discredited politician who, in a just world, should be in prison serving time for war crimes.

So unpopular and discredited had he become at the end of his record tenure as prime minster that he could not embark on a farewell tour of Britain, where he was sure to be greeted with shouts of “Liar, Liar” and pelted with tomatoes and eggs. They even rechristened him Bliar. And so, he travelled instead to bid farewell to British troops in Basra, in Iraq, and in Afghanistan.

Blair’s quest to become president of the European Council ended in humiliation.

RIPPLES

PDP ‘LL NOT CHANGE IDENTITY, says Metuh

Your IDENTITY?...Hmm, even if you change it, ‘STEALING ‘ll NOT BE CORRUPTION’.

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

An unwelcome visitor

•Blair

The British Government withdrew its backing when it became clear that member countries wanted nothing to do with him. The Middle East for which Blair was designated international mediator has rarely witnessed greater turmoil.

The last time Blair went to testify before a parliamentary committee looking into how the UK entered the unholy alliance that invaded, occupied and destroyed Iraq, he had to be smuggled into the committee room through a back door, to save him from the wrath of protesters.

This was not the way the script was supposed to end for the youngest prime minister since 1812, the accomplished politician who rescued Britain from the exhausted Tories, redefined its place in world politics, and led his Labour Party to three successive election victories. He seemed destined for greatness.

But hubris and delusion soon set in, and glory turned to ashes.

The September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States presented him an opportunity to project himself as a statesman

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ELP Odu’a, help! They want to kill Gani Adams, help!

That is the frantic call from Ganiyu Adams, leader of a faction of the Odu’a People’s Congress (OPC), whose pre-election sweetheart deal with President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led to the rude and crude invasion of Lagos streets by charm-waving and weaponthreatening OPC cadre, joined by other Jonathan fair-weather friends, to press the president’s right to a compulsory second term.

Gani says after that atavistic show in Lagos on a Monday morning, that show of equalopportunity anarchy, he has known no peace. He whines that his paradise is lost.

He whines even more that that paradise may never be regained. Pity!

Hardball, with all his soul, empathises with the embattled Gani. Indeed, the word is empathy and not sympathy — empathy because whoever sees coming death and not shiver? Who? But what “death” is Gani talking about?

If he is talking of physical death, that would amount to over-dramatisation of this present travails. Why would anyone want to kill the living dead?

Long live Gani, the private citizen and

of global reckoning. The United States would not fight alone, he assured Americans. Britain would stand “shoulder to shoulder” with them as they confronted the terrorist threat.

From then on Blair made it his business to confect a casus belli, just in case the United States could not come up with a compelling one. First he published a dossier on what he said was Iraq’s weapons-of-mass-production programme. It was a “dodgy” document, copied in part from a sophomoric doctoral dissertation that an American university had rejected.

Next, he put it out that Iraq had sought to buy uranium cake from Niger Republic. The document detailing the alleged transaction was a transparent forgery. The minister who purportedly signed on behalf of the Niger Government had left office at least eight years earlier. It is as if Federal Government documents dated May 2014 were to surface today bearing the signature of Sule Lamido as Nigeria’s foreign minister.

He also claimed, falsely, that Iraq had developed nuclear weapons that it could assemble and deploy for combat within 45 minutes — the same Iraq that could not shoot down a single plane from the armada that had been patrolling its air space and since the end of the Gulf war and bombing military and nonmilitary assets at will.

The United States quickly latched on the document as proof that its homeland was imperilled, and that it could not afford to have its skies darkened by a mushroom cloud before striking.

For his domestic audience, Blair declared that Iraq had developed missiles capable of hitting British forces in Cyprus. Why Iraq would want to attack British troops in Cyprus he never explained.

So determined was Blair to take Britain to war that even when Bush offered him a chance to change course, fearing that the British parliament might not share America’s enthusiasm for war, Blair deployed his fo-

HARDBALL Odu’a help! They want to kill Gani humble carpenter who despite his lowly nativity rose to some national prominence, in self-projected defence of his Yoruba nationality, in the ceaseless crisis of Nigerian nationhood. Gani is a young man. Other things being equal, he will live his life to old age.

But Gani as a champion of Yoruba causes, no matter how misguided and how unconventional? That one would appear dead!

Now, if that Gani is existentially dead, and his OPC, at best of times a rogue underclass group, that has now proved itself a racketeer for filthy lucre, even against the very same perceived Yoruba interest both claimed to be vanguard, is that not existential death?

So, if Citizen Gani gripes about some threatened physical liquidation, the Police and other security agencies should urgently attend to his cry. But he labours in vain if he feels that, by such an alarm, he can claw his way back to relevance.

MKO, the irreplaceable Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the late Nigerian elected

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

rensic skills to stay the course, with no consideration for the massive anti-war demonstrations in London and around the world.

Whenever he prefaces a statement with “to be perfectly honest” or “to be absolutely candid,” which he does very often, you could be sure that he was going to zap you with a falsehood, a barefaced lie.

Contrived earnestness, evangelical fervor, and the ability to tell a blatant lie with a straight face: That is the quintessence of Tony Blair No weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq. But by the time British forces pulled out, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi had been killed. Hundreds of thousands more had been displaced, and Iraq lay in ruins. Hundreds of British soldiers had also been killed – all for a lie.

Blair says he is not sorry for that lie because others also believed it. True, Britannia no longer rules the waves, but when did Britain become just another country?

He compounds his war crimes each time he asserts that removing Saddam from power was the right thing to do. But at what cost?

The hundreds of thousands of Iraqis whom Blair’s warmongering removed from this world, and the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis it turned into refugees or otherwise brought to ruin have no place in Blair’s consciousness.

He condoned or turned a blind eye to torture. Four years ago, to head off trials that would have embarrassed the authorities, the British Government agreed to pay out millions of pounds to persons tortured by officials in parts of Iraq occupied by British forces.

No wonder then, that when Blair offered to donate the earnings from his memoir to the families of British troops killed or wounded in Iraq, they rejected it angrily, calling it “blood money”.

In a just world Tony Blair would be serving a long jail term — my aversion to capital punishment is total and unconditional, unlike his — for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

By receiving Blair in Abuja, Presidentelect Buhari has returned whatever favour he owes for the photo opportunity Blair accorded him in London earlier this year.

Henceforth, the Federal Government and other Nigerian institutions must stop inflicting him on the public Portions of this piece first appeared in this space on November 23, 2010. The column was titled “Phony Tony: The Liar’s progress.”

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above president that was never inaugurated said it all — and his bank was the unceasing Yoruba well of traditional wise-cracks. You declared yourself on a money-making trip, but on the way, you fortuitously ran into honour. Be wise: about your trip — even if you made money, would you not use it to acquire honour?

This was one of MKO’s rich repertoire during his June 12 annulment odyssey. It eventually claimed his life, but made him a martyr of Nigerian democracy, the grim honour no money — and he had loads of that — can buy!

Ironically, it was during this titanic struggle for national voter sovereignty, turned Yoruba rights because most others chickened out, that Gani emerged with Pa Frederick Fasehun, who claimed to have founded OPC. In the pre-election manoeuvres however, both appeared to have self-destruct: the one young and callow; the other old and not-so-wise; but both certainly throwing their lot with money and hardly with honour! That seems to explain the socalled Jonathan sweetheart pipeline security contract, for which they risked everything!

Now that Gani Adams and his OPC have chosen money over honour, they should live happily ever after with their choice — as the living dead!

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