SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY 2019

FG Earns $1bn from Renewal of 22 Oil Blocks Set to deploy N72bn intervention fund to tackle power crisis Chineme Okafor and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, being Nigeria’s substantive minister of petroleum resources, has approved the renewal of 22

expired and expiring oil blocks, from which the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) realised about $1 billion for the government, THISDAY has learnt.

This is coming on the

heels of the disclosure by the federal government that it was on the final stages of deploying about N72 billion it had set aside to upgrade selected weak parts of the electricity distribution networks

owned and operated by the 11 distribution companies (Discos) in the country.

The approval for the renewal of the 22 expired and expiring oil blocks came few weeks after the House of Rep sentatives

claimed that the DPR had renewed expired oil blocks under dubious circumstances, and subsequently realised $10 billion - an allegation the DPR roundly denied.

THISDAY gathered that

holders of 25 oil blocks had filed applications for renewal but 22 were approved by Buhari after the DPR’s reviews.

Sources in the DPR and Continued on page 6

Minimum Wage: Labour Prepares for War, to Storm N/Assembly Monday … Page 6 Saturday 26 January, 2019 Vol 24. No 8683

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Anger, Protests, Trail Buhari’s Suspension of Onnoghen Atiku: This is an act of dictatorship taken too far Saraki: It’s a deliberate attempt to endanger the nation's hard earned democracy NBA: It’s coup against the judiciary Fani-Kayode: It’s a clear breach of the rule of law and the constitution Ozekhome: Buhari has suspended the constitution Southern/ Middle Belt Leaders: Constitutional crisis looms IYC: It is coup against democracy Agbakoba calls on Nigerians to vote out Buhari Our Correspondents Massive criticisms have greeted President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, and swear in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as the acting CJN, with many Nigerians describing it as an assault on the constitution.

The President, who swore in Mohammed in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa yesterday, said his decision was spurred by the order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which he said directed him to suspend Onnoghen pending the conclusion of his trial by the CCT. Onnoghen had been dragged

before the CCT on January 14 by the federal government following a petition filed before the tribunal against the CJN by the Executive Director of Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, Dennis Aghanya.

Following the petition, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) moved to arraign Onnoghen before the CCT over allegations that he was operating three domiciliary accounts in Standard Chartered Bank with the total balance of $3million which he allegedly failed to declare as required by the law.

However, various moves by the CCT to commence Onnoghen's trial have been Continued on page 6

EFCC Asks Court to Strike out Case IBRAHIM MOHAMMED TAKES OVER… Muhammadu Buhari swearing in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, at the against Ofili-Ajumogobia … Page 16 President Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja ...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

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Minimum Wage: Labour Prepares for War, to Storm N/Assembly Monday Legislators must stand in solidarity with workers Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Members of the organised labour have vowed to moblise workers to the National Assembly to attend the Public Hearing on the new minimum wage bill scheduled to hold on Monday.

Addressing journalists after a meeting of the Central Working Committee of the Nigeria

Labour Congress (NLC), the President, Ayuba Wabba said that labour will be coming to argue its case on the need for the National Assembly to uphold the N30,000 new minimum wage agreed at the tripartite negotiations as the only viable way forward. " What was agreed on at the tripartite meeting was N30,000 and on that we stand. We are

going to mobilise and engage on the issue particularly at the level of the National Assembly, that the tripartite negotiations outcome should be respected.

"We urge the National Assembly to do the needful and we are mobilising our members so that if nothing was done in that direction, we will take action to ensure that the decision reached at

the tripartite session remained sacrosanct,� he said.

Wabba said that the labour movement expects the legislators to stand in solidarity with the workers and to do the needful by turning down the N27,000 figure proposed by the government.

According to Wabba, the NLC and other umbrella labour centres will mobilise

workers to take necessary action to actualise new minimum wage.

The communique read

by Wabba said: "This is the resolution of the meeting of the Central Working Committee of the NLC. The meeting deliberated on one item agenda which is the issue of the transmission of the National Minimum wage

Bill to the National Assembly. “Having reached agreement on N30,000, that figure cannot be changed by any of the parties, but through the same process. So, government as an employer of labour cannot unilaterally change the amount that was agreed at the tripartite. This is our position and the position of law,� he said.

irrespective of who is involved.

"As you are all aware, the fight against corruption is one of the tripod of policies promised to Nigerians by this administration. Needless to say that it is an existential Policy which must be given adequate attention and commitment by all the three arms of government.

The efforts of the Executive will amount to nothing without the cooperation of the Legislature and especially the Judiciary.

"It is no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate courts.

"Since there is nothing the Executive Arm can do after the apex court of the land has spoken on any matter, several of these individuals walk free among us today, enjoying what are clearly the proceeds of the corruption which for so long has defeated the efforts of this nation to develop and prosper."

its constitutional authority and powers and “prevent this slide into chaos and erosion of the rule of law.�

In terse statement last night by its President, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), the NBA noted that the action of the executive arm of government “portends a slide into anarchy and complete deconstruction of the rule of law and due process.�

Usoro added that the suspension of the CJN by President Buhari amounted to an absolute breach of the Constitution and the usurpation of the powers of the Senate and the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC).

He faulted the suspension of the CJN on the basis of an alleged ex-parte order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the same tribunal that, to the knowledge of the executive, had, only the previous day, Tuesday, 22 January 22, 2019 adjourned its proceedings to Monday, 28 January, 28, 2019 and has before it a motion on notice that is yet to be argued, seeking the same reliefs as were contained in the purported ex-parte application.

It called on the federal government to avert the looming constitutional crisis precipitated by its ill-advised action.

The opposition PDP said Buhari, by his action, foisted an illegal Chief Justice on the nation while the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria was still in office.

It said: “It is a direct invitation to anarchy, national confusion and a monumental crisis capable of derailing the country’s democracy and destroying its corporate existence as a nation.�

In the statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said it firmly holds that such impunity cannot stand, as Nigeria is a nation governed by law and not by the whims and caprices of a dictatorial leader, saying that Buhari wants to ruin the country and vowed never allow him. “There can be no two Chief Justices of Nigeria. Our constitution is clear on how a Chief Justice is appointed and removed as such does not lie on the prerogative of the President.

As such, we urge all Nigerians and the international community to recognize only Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.�

ANGER, PROTESTS, TRAIL BUHARI’S SUSPENSION OF ONNOGHEN stalled by various court orders restraining the tribunal from going ahead with his arraignment pending the determination of the motions before them.

Buhari said: "It is against this background that I have received the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal directing me to suspend the Chief Justice pending final determination of the cases against him. It also explains why I am not only complying immediately, but with some degree of relief for the battered sensibilities of ordinary Nigerians whose patience must have become severely over-taxed by these anomalies.

"In line with this administration’s avowed respect for the Rule of Law, I have wholeheartedly obeyed the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal dated 23rd January 2019.

Accordingly, I hereby suspend the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen, GCON as the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.= "In further compliance with the same Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, I hereby invite Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed JSC, being the next most Senior Justice in the Supreme Court, to come forward to take the Judicial Oath as Chief Justice of Nigeria in an Acting Capacity." The President, who chronicled the series of events which had accompanied the unfolding drama since January 11, when the matter was made public, said "the nation has been gripped by the tragic realities of no less a personality than the Chief Justice of Nigeria himself becoming the accused person in a corruption trial since details of the petition against him by a civil society organisation first became public about a fortnight ago."

According to him, as grievous as the allegations against the CJN had been, the head of the judiciary had failed to spare the arm of government of what he described as "further disrepute" by honourably allowing his prosecution to commence.

Buhari further argued that what was more disturbing was

the admission of the CJN that he indeed failed to declare his assets as required by law, citing error and forgetfulness which he said were not known to the laws of the land.

According to him, both the CJN and his legal team had "made nonsense" of the moves by the CCT to try him, saying Onnoghen had been deploying his influence as the head of the judiciary to stall his trial even though nobody is above the law.

Buhari also accused Onnoghen of frustrating the war against corruption since he assumed office, stating that virtually all cases of corruption taken to the apex court that he presided over had been frustrated while the accused walked free on the street.

He said: "Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.

"Perhaps more worrisome is the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s own written admission to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets, citing ’’mistake’’ and ’’forgetfulness’’ which are totally unknown to our laws as defences in the circumstances of his case.

"One expected that with his moral authority so wounded, by these serious charges of corruption, more so by his own written admission, Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen would have acted swiftly to spare our Judicial Arm further disrepute by removing himself from superintending over it while his trial lasted.

"Unfortunately, he has not done so. Instead, the nation has been treated to the sordid spectacle of a judicial game of wits in which the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his legal team have made nonsense of the efforts of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear the allegation on merit and conclude the trial as quickly as possible considering the nature of the times in which we live.

"Whether deliberately or inadvertently, we have all seen the full weight of the Chief Justice of Nigeria descend on the tender head of one of the organs of justice under his control. There is simply no way the officers of that court, from the Chairman to the bailiffs, can pretend to be unaffected by the influence of the leader of the Judiciary.

"Not only the trial court, but others have been put on the spot.

Practically every other day since his trial commenced, the nation has witnessed various courts granting orders and counterorders in favour of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, all of them characterised by an unholy alacrity between the time of filing, hearing and delivery of judgment in same.

"The real effect has been a stalling of the trial of Justice Onnoghen, helped along by lawyers who insist that these orders, whether right or wrong are technically valid, and must be obeyed till an appellate Court says otherwise. No doubt, that it is the proper interpretation, but is it the right disposition for our nation?

"Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and no one must be, or be seen to be, above the law.

Unfortunately, the drama around the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria has challenged that pillar of justice in the perception of the ordinary man on the street.

For it is certain that no ordinary Nigerian can get the swift and special treatment Justice Onnoghen has enjoyed from his subordinates and privies in our Judicature.

"In the midst of all these distracting events, the essential question of whether the accused CJN actually has a case to answer has been lost in the squabble over the form and nature of his trial. This should not be so.

"If Justice cannot be done and clearly seen to be done, society itself is at risk of the most unimaginable chaos. As a Government, we cannot stand by wailing and wringing our hands helplessly but give our full backing and support to those brave elements within the Judiciary who act forthrightly,

In its reaction, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) rejected the suspension of Onnoghen,

by Buhari, describing the action as a coup against the judiciary.

It demanded the reversal of the suspension, and called on the National Assembly to assert

2004. “The Act mandates the holder of oil mining lease to apply for renewal of lease at least a year to expiration of lease. Based on that the Department came up with the accelerated lease renewal program to process renewal applications that are due to expire between 2016 and 2019 window,� said one of the official sources.

Another source who provided a deeper insight on the development, stated that: “A total of 45 leases between the joint ventures and IOCs

fell within this period (2016 and 2019), and 25 applications were received in this regards, and they had gone through rigorous statutory regulatory reviews and submitted for ministerial approval. “The minister of petroleum resources who is the president has granted approval for about 22 of them which has generated renewal bonuses in excess of $1 billion to the government.

So, where did the $10 billion the House of Representatives say they are losing come from? “All others are at various stages of processing and

Saraki: It’s a Deliberate Attempt to Endanger the Nation's Hard Atiku: It is an Act of Dictatorship Taken Earned Democracy President of the Senate, Bukola too Far Saraki described the suspension of the CJN as a deliberate attempt to endanger the nation's hard earned democracy.

Saraki, in a 10- paragraph statement he personally signed emphasised that the suspension was a coup against democracy and another act of desperation

by President Buhari.

NBA: It’s a Coup against the Judiciary

Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has urged the judiciary to resist the suspension of the CJN with every legal and constitutional means that they can muster.

He said: “This brazen dictatorial act is the latest action in the ongoing rape of our nation’s hard earned democracy by those who dined with anti-democratic forces, and is symptomatic of the increasing desperation that President Buhari and the cabal pulling the strings have as February 16, 2019 draws near.�

PDP: It is a direct invitation to anarchy capable of derailing Nigeria

Fani-Kayode: It is a clear breach of the rule of law and the constitution

On his part, a former minister of aviation, Chief Femi FaniKayode remarked: “For a President in a democracy to suspend the CJN is totally unacceptable; it’s a clear breach of the rule of law and the constitution and a manifest violation of the principle of separation of powers. If anyone thinks that we are practising democracy in Nigeria, that person needs to have their heads examined.�

Former President of Nigerian Bar Association Mr. Olisa Agbakoba called on Nigerians to vote out Buhari because of what he described as “the most violent denigration of the Nigerian’s Constitution� following the suspension of Onnoghen, while Mike Ozekhome said Buhari, had by the action, suspended Nigeria’s constitution.

FG EARNS $1BN FROM RENEWAL OF 22 OIL BLOCKS petroleum ministry confirmed the development to THISDAY yesterday in Abuja.

They explained the renewals were done under an ‘accelerated lease renewal programme initiated by the DPR to raise revenue for the government and incentivise operations in the country’s upstream oil and gas sector.

THISDAY had contacted the ministry and DPR for comments on the House of Representatives mandate to its Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to investigate alleged irregularities

in the renewal of oil leases by the DPR, and officials with knowledge of the development spoke to it on condition of anonymity. “The allegation is totally unfounded, how do you determine there are irregularities. From the DPR point of view, government came up with an accelerated revenue generation drive and to align with that drive, the DPR came up with an accelerated lease renewal programme which is hinged on the positions of the Petroleum Act LFN (law of the federation)

in addition they also pay $1 million revised application fee per block.

The process is transparent and straightforward.�

The DPR in an official statement sent to THISDAY yesterday on the development, confirmed that it used the accelerated early lease renewal programme to rake in $1 billion from the renewal of 22 oil blocks.

It also said that its execution of its job in the industry was guided by the Petroleum Act, and that the government was proud of its efforts so far in

this regards.

FG to Deploy N72bn Intervention Fund to Tackle Power Crisis Meanwhile, the federal government yesterday disclosed that it was on the final stages of deploying about N72 billion it has set aside to upgrade selected weak parts of the electricity distribution networks owned and operated by the 11 distribution companies (Discos) in the country.

Continued on page 53

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INVESTING IN THE FUTURE...

L-R: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin EmeďŹ ele; Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Benjamin C. Ozumba; and Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuany, during the inauguration of the apex bank’s Centre of Excellence at the Enugu Campus of UNN...recently

Two Courts Issue Conicting Judgments on APC Candidates in Zamfara Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja

Two courts yesterday issued conflicting rulings on whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can accept candidates presented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Zamfara State elections in 2019.

In Zamfara State, a High Court sitting in Gusau, ruled that the governing APC actually conducted primaries in the state and should be allowed to present candidates for electoral contest.

An Abuja court, however, ruled otherwise.

The Zamfara court specifi-

cally directed INEC to accept candidates from the party for Zamfara States in the forthcoming elections.

INEC had last October said it would not allow the APC to field candidates in Zamfara because the party failed to conduct primaries before the deadline stipulated.

Some members of APC in the state had approached the court challenging the decision of INEC. The party said it conducted primaries which produced current governor Abdulaziz Yari as a senatorial candidate and his Commissioner of Finance, Shehu Idris, as the governorship

candidate, among others.

Justice Muhammad Shinkafi, who delivered the ruling said APC had conducted primary elections on October 3 and 7, 2018.

The court also barred the national secretariat of the APC from replacing the names of those who won the primary elections of the party.

In case with a suit number ZMS/GS/52/2018, Sanusi Liman Dan Alhaji and 37 others vs APC and 143, the plaintiffs had asked the court to compel the APC and INEC to accept the results of the party’s primaries election in the state conducted on the

October 7, 2018 among others.

But a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled otherwise, saying INEC acted within its powers by refusing to accept the list of candidates from the Zamfara State chapter of the APC. The court, presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in her judgment, said it was not the fault of INEC that the APC failed to conduct a valid primary within the period scheduled by the electoral body.

Justice Ojukwu said INEC’s action was intended to curb impunity among political parties and politicians and ensure that rule of law is adhered to.

The judgment was on a suit filed in the name of APC by some individuals, who said they emerged from a consensus arrangement adopted by the party in Zamfara State.

Justice Ijeoma contended that the APC failed to conduct a valid primary within the period scheduled by the electoral body.

She said such action from INEC was good for democracy, saying it would instill discipline in political parties.

The judgment was in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1279/2018, in the name of APC by some individuals, who said they emerged from a

consensus arrangement adopted by the party in Zamfara State.

The judge noted if consensus candidates are to emerge, there are laid down rules, the constitution of a party, which must be adhered to strictly.

She said from the facts of the case before her, the applicants did not abide by their constitution in submitting names of candidates to INEC. She therefore dismissed the application for lacking in merit.

The APC (faction) had dragged the INEC to court, seeking an order to permit its candidates to participate in the forthcoming general elections in the state.

FG Backs US, UK Threat to At Last, Hearing in Offa Bank Robbery Commences Punish Election Riggers Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has declared its support for the statements credited to the governments of United States and the United Kingdom wherein they demanded a credible and peaceful election in Nigeria.

The two major powers had also threatened punitive measures against election riggers and perpetrators of electoral violence out of concerns on the outcome of Nigeria’s general election billed for next month.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed spoke on behalf of government on Friday.

In the statement issued in Ilorin, he said the federal government was particularly delighted that the two permanent members of the UN Security Council, made statements after government raised alarm about the evil plot of some opposition elements to scuttle the

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin 2019 polls through widespread violence. ‘’A few days ago, we alerted the nation to the plot by the opposition to orchestrate widespread violence in the country, using insurgents and criminal elements within and outside the country. Their plan is to scuttle the election and then push for an interim government, having realised they can’t win a free, fair, credible and peaceful elections. ‘’The fact that those statements came after we issued our red alert, which is based on credible intelligence, shows that the international community is closely monitoring events ahead of the election. We urge them to keep a close tab on the desperate opposition, whose language, actions and undisguised threats are antithetical to the conduct of peaceful polls,’’ Mohammed said.

He tasked Nigerians and the international community to take seriously the assurance by President

Muhammadu Buhari, to organise a credible and violence-free election.

He boasted the APC-led administration is confident of victory in the forthcoming elections, saying since the party was not so desperate as to rig election while in opposition, it will not manipulate the election or foist violence now that it is in power and enjoying massive support from the citizenry.

Mohammed charged the international community to keep tab on those planning to scuttle the polls, resorting to power via subterfuge and seeking to discredit an election that has yet to be held by condemning INEC, the police and the entire electoral process. ‘’On our part, we have confidence in the electoral process and the institutions saddled with organising and securing the election.

That’s why we have been busy campaigning vigorously across the country, attracting unprecedented, organic crowds everywhere we go.

At last, the hearing of the Offa robbery case commenced yesterday at a High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, with a prosecution witness, Inspector Yusuf Dauda tendering exhibits, including some ammunitions, vehicles and car sticker allegedly used in the April 5, 2018 robbery operation in Offa.

About 33 people, including nine policemen were reportedly killed in the robbery incident which took place in five commercial banks where an undisclosed sum of money was stolen.

Five people are standing trial in the robbery case and these are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.

They are charged with alleged armed robbery, illegal possession of fire arms and murder.

The hearing ought to have commenced two weeks ago but the private prosecutor employed by the state government, Professor

Wahala Egbewole (SAN) asked the court to give him some time because he had just been given the case and that day was his first appearance in the court.

He, thus, asked the court to give him time to study the case file before making any comment, which the court granted.

However, testifying before the court, yesterday, presided by Justice Halimat Salman, Inspector Dauda who said he was an exhibit keeper at the Kwara State Headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Ilorin disclosed that on April 10,2018, a former Divisional Police officer in Offa Local Government, CSP Danjuma Adamu handed to him some weapons and ammunition allegedly used in the robbery operation.

Led in evidence by Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), Dauda said that the ammunition included 39 expended 7.6mm ammunition, 4 expended 5.6mm, 2 expended blank cartridges, 4 used bullet, one life 5.6mm ammunition, one

cartridge safety box on which Ikoyi South West, Lagos, Nigeria was written and a damaged Padlock.

He also said that on April 15, 2018, Inspector Hassan attached to the Inspector General of Police rescue team brought one Lexus Jeep on which a sticker bearing “Saraki� was written, with its key, a Compressor Mercedes Benz and four Stickers bearing “Saraki�. The Prosecution tendered all the items as exhibits in the case.

Another witness, Inspector Hitila Hassan attached to the Intelligence unit of the IGP, who said that he was one of the officers that investigated the robbery operation, stated that he arrested the five accused persons that are standing trial in the case.

He said that the robbery was conceived and planned by Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye and late Michael Adikwu who also supplied the ammunition and led the robbery operation on April 5, in Offa.

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Musings on the Suspension of Onnoghen

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has simply been heating up the polity in the ongoing war against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen. His suspension yesterday and swearing in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as the acting CJN, is an assault on the constitution. The reasons adduced by Buhari are preposterous.

The Attorney General and Minister of justice, Abubakar Malami should end this shenanigan and dangerous precedent by withdrawing the criminal charges bordering on alleged refusal to declare assets and operating foreign bank accounts, against the CJN. As for our President, he should show courage by accepting his error and reversing his actions.

My position is not based on the merit or demerit of the charges against the CJN. It is not based on whether Onnoghen committed the infractions or not. My submission is based on respect for our constitution and the rule of law. We must be careful not to deliberately create a state of anarchy.

The lawyers who filed the charges against Onnoghen are aware of the requisite constitutional provisions and the Court of Appeal judgment in Nganjiwa’s case. It is evidently a politically-tainted case. The charges against the CJN should have been sent to the National Judicial Council and not the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

To further bolster my point, let’s critically look at the subsisting decision of the Court of Appeal in Nganjiwa vs FRN (2017).

Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa had appealed the decision of the High Court of Lagos State in 2017, challenging the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain and determine the case against her. She was charged for offences ranging from unlawful enrichment by a public officer to giving false information.

Onnoghen

The appeal court concurred with Nganjiwa, ruling unequivocally that a serving judicial officer cannot be arraigned or tried in any court for a criminal offence; not until such officer has been investigated, dismissed or recommended for trial by the National Judicial Council. This judgement was never appealed. So, it remains the law.

Yes, the CCT has the power to try all public officers for asset declaration infractions, but in the case of judges, the jurisdiction of the tribunal has to be effectively activated, by first complying with lawful conditions as properly explained in the Appeal Court

decision on Nganjiwa.

The truth that must be told is that there is a binding and subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal, stating unambiguously that a serving judicial officer cannot be arraigned or tried in any court for a criminal offence.

This applies to the case of Onnoghen.

The CJN cannot be arraigned at the CCT, until he has been investigated, dismissed or recommended for trial by the National Judicial Council. This is the position of our law. Those under the influence of excessive Tramadol and Codeine are now trying to turn the law upside down. What a country!

I also need to remind all those behind the case against the CJN and all those clapping for them that sections 153 (1), 271 (1), 292 (1) (a) (ii) and Paragraph 21 (Part 1) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution are to the effect that any judicial officer accused of an offence must first be subjected to investigation and disciplinary action by the National Judicial Council prior to any trial.

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), was apt when he declared that a dangerous precedent was being set in the charges filed against the CJN. He remarked: “Some of the legal issues already settled by the Supreme Court in the case of Saraki vs Federal Government are being reopened in Onnoghen’s case. The most dangerous aspect of what is going on now is that our laws are in trouble. “When I said that the proper procedure has not been followed and that the government should withdraw the frivolous charge, I wasn’t talking about the substance of the case, because for me, if you catch an armed robber red-handed and you decide to chop off his hand, you have lost your case; you still have to take him to court and that is what should happen in this case. We must go through the proper channel for dealing with complaints against judges.�

Bishop Mamza on ‘Hungry Clerics’ For those who don’t know him, Most Rev. Stephen Mamza is the Bishop of Catholic Dioceses of Yola, Adamawa State. This fearless cleric made my day last Sunday, when he took on those he described as hungry clerics. For Mamza, many religious leaders in our dear country have lost their credibility by dabbling into politics for pecuniary gains.

He said, “The problem we have is that we have hungry religious leaders; those that are not there for the service of God but because of their pockets. If not, why should a religious leader allow a politician to control him? The cleric is supposed to be

the leader of the politician and not the other way around, as we can see. “We clerics are supposed to form the conscience of the politicians. But in a situation where due to material things, we cede this position to them, then we’ll lose our credibility.

The problem that we have today with religious leaders is that many of them have lost their credibility because they dabbled into politics.�

Mamza also took on the notorious Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, accusing him of being an embarrassment to the Catholic Church, saying, “I wonder why Mbaka is yet to be

sanctioned by the bishop of his diocese. This cannot happen in other dioceses. There is no reason why he should not be sanctioned. “Every priest is under the jurisdiction of his bishop. If a priest commits a crime or does something wrong anywhere in the world, the person that acts on that priest is the bishop. Even Rome will not act just like that; it is your own bishop that will do that.

I think we can say that his bishop should make sure he cautions Mbaka because he has really crossed his bounds.�

Nigeria clearly needs more of the likes of Father Mamza, if this country wants progress.

Adamu Must Respond to Sleaze Allegation I am still waiting for the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to respond to sleaze allegation against him.

The allegation was made three days ago, yet, Adamu has remained mute.

I need to remind him that the sacked Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TeTFund), Abdullahi Baffa, alleged that he was forced out of office owing to his refusal to provide monetary kickbacks to the minister. Baffa allegedly told BBC Hausa on Wednesday that the Minister had sent a contractor to him demanding his share of N200 billion disbursed by the agency to tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Bafa alleged: “If they bring any evidence indicting me, I’m ready to accept death punishment. I do not regret my refusal to obey the minister’s directives because I cannot sabotage my country.

Go and ask the minister. Eight months ago, Mallam Adamu Adamu sent one of his biggest contractors to tell me that the minister was angry with me for three reasons.

Adamu

Baa

The third issue was that TeTFund disbursed over N200 billion to universities without remitting the percent kickback, amounting to at least N20 billion at 10

percent rate. The fact is that since I started this job, I have never demanded a single kobo from any university. If any university shows proof of collecting kickback

Deconstructing Obasanjo’s Latest Dispatch I am not a fan of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Over the years, I have learnt to dispassionately examine his messages rather than the messenger. His latest dispatch to President Muhammadu Buhari, largely focusing on the impending Presidential election, should be of interest to everyone that genuinely loves this country. I have also been worried about INEC’s ability to conduct a free and fair election, based on the trickeries at the Osun State gubernatorial election held last year.

That was why I was impressed with Obasanjo’s salvo to INEC. He remarked: “I personally have serious doubt about the present INEC’s integrity, impartiality and competence to conduct a fair, free and credible election. And if the INEC is willing, will the ruling party and government allow it? From what we saw and knew about Osun State gubernatorial election, what was conclusive was declared inconclusive despite all advice to the contrary. “The unnecessary rerun, if viewed as a testrun for a larger general election, would lead people to expect incidences of deliberately contrived, broken or non-working voting machines or card readers, confusion of voters as to their voting stations; inadequate supply of voting materials to designated places, long line to discourage voters and turning blind eyes to favour the blue-eye political party of INEC because the commission’s hands will be tied to enable hatchet men and women to perform their unwholesome assignment.�

I have written severally against attacks on opposition leaders by agents of the Buhari government. Few days back, the United States Congress also sent a warning note to our President about this ugly trend. So, I fully concur with Obasanjo’s observation that, “Another Abacha era is here. The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledgling democracy. “EFCC, Police and Code of Conduct Tribunal are also being misused to deal with those Buhari sees as enemies for criticising him or as those who may not do his bidding in manipulating election results. Criticism, choice and being different are inherent trade mark of democracy; if democracy is derailed or aborted, anarchy and authoritarianism will automatically follow.�

I am on the same page with Obasanjo’s observation that Buhari’s men are desperate to rig him in for a second term. The hand writing is on the wall. Patriots must stand up against this plot. Obasanjo said: “The President and his people believe no stone should be left unturned to rig Buhari in.

There seems to be a ploy to intimidate the judiciary as a whole in preparation for all election cases that will go before them.

Where and how will all these stop? “From available intelligence, we have heard of how Buhari and his party are going about his own self-succession project. They have started recruiting collation officers who are already awarding results based on their projects to actualise the perpetuation agenda in which the people will not matter and the votes will not count.�

On the sagging war against Boko Haram, Obasanjo echoed my persistent position, saying, “this administration has reached the end of its wit even in handling all security issues, but particularly Boko Haram issue, partly due to misuse of security apparatus and poor equipment, deployment, coordination and cooperation.�

Baba Iyabo’s last shots were thoughtprovoking: “At the end of the day, those who goad you on will leave you in the lurch. You will be left alone, naked and unheralded.

In defeat, which must be Buhari’s fear, leading to desperation, he and his co-travellers can still maintain modicum of decency, and exhibit fear of God in their actions.’’ Well, as usual, President Buhari is uncomfortable with Obasanjo’s latest dispatch. His aides and cohorts have been pummeling Baba Iyabo. My forthright message to Buhari today is that he should reflect deeply on the points raised by Obasanjo, and make amends appropriately.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 26, 2019

SUPER SATURDAY

African China Nobody Matters Anymore, Except My Family...That’s My Wife and Kids Ferdinand Ekechukwu writes on his encounter with the musician Chinagorom Onuoha, popularly known as African China

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he last time he had the company of journalists was sometime last year. He had called a press conference to announce the release of his latest single, ‘Letter to Mr. President’. Meeting him on this occasion, he would recall that session with newshounds and express his reservation following that experience.

He would enquire about some other persons that made the team of pressmen that met with him on that event. “I know one person we dey write entertainment column for your paper,” he said in his typically vernacular style.

In the moment he attempts to recollect a particular name but his memory lets him down. Thus he resigned to faith and would be left with the words, “What’s that his name sef, him been come my press briefing early last year.” Partly due to familiarity with this writer, it is not unusual to hear him speak Pidgin English. In fact, that’s his trademark. His songs are written and sang in the local dialect, a thing which he imbibed growing up in the streets of Orile, occasionally crisscrossing Amukoko and Ajegunle vicinities of Apapa Iganmu and Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Areas of Lagos State.

Growing up in the same neighborhood with this writer triggers some sort of nostalgia meeting with the ‘Crisis’ crooner.

One could recall his early songs were massive hits on the streets and getting rotational airplays on radio while the young and pretty much talented African China still roams the streets with bathroom slippers.

Back then each time he walks past, you would see him hum his songs without recourse to whoever is watching him. You would need to know him from the start to connect with his early true days of humble beginnings.

So what’s up, what’s happening to African China as an artiste? The perception out there is if he still does music. He started with music before diversifying into some other businesses. He still does music, he said to me, but mostly doing gigs on the average of 20 shows in a month. In between the conversation, he switches between the real English and the pidgin.

He went on to explain, albeit with a tint of pride, that “One thing people should understand about music is that music is not a do or die affair.

“Seems we don’t understand when we say music as a career, like football being a career, acting being a career doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t do any other thing aside that thing. You can be doing it but now you pushed it to a professional level. Because right now everybody thinks okay if you are doing a song and it’s not out there everywhere, definitely you are nowhere, hell no. African China is a brand that has come to stay. I have millions of people as fans that are following me with or without music,” as he keeps up regular activities posting messages online. Some weeks back he had posted on Youtube a video conversation between him and Omoyele Sowore, a presidential aspirant.

China said that’s the more reason he keeps advising every other young artiste coming up to engage themselves in other profitable ventures. In passing, he cau-

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 26, 2019

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SUPERSATURDAY Nobody Matters Anymore, Except My Family...That’s My Wife and Kids tiously cites Femi Kuti for instance and Asa. “Femi Kuti plays one of the biggest concerts outside this country and is known worldwide. But here in Nigeria, not everyone values his kind of music. Another person I would like to make reference to is Asa.” In a way he alludes to their style and unique kind of music viz-a-viz his, which is niche kind of.

His songs are social conscious. In fact, since he came to limelight in the year 2000, he has been known for questioning Nigerian politicians and the people in government with his particular kind of music. His trailblazing track, ‘Mr. President’, released 19 years ago is still relevant across successive governments as some of the problems he sang about are still prevalent in the country. For sure, he can’t play that music that you want him to play. “I have my kind of music.

“I will just keep doing what I’m doing. I have listeners.

Anybody that wants to listen to African China and you feel you have missed out you know what to do. Thank God for the social media; now it’s no longer about the radio stations. So when people are saying you are no longer in the industry, it makes it feel like ‘you are not there’, and they are the ones not there because they are not listening, because they are not following.”

The way he talks about the media gives you an inkling of him as very savvy about the pen profession.

On the social media platform, African China enjoys a cult following, especially on Facebook. “Oh my God when it comes to Facebook I’m shot down. My account had more people. Erm I think they said with time they will enlarge it so that you can add as many as possible more people. Then on Instagram I have followers, on twitter I have followers you know, but it all depends on which one.”

Do these followers reflect the street vibes that he is known for? He was quick to respond. “Of course, you would see my street credibility on my twitter, Instagram and everything. We all put everything out there. You see your fans from the street, you see your fans from the corporate world, and you see your fans from all walks of life, everybody interacting. And some are even telling you, like what you said, some are even telling you ‘come back, come back’, and I’m shocked because I just posted my songs.”

Talking about the industry one reminds him of the time he started singing. His music had attained success while he was still struggling personally to equate the feat. The clannish merchants who congregate on the suburbs of Lagos at the Alaba International Market, the distribution hub of African entertainment business had made a kill from African China’s first album selling pirated copies! He cuts in “from street my music don blow,” he repeated emphatically. “While ‘China’ never blow.”

To him, at that stage, it was a challenge to meet up with the stardom. “Your song is here and you as a person you are here,” he said, suspending his hands, one above the other, as he drives home the point he tries to make.

“So it becomes a big challenge because now you are dragging to go and meet up with your stardom which we did and for which deserve plenty of accolades.”

His last performance in Ajegunle at the Sheikh Live in Concert last December brought him together alongside Marvelous Benji, another artiste from way back.

At the show, African China reunited with the ‘swo crooner’ (Marvelous Benji) and some other artistes. Reconnecting with him elicited some feelings for African China. Both were headliners at that show. What was the feeling like on that day knowing that Marvelous was first-rate also? “We met in London when I had my crisis. Kennis Music brought me to London and we all met, sat down and had dinner and all that,” he disclosed. “We have been meeting.”

Once in 2006, that London experience had left African China with a sour taste. That was his first trip to Europe. Amidst the frenzy and the fun during that journey, he was alleged to have raped a white girl. It was one memorable incident that taught and impacted on his persona and his career. It inspired one of his hits songs ‘London Fever’. The lesson from that episode, he recounts. “It taught me what I am doing today; learning to keep to myself, learning to be myself, learning to respect myself…” he confessed, raising his voice, “learning to tell myself the gospel truth and learning to help myself. That was what that whole incident taught me. The whole thing taught me that ‘it is you that matters African China’. Nobody matters anymore, except my family…that’s my wife and kids (two beautiful daughters in his words), aside me.”

At the moment, he is working on an album which will be released on his record label, 45 Entertainment. The body of work was supposed to be released last year but for some reasons, it was withdrawn. Now, he has started working on new songs but those new songs are going to be duets. “So from the old songs we are just going to do like selections from the album and mixed with the collabos.”

I will just keep doing what I’m doing. I have listeners. Anybody that wants to listen to African China and you feel you have missed out you know what to do.

Thank God for the social media; now it’s no longer about the radio stations.

So when people are saying you are no longer in the industry, it makes it feel like ‘you are not there’, and they are the ones not there because they are not listening, because they are not following

African China is a Brand That Has Come to Stay

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ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

EMIR OF KANO AND PARENTAL HONOUR Idang Alibi commends the Emir for respecting and honouring his mother

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wo weeks ago, I came across a picture story on the internet on a platform I cannot now remember featuring the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11 and his mother. But the story was sufďŹ ciently strong enough that it has remained ďŹ rmly imprinted in my memory. Were I still an editor of a newspaper, it would have been my choice for the front page lead any day, whether weekend or weekday.

The Emir, in his full regalia, was caught on camera prostrating full length, in what the Bible would describe as ‘’doing obeisance’’ to his mother. It was not perfunctorily done or done in an off-hand psychedelic manner befitting a modern, urbane, well read, well connected and mighty king of an ancient empire. The mother, who in that picture cut the image of someone former President Goodluck Jonathan would describe as ‘’mother of all mothers’’, sat there elegantly dressed sucking in the honour being done her from her king-son. You could see pride and happiness written all over her face and her entire body language oozed out self-contentment and self-fulfillment. Nearby, sat another elderly woman who took in the honour the king was doing to his King Mother. The story was fantastic. As it is said, one picture is worth more than a thousand words.

The picture story had all the ingredients required of praise, honour, thanksgiving, gratitude and other spiritual foods which we are taught God acknowledges and richly rewards with long life and prosperity to whoever offers them to a higher authority. These things must be done publicly, humbly and unashamedly for them to be acceptable and rewarded. When I beheld that story, my immediate reaction was to say a prayer for the Emir for doing something worthy of emulation in a land where all old positive values seem to have been jettisoned in favour of the philosophy of the Me Generation of human rights people who think all are equal and there is urgent need for a levelling up of everybody so that they can be appeased. There is the belief in this generation that if there is anyone who deserves to be worshipped above every other person, it is the me.

My prayer was: ‘’For doing this, this radical Emir who is an irritant to some powerful forces in the land, will never be dethroned and that he will never lack a seed on the ancient throne of Kano. I also heard myself say to myself, ‘’This is the type of thing we should be teaching to the younger generation in their Social or Moral Studies classes, this generation who treat parents, elders and authorities with so much disrespect and off-hand disregard.

Respect must be done respectfully for the reward of respect and honour from God to be bestowed on whoever is honest and sincere enough in offering it. And it is the Emir who showed it.

Why did this picture story make such a deep impression on me?

Because I consider myself a well-brought up African child who is deeply horrified by the extreme disrespect I see all around me. And this difference, coming from a personality like the Emir of Kano, is very refreshingly different and, therefore, commendable.

I have often said that the main reason this generation may not have the opportunity to provide leadership for our country and why they will continue to be governed by people in their 60s, 70s and 80s is because they are not #tooyoungtorule or #toopoortorule but because they are #toodisrespectfultobevestedwithleadership. I cite one example and this example is not to promote myself as a good person but to show the reality of what I am lamenting here.

A few years back, Uche Ekwunife, formerly of the Federal House of Representatives and later, Senate, either won re-election to the House or gained promotion to the Senate from her constituency but I cannot

RESPECT MUST BE DONE RESPECTFULLY FOR THE REWARD OF RESPECT AND HONOUR FROM GOD TO BE BESTOWED ON WHOEVER IS HONEST AND SINCERE ENOUGH IN OFFERING IT.

remember which. Some of her friends got together and organized a party in her honour which held at a hall in Transcorps Hilton, Abuja.

My friend, Chief Ogban Ebock, who is a friend to Madam Ekwunife, came from Calabar and invited me along for the fest. I was comfortably seated for the event.

But in no time the hall was packed full and late-comers were beginning to have some challenge finding seats. About an hour later when the event was well under way, walked in the then Member of the House, Ezieuche Ubani, and I could see that he was faced with the obvious difficulty of getting a seat. Ubani is a younger colleague to me in the journalism profession but as a good African child, I instinctively yielded my seat to him to save him from sure embarrassment. In giving up my seat to Ubani, I reasoned as the soldiers and other uniformed forces do, that appointment/attainment is superior to rank. Ubani may be junior to me in journalism but he is superior to me by being a member of the House.

As I gave up my seat, I expected that many younger journalists around at the event, some of whom were reading me when they were in secondary school, will also see it fit to do me honour in the like manner I did Ubani. I wish to report here that I was sadly disappointed.

None surrendered his seat to me and I had to move from where I previously sat to find an uncomfortable and very inconvenient space near the bandstand members. An indication of my extreme discomfort and the dis-enjoyment I experienced in my new abode was climaxed by the fact that when food was eventually served, I abandoned mine because there was simply no place for me to keep it and eat like a decent gentleman! Let me also say that I am recounting this story not to portray my younger colleagues present at that event in poor light but I cannot help wondering why they could not offer me respect when in their full glare I had shown an example worthy of emulation.

Why did Joseph die before his brothers? The Biblical wise Joseph of the- interpretation- of -Pharaoh’s dream- fame was the tenth of the eleven children of the patriarch Jacob. Although second to the last born, Joseph is recorded to have died 10 or more years before the rest of his brothers. And why was this so? The sages tell us that it was so on account of an unintentional act of dishonour he did his father, Jacob, who loved him so much above the rest of his brothers.

This sin of Joseph’s that cut his life short by no less than 10 years is recorded in the well-known story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis chapter 43: 27-28. Joseph’s brother had returned to Egypt a second time with Benjamin as the ransom demanded by Joseph in their first visit.

When they were ushered into his presence, Joseph asked, ‘’You told me about your old father—how is he? Is he still alive and well?’’ And his brothers responded: ‘’Your humble servant, our father, is still alive and well’’. This answer which derogated from the dignity of his father and his non-rebuke was all what nailed Joseph in the court of Heaven. The supposed Governor of Egypt who was actually Joseph was still in disguise and not known to his brothers yet and the moment also had not yet come for Joseph to reveal himself to his brothers so he could not possibly have stopped his brothers from calling Jacob, his father, his servant. Yet that was the ‘innocent’ sin Joseph had committed: he failed to rebuke his brothers from calling their father his servant! The lesson from this story is that whichever exalted position anyone attains in life, he is not superior to his parents who sired or adopted him. He must continually do them honour publicly and in private, in words and in deeds.

Alibi is an Abuja-based journalist

DSS: WHY WE MAY BE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC The new director general of DSS is doing a professional job, writes Suleiman Isa Abubakar

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he Department of State Services (DSS) or State Security Service (SSS) as it is alternately referred to, reached its lowest point during the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan, when its spokesperson Marylin Ogar often sounded and behaved like the PRO of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The organization that was founded on the Doctrine of discretion as its watchword, became so politically involved that it even overshadowed the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in its public conduct and disposition. It is not certain whether the DSS under its then director general (DG) Mr. Ekpenyong Ita was a willing accomplice or it was a hapless, unwilling victim of the whims of the political leadership of the time; whatever it was, it did the service no good as it demystiďŹ ed it and virtually robbed it of most of its credibility. It was therefore with great expectation that Nigerians awaited the appointment of a new director general of the service when the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated the PDP in the 2015 general elections.

Mr. Lawal Daura emerged as the new DG and Nigerians accepted his appointment without complaint: The fact that he came from the same state and the same town with President Buhari was accepted as a new normal because since 1999 every President except the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had appointed his “home boy� as the head of the DSS. But somehow Mr. Lawal Daura appeared to have read his script upside down. First, he sacked Marylin Ogar, a move many Nigerians welcomed; but then, he refused to appoint a new spokesperson, leaving journalists frustrated (and therefore Nigerians uninformed) whenever they needed someone to contact on matters directly related to the DSS. And

there were so many of such matters, thanks to the incessant meddling into political matters by Daura.

This, the Nigerian public gradually came to resent, a resentment that was fuelled by the relentless complaints from the Nigerian media establishment.

As time wound on, Mr. Daura became more and more enmeshed in political intrigues and controversies until he became synonymous with both tendencies. Matters came to a frightening level when the unimaginable happened. In late November 2017, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sent out a team of heavily armed operatives to effect the arrest of Ekpeyong Ita, Daura’s predecessor on charges bordering on fraud allegations; only for the EFCC men to be met with equally heavily armed operatives from the DSS who prevented the EFCC men from effecting the arrest. It was a most embarrassing public display by two -sister security agencies working for the same government but behaving like mortal enemies from rival planets. Somehow, a bloody disaster was averted as the EFCC men retreated. But a public relations disasters had been consummated between the two as the entire inexplicably strange display was done in the full glare of media cameras. From that point on, the perception of the DSS, which Nigerians thought couldn’t get any worse after what it was turned into during Mr. Jonathan’s presidency, sank to a new nadir. Unable to understand what was going on, Nigerians moved on, hoping that at some point, things would improved.

But they got worse in a most spectacular manner.

On August 7, 2018, Daura again sent his men, armed and hooded, to take over the National Assembly (NASS) allegedly to carry out some

clandestine agenda. Again this happened in the full glare of the ever resilient Nigerian media which, with the help of the conventional and social media; and the courageous stance of some of the besieged lawmakers, quickly galvanized public opinion against the siege which eventually collapsed.

Daura’s men withdrew, defeated and deflated. A few hours later the presidency fired him. You could hear the relief from Lagos to Maiduguri.

Then enter an unexpected, previously unheard of personality as the new DG; a certain Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, an old timer from the days of the Nigerian Security Organization (NSO) which is the precursor to the current DSS. Though unknown outside the secret police circle, Mr. Bichi came with a rich resume: He is a trained intelligence analyst, had received training in intelligence in both Nigeria and Britain, was state director of the DSS in many states across the country and is known among his colleagues for his quiet efficiency. Until his appointment he was living quietly in retirement. Very few people outside the mainstream secret service organization knew what to make of Mr. Bichi.

At face value he looked calm and unassuming, a deceptive demeanour, some might say, that is appropriate for the job he was entrusted to perform.

Professionally, his colleagues rated him very high; but these assessments all remained within the realm of speculation, as Nigerians have learned not to judge a book by its cover. They waited to see. Mr. Bichi’s first action however, earned him instant commendation from the media: He quickly appointed a spokesperson and released a number of detainees some of whom the Nigerian public didn’t even know existed. For those who were watching

and scrutinizing the secret police, those first steps

by Bichi sent strong signals that perhaps the man was serious about his promise to return the service to its professional role of operating behind the scenes, to be felt but not seen, to be perceived but not heard, and to allow its performance to speak for it; to thwart what could otherwise become a disastrous security breach and allow the government—and the police—to take the credit, in contrast to the practice under the previous leadership of the DSS where it was in constant rivalry with the police for public attention and limelight.

The first sign that Mr. Bichi was serious about this dour approach came during the unfortunate, deadly Kasuwan Magani crisis in Kaduna State which culminated with the sad and unfortunate kidnapping and murder of a paramount ruler of the town. Working quietly and in record time, the kidnappers and murderers were apprehended reportedly by DSS operatives using covert intelligence. This earned the secret police more than a few commendations. After that there had reportedly been a number of such quiet, successful operations carried out by the DSS but which the DSS never publicly took credit for. And then there is, more recently, the case of the tragi-comedy cat-and-mouse drama between the police and Dino Melaye, an opposition senator from Kogi state. Somehow the DSS had managed to stay out of the murky affair.

It got involved only when it appeared the police under its former IGP Ibrahim Idris had boxed itself into a corner and didn’t know how to extricate itself from it.

Suleiman Isa Abubakar is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja

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ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

At wit’s end...

Lagos: Taming Campaigns of Violence

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t was widely believed in Lagos State by politicians and voters alike that the immediate past Inspector - General of Police Mr Ibrahim Idris was trying to inuence the 2019 elections in the state by deploying a former Chief Security OfďŹ cer of the powerful former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Lagos State Police Commissioner. On January 13, 2019, it was announced that Mr Imohimi Edgal, Lagos State Commissioner of Police had been redeployed to the Force Headquarters in Abuja as the Police ofďŹ cer in charge of the Explosive Ordinance Unit while Mr Kayode Egbetokun, hitherto in charge of the Explosive Unit, would replace Edgal as the Lagos police boss.

But that was not to last. The situation changed as soon as the IG left and was replaced. The new IG, Mr Mohammed Adamu reversed the postings made by his predecessor and so Edgal Imohimi returned to his duty post as Lagos State Police Commissioner. It was an action that was widely hailed. It came as a relief for many Lagosians because Mr Edgal was doing a yeoman’s job as a commissioner –trying so hard to rid the state of criminals. It was to his credit that many of these criminals, particularly the cultists who ruled Ikorodu, better known as “Badoo Boys,� were brought down: They paid the ultimate price or fled the state.

So why did anyone want to change a winning team?

In addition, many Lagosians and others see Edgal Imohimi as a neutral and professional officer, the kind of officer needed to surpervise the forthcoming elections and ensure the security of voters and the integrity of the entire process.

But politicians interpreted and reacted to the postings and reversals differently: while the ruling party in the state - the All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly welcomed the initial posting, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was comfortable with the reversal and the status quo ante.

The APC members reportedly were jubilating that the former security chief to the former Lagos State governor and chieftain of the party Asiwaju Tinubu would one way or the other help to influence the outcomes in both the presidential and governorship elections.

It will do the nation a world of good if the security agencies are allowed to perform their duties professionally without interference. It is clear why the two parties’ reacted differently to the posting: a lot to do with their electoral preparedness and chances in the 2019 elections in the state.

Indeed, when the deployments were first announced by the former IG it was widely speculated in APC camp that it was punishment from the top in Abuja, acting on information from the party’s chieftain in Lagos, for the then outgoing state police

Sagay, Keyamo and the Presidential Debate

commissioner for not providing enough security at the launch of the Mr. Babajide Sanwo – Olu, the APC governorship campaign . Such negligence they felt led to the violence that greeted the launch of the campaign which indeed had to be abandoned after the state governor hurriedly delivered his speech in support of the man the leader had replaced him with at the APC primaries last year. Many evidently forgot that the prompt intervention of the police prevented what could have degenerated into an inflammable situation. In the PDP camp, however, the reversal of the police postings was like a divine intervention that opened a new gate of opportunity for the party.

The pessimism that the party’s candidate, Jimi Agabje, would be discouraged by the whims and caprices of a commissioner in the enemy camp to oversee the governorship election has given way to the optimism.

God has intervened in the security of the people and indeed the elections. Jimi Agbaje is confident that on a level-playing ground leading to a free and fair election, he will win the governorship election. Indeed, to most Lagosians the reversal of the police commissioner’s posting showed that Agbaje’s time has come.

As it is said, nobody can stop an idea whose time has come.

Femi Sobowale, Lagos

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veryone is in agreement that Delta State of all places (the home of prime Pidgin English comedians like I Go Die, AY, Gordons, Akpos, and others) wasn’t quite the right place where three wrongs could not make one right in the form of the implausible designations that Great Ogboru was clothed in; he is neither a “presidential candidate� nor a “senatorial candidate� and this only means that Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa should go on the attack and be determined not to let the APC make even a modicum of INEC-enabled inroad into Delta State, the home of “native intelligence where ‘cunning man die cunning man bury ‘um.’� Itse Sagay told Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari would not debate with “political dwarves� and thus our president would shun any invitation to debate whilst Festus Keyamo informed Nigerians that on the day slated for the debate which Buhari skipped, the president was actually doing the “real debate� with folks at Minna, Niger State. Pause. I am a resident of Minna, and when the president came to town very late that Saturday, his “real debate� to “catalogue his achievements� to a presumably gullible audience at the Trade Fair Complex here in Minna was a false pronouncement that this APC government has completed the vexing 100km Minna-Suleja Road that is the principal road artery linking Minna to Abuja. That

false pronouncement touched on raw nerves because that road artery has signiďŹ cant bearing on the itinerary of nearly all adults who are residents in Minna in terms of time and thence cost of moving out of town and hitting places like Kaduna, Abuja, Lokoja and all parts south of it thereof (especially the Southsouth region), Nasarawa State, Benue State and all parts east of it thereof (especially the Southeast region), etc.

Festus would have been shocked to hear the private comments of the so-called “Buharideens� so soon after that shocking statement. My barber at the salon opposite the Bosso Campus went so far to declare his new-found support for Atiku in the open. Truth is that that road is in its worst imaginable state since President Ibrahim Babangida built it in the early 1990s. The Baro Port complex that President Buhari inaugurated that Saturday is now being euphemistically derided as “Baro Jetty� because not even a low category draught ship could sail up the Niger to that “port� because the waterway has not yet been drilled; commissioning that port complex in a mad rush is akin to building a railway station with no railway lines in sight. It would have been better for our president to debate with “dwarves� on that Saturday.

Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State

Between Adamu Adamu and Abdullahi Bichi T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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r. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), said that Malam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, orchestrated his sack from ofďŹ ce because of his alleged refusal to pay 10 per cent kickback to contractors working for Malam Adamu. I’m not pro or against Dr. Bicchi, neither do I hold brief for the education minister. However, the case of Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa has brought to the fore two salient issues: the educational level of Nigeria’s political leaders has increased considerably, but good governance in the country has reduced drastically. Some of Nigeria’s poor administrators are from the academia. The absence of an appreciable level of good governance in Nigeria despite the high educational level of its leaders is a strong indication that array of certificates in ones possession doesn’t matter, but the individual character and behaviour.

A professor or a PhD who teaches basic knowledge in the classroom, when given a political position or public office behaves like a motor park tout.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœÍşÍ¸ÍšÎ

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NEWS

In Brief Thugs Attack SDP Senatorial Candidate

Some political thugs yesterday allegedly attacked Kogi East Senatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Victor Adoje leaving several people injured at Ejule in Kogi State The Senatorial candidate was allegedly attacked by some suspected supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Ejule in Ofu local government council of the state. According to the press statement issued yesterday by the spokesperson of a Political Pressure Group known as Kogi Youths Masses Advocacy Group, Mallam Ahmed Suleiman, he mentioned that in the last two weeks at Ejule in Ofu Local government council while Dr. Victor Adoji and his supporters were holding consultation, some elements believed to be working for the APC attacked the venue with sophisticated weapons shooting sporadically and in the melee scores were wounded, canopies, chairs were destroyed and vandalized. “Not done with their evil machinations, just last week Dr. Victor Adoji’s supporters in Anyigba while holding their meeting were also chased away by the gun throttling thugs of APC.�

Gunmen Kill Three in Nasarawa

FOR QUALITY GIFTS...

L-R: Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro; Special Guest and CEO, Eleganzer Industry, Mrs. Shade Okoya; wife of Nigerian Ambassador in UK, Mrs. Module Oguntade; CEO, Momentum Decor, Gifts and Beyond, Mrs. Moji Williams and the Senor Special Adviser to President on Diasporas,

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during the oďŹƒcial opening of Momentum shop, in Lekki Lagos...recently

Bayelsa Prohibits Use of Oil Firms’ Security, Assets for Political Activities The Bayelsa State Security Council has prohibited the use of assets, personnel and security operatives on attachment to surveillance contractors of oil and gas firms for political activities in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara, said in a statement on Thursday that Security Council also decided to restrict assets, personnel and security operatives deployed to oil firms to the oil and gas platforms which are their designated areas of operation.

Okara also said that the council comprising the heads of all security agencies and top officials of the state government also prohibited the use of security operatives attached to VIPs and political appointees for election purposes in adherence to the

stipulated guidelines of the Indepedent National Electoral Commission.

He said that it was further resolved that the security agencies should not arrest, detain, or restrict the personal liberty of any leader or member of a political party without adherence to constitutional provisions.

However, Okara said that the security council decided that the agencies could arrest any leader of political party found to have been involved in acts inimical to national security with immediate notification to the governor.

He said, “The Bayelsa State Security Council at its meeting held on Thursday, 17th January, 2019, resolved, amongst others as follows: “All assets, personnel and security operatives attached to

surveillance contractors of oil and gas companies operating in the State shall be limited strictly to their designated areas of operations, and specifically within such oil and gas platforms or facilities. “Further, that in no circumstance should assets, personnel of surveillance contractors be used or involved in any political activity or electioneering processes. “All security operatives attached to VIPs, political appointees, etc, shall in no circumstance be used or be involved in any election processes in accordance with stipulated INEC guidelines. “No security agency, acting by itself or by its servants or agents or by any person(s) or authority howsoever described shall henceforth arrest, detain, or restrict the personal liberty of

any member, stalwart or leader of any political party in Bayelsa State without recourse to the due process of law and/or court order, between now and the general elections. “In Exceptional cases bordering on proven national security breaches or where a person is seen committing an offence in the presence of a member of any security service, he may be arrested and investigated, in which case the Governor shall be notified immediately.�

He said that the decision of the security council was meant to assure the Bayelsa citizenry of the commitment of the security agencies to be neutral, apolitical and professional in the forthcoming election in accordance with their respective service regulations, ethics and values.

Boko Haram: 15,000 Nigerians Flee to Cameroon, Chad

MTN Protests Kogi State Shutdown of its Facilities

Kuni Tyessi Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

MTN Nigeria has expressed grave concern over the arbitrary shutdown of its base transmitting facilities by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), over allegations that it has not met its tax obligations to the government.

The state government is demanding for immediate payment of Social Service Contribution levy, Employee Development levy and annual rent for Right-of-Way on fibre optics cable.

According to Tobechukwu Okigbo, MTN’s Corporate Relations Executive, the Taxes and Levies Act which introduces the Social Service Contribution and Economic Development levies mandates the Joint Tax Board to recommend chargeable fees which will be subject to the Minister of Finance’s approval. “To the best of our knowledge, the Minister of Finance’s recommendation as provided in the Act is yet to be issued, and as such, it is unclear if the imposition of the fee by the Kogi State Government

No fewer than 15,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring Cameroon and Chad following recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in some North-east states.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Antonio Jose Canhandula, disclosed this while speaking in Abuja Friday, at the pre-conference press briefing on the second regional protection dialogue on the Lake Chad Basin.

He said: “What is happening in the Lake Chad area remains a protection concern not only for us but also for the countries that have been hosting Nigerian refugees; that is Chad, Niger and Cameroon. “If you have followed events lately in the last three weeks, there have been heightened security problems in Badakawa which have resulted in another 6,000 Nigerian refugees fleeing into Chad.

“There have also been security problems in Rann and that resulted in 9,000 Nigerians running into Cameroon. These situations have come to reinforce the need for us to sit again and see if, in the face of protection challenges for IDPs and refugees, we have been doing a good job or can do better,� he said.

While lamenting the regrettable situations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, he said humanitarian bodies in the country were preparing a 90-day response for around 300,000 Nigerian IDPs as a result of the current security situation.

Canhandula said there would be a fund raising for the IDPs in Nigeria and Nigerian refugees in other Lake Chad countries.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau said the second Regional Protection Dialogue had become imperative in order to review the implementation of the “Abuja Action Statement� arrived at after the first Regional Protection Dialogue in 2016.

is on solid legal footing. As a responsible corporate citizen, we accord the highest priority to our sub-national tax commitments. We wish to state that we have met in full all our tax obligations to the Kogi State government and are not in arrears,� he said.

Going further, he said, “On request, we have furnished the KGIRS on multiple occasions with documentary evidence proving our full compliance with extant state laws on the matter. At this stage, the demands of the KGIRS, if honoured, amounts to multiple taxation and the arbitrary shut down of our base transceiver stations and harassment of our partners will stand in the way of a reasonable resolution.�

MTN regrets the disruption of services to its customers in Kogi and some neighbouring states and remains fully committed to working with the Kogi State government and the relevant regulatory authorities in reaching a timely and lasting solution.

Suspected gunmen in the early hours of yesterday were reported to have killed no fewer than three persons and burnt down seven houses in Tudu Uku community of Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The chairman of the council area, Nuhu Dauda, confirmed the incident to journalists in Toto, headquarters of the local council, decrying the attack on innocent citizens that led to the killing of three persons and lost of properties worth millions of Naira. Dauda said: “I have received the report this early morning that suspected Bassa militias attacked Tudu Uku in Toto Local Government Area of the state killing three persons and burning down about seven houses and other belongings. I also received a report that one boy is still missing during the attack and the attackers beheaded one person.� The Chairman however assured people of the area of his continued readiness to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure that permanent peace is restored to the area.

Rotary Club Inducts New Members

The Rotary Club Abuja Karu Housing Estate inducts new members today (Saturday). The ceremony which is the first in the year is scheduled to hold at the banquet hall of Rims Hotel Jikwoyi at 4p.m. prompt. To be inducted are Dr. Mrs Alero Abokwara-Adjekota, Moses Akura, Raimi Adewale, Jonathan Ibrebru, and Ms. Kumashe Evlyn Foga. Others are Mrs. Joy Emmanmuel Dogara, and Ms. Gande Stephanie, Ms. Nafisat Rome and Lawson Alaenetonwa. The President of the Club, Rotarian Dominic Ifidon said the ceremony will be rounded off with awards to deserving members and friends of the club. He enjoined fellow Rotarians from other clubs and friends to make it a date with the club.

Army Kills Four Boko Haram

The Army yesterday said four suspected Boko Haram members were killed during an operation in Borno State. A statement by the Deputy Director Public Relations, 7 Division of the the Nigerian Army, Col. Ado Isa said: “Troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army in Operation Lafiya Dole based on credible information today (Friday) conducted a clearance operation on suspected Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) hideout along Makinta Meleri in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State. “During the operation, the gallant troops neutralized (killed) four terrorists and recovered 4 AK-47 Rifles with registration numbers 58012289, 565240898 and 58006027, respectively. “They also recovered three rifle magazines containing 32 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and three bicycles.�

Isa said while commending the gallantry of the soldiers, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1 Operation Lafiya Dole, Brig Gen Abdulmalik Biu told them that the Chief of Army Staff is proud of their doggedness and they should sustain the offensive until the BHTs are flushed out and total peace and security restored. He asked the members of the public to volunteer more information on suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideout.

Kogi SDP Chides Security Agencies

The Kogi State chapter of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) has said it has no confidence in the ability of the Nigeria security agencies in the state, to protect its members, saying that it has failed to address the various complaints the party has availed the Force as it affects safety of members of SDP in Kogi Central. It stated further that the reason for the current stand of the party was as a result of the abduction of one of it�s members, Friday Ovoro from his house in the early hours of 23rd January, 2019 by unknown abductors who were dressed in military uniforms who stormed his residence, Ohueta, Okehi LG.Kogi. In a statement signed by the Acting Chairman of the party in Kogi State, Alh.Mouktar Atimah said since the abduction no information about his whereabouts. “Despite our complain to the security authorities we cannot locate where he is being detained, this calls for our fear. “It will be recall that we have been shouting that the state government is planning to indict our senatorial candidate for Kogi central, Barr. Natasha H. Akpoti on trump up charges relating to gunrunning and murder.

NCC Warns against Buying Preregistered SIM

The Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs (Protection Advocacy Group), National Communications Commission (NCC), Mr.Bamiji Ojo, has warned against engaging in buying Preregistered SIM cards, saying the dangers inherent in it are enormous. He also warned that anybody who used preregistered SIM which had been used to commit crime would pay dearly for it if caught. He gave the warning at the 102nd edition of Consumer Outreach Programme(COP) with the theme, ‘Mitigating Effects of Cybercrimes: Roles of Telecoms Consumers’, held at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. While urging all and prospective subscribers to register their SIM cards before using them, he stated that with registration the SIM has become that of the person that registered it which cannot be tampered with. He said, “Don’t use preregistered SIM. Don’t buy it. Someone must have used it to carry out crimes and return it. If you buy it and you’re caught you will be held responsible.

Go and register your SIM. Nobody can use your SIM because your

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2019

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NEWS

Transparency International Accuses FG of Vote-buying with TraderMoni Bennett Oghifo

The anti-corruption agency, Transparency International Nigeria, has said the federal government is engaging in pre-paid vote-buying with its TraderMoni scheme, a collateral-free loan the government is giving to small traders.

However, the government says it gives out the loans as part of its National Social Investment Programme and that it would enable these small traders grow their business if well utilised.

Regardless, Chairman of TI, Awwal Rafsanjani, who was a guest on Channels Television yesterday, said, “the TraderMoni scheme is not a programme but part and parcel of the manifesto of the ruling party and it is not in Nigerian constitution. “It was not done three years ago. It was only started close to election time. So, the allegation by many Nigerians

that this is clearly a case of vote buying using public funds goes contrary to our constitution and to having a free and fair election. “Official use of public funds in the name of TraderMoni is to actually induce voters. “That is why the Independent National Electoral Commission itself has seen this danger. The vote buying we are seeing has transformed to have more official recognition through the acts that unfortunately we are seeing performed by some of the agencies using public funds. “This is despite the statement by the President that public funds will not be used for his re-election campaign.

But this, unfortunately, is contrary to what Nigerians are seeing. “Clearly, this is vote buying, as far as I am concerned.

Official use of public funds in the name of TraderMoni is to actually induce voters.�

BEFITTING CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT ...

L-R: Managing Director, Sumeru Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Akshay Jain; Special Guest of Honour, Prof. Pat Utomi; Chairman, Vista International, Mr. Dev Varyani; and Media and Public Relation consultant, Aramide Tola Noibi, at the inauguration of Vista International Ltd Corporate Headquarters, in Isolo, Lagos‌ recently

Two Ex-INEC OfďŹ cials Jailed 64 Years for N264.8m GratiďŹ cation Davidson Iriekpen A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, sentenced two exofficials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Christian Nwosu and Tijani Bashir, to a total of 64 years imprisonments for receiving the sum of N264.8 million gratification from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke.

The court presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris, had on Thursday, convicted the two former INEC officials on a ninecount charge levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convicts were first arraigned before the court on May 5, 2017, on charges bordering on conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining huge amount without going through financial houses.

Justice Idris, however, reserved sentencing the convicts till yesterday due to the absence of

the first convict, Nwosu, who was said to be on admission in a hospital.

At the resumption of the matter yesterday, the convicts’ lawyer led

by Victor Opara, in his allocutor, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy as their clients are first time offenders.

He also urged the court to consider reformatory sentence instead of custodian sentence to their clients.

Opara further urged the court to considered the 35 years which the convict had served the country.

He also told the court to consider Sections 305(1) paragraph 6 of ACJA, which prescribed that the court should pass its sentence on the convict but such sentence should be suspended pending the out come of an appeal filed against the charges.

In response, the EFCC lawyer, M. A. Idris, while informing the court that though, the convicts are first time offenders, he urged the court to pronounce the sentence

as prescribed by the law.

Idris also informed the court to order the forfeiture of the money and properties recovered from the convicts to the federal government.

After listening to both parties, Justice Idris, sentenced the convicts to a total of 64 years imprisonment without option of fine.

The judge also ordered that all the landed properties recovered for the convicts be forfeited to the federal government.

In sentencing the convicts, Justice Idris said: “I have listened to the plea of allocutors made.

The convicts are or were officials of INEC and expected to conduct themselves as impartial umpires in the carrying out of their activities. “I understand the mission of INEC to be to serve as an independent and effective election management body, that is committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible election to the sustainable of our democracy in Nigeria.

Nomeh Community Endorses Ugwuanyi, Nnamani, Other PDP Candidates Nomeh Unataeze community has endorsed the candidatures of all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), flag-bearers in the forthcoming general elections.

The community hinged the endorsement on dividends of democracy, which they have enjoyed through the quality leadership and representation provided by the party’s office holders at various levels of government.

Nomeh Unataeze community sealed their support for the PDP during the party’s Ward campaign rally on Thursday.

Proposing the motion, the leader of the Ward and Special Adviser on Media to the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, said their support for the PDP had yielded so many dividends to the Nomeh community in terms of infrastructural development and appointments.

Mr. Anichukwu said: “Today,

the good people of Nomeh Ward have mandated me to move this motion for the adoption of all PDP candidates because our relationship with the party has since transcended the realms of promises to the realms of practical dividends of democracy. “The multi-million naira rural electrification project by the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; the ongoing speedy construction of a police station by the same administration to secure our lives and property; the wiping away of our tears through the ongoing construction of NenweNomeh-Mburumbu-Nara Road with a spur to Oduma and the ongoing Erosion Control Project both attracted by Senator Ike Ekweremadu are reasons for our total support. We are also favoured in terms of appointment. “Promises of other parties are therefore post-dated cheques, which

could bounce, but we are already cashing the PDP cheques.�

In his address, PDP’s candidate for Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency seat, Hon. Nnoli Nnaji, who spoke on behalf of other candidates, said a vote for all PDP candidates not only in the presidential election, but also including the party’s candidates for Enugu East Senatorial District, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani; Nkanu East State Constituency candidate, and the governorship candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and House of Assembly candidates in would guarantee more democracy dividends to Nomeh community.

Also speaking, the Council Chairman, Nkanu East Local Government Area, Hon. Ikechukwu Ubagu pledged that Nomeh would remain at the centre of PDP administration’s programmes.

EFCC Asks Court to Strike Out Case against Ex-FHC Judge, OďŹ li-Ajumogobia Akinwale Akintunde The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, asked an Ikeja High Court to strike out the ongoing corruption suit preferred against a former judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for lack of jurisdiction.

Ofili-Ajumogobia is standing trial alongside Obono Obla (SAN) on a 31-count charge bordering on an alleged perversion of the course of justice, unlawful enrichment and forgery preffered by EFCC. According to anti-graft agency, the offences are contrary to Sections 64(1), 82(a) and 69(1) (a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had on its 87th meeting, which was held on October 3, under the Chairmanship of Justice Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria recommended the dismissal of Ofili-Ajumogobia as a judge.

The recommendation for dismissal was as on the strength of

petitions filed to the NJC containing allegations of corruption against her by Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC. At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, before Justice Hakeem Oshodi, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo informed the court the charge preferred against Ofili-Ajumogobia, was not in line with the guidelines of the National Judicial Council (NJC) based on the Court of Appeal decision in Hon. Justice Nganjuwa V. FRN. Justice Obaseki Adejumo of the Court of Appeal while delivering his judgment in Hon. Justice Nganjuwa V. FRN, had said that EFCC does not have power to investigate and prosecute serving judicial officers.

Adejumo said that National Judicial Council (NJC) must first strip the appellant (Hon. Justice Nganjuwa) of his judicial standing before he could be charge.

The Court of Appeal judge had further stated that serving judicial officers can only be prosecuted for offences like murder, stealing etc done outside the discharge of

their duties. That once the offence was committed in the discharge of their duties, they must be tried

by NJC first.

Citing the decision in Nganjuwa Vs FRN, the EFCC through a letter dated Decemeber 13, 2018 urged the court to strike out the charge. “In urging Your Lordship to strike out the charge, we concede that in this case we have done our bit in view of the fact that the decision in Nganjuwa’s case is still the law today. “We state that the charge was not brought in line with the procedure and this proceeding is deemed not to have existed in the first place. “I pray My Lord not to be persuaded by the submission of the learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Robert Clarke to discharge and acquit the first defendant (Ofili-Ajumogobia). “Section 73 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) is not applicable here as we have not made an application attempting to withdraw the charge or information.�

Apapa Gridlock: Residents Protest over Blockage of Roads, Bridges by Trucks Kunle Adewale Residents of Apapa and its environment on Wednesday took to the streets in protest over the continuous blockage of roads and bridges by containerised trucks and fuel tankers.

The residents resorted to protest after an earlier ultimatum given to the federal government in December last year to ensure that the trailers and fuel tankers were vacated from the roads and bridges of Apapa, Surulere and Ajegunle was not adhered to.

Addressing the media at the Apapa Tennis Club, the takeoff point of the protest, the Chairman of the Apapa Residents Association, Brigadier General Sola Ayo-Vaughan, said the protest was

just one of the series of protests lined up after which the association would have no choice but to take the federal government to court. “In December last year we gave the government a 21-day ultimatum which had since lapsed but there was no reaction from the government. “In 2017, the Vice President, Yemi Oshinbajo visited Apapa and ordered that the trailers should vacate the roads but it was of no effect,�Ayo-Vaughan said.

For the Chairman of Ibru Nigeria Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Ibru, who claimed to have been residing in Apapa for over 55 years said the problem of trucks overtaking the streets of Apapa started with the concession of the port, saying every truck must have a holding bay for

situation to get back to normal.

Another resident, Mrs. Ronke Diers charged the federal government to open up other ports in the country to save Lagos bridges from collapsing and the protect the state from epidemic with the way the truck drivers liter the streets with human wastes.

The association therefore gave a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government after which if the situation remains the same, they shall sue the Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, and all shipping companies. “We will name and shame all the owners of these companies who do not live in Apapa but are responsible for the destruction of Apapa,� the association warned.

Plus

Melvin Oduah Determination, Drive, Tenacity Have Kept Me Relevant

GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND FASHION FILE SHOWBIZFLAIR

pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 42 pg. 45

Isioma Samson While Growing Up, Our House Had Love in it, So Much Joy, Until...

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PLUS

While Growing Up, Our House Had Love in it, So Much Joy, Until...

Fast-rising model, Isioma Samson’s first major runway appearance was at the Arise Fashion show in Lagos last year. She walked on the same runway for the same designer with Naomi Campbell. It was dream come true for Isioma. Within a short time, she raised her game and attracted interest from abroad. Few months back, South Africa’s elite agency, Fabulousdotcom Models, signed on Isioma in a big deal. This gangling model talks to Tosin Clegg about her career, growing up, her family and lots more

L

ife started for me as early as I can remember in Badagry, Lagos I went to Meritland Group of Schools, Igborosun Badagry. I have two siblings, a sister and a brother. My father was a lawyer and my mother was a trader; she would go to Seme to buy clothes and sell in Badagry, she was really strong. I grew up practically with my mother and sister because my father was away most of the time. My mother was a fun-loving person; she loved watching movies and had magazines everywhere in the house, so that’s where I think my interest in modelling started. Our house had love in it and so much joy, I remember that. Growing up started out really good; we could express ourselves and be happy. I think that’s where I and my sister got the interest in modelling and dancing. After a few years, we lost our father and things got challenging. My father’s passing away in a car accident left my mother with no choice but to work harder as she had three children to take care of. She wanted to ensure we all finished our secondary education at the least, so she worked so hard, but it was tough. There were days we didn’t have food to eat but we had each other, we had her.

Honestly, it was not easy but I had my mother. I was shattered when she passed on after an illness in my final year in secondary school.

Life became tough after losing my parents Losing my father and mother made things difficult. Every girl needs fatherly and motherly care and support; I did not have a lot of that growing up. After losing my mother, my sister and I had to stay at our uncle’s house in Apapa. My uncle tried, I think, but it was not the easiest of times. This woke me up and made me want to succeed.

I realised that I needed to take my modelling dreams and make it a reality. My sister; Victoria also worked hard on her dancing career. We were determined to make it work.

My background is my inspiration My tough background gave me the drive to actualise my dreams because I know what it is like not to have most of what one desires.

Isioma Samson

I was just 10 years old when my father passed My mother was a trader; buying fabrics from Seme Border and my father was a lawyer. I think because I was really young, I did not know exactly what his work entailed, I did not know his branch of law. I was 10 when he passed, so there was little I knew. When my dad passed, my mum had to stop trading from Seme. So, she set up a shop and sold provisions from her shop. She loved buying and selling and I think she was good at it.

My best gift as a child and most difficult period People might list physical gifts but because of what I’ve been through, I know my best gift as a child was my mother’s love and care. It was immeasurable. My most difficult period was losing my mother and father at a very tender age. It was and still is the most difficult thing I’ve been through.

A lot of times your parents are there to shelter you from a lot of bad things but when you don’t have them, it can make you seem so alone. There are times when people will do stuff to you and you wish you could run home or pick up the phone and call your mother or father but I can’t. My sister and I have had to step up for each other and be strong. I know I had divine support to heal and also drew strength from my mother’s words. She would say I should be strong no matter what and I should not give up on any of my pursuit in life Not listening to my mother’s advice on relationships was the biggest mistake I made As a teenager, she always warned me not to have a boyfriend, but I did not listen, I was in a hurry. Looking back now, I was too young, I did not have a say in where I would be and I rushed into things I should not have done. I thought I was in love. Today, I don’t know where the man is; I’ve never seen him since I left Badagry.

My major high point in life was walking at The Arise Fashion show in Lagos It was my first fashion show in Nigeria, it was huge! The lights, cameras, designers, journalists, it was huge! Naomi Campbell was there and I walked on the same runway for the same designer as she did. It was dream come true for me! I was so

ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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PLUS My major high point in life was walking at The Arise Fashion show in Lagos Losing my father and mother made things diďŹƒcult. Every girl needs fatherly and motherly care and support; I did not have a lot of that growing up. After losing my mother, my sister and I had to stay at our uncle’s house in Apapa. My uncle tried, I think, but it was not the easiest of times. This woke me up and made me want to succeed. I realised that I needed to take my modelling dreams and make it a reality.

My sister; Victoria also worked hard on her dancing career. We were determined to make it work

excited. Another high point was when my agency helped me get my placement deal with my South African agency. On the flipside, the first low point in my career was at the beginning, when I went for two major fashion auditions in the same week and was turned down. I hated the rejection, I was so sad; I kept thinking about what the other models had that I didn’t have.

Failure and poverty are my biggest fear Those two haunt me. I look at my past and I know that I must not go back to where I was. I do not want to experience it and I work hard because I know I want none of that.

I desire to work for big brands My top three are, Miu Miu, Versace and Dolce and Gabbana. I’ve bought their shoes in preparation for the day I will go for their audition. I will be wearing them so they know that this girl from Lagos, Nigeria means business. I know I will one day.

Life has taught me patience and loyalty I have learned that when you’re loyal to whom you’re working with, they will go the extra mile for you. I’ve learned that even in modelling . I loved my agency in Nigeria and was loyal and even when people tried to poach me, I stayed with them and they got me my placement in South Africa and are working on more. For patience , I know that good things come to those who are patient and have worked hard. When I started and people saw me doing well, they tried to make me rush, change agencies and compare myself to other models but I am glad I was patient.

I saw my agency on Instagram and I sent a WhatsApp message to them. The owner of the Agency; Daphne asked me for my Polaroid and statistics and from there my journey with them started. I was really happy, it felt good to have an agency want me and believe in me.

My friends and siblings fueled that dream My mother’s magazines were most likely my first glance at the industry and I wanted to be one of the models. I always saw myself on the runway and being the face of big brands. My friends and siblings fueled that dream as well because they would always call me ‘Modella!’ (laughs) but this is my dream.

My ‘Fabulous Models’ story I felt so happy getting signed to Fabulous Models. That’s because it has always been my dream to be signed to agencies outside Nigeria and finally, the dream has become a reality. I know there is so much more for me and I know my parents are smiling at me.

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PLUS

Melvin Oduah Determination, Drive, Tenacity Have Kept Me Relevant

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ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS I Did Not Stumble into Art...I Have Always Had a Passion for It

Most reality TV show contestants go into oblivion after the show is over. Just few maintain relevance. Melvin Oduah has remained relevant in the entertainment scene after participating in the 2009 edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search. He proceeded to do Mr. Nigeria Beauty Pageant and emerged the runner-up. All that was before he participated in Big Brother Africa Season 8. Since then, Oduah has been a top flight entertainer. He speaks with Chinedu Ibeabuchi on the secrets that have kept him relevant, his drive and views about the industry

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018 in retrospect, what can you look back to and say you were grateful for?

What can I look back and say I’m grateful for? It has to be life.

I’m grateful for life. I have food, I have clothing and shelter and what more can I ask for? And besides, my career has obviously been on the rise and I’m grateful to God for that. I’m not where I want to be but I’m definitely not where I used to be and things are getting better and I’ve got to be thankful for that.

Your formal education wasn’t in art. How and when did you develop interest in modelling and acting? Or did you stumble into art?

No, I did not stumble into art. I have always had passion for it. I started acting as far as when I was in the nursery and primary school. Then I used to engage in those acting stuff and I always knew that I would still come back to entertainment, even during and after I finished my university education and my youth service, I always had it in mind that I was coming into entertainment and give it a shot.

From outset, did your parent support your career choice despite studying different courses Yes. Immediately, I told them that this is what I wanted to do, this is the path where I see myself.

They supported me all the way like 100%. They didn’t try to talk me out of it.

Before participating in Gulder Ultimate Search, who was Melvin Oduah?

Before participating in GUS in 2009, I was just Melvin Oduah that has finished his youth service and I was a model then.

And fast forward to 2019, what has Melvin Oduah become? Living your childhood dreams?

Melvin Oduah has become a name in the entertainment industry and as regards living my dreams, well! I like where I am, I’m very happy where I am and I’m actually doing what I enjoy doing the most and making money from it. So, if that’s your definition of living my dreams, then I’ll say yes, I enjoy what I’m doing and I hope to get higher in my career.

Several talent show contestants go into oblivion after the show. How have you been able to maintain relevance so far?

First of all, it’s grace. I can’t say I am the most hardworking guy that has gone for a TV show, but I also think my hardwork and determination counted. I’ve gone for different reality TV shows and I did not just hold back because I didn’t win.

No, I kept pushing. I think it is my determination, my drive and tenacity. I just knew that this is what I want to do. So why should I slowdown? It is paying off today and I’m grateful for that.

What makes modeling fascinating?

It’s a natural likeness. It’s just the same way that people are so much in love with different things in life. This is part of me - entertainment and acting - There’s no reason per say on what makes it fascinating; it is just me; it’s just what I love.

Huge and attractive male models naturally draw women attention. How do you cope with female admirers?

I don’t know. I just cope. I think it’s just being nice to them. They are your fans, they are your people, they are your admirers. You can’t help but to be nice to them. Whether you like it or not, they are part of the people that are supporting you and making your career what it is today. If they didn’t support you in those contests or in your career as a whole, you’ll probably find it difficult. So, they are my supporters, they are people that have helped me and supported me. So, I just have to be nice to them. I think that’s the way I cope with my admirers.

From your experience, how will you rate the Nigerian modelling industry?

The modelling industry in Nigeria has a lot of improvement to be done and we hope and pray that improvements come-in every time. Financially, I think they can do better in paying the models especially those ones that have decided to take it as a career. It needs to be structured better than it is.

How do you balance acting and modeling?

I balance it well. It’s entertainment so I don’t

Oduah

have qualms. Many entertainers don’t just plant themselves in one area of entertainment. You can diversify. There’s acting, there is modelling, singing, comedy, event compering, TV show hosting and stuffs like. So, it’s just a matter of just identifying the areas in which you have interest in and I’m sure you can combine them quite well.

Which is most lucrative?

Right now, it has to be acting because that is my major hustle in entertainment. I’m an actor. So acting is this is the most lucrative for me.

Movie lovers still berate Nollywood for its shallow story-telling and continuity? What’s your assessment of the industry?

I’m really proud of the growth of the Nollywood industry. I’m proud to be part of the Nollywood industry. People still berate Nollywood majorly because of our old movies; those kind of movies that we were shooting in the past but it’s a growing process and we have actually grown. If you look at where we are now and twenty years ago, there is a big improvement. We are doing quality movies now and you can’t be comparing us with Hollywood that has been there for several decades. We are just starting. Come on! We are getting there. We are not there yet, it’s a gradual process and I’m very happy with the growth.

And please, anything that anybody, individual or government can do to support and help us grow stronger and better, please, such support would be appreciated.

If there is one plug that needs to be fixed to grow Nollywood, what do you think that would be?

It will be investment. A lot of movie makers

don’t have huge budget to put into a movie. So, easy access to fund is paramount. People have great ideas, very massive movie projects in their heads and the ideas are there but funding is the problem. Just like the way government helped Hollywood and Hollywood helped the government. Our government can actually come in; we can help each other grow.

Any award yet?

I have a couple of them. I have awards from my modelling days. I have awards as an event host and I have awards as an actor. These include Achievers Award, Most Promising Model of the Year 2010, TAVA Award 2011 for my role in Happy Family, Lagos Fashion Awards as Most Fashionable Male Personality of the Year (2014) and others. I thank God for these.

Several rumours have linked you in the past to romantic affairs with other celebrities.

What’s your relationship status? And should we expect wedding bells soon?

Rumours will always be rumours and rumours will always go round. As far as you are a public figure, there will be rumours. I am not searching.

And as regards wedding bells coming soon, let’s see how it goes.

Can you marry a co-celebrity? If no, why?

And if yes, who is your crush?

Can I marry a co-celebrity? Why not! I mean if the bond is there and the chemistry is there and if the two of you complement each other, then why not! My crush will always be Jennifer Lopez.

Please, if you can get her for me, get her for me now and I marry her. Thanks (Laughs)

How would you describe your love life?

Fortunate or any sordid experience to share?

It has been interesting. It’s not the best and not the worst, but’ it’s been interesting.

Divorce is like a normal thing in Nollywood. Would you describe this as a syndrome or free choice? What’s your view about this?

I don’t think anybody will go into marriage and expect to get a divorce, to the best of my knowledge. Anyway, I know that sometimes different things happen in marriages that we don’t pray for. But there are differences that can come out from nowhere and these differences might be irreconcilable. Domestic violence is one of those irreconcilable differences. I don’t wish everybody divorce but if it gets to that point where domestic violence is involved, I actually don’t think any woman should still remain in marriage before she dies from abuse someday. If your husband or wife assaults you, because it’s not only men that beat women these days, it’s could be the other way, I don’t mind saying you should get a divorce. I don’t wish any couple to divorce but if it gets to that stage, then I think he/she can go ahead.

How do you unwind?

I love to have fun. I have siblings and friends that are fun to be with. I like to share quality time and fun moment with them. That’s the kind of person I am In 2019, what should we expect from Melvin Oduah?

Expect a lot from me. I’m not going to spill anything right now but my brand is definitely getting bigger this year. Different things are going to be happening. So watch out for this space.

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Fashion File

The Leading Ladies Collection by Asake Oge

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Î

FASHION FILE

The Leading Ladies Collection by Asake Oge

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he leading ladies collection is targeted at the 21st century stylish woman who is chasing her dreams and goals and wants to look powerful and stylish while she does this.

There is something for everyone in this collection. From causal to day to evening to formal pieces made in premium quality fabrics with attention to detail and finishing.

Designer : @asakeoge Photography: @sniper_ajix Models: @atacomma @mslang_lisaa @miszbellbc Makeup: @226makeoverworld

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ONNOGHEN SUSPENSION

Onnoghen’s Suspension, Another Attempt to Endanger Democracy, Says Saraki Deji Elumoye in Abuja

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enate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has described the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a deliberate attempt to endanger the nation’s hard earned democracy. Saraki, in a 10- paragraph statement he personally signed emphasised that the suspension was a coup against democracy and another act of desperation by President Buhari.

He noted that by the suspension of the head of the nation’s judicial arm, Buhari has acted outside the provision of the constitution, has exercised the powers which he does not have and that this action amounted to gross misconduct. “This is an action aimed at undermining the nation’s judiciary, subverting the constitution, intimidating judges of all the courts of record, and creating uncertainty in the electoral process, thereby laying the foundation for influencing the outcome of litigations that might arise from next month’s elections.

According to him, “there are already the general belief that this hasty action was taken to pre-empt the already scheduled inauguration of election petition tribunals by Hon. Justice Onnoghen and to destroy national institutions that are perceived to be unco-operative in his bid to manipulate the electoral process leading to next month’s general elections.

Saraki explained that by unilaterally suspending the CJN without following the provision of the constitution, President Buhari has taken an action which amounted to gross misconduct. “He has simply sent a dangerous signal to the entire world that Nigeria is no longer a democratic nation and that we have returned

to the old, jaded era of military dictatorship . “Our constitution makes no provision for suspension of the nation’s highest judicial officer. The constitution provides a clear process for removal of the CJN and specify the roles of the three arms of government, beginning from the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Assembly and lastly, the Presidency, have different roles to play in that process. There is no condition under which the President can usurp the powers of other arms of government.

I do not know where the President and his advisers got this idea of suspending the CJN on the so-called order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal but this is novel, disingenuous and alien to our laws. “The President and his team must have seen this so-called suspension as a short-cut to getting Hon. Justice Onnoghen out of the way since the appellate court has eventually stopped the CCT from continuing with the trial of the CJN. It is strange that President Buhari is claiming to be taking orders from a Tribunal which has been ordered by a superior court to halt all actions on the trial. “With this action, President Buhari has initiated a process the consequence of which nobody can predict. They have precipitated a constitutional crisis. “At this point, all democratic institutions in the country, the international community and democrats across the world should rise against this blatant act of impunity. We should jointly condemn this retrogressive, uncivilized and despotic measure�, Saraki stated.

Saraki however called on President Buhari to immediately reverse this decision and allow the due process of law to take its natural course “in determining the guilt or otherwise as well as the suitability of Hon. Justice Onnoghen to continue as the head of the nation’s judiciary�.

Agbakoba Calls on Nigerians to Vote Out Buhari

Charles Ajunwa

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ormer President of Nigerian Bar Association and human rights activist, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has called on Nigerians to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari come February 16 presidential election because of what he described as “the most violent denigration of the Nigerian’s Constitution� following the suspension of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen by the president.

Agbakoba who admitted he was saddened by the president’s action said everything must be done quickly to stop the president from having his way as he can capitalise on the same unconstitutional means used to remove the CJN to postpone the forthcoming general elections.

He also called on all lawyers across the country to suspend all judicial and legal services and march to the streets like the Pakistani lawyers did to resist the affront from

the president, saying the president is not above the law. “I am very, very angry not only as a Nigerian, as a lawyer, as a former president of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), I’m angry that we have a president that desecrates our judiciary. As you know the background for all this, is that the CJN has a matter before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCT). The president purports to suspend the CJN pending the determination of his case at the CCT. The CCT that the president cites as his reason for suspending the CJN has itself said on Monday (January 28, 2010) we shall see whether we can entertain the case at all. So it gives a lie, it shows that is not the reason. “The second point is that the Appeal Courts has said to everybody “wait we will withdraw this case and decide what to do� and the president is bound by that order. I don’t know whether the president doesn’t realise that he has an Attorney General called Malami who sits there and is misadvising him.

Raji, Questions How Buhari Obtained CCT Order Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

eacting, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ahmed Raji, said while the President claimed he had relied on the exparte order issued by the CCT, the question remains how did the order come about. He further submitted that it is pertinent to ask whether the order was properly and regularly issued On the question on whether the said order

can be reversed or set aside, Raji categorically emphasized that, “Any exparte order can be set aside especially when Parties have already joined issues on the point and matter already adjourned to a later date�.

Chairman of the CCT Danladi Umar had at the last sitting after refusing to obey 4 different courts orders asking him to stay proceedings in the trial of Onnoghen, adjourned till Monday, January 28 to take Onnoghen’s motion challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 26, 2019

POLITY Dapo Abiodun’s Campaign Gathers Momentum Femi Ogbonnikan writes on the campaign tour of the Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Dapo Abiodun, to Ewekoro, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Remo North and Ikenne local government areas

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orkers represent an important life wire of any organisation. Consequently, the importance of the workers can’t be overemphasized. In recognition of this fact, the APC governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has taken his campaign tour to the doorstep of the labour leaders.

Accompanied to the NLC secretariat, Abiola Way, Abeokuta, on January 18, by notable party stalwarts, including national leader of the party and former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Abiodun’s running mate, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Abiodun promised to review the cases of the sacked state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Akeem Ambali, along with 15 members and the suspension of 19 Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) officials by the state government two years ago.

While addressing various affiliates of the NLC, theAPC governorship candidate stated that his administration would not take the issue of Labour lightly but it will form a prominent part of his mission-statement.

“I want to emphasise that our party is a progressive one and it is not a progressive family that will be anti-labour. We will not disappoint you “, said Abiodun.

Stressing his message of inclusiveness for growth, theAPC flag bearer further, highlighted the pillars of his administration’s mission which he said no individual, or even a political party, could achieve alone. He noted that, it requires effective engagement and commitment of all stakeholders, including the public service, to achieve hence the central theme of his manifesto: Building Our Future Together.

Abiodun said he was aware of the growing cynicism and disbelief about promises made by political officer seekers, especially in the course of the campaign. “This mistrust is not unexpected given the experiences of Ogun State workers and the electorate in general over the years. However, in addition to personal values that underpin all my endeavours, I always keep at the back of my mind that if my teacher parents had not been treated fairly and with dignity by government of their time, I may not be where it has pleased God to place me today not to talk of vying for the governorship seat of a state. Therefore, I regard my promises as sacred and solemn commitments that must be pursued with sincerity and vigour.”

TheAPC candidate also paid homage to the Onitori of Itori, in Ewekoro Local Government Area (Ogun Central), on Saturday, January 19, 2019. The elated monarch, ObaAbdulFatai AkoredeAkamo, Olu of Itori, admonished other traditional rulers in the local council to ensure their subjects cast their votes for no other political party than theAPC. He said GovernorAmosun had done his best but added that Ogun State needs a governor that will perform beyond peoples’ expectations.

In his response,Abiodun assured the people of Itori and Oluke-Orile, both in Ewekoro local government, that Dangote Cement factory will return to the area and commence work.

He said his administration would make life better for the citizens, by giving them dividends of democracy across all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Also, when he took his campaign train to IjebuOde Local GovernmentArea and Yemoji Local Council DevelopmentArea on Monday, January 21, 2019,Abiodun admonished party faithfuls and supporters to be wary of the antics of politicians “who are using the good name of the party to deceive them for their selfish ambition”, just as the forthcoming general elections are approaching.

He said though some selfish political office seekers may have used the good name ofAPC to get into positions of authority and performed below expectations, he urged that that should not be used as a yardstick to measure all politicians.

While addressingAPC members and supporters at Isiwo, in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, on Monday, as parts of his ward-to-ward campaign tour of all the 20 local governments, the

L-R: Ogun State APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, and Abiodun’s running mate, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele in Sagamu.

L-R: Osinbajo and Abiodun, during the rally in Sagamu

APC governorship candidate promised that a new dawn was beckoning on all sons and daughters of the state, if he emerged as the next governor.

He said: “Don’t be deceived by some politicians that have gone out on the prowl, knocking at your doors to bring out your Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to take the numbers on them and then, offer you money.

“And we can’t be in the same party and we will be making the same mistakes. No! It is not possible. These sets of politicians are not real.APC is the party. Broom is the symbol of our party. In all the elections, make sure you cast your votes for the APC. “I want to use this occasion to reiterate my commitment to ensuring that I bring my vast experience in the private sector to bear in governance if I emerge as the governor of the state.”

At Ikoti, in Yemoji LCDA, theAPC governorship candidate promised to ensure that the

Olokoola free trade zone becomes a reality if and when he gets into office.

He added that his administration would be business friendly through the provision of an enabling environment where the people of the state can take its economic advantage.

According toAbiodun, the Olokoola deap sea port will be given priority in order to cater for the unemployed youths.

“The economic importance of this project is our priority and when I become governor, I will bring investors to partner with Ogun State Government.

And that will have multiplier effects on the state economy. I will make it easy for investors to come and invest in Ogun state- both local and international investors. I know how to do it, because I come from the private sector.”

Also during the week, it was a matter of who the cap fits. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), an illustrious son of Remoland, took no one by surprise

as he led the campaign tour ofAbiodun to all the three local governments that make up Remoland.

Shortly after paying homage to Remo traditional rulers in 33 communities led by theAkarigbo and Paramount ruler of the Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the VP campaigned forAbiodun in Sagamu, Ikenne, Ilishan, Isara, Iperu, Ode-Remo, Ogere and other adjourning communities.

Speaking Wednesday, at a town hall meeting organised by the sons and daughters of Remoland at theAkarigbo’s Palace in Sagamu, Osoba, called for total support forAbiodun.

Spokesperson, Remoland sons and daughters, Otunba Adeleke Adeshina, said: “Three local governments that make up Remoland under the leadership of the Akarigbo, 33 towns being represented by their respective Obas, professionals and all business communities have put this town hall meeting together for the cause of our son, Osinbajo.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 26, 2019

POLITY

FIRS’s Impressive N5.3trn Revenue in 2018 Olaoluwakitan Phillips

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hen Babatunde Fowler was appointed the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in 2016, he vowed that the agency would substantially surpass previous revenue generation record of the agency.

Fowler has not disappointed. He has taken FIRS to the next level. Revenue generation has been on the rise in the last three years, following the reinvigoration of the agency by Fowler.

The most remarkable is the record N5.3 trillion generated in 2018. It was the highest revenue ever generated in its history.

Fowler actualized his dream, despite the fact that crude oil, a key source of revenue for the FIRS, oscillated between $50 and $70 per barrel in 2018.

Notwithstanding the dwindling oil prices and economic restrain in 2018, the FIRS worked hard in ensuring taxes are collected and remitted for the benefits of the nation and all three tiers of government by targeting non-oil revenue. FIRS under Fowler adopted initiatives that ensured a robust tax administration that is agile and beneficial to all stakeholders.

These gave birth to the record N5.3 trillion collected in 2018.

The target of the FIRS for 2019 is N6 trillion and beyond. It looks on the high side, but Fowler and his team are already working on this target. The FIRS boss sheds more light on this at a recent stakeholders summit: “In addition to the traditional objective of reviewing past performance and setting targets for the future, we intend to discuss strategies for enhancing collaboration between FIRS and its critical stakeholders; particularly the National Assembly with the view of explaining details of our operations and ultimately to improve overall organizational performance to achieve 2019’s target of N8 trillion and beyond.

“Areas of focus include, but are not limited to an exposition of the FIRS budgeting process; possible areas of legislative reforms and review of global best practices towards making taxation the pivot of national development.

The FIRS has also adopted various technology initiatives to promote innovation, convenience and transparency of its operations, “Thus, reducing the tax payers’ burden and every effort is made to improve FIRS efficiency in collections and tax administrations.”

In the last three years, the FIRS has raised the bar in technological initiatives for delivering services. Its core tax processes have been automated, leading to enhaced collection.

Some of these include automation of VAT collection in key sectors which will facilitate reduction in compliance cost in the long term andSystem to system integration between banks and FIRS, leading to 31% increase year on year in VAT collection in the banks that have gone live between Jan 2017- Dec 2018 FIRS’s Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) is helping a great deal to shore up tax collection. The ITAS project will enable the automation of FIRS tax processes. As part of the Service’s objectives to bring high-level efficiency to tax revenue collection and provide first class services to taxpayers, ITAS project introduced SIGTAS, a solution that covers all aspects of tax administration in one integrated system.

Another innovation under Fowler is the Govern-

Fowler

ment Information Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), an interface linking FIRS to the OAGF for real-time exchange of information and data.

FIRS also introduced the State Offices of Accountant General Platform (SAG), which automated the deduction at source and remittance of VAT and WHT from state governments’ contract payments directly to FIRS’s account. About N13 billion was collected through this source last year. VAT collection is on a steady increase. In 2018, the FIRS collected N1.108 trillion. This surpassed that of 2016 (N828.19bn), and that of 2017 (N972.30bn). VAT has increased 25% since 2015.

Another technological initiative of the Fowler era, aimed at delivering quality services to tax payers, is the e-Services. Under this, e-Receipt was introduced.

An electronic notification is automatically sent to the taxpayer’s email and/or phone within 24 hours after payment and its verification Taxpayers can now request for and print their TCC from the comfort of their homes or offices. Tax clearance on the platform grew from 9,574 to 59,350 within a year of introducing the platform An e-Stamp Duty payment system, integrated with CAC, was introduced, for easy stamp duty payments. Now, stamp duty can be paid with a few hours. With the automation of stamp duty payment, tax payers can handle transactions from the comfort of their homes or offices. When the platform went live the monthly stamp duty payments grew from an average of N500 million to N1.1 billion monthly.

Fowler remarks on the success of e-stamp duty: “E-Stamp duties collection is on a steady increase.

In 2018, the FIRS collected N15.66 billion, which surpassed that of 2017 (N10.9bn), 2016 (N5.6bn).”

The Tax Amnesty programme initiated by the FIRS in 2016 helped to increase tax generation. It attracted over 3000 applications for waiver of interest and penalty. The programme resulted in the payment/ collection of over N68 billion out of about N96.2 billion liability established from the exercise. Fowler indicated that waiver of penalty and interest were granted to ease tax burden and cost of enforcement on affected taxpayers.

The Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration (VAIDS) initiated by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the FIRS received over 5122 applications.The Scheme resulted in the voluntary declaration of over N92 billion liability with over N54 billion paid so far by companies.

As part of the deal to reduce pressure on tax payers, the FIRS allowed flexibility in the choice of tax office for taxpayers. This initiative by the Fowler administration allows taxpayers the choice of tax office through which to receive services from the FIRS. This is to facilitate voluntary compliance and improve ease of doing business by mitigating the costs and burden of tax compliance. A Federal Engagement and Enlightenment Tax Team (FEETT) and Contact Center, were also created for the purposes of improving taxpayer engagement and enlightenment.

The FIRS has been proactive engaging banks to enhance tax collection. In 2018, it wrote to all commercial banks, requesting for a list of companies, partnerships and enterprises with a banking turnover of N1 billion and above. This activity was aimed at ascertaining those companies complaint with tax laws and those that are not complaint. Last year, the FIRS generated about N21.75 billion from non-compliant organisations.

The FIRS under Fowler has clearly proved that Taxation is the most sustainable of all government revenue sources. He confidently remarks at a recent retreat: “There cannot be any serious discussion on diversification of the economy without reviewing the country’s tax regime for optimal performance.

Between the resource persons we have invited; our own staff and our stakeholders, we hope to draw from a wide spectrum of perspectives on how best to move forward from here.

“If the way forward requires a review of existing legal frameworks or legislative reforms, there is no doubt in my mind that we have willing and able partners in the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; as well as the support of the FIRS Board and our colleagues at the Joint Tax Board.

“The FIRS shall continue to engage stakeholders especially the Legislative arm of government, in order to gain invaluable support in assenting to laws and policies that will drive tax compliance and increase revenue generation for national development. We believe that with that additional revenue, the state and federal governments would be able to provide more services and bring more development to Nigerians.”

The FIRS under the leadership of Fowler has evidently shown that it is capable of supporting governments at all levels through improved tax generation. With the 2019 tax generation target of N6 trillion, government at all levels can look forward to more cash to tackle pressing needs in 2019.

Enugwu Ukwu Loses Enyi Sam Ekpe

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he death has occurred of Chief PJC Nwokafor, Enyi Enugwu Ukwu na Umunri, a prominent community leader in Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area in Anambra State of.

He was aged 59 years.

An exceptionally brilliant student, He passed the West African School Examination WASC with 9 A’s and joined the staff of Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA) in 1981. He rose through the ranks to the position of Executive Director Finance and Administration in the Authority and retired in 2016 after 35 years of meritorious service.

He played leading roles in the social and economic development of Enugwu Ukwu where he organized the famous Iguaro festival in the town in the past three years before his sudden death on

December 27, 2018.

He had previously served the town as the Government-Appointed Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Town Union and Secretary of the Iluogbo Commission which arranged the welfare of elder statesmen of the town who attained 80 years and above.

In his tribute to his memory, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, described Chief Nwokafor as a catalyst of many development projects in the town whose gap created by his death will be very difficult to fill.

Similarly, His Majesty Igwe Ralph Ekpeh Eze Enugwu Ukwu na Igwe Umundu described him as an elephant in name and in deed in Enugwu Ukwu who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of any project he was involved in just to move the town forward.

The remains of the deceased will be laid to rest on Friday February 8th 2019 after funeral mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Enugwu Ukwu.

Nwokafor

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 26, 2019

POLITY

Darlington: 2018 , My Most Outstanding Year Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

I

n the words of American poet and playwright, Robert Frost: “The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings and not his cash.

Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.”

For the Principal Partner, JD Capital, Mr. John Darlington, 2018 provided him and his family a very unique opportunity to review their story and the wonderful benevolence of Almighty God rather than gloss over their unfinished business.

In 2018, Mr. Darlington had another deep reflection on the vicissitudes of human existence and reminisced over his life journey, 45 years after the death of his father.

According to him, “I have every reason to thank and praise Almighty God. The fact that I wake up everyday and I’m in good health; take care of my household and business, I’m grateful to God. “More deeply, it’s 45 years ago that I lost my father, Pa Joseph Ahimireotah Darlington. 45 years ago, life was bleak and so uncertain. But to God be the glory, all the six children left behind by my father are doing substantially well today.”

He painted the picture of his father’s personality and paid him glowing tributes.

“My memory about my father is still very clear and sharp.

My father was a disciplinarian. He was a man of clarity a man who loved his family and kids - an amazing man and a classical example of what fatherhood should represent.

“When we were growing up, my father had two cars but we used to walk to school everyday . One day, my father’s driver, Lawrence asked my father the reason for not allowing him to drop the children with the car. The answer my father gave that day was both interesting and nostalgic. He said ‘if I die where will they get car to go to school?’ With this and many other reasons, I could boastfully say I had the best father in the world.”

Reflecting further on the Year 2018, Mr. Darlington said: “In 2018 alone, my two sons graduated with flying colours in the United Kingdom. I have every cause to celebrate them because their characters and personalities are reflecting well.

The combination of these breakthroughs gives us joy and adds beauties to our existence. And in return, I have decided to build a new St. Augustine Catholic Church in Okhuesan community, Edo State.”

In his determination to accomplish the project, Mr. Darlington swung into action late 2018 to lay the foundation for the building of the new church.

Speaking at the Mass Service towards the foundation laying ceremony, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Uromi,

Proposed new St. Augustine Catholic Church, Okhuesan, Edo State a new dawn in our community, most especially in OkhuesanUbiaja area of Edo State,” Omolumen said.

Mr. Darlington, who took out time to address his people in Esan language, tasked them to join hands with him in order to achieve the project as soon as possible.

“Collectively, we must join our hands together to build this befitting house for God. Interestingly, I am of the opinion that a project becomes lighter when you join hands together to accomplish rather than leaving the project in the hand of one person,” he said.

Speaking with THISDAY shortly after the ceremony, Mr. Darlington explained that the project was very dear to his heart.

“This project is very important to me. For me, it is about answering the call of my Creator; fulfilling an inspiration ; and showing gratitude unto God for all He has done for me.

“The project is also very significant to me because the Catholic Church in Okhuesan is my ancestral church parish, where my father came from. In early 2018, I went to the church and what I met was an old mud house. And I had a voice that said to me Darlington ‘you have to build a church for God.’” Asked about the time frame for the completion of the project, Revd Father Francis Omolumen , said the new church Mr. Darlington said: “If I have all the anticipated cash flow, I would be a springboard towards many good things in shall complete the project in six months. I have the belief that the Okhuesan community. will of God shall always prevail. My target is to finish the project “You have come to remove the fears. You have come to as soon as possible with the support of my friends to the glory of remove the past and this project signals the beginning of God and service to humanity.”

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Mining consultant ; Alhaji Abubakar sadiq, Nigerian Actor, Comedian, Radio and TV presenter; Ayo Makun, Business Mogul; Alhaji Hamisu Yaro and Chief Executive Officer, Hall 7 limited; Olayinka Braimoh. during the commissioning of the Bridge apartments and town houses in Abuja recently

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; during the inauguration of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Clinic in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday

L-R: Executive Director/Senior Special Assistant to Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Barrister Ezekiel Ajewole; CEO, Bodylikemilk Skincare and Cosmetics, Ogechukwu Alexis Obah; Winner of The Next Titan Season 5/General Manager, Business Development and Strategy, SIFAX Group, Saheed Lasisi; and Executive Producer, The Next Titan Reality TV Show, Mr. Mide Kunle-Akinlaja,, during The Next Titan Appreciation visit to SIFAX Group Head Office recently

L-R: Supervisor, Oja-Oba Market Shagamu,Adekunle Adedotun; Beneficiary, Ogboye Aji; Alara-Eluku, Kolawole Ayodele;; Alase of Latawa, Chief Ganiyu; Falake ;Ogunsola Oyindanola, and Agent of the Trader Moni, Balogun Oloko-OjaOba, during Trader Moni Flag at Oja-Oba Market Sagamu, Ogun State recently

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: GM, Astel UK, Mr Anil Punjab ;Regional Manager PFU (EMEA) Limited, a Fujtisu company, Adrian Cafferkey; CIO, PZ Africa , Mr Serge Yao and Vice Chairman, Kecam Technologies, Mr Bonny Mekwunye at Fujitsu Forum organised by Kecam Technologies in Lagos recently

L-R: Commissioner for special duties, Lagos State, Hon. Seye Oladejo; President, Ultimate Circle Club of Nigeria, Chief Bunmi Olaopa; Vice-President of the club, Mr.Issac Odedere; a guest, Alhaja Nike Adebesin; and Club’s Treasurer , Hakeem Amao,during a breast cancer awareness campaign walk to mark the 30th anniversary of Ultimate Circle Club of Nigeria,in Lagos recently

Experts Predict Minimal Growth for Retail at Confab Riding on the forecast of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) where Nigeria economy has been projected to grow at two per cent in 2019, experts in the retail space have said that they are expecting a minimal growth in the sector in the year.

This is as activities in the economy are expected to shape the sector’s movement and consumers behaviour in general.

Guest Speaker at a retail roundtable organised by Bervidson Group, Dr. Doyin Salami, noted that actions in the industry would be determined by trends in polity, price conditions, employment, income, purchasing power, spending patterns, credit and demographic conditions.

Salami explained that while global economy confronts a weaker outlook in 2019, the country’s performance would be hinged on its policies, diaspora transfers, capital flows

and trade, all of which will take effect on retail direction.

Reacting to the result of a recent study undertaken in Lagos, Kano and Rivers states, he concluded that there had been a total change in consumers purchasing pattern.

“Prior to recession, consumers expressed preference for luxury items, but they have since switched their purchasing lifestyle to products that meets their immediate needs.

“Today’s consumers have migrated to value brands from premium brand, embrace re-sizing and bulk-breaking and choose to patronise channels that offer shopping convenience which could be malls, open market and online platforms.”

He further identified tight credit conditions a major condition that would rub off negatively on the sector’s performance this year.

“Credit markets are not set fair for consumers.

Consumer credit is not identified as one of the distinct categories into which the Central Bank of Nigeria classifies lending by commercial banks, this suggests a negligible component of bank balance sheets.”

President of Bervidson Group, Joseph Ebata, urged government to prioritise the sector and see it as a critical factor of economic life.

In his review of the sector, he said, “For this year, we expect to see minimal growth in the sector and this will be determined by activities in the economy.IMF projection stands at two per cent, it is expected that some sectors will perform above and below the figure. For the retail unit, happenings in the global scene would also reflect in the domestic market, but if the pace of slow growth in Nigeria continues, then it’s going to be a mixed bag basket for operators, in other words, we should expect a mixed revenue growth.”

Kecam Releases Imaging Solutions for Data Improvement Information Communication Technology firm, Kecam Technologies Limited, has unveiled the latest innovative imaging solutions, manufactured by Fujitsu to enhance digital transformation among businesses.

The solutions were displayed at a well attended industry-wide forum organised

by Kecam to set agenda for data protection in the country.

Some of the products on display included Fujitsu Document Imaging Solutions ranging from the entry-level scanners to high-end high-speed enterprise scanners, based on cutting-edge technologies and ease of use and maintenance.

Vice Chairman of Kecam Technologies, the authorised and certified Fujitsu Sales

and Services partner for Nigeria, Bonny Mekwunye, explained that increasing demand for data compliance and protection as well as document and data protection has kept many organisations on their feet much more than before.

He said, “Using the right equipment and software needed to protect valuable information cannot be taken for granted.

Fujitsu Document Imaging Scanners, both standalone and network scanners, are primed to deliver superior productivity, low cost of ownership bundled with lots of software that will make your digital transformation easy and effortless.

The solutions cannot be compared with competition because of their ruggedness, ease of use as well as extremely-low total

cost of maintenance.”

Mekwunye explained further that the company has also developed PaperStream Capture Pro, a new capture process software, for organisations that depend on paper-based processes to increase the efficiency of their document scanning processes.

Country Manager - African Region, PFU EMEA LTD - a Fujitsu company, Adrian Cafferkey, stated that worldwide shipments of Fujitsu branded scanners, designed and marketed by PFU Limited, has surpassed 10 million units, while PFU has continuously focused on its customers’ needs, offering a broad portfolio of document scanners for professional personal, desktop, workgroup, high-volume production and networked environments.

Celebrations Cards and Gifts to Launch in Lagos Foremost Card and Gift retailer, Celebrations, is set to make its debut in Lagos on February 10, 2018.

With over two decades of quality service and happy shoppers in Jos and Abuja, Celebrations will expand operations with its store located in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. The stylish and modern store is set to offer shoppers a unique shopping experience for gift items ranging from greeting cards, perfumery, jewellery, accessories, leather goods, confectionery, porcelain pieces and precious items that are perfect for celebrating life’s special people and occasions.

The company, Celebrations, which is a licensed distributor of world renowned card makers Hallmark, will showcase an array of exclusive gift items from brands such as Christian Lacroix, T2 Tea, Cross AT, Keel Toys and others from across the globe, satisfying shoppers cravings for variety in meeting celebratory needs.

According to the Managing Director Celebrations Cards and Gifts, Dele Balogun, “Our story has been one of consistency, dynamism and growth.

We have found ourselves constantly evolving to meet growing needs of our clientele and seeking ways to serve them better. We look forward to bringing the same quality assurance, affordability and service that has kept us growing all these years to Lagos and building new relationships.”

Located at 45A Adebayo Doherty Road Lekki Phase 1, the store will officially open its doors with welcome cocktails to the public. The store’s opening hours will be 9am to 9pm Mondays to Saturdays affording shoppers a fresh and inviting ambience to explore, be inspired and find unique and special ways to celebrate others and reward self.

“Gifting is an art and at Celebrations, we take no exceptions. We are a vibrant fun-loving family run business, with a passion for celebrating bonds and special moments through gifts. We began about 30 years ago in Jos, providing quality greeting cards and since that time, we have evolved to offer a qualitative and eclectic range of carefully selected gift items.

Lagos Partners Echostone to Deliver Club Gears up for Annual Lions Day Affordable Housing Solutions As part of efforts to tackle housing deficit in the country, Echostone Nigeria Limited has partnered Lagos State Ministry of Housing to construct 20,000 affordable homes in one year.

The public-private partnership with Lagos State aimed to provide 100,000 affordable homes in five years with modern day technology.

Speaking with journalists during a site inspection by the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Lagos State Branch, at Idale, Badagry startup phase of the projects, the Chief Executive Officer, Echostone Nigeria Limited, Mr. Sammy Adigun, said the company aimed to provide affordable homes to low income earners with full infrastructure.

He said, “Our home will start at N3 million for the studio homes, and we have three to 13 million and will not sell any home higher than N13 million in Lagos, and they will be a high-quality home with full infrastructure.

“We are bringing affordability, we are bringing

funding, and we are going to rent to own our home, with as little as N30,000 a month.

With our 20,000 home target in a year, we are breaking a record that has never happened before in Lagos State and we promise to meet Lagos housing needs support of stakeholders, while not compromising quality.”

Inspecting the project, the Chairman, Lagos State Branch, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers - Esv. Olurogba Orimolade lauded the company’s initiative adding that the use of technology in housing construction has fastened the pace and enhanced concrete quality.

In his words, “We are thrilled and fascinated by what we are seeing, on how you can use technology to able to rollout homes at a quick rate. And it is something that gladdens our hearts as professionals in the industry. I think it is something a lot of states and partners should be able to look at and emulate.”

The Lions Clubs International has announced that over 1,500 dignitaries are up for its 41st Annual Lions Day, in collaborations with the United Nations.

The club in a statement explained that the day was set aside to address protection of children’s health and to mark 74 years of partnering with the United Nations, amongst others.

With this year’s theme as, ‘Protecting Our Future, The Health of our Children’, the historic event would be graced by Lions, Leos, UN Diplomats and other dignitaries across the globe.

Speaking further on the programme, Lion Afolabi Toluse Stephen, reiterated that the gathering was to commemorate the club’s long- standing relationship with the United Nations as a consultative NGO ,dating back to 1945 when Lion leaders were consulted to assist in developing the NGO charter for the UN. He noted that the event in the past had lived up to its goals as a countless number of lives have been touched.

“The 2017-2018 Lions Day With The United Nation has its theme as ‘Working Together Globally to Combat Diabetes’, the occasion took place in Geneva, Switzerland and Kenya on September

27, 2017, and February 27, 2018, respectively. The 40th event took place, at the UN Headquarters in New York city on March 24, 2018.

“These important advocacy events created awareness in nearly 50 countries with a combined attendance of 1,400 delegates. Each event was as unique as the country in which it took place. The occasions featured keynote speeches

by UN dignitaries, panel discussion with a focus on diabetes, youth engagement and fellowship among the attendees.

“A major highlight of the last programme included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Diabetes Federation, this serves as an update on our partnership with the World Diabetes Foundation. There was also an inclusive football match with Special Olympics Kenya as well as a visit by the First Lady of Kenya.

An impressive number of UN dignitaries also registered to become members of Lions Clubs International.”

He promised that this year’s event to take place at New York, USA, and Geneva, Switzerland on 9th of March and 10th April, 2019 respectively would be more engaging and rewarding.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL GLOBAL SOCCER SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

26.01.2019

Taiwo Awoniyi Back at Mouscron with a Bang

NEWS

Quadruple Quest PAGE. 29

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Taiwo Awoniyi

Back at Mouscron with a Bang After Nigeria crashed out in the second round against Germany at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the lackluster performance of the Flying Eagles did not deter European teams from scrambling for the signature of a member of the squad - Taiwo Awoniyi. He stood out of the lot and immediately became the toast of most European clubs. Prior to the 2015 U-20 World Cup, Awoniyi also had a scintillating performance for the Golden Eaglets at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates. However Awoniyi still struggling to actualise his potential in Europe

fter the 2015 U-20 World Cup, Awoniyi was courted

by Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, but he briefly settled for Swedish club, Kalmar.

The young Nigerian trained with the first team on his arrival in Sweden.

But he did not sign any professional contract with them.

The product of Imperial Academy, Odogbolu, Ogun State, eventually signed for English Premier league club, Liverpool, on August 31, 2015, for a fee of around ÂŁ400,000. Four years on, Awoniyi is yet to blossom to the star he was touted to be.

After signing for Liverpool, he was immediately loaned out to FSV Frankfurt. He made his debut for the club the following year.

In August 2016, Awoniyi went on another loan spell at NEC Nijmegen in Holland and it was another loan spell the following year to Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium, scoring nine goals in 16 matches.

On 17 July 2018, Awoniyi signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool and on 23 July of the same year, he was sent on a seasonlong loan to another Belgian club, KAA Gent. He failed to score a single goal for the club after five months.

In January this year, his loan to Genk was cut short, and Awoniyi was loaned to Mouscron again.

At Mouscron, Awoniyi, showed early signs of returning to the top scoring form he had with the club last season, as he made the

best of his second debut with a well-taken goal for the club. The ex-youth international showed his quality in his first game with aplomb.

He put aside the woes he faced at Gent, to romp home Mousconr ’s match-winner against KV Oostende.

Though, Awoniyi failed to score a single league goal in 16 appearances with Gent, he has hit the ground running on a familiar hunting ground in Mouscron.

His effort helped Mouscron snatch a 2-1 home win that took them up to 14th on the table with 20 points from 22 matches, six points clear of relegation spot and Awoniyi’s reaction was overwhelming. “I am extremely happy to start

so well in my first game back at Royal, and that my goal helped us win this important match,�

Awoniyi posted.

Late Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi once gave the U-20 striker the green light to lead the Super Eagles’ attack with the hope that he can bring his eye for goal to the senior team. “I gave Awoniyi his first call up to the Super Eagles sometimes ago because I know that he has the quality of a goal poacher who can deliver the goals when needed, but playing for the agegrade national teams is different from the Super Eagles. “Awoniyi is young and talented and has the quality of a good striker. So, who says he can’t lead the Eagles attack? He just

JANUARY 26, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Taiwo Awoniyi tries to waltz his way through

needs to be ready for the task and show it on the field of play which I believe the boy is capable of doing,” late Keshi said.

If Awoniyi continues with this form at Mouscron, perhaps, he would get a permanent deal at the club.

Even Liverpool may come looking for him. For now, he has to remain focused.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKWU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER

Sodje brothers‌Bright, Stephen and Efe arriving at the Old Bailey, venue of the court hearing, in London ‌on Monday.

Photos: Irish Examiner

Sodje Brothers When Charity Turned Messy It’s not uncommon for sports personalities to get involved in charity as a way of giving back to the society and most of them have uplifted humanity around the globe with their charities but the Sodje brothers are in trouble over their charity organisation

H

owever charity took another dimension when a sporting family siphoned off cash from their own charity set up to help African children.

Former Nigerian international, Efe Sodje, 46, and his two brothers-Stephen Sodje, 43, and ex-rugby player Bright Sodje, 52, were found guilty and jailed for the fraud in 2017.

The case was reported following the conclusion of a separate trial involving former Reading and Nigeria footballer Sam Sodje, 39. Earlier on Monday, he was cleared at the Old Bailey of money laundering.

The fraud trial in 2017 had heard how the family set up the Sodje Sports Foundation (SSF) in 2009, ostensibly to help provide facilities in Nigeria.

However, cash raised at black-tie dinners, auctions, charity football matches and a clay pigeon shoot went into Sodje bank accounts, prosecutor Julian Christopher QC said.

In one instance, in 2011, there was a gala dinner at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester for the SSF and the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The ÂŁ150-a-head black-tie event raised almost ÂŁ11,500, but Mr. Christopher said “not a pennyâ€? went to the hospital.

Image caption retired footballer Efe Sodje was described as “the face of the charity� by the judge.

Judge Michael Topolski QC told the defendants: “You have brought shame upon yourselves and your family.�

He said “at least ÂŁ63,000 can be shown to have been received by the fund,â€? and added that this did not include cash

donations.

The defendants “went out of their way� to ensure that proper records were not kept, he said.

Any good works done in the past would be “forever tainted by their dishonest and disreputable conduct,� he added.

Stephen Sodje, of Bexley, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for receiving ÂŁ30,000 in charity funds.

Efe Sodje, of Cheadle in Greater Manchester, who was “the faceâ€? of the charity, was given 18 months in jail for receiving ÂŁ7,500 from the SSF and an unknown amount from a clay pigeon shooting event.

Bright Sodje, of Sale in Greater Manchester, was jailed for 21 months for receiving ÂŁ3,000 from the charity and signing cheques to other family members totalling ÂŁ18,000.

The Charity Commission worked with the National Crime Agency to secure the prosecution.

Tracy Howarth, the commission’s head of regulatory compliance, said the defendants had “misused their privileged position to exploit donors and supporters, and their financial gain came at the expense of the children and causes the charity was supposed to support.�

She added: “The outcome of this case sends a strong message that the deliberate, willful and cynical abuse of charity for private financial gain will be investigated and will not go unpunished.�

Reporting restrictions meant the brothers’ convictions could only be reported following the conclusion of the separate money-laundering case.

Efe Sodje was cleared of money laun-

dering at the Old Bailey in January 2018 but Emmanuel Ehikhamen, 53, of southeast London, and Andrew Oruma, 50, of Bexley, south London, were convicted.

The case against Sam Sodje collapsed and his retrial began on 7 January 2019.

Mr. Sodje, who also played for Charlton Athletic, Brentford and Leeds United during his career, was charged with four counts of taking part in a fraud in which bank accounts were used to channel money from companies around the world.

He was found not guilty of two of the charges on 14 January and cleared of the remaining two counts earlier on Monday.

Another of the brothers, Akpo Sodje, 37, moved to Dubai and refused to return to Britain for questioning.

Efetobore, the most popular of the brothers played as a central defender for several English football league clubs and he also represented Nigeria in the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2002 World Cup in Japan Korea, making two appearances against Argentina and England.

Born in Greenwich, London, his family originated from Warri, in Delta State, Nigeria. Sodje is the eldest of four brothers who all play football; three of them professionally and one semi-professionally. Sodje is famous for wearing a do-rag, something he started doing in 1994 at the request of his mother.

The headband often has the words “Against All Odds�.

In September 2017, Sodje, along with his brothers Stephen and Bright, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for fraud, having siphoned off money from a charity, the Sodje Sports Foundation.

Efe Sodje

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GLOBAL SOCCER Premiership Table Liverpool Man City Tottenham Chelsea Arsenal Man Utd Watford Wolves Leicester West Ham Everton Bournemouth Brighton Crystal Palace Southampton Burnley Newcastle Cardiff Fulham Huddersfield

23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23

41 45 25 21 16 13 0 -4 0 -4 1 -9 -7 -9 -15 -20 -12 -25 -30 -27

60 56 51 47 44 44 33 32 31 31 30 30 26 22 22 22 21 19 14 11

FA CUP FIXTURES TODAY

Accrington v Derby County Brighton v West Brom Doncaster v Oldham Man City v Burnley Middlesbrough v Newport Newcastle v Watford Portsmouth v QPR Shrewsbury v Wolvers Swansea v Gillingham Millwall v Everton Wimbledon v West Ham

Joe Hart had a horrible time in his last visit to the Etihad

12:30 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 17:30 19:45

SUNDAY

Man City Continue Quadruple Quest with Burnley Visit Having already through the final of the EFL Cup into the last 16 of the Champions League and are hot on Liverpool’s heels in the Premier League, Manchester City will continue their quest for an unprecedented quadruple with a home match against Burnley today in round four of the FA Cup, a competition that has so far eluded Pep Guardiola

P

ep Guardiola, who has tried his best to play down City’s quadruple hopes, had the luxury of heavily rotating his side on Wednesday evening for the EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Burton Albion, already sitting on a nine-goal lead from the first leg.

The Citizens added another goal to their tally thanks to Sergio Aguero’s first-half strike at the Pirelli Stadium, but they never really got out of first gear in what was essentially a friendly match in East Staffordshire.

City can now look forward to another trip to Wembley in a month’s time, where they will face either Chelsea, with Guardiola aiming to add a third major honour to his name in English football, adding to the Premier League and EFL Cup crowns won last season.

While challenges for the top flight is second nature for the Citizens these days, they have struggled in the world’s oldest club cup competition. Only once have they gone all the way since the 1960s - in 2010-11 when Yaya Toure scored the only goal of the game in the final against Stoke City.

Since then, City have been knocked out

by Manchester United in round three, Wigan Athletic in the final, Wigan in the quarter-finals, Middlesbrough in round four, Chelsea in the last 16, Arsenal in the semi-finals and Wigan - again - in round five last season.

The good news for Guardiola’s charges is that bogey side Wigan are already out of this season’s competition, but it remains to be seen whether they can end their eight-year hoodoo this time around.

Round-three opponents Rotherham United offered little resilience, with the English champions coming out on top 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium, three days before their 9-0 thrashing of Burton.

City have won seven matches in a row since back-to-back defeats at the hands of Crystal Palace and Leicester City either side of Christmas, scoring 28 goals during that run. The Citizens have also won their three home FA Cup matches under Guardiola by an aggregate score of 16-2, so not many will give Burnley much hope of pulling off an upset.

Having endured a terrible first half to 2018-19, Burnley have won four and drawn one of their last five matches to finally hit form.

The Clarets are now up to 16th in the Premier League and three points clear of the drop zone, but Sean Dyche knows that his side are still in a relegation scrap.

Last Saturday’s goalless draw at highflying Watford was a good result on the face of it, though Burnley were wrongly denied a late goal that, had it stood, would have lifted them up to 14th.

Dyche can have no complaints with the spirit shown by his players over the past month, with this five-match unbeaten streak following immediately

on from a run of one win in 12 matches nine of those ending in defeat.

A cup run would be nice, of course, but the 1914 winners face arguably the toughest test of them all this weekend.

In fact, the Clarets are winless in 13 away FA Cup games against Premier League sides since a 1-0 win at Derby County in December 1999.

Included in that sequence is a 4-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium 12 months ago in round three, going down to a couple of goals from Aguero and one apiece from Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva, despite leading in the match with nearly an hour played.

Burnley will be keen to avoid a repeat of that scoreline, but their recent history in the FA Cup suggests that anything other than a defeat would be a huge shock.

After making an unbeaten start to 2019, however, Dyche’s men do at least make this latest trip to the Etihad Stadium with some momentum on their side. The Premier League takes priority this season, but Burnley have a chance to show that they really have turned a corner by pulling off a big upset.

Sheffield Wednesday travel to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday as they take on Premier League opponents Chelsea. The Owls advanced to the next round courtesy of an Atdhe Nuhiu winner against Luton Town, while the Blues saw off Nottingham Forest in a 2-0 win.

Crystal Palace v Tottenham Chelsea v Sheffield Wed

16:00 18:00

MONDAY

Barnet v Brentford

19:45

Hot Shot NAME

CLUB

Mohamed Salah Harry Kane Aubameyang Eden Hazard Sergio AgĂźero Raheem Sterling Callum Wilson Richarlison Roberto Firmino GylďŹ Sigurdsson Sadio ManĂŠ Son Heung-Min Felipe Anderson Aleksandar Mitrovic Anthony Martial Romelu Lukaku Glenn Murray Leroy Sane Paul Pogba Marcus Rashford Alex Lacazette

Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal Chelsea Man City Man City B’mouth Everton Liverpool Everton Liverpool Tottenham West Ham Fulham Man Utd Man Utd Brighton Man City Man Utd Man Utd Arsenal

Raheem Sterling and Pep Guardiola

GOALS

16 14 14 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

34

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER

Bassey failed Nou Camp test

Ezekiel Bassey

Nou Camp Reject Takes Solace in Egypt Ezekiel Bassey came to prominence after he signed a provisional two-and-a-half-year contract with the Spanish giants Barcelona from Enyimba FC of Aba. Though he was signed to play for Team B in the Segunda Lig, he had the prospect of training with the main team if he is able to impress. But it was not to be as it was a case of‘Come Easy, Go Easy’. He was quickly shipped back to Nigeria after failing to meet the cut. That did not, however, deter his ambition to ply his football trade outside the shores of Nigeria, as he on Monday moved to an Egyptian side, Al Masry SC

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In 2017, the Catalan club announced on its official website that it has snapped up the Nigerian forward Ezekiel Bassey until the end of the season with a further two-year extension option at the end of his current deal. “FC Barcelona and Enyimba Football Club have reached an agreement for the transfer until the end of the season of the player Ezekiel Joseph Bassey for Barça B, the agreement includes a purchase option for two more seasons,â€? the club had said on its official website then.

His performances in test games, however, failed to convince the coaches of the Barcelona B team. “Bassey’s loan deal is over, he is so unlucky to be ruled out of the season after picking up a shoulder injury. The injury was thought to be a minor one but scans showed it was worse than initially feared,� his intermediary said.

Former Super Eagles attacking midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, however, stated that Bassey couldn’t get things right when he moved to Barcelona due to lack of goal setting, saying the former Enyimba player got carried away and lack of discipline also played a role in the unfortunate situation that followed the move.

Bassey on Monday penned a threeand-a-half-year deal with Egyptian club Al Masry SC in the ongoing January transfer window, while he revealed he is already looking forward to getting down with the rest of the squad.

“Personally, I’m happy with the transfer. I feel great to have joined one of the biggest clubs in Egypt. It’s a good move for me and I can’t wait to get started,�

Bassey said shortly after his unveiling.

In a chat with THISDAY, Head Coach of Barcelona Football AcademyFCBESCOLA, in Lagos, Bernal Villa, said in as much as he agrees that there are a number of talented players in Nigeria, for them to make it to Barcelona team, they must first understand the club’s philosophy and be ready to work very hard. “It’s not just about having the natural talent. Since my arrival in Nigeria, I have seen a lot of good players that are on very good level. But the most important thing is for these players to be in good physical condition as their counterparts in Europe and if they can understand how we work and train at Barcelona, which is our methodology, in few years, some of them can make it to good clubs in Europe and eventually their national team,� Villa said.

Asked what about the major difference between an average Nigerian player and their European counterparts, Villa said: “The kids here are more of individual players, though they have good skills but they have problems technically and collectively. They are too individualistic; they always think they can take on their opponents and go alone with the ball and finish the ball by themselves. We have to make them realise they should play with the team.

“It’s not enough to be unveiled by Barcelona because that is when the real work begins. It’s not the time to shout hurray and go to sleep. It is the time to prove you can learn and adapt fast to the club’s philosophy, which is the bane of most Nigerian players have come across.�

Recalling his time at Barcelona to THISDAY, former Nigerian international, Gbenga Okunowo said a player’s ability and composure with the ball are important during trials. “In 1997, I was part of the team that represented the country in the Meridian Cup in Portugal and it was from there the scouts of Barcelona Football Club spotted me. They invited me for a week trial after the tournament after which I was invited for another round of one week trial, and after four days of training with the team, I was given a contract by the club and signed to their youth team. After then, Xavi Hernandez introduced himself to me as being a member of the Spanish team that lost to Nigeria in the Meridian Cup. “Barcelona loves players that are very comfortable with the ball even when they are under pressure, which is a key factor to play for Barca, aside from being skillful. The club would therefore not hesitate to dump a player as quickly as possible if he does not possess these attributes,� Okunowo noted.

Former Barcelona winger, Emmanuel Amuneke, attributed high “mental speed� of the players as the main reason

behind the club being at top level till today, saying the club would still dominate for a long time. “I am glad to have been part of the great club in my active days in football, but the present generation is far better than my era when the likes of Guardiola, Ronaldo de Lima, Patrick Kluivert and Rivaldo were the star players of the side. “When you look at this present generation, their mental speed is very high and gives them the ability to read their surroundings and make accurate passes on the field. When a group of players play cohesively and have field vision far greater than other teams, there is no doubt that they will be a terror to other competitors,� Amuneke said.

Bassey rose to prominence during his time with Enyimba FC, where he was invited by coach Sunday Oliseh to the Super Eagle camp and featured in the World Cup first qualifiers against Swaziland where he produced a great display of football.

He will be the fourth NPFL player to join the North African side within the space of two weeks. Tosin Omoyele, Christian Obiazor, Junior Lokosa are also some of the Nigerian players who have followed suit.

The former Enyimba of Aba player will have to immediately get his scoring boots on to help the club improve their league standing with Al Masry currently 14th on the log with 19 points from 17 matches played so far.

ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

35

GLOBAL SOCCER

Kalu threatens Monaco with his pace

Samuel Kalu

Contending with Ligue 1 Big Boys After an impressive performance during his time at Gent of Belgium, French side, Bordeaux turned their direction to Samuel Kalu as a replacement for their Brazilian winger, Malcom, who left for Spanish giants, Barcelona at the beginning of the season. The Nigerian prodigy has so far not disappointed the egg heads of his club

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uper Eagles and Bordeaux forward Samuel Kalu was listed in the French Ligue 1 Team of the Week, joining Paris Saint-Germain superstars that include the world most expensive footballer, Neymah, Kylian MbappĂŠ and Edinson Cavani.

Kalu was included in the French Ligue 1 Team of the Week following his impressive performance for Bordeaux in their 1-0 win against Dijon on Sunday.

The 21-year-old set up Cornelius Andreas in the 77th minute to score the winner and give Bordeaux three points against Dijon.

Kalu has been in good form in the French Ligue and was rewarded for his match-winning heroics.

Despite reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain recording a 9-0 win over Guingamp there was space for Kalu in the Team of the Year.

In a 4-4-2 formation, Edison Cavani and French youngster Kylian Mbappe both scored hat-tricks and led the attack for the Team of the Week.

Kalu was in midfield alongside RC Strasbourg’s Anthony Caci, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar and, ångel Di María.

Kalu was given a rating of 8.24 despite only registering an assist in the encounter. He, however, was credited with two interceptions, two tackles, fouled two times and a shot on goal.

Kalu is expected to return to action when Bordeaux take on Strasbourg in their next league match.

After the ₏30 million departure of Brazilian winger, Malcom to Barcelona in the summer, Kalu was seen as the perfect replacement for him and Gus Poyet’s side paid a sum of ₏8 million for the youngster.

Kalu joined Yves Vanderhaeghe’s side from AS Trencin in 2016, and, alongside Nigerian international Moses Simon, has been one of their main players. Last season, the youngster scored seven league goals in 32 Belgian top-flight appearances and his scintillating performance was not missed by Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr.

The German tactician said he had been monitoring Kalu’s performances since his days at Gent where he struck a good

understanding with Nigerian midfielder Moses Simon, but did not pick the player for the 2018 World Cup in Russia because he had good players in his role. “I never selected him. I saw him play for in his team. I took another, which is Simon Moses. He has been in my group since two years ago. He is also a winger, fast. He’s almost the same, but I found him better than Kalu,� the former Gabon manager said.

He added, “Samuel Kalu is a good dribbler, and he’s an overflowing winger. He’s explosive; he gives a lot of good balls.

He overflows, he can play on both sides. I hope Bordeaux will have the satisfaction of seeing him evolve with these qualities.�

Reacting over the signing of Kalu by Boudex, club president

Stephane Martin, revealed to French newspaper Sud Ouest, “He is a player that the recruitment team followed for a while. His choice was validated by Gustavo Poyet.�

Kalu moved to Ligue 1 champions after dazzling displays since joining the Ghelamco Arena outfit from AS Trencin in January 2016.

Kalu helped Gent qualify for the Play-Off 1 by netting just after the restart, and his inclusion is particularly not surprising as he has been impressive since his arrival in Belgium.

For Kalu, it may have been a shattered dream when Rohr did not look at their direction during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but it was a dream come true when he made his debut for the Super Eagles in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles.

Prior to the encounter, Kalu was keen to shine with the team, as he said: “I’m prepared to give everything to the Super Eagles.

It’s my first call-up and I want to make the country proud. I’m expecting us to win the game and nothing more. It’s an important game that we cannot afford to lose. We have to work hard and do whatever we can to win the game. “Kalu was very impressive all through the time he was on the field. He showed signs of a player that wants to earn a regular shirt in the team and with the way he played it is obvious he would be the one the players Rohr would be looking up to in future,� former Abiola Babes captain, Tajudeen Disu told THISDAY. With the likes of Odion Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ogenyi Onazi failing to truly seize the opportunity to prove critics wrong, Kalu was the standout performer, playing 84 minutes of brilliant attacking football that won the heart of many fans back home.

The Bordeaux winger was lively from the blast of the referee’s whistle to his exit, with his pace troubling the Seychelles backline.

His quick feet were too hot to handle, and he was fouled in the penalty area just before the hour mark which resulted in Ighalo’s converted effort.

Kalu’s deft touches on the ball were a joy to behold while his dribbling and trickery were also impressive.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

FAIRGROUND NIMASA Corporate Dinner and Merit Award: Night of Glitz and Glamour

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

I

t was a fun night of glamour and electrifying excitement as the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency (NIMASA) once again gathered an audience filled with the crème de la crème for its annual corporate dinner and awards ceremony.

The event, which held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, recently, was to bring together all players in maritime, to appreciate NIMASA staff and stakeholders’ commitment, professionalism and resilience.

All night, staff members, stakeholders and friends were entertained with awards bestowed on the most impactful maritime industry players.

There was a lineup of A-list performers and chart toppers keeping guests entertained through the evening. Mr. Eazy; Paul Okoye of the defunct PSquare; Flavor; Tiwa Savage; and celebrity disc jockey, DJ Lambo, were all at their best.

The hosts of the evening were IK Osakioduwa, Chioma Omeruah (Chygurl), and Tobi Bakre (of BBN).

At the event were; former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, Mr. Atedo Peterside, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, His Highness, the Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Oba Otudeko, top government officials, National Assembly members, and members of the diplomatic corps.

The event is the second since Dr. Dakuku Peterside assumed office as Director General of NIMASA and is an initiative he holds dearly to his heart

L-R: Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General of NIMASA, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR former Head of State, Mr. Bashir Jamoh, Executive Director Finance and Administration and Hajia Lami Tumaka, Director Special Duties both of NIMASA

Ace Nigeria artist, Tiwa Savage performing at the event

Royal Fathers of the Day: His Highness, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II the Emir of Kano (left) and His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife

Mr. Atedo Peterside, Chairman ANAP Business Jets Limited

L-R: Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman Heirs Holdings, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Honourable Minister of Transportation and Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General of NIMASA

Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (left) with Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, Executive Director Operations of NIMASA

Senator Udo-Udoma

Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers in a chat with Oba Otudeko, Chairman Honeywell Group

Mr. Gambo Ahmed, Executive Director Maritime Labour, NIMASA (left), Mr. Ali Ndabawa, Director Abuja Zonal Office NIMASA and Barr. Temisan Omatseye former Director General NIMASA

Flavour, Ace Nigerian artist performing at the event

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

FAIRGROUND

NotTooYoungToRun: MediaRoomHub, BBC, Pulse hold Eti-Osa LG Debate

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ll is now set for the political debate among the four candidates contesting for the House of Representative Eti-Osa Constituency on Tuesday 4th February at the Civic Centre Victoria Island at 10am. The event is strictly by invitation The debate, which is organised

by Media Room Hub, in partnership with BBC Africa will be shown live on all its Nigerian platforms. Olatunji Samuel and BBC’s Busola Afolayan will moderate the show aimed at providing the electorate a platform to engage with the candidates.

Meet the candidates: Banky W (MDP) Olubankole Wellington is aged 37. He is a musician, actor and politician under the auspices of the Modern Democratic Party (MDP) founded in 2017 the same year he declared interest.

The popular R&B artiste was born in the United States to Nigerian parents.

He had his primary and secondary education in Nigeria and tertiary education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York on a scholarship.

Obanikoro (APC) Running under the canopy of the ruling party APC, Ibrahim Obanikoro is 35 years old. He is the son of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

Obanikoro contested chairmanship position of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area on two occasions under the PDP and failed before he ported to APC where he won the ticket.

Ferdinand Ladi Adimefe (ANN)

Omotesho Tony Bakare (PDP)

Ibrahim Obanikoro (APC)

Ferdinand Ladi Adimefe (ANN)

Samuel Olatunji (Moderator)

The 35 years old candidate of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) is a writer and entrepreneur. He

is an alumni of University of Port-Harcourt and Pan-Atlantic University where he studied

Olubankole Wellington (MDP)

Human Anatomy and Masters respectively.

Adimefe was a host of the popular TV show, Rubbin' Minds on Channels TV and resident guest on Smooth 96.1 FM's Freshly Pressed. He also the Executive Officer of Imaginarium Creative Global.

Omotesho Tony Bakare (PDP) Bakare is 50 years old. He is representing the PDP. He had both his primary and secondary school education at the Nigerian Model Schools, Idi-Oro Lagos.

He is a graduate of Business Administration from Federal Polytechnic, llaro, Ogun State.

He was the financial sector at Pacific Merchant Bank and Pinnacle Merchant Bank.

He also worked with other institutions such as True Foods Nigeria Limited, MICON Engineering and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) among others.

Mudi Africa Marks 25th Anniversary

M

udi Africa, while marking its 25th anniversary as a major Fashion Brand and also celebrating the 50th birthday of its iconic Creative Director, Mudi decided to, among others, renovate the very popular Post Office Square (Junction Roundabout) in Ughelli Headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government, Delta State.

The exquisite structure which features three bronzed sculptures depicting the Urhobo culture in all its glory was unveiled by an elated Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa. Other prominent personalities who graced the occasion included his wife and First Lady, Mrs. Okowa; The Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom -His Royal Majesty Oharisi III; Olorogu Oscar Ibru; Dr Steve Oru, former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, among others.

Gov. Okowa lauded Mudiaga Enajemo (Mudi) giving back to his community in such a beautiful way. He commended the beauty of the structure and the positive impact it would have on its immediate environment and the state at large.

He called on all sons and daughters of the state who are successful in their different areas of life to emulate Mudi in bringing back development and support to the state. He thanked Mudi and assured

the people of the state of his government's continued eagerness to partner the private sector in its continued push for infrastructural development of the state.

In his welcome address, Mudi said the redeveloped Square (Roundabout) was part of Mudi Africa’s corporate social responsibility, which has other components that are targeted at infrastructural development, job creation and youth empowerment. This Project, according to him created job opportunities for the youths of the area and that it would ease the flow of traffic in that very popular traffic intersection.

He said it would also beautify the skyline and environment, and called on other sons and daughters of Delta State and indeed Nigeria to help develop their communities, stating that “we cannot leave it to government alone.”

The structure reflects, very candidly, the mindset of Mudi as a frontline art curator as it embodies the deep reflection of an artistic mind, pulling together his culture, environment and artistic mien.

This enviable disposition and keen eye for details, which has made Mudi's clothing line quite popular, came handy in designing and situating this landmark structure. This same workmanship can be seen in the rendition of his corporate offices and abode in Lagos.

Mudi was accompanied to Ughelli by a

Olorogu Oscar Ibru, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, First lady Her Excellency Mrs Okowa and Mudiaga Clement Enajemo (Mudi)

close friend, Joseph Edgar, an Investment Banker, Prominent Columnist and Theater Producer, and by Ace Photographer, Joshua Omonemu.

He thanked Gov. Okowa and other

prominent sons and daughters of Ughelli North, especially His Royal Highness, the Ovie of Ughelli for taking time out to be physically present at the grand opening and unveiling of the structure.

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

AUTO Jaguar Land Rover Lights Up the Road Ahead for Future Self-driving Vehicles

J

The all new Nissan Kicks

Stallion NMN Premieres Best-in-Class ‘B’ Segment Nissan Kicks SUV Stories by Bennett Oghifo

S

tallionNMN,theNissanSalesCompany has premiered the Kicks, Nissan’s next generation B-segment crossover SUV, promising to assemble at least 500 units annually to ensure the vehicle is accessible and affordably priced.

The Stallion NMN Managing Director Parvir Singh who recently dropped this hint in Lagos, at the media preview of the car said: “We are looking at assembling the Nissan Kicks very soon to further bring down the cost.”

The Kicks is undoubtedly everything Nissan has leaned as the crossover pioneer and it has spared nothing in making the vehicle one of the most attractive crossover yet - incorporating Nissan’s design cues and tagline –“Innovation that Excites.”

An astonishing sport utility vehicle (SUV), Nissan KickscomesequippedwiththenewNissanV-motion platform recently integrated in the entire Nissan range of passenger vehicles.

Also coming toAfrica as one of the most reputable

newvehiclesintheplanetworld,theKicksisundoubtedly big on attitude and self-expression, and will replace the Juke at the small end of Nissan’s SUV line-up, the dealership assured.

Tributes Among the Kicks most recent tributes in the global market scene are: ‘Best Value’ and ‘Best Compact CUV of Texas’ at a debut appearance in the Texas Truck RodeoAwards 2018, “Best Crossover in South America; Car & Driver Brazil ‘Best Vehicle’ and ‘Best SUV of the Year’ and the coveted ‘SUV of the Year Award’ from Federation of Automotive Journalists in North and Latin America.

Thejurorsattheseparticularawardsalsoapplauded Nissan Kicks’ exemplary handling, striking design, surprising ample interior space and luxury interior ambience.

These attributes were similarly accentuated by the Federation of Automotive journalists who had commended the ingenuity of the automaker to embed in a successful crossover C-segment features as a commanding driving position, higher ground

clearance and hatchback semblance.

Style, aptitude Designed to standout, the Kicks styling showcases the best of Nissan’s design elements including a large V-motion grille, clear wrap-around headlights and integrated boomerang LED daytime running lights on appropriate models.

Acompletely new crossover, the Kicks incorporates distinctivestylingandnimbleperformance,combining Nissan Intelligent Mobility that guarantees seamless connectivity and advanced driver assistance features.

The striking front-end is complimented by blackedout side pillars for a modern floating roof look, large wheels and a steeply sloping windscreen to give it a striking on-road presence. At the rear, the Kicks is fitted with an integrated spoiler.

First unveiled as a concept in 2014, and showcased across Brazil during summer 2016 to promote the Summer Olympics, of which Nissan was a lead sponsor, the Kicks boasts of being a design collaboration between Nissan’s design studios in California, USA, Rio de Janeiro-Brazil and Atsugi Japan.

aguar Land Rover has developed a system that projects the direction of travel onto the road ahead of self-driving vehicles, to tell other road users what it is going to do next.

A statement by the automaker said the intelligent technology beams a series of projections onto the road to show the future intentions of the vehicle - for example stopping and turning left or right - as part of research into how people can develop their trust in autonomous technology.

In the future the projections could even be used to share obstacle detection and journey updates with pedestrians.

These projections, tested on autonomous pods developed by Aurrigo, feature a series of lines or bars with adjustable spacing. The gaps shorten as the pod is preparing to brake before fully compressing at a stop. As the pod moves off and accelerates, the spacing between the lines extends.

Upon approaching a turn, the bars fan out left or right to indicate the direction of travel.

Trials were set up by a team of advanced engineers, working in Jaguar Land Rover’s Future Mobility division, supported by cognitive psychologists, after studies showed 41 percent of drivers and pedestrians are worried about sharing the road with autonomous vehicles*.

The innovative system was tested on a fabricated street scene at a Coventry facility with engineers recording trust levels reported by pedestrians both with and without projections.

The trust trial programme - which also included fitting of ‘virtual eyes’ to the intelligent pods in 2018 to see if making eye contact improved trust in the technology** – was conducted as part of Jaguar Land Rover’s government-supported UK Autodrive project.

Pete Bennett, Future Mobility Research Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The trials are about understanding how much information a selfdriving vehicle should share with a pedestrian to gain their trust. Just like any new technology, humans have to learn to trust it, and when it comes to autonomous vehicles, pedestrians must have confidence they can cross the road safely. This pioneering research is forming the basis of ongoing development into how self-driving cars will interact with people in the future.”

Safety remains the priority as Jaguar Land Rover invests in self-driving technology, becoming automotive leaders in autonomous, connected, electric and shared mobility. The trial is aligned with the brand’s long-term strategic goals: to make cars safer, free up people’s valuable time and improve mobility for everyone.

This commitment extends to Jaguar Land Rover’s current models with a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems including Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Assist and Intelligent Speed Limiter available across its range of vehicles, including the Jaguar F-PACE and Range Rover Velar.

CFAO Motors Re-introduces King Long Buses

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rontline auto distributing company, CFAO Motors, has once more displayed its strength with the re-introduction of King Long passenger bus and cargo bus into the Nigerian market.

At a commercial re-introduction event held in Lagos, CFAO Motors delighted customers, potential customers, industry stakeholders and auto journalists with the charming features of the brand which has already been used and tested in the Nigerian market.

The General Manager of CFAO Equipment, a division of the multinational company saddled with the responsibility of distributing the King Long brand in Nigeria,Mr.LaurentFriederich,statedthathiscompany known for distributing only quality products, settled for King Long because of its salient features.

According to Mr. Friederich, “CFAO has a solid reputationinNigeria,andwearedistributingtheKing Long brand because it is a leading Chinese brand in the bus segment”.

He added that the company’s strategy is to ensure nationwide distribution of the bus through “our network because we have a solid sales and aftersales network across the country”.

Ontheoutstandingfeaturesofthebrand,theGeneral Manager explained that aside the pocket friendly price, the bus is durable and fuel-efficient, coming with a low maintenance cost, just as it uses the simple technology.

Mr. Friederich said the bus can be used for a wide varietyofpurposessuchascityandinter-citytransportation,schoolbus,Church/Mosquebus,FastMoving

Consumer Goods (FMCG) and cargo distribution bus, ambulance etc. He added that there are plans to study local assembly of the buses in the nearest future.

TheKingwin-15Seaterbuswhichisidealformodern day passenger transportation, comes with a 2.237 litre engineonalongwheelbase,5-speedtransmissionand safety features such asAnti-Locking Braking System, stop lamp, seat belts on all seats, and appropriate braking system.

The functional equipment of the bus include front fog lamp, rear view mirror, rear stepped bumper, speed limit device, among others. It also comes with a petrol engine, CD+MP3 player, front and rear air conditioning system among others.

The Kingwin Cargovan also comes on a long wheel basewithahighmountstoplamp,tyresizeof195/70/ R15, 2.237 litre engine, and other standard features applicable to the 15 seater bus. It also comes with a generous 7.6 cubic meter space. With the relaunch, the King Long buses are now available for purchase in all CFAO Motors outlets nationwide. Warranty is two years or 60,000 kilometers.

A satisfied customer, the proprietor of Troika schools, Lekki, Lagos, Mrs. Erinma Kanno, as well as a King Long dealer, Mr.Adeleke Samuel affirmed theoutstandingfeaturesoftheKingLongbusesduring the event.

CFAO, founded in 1887, and present in Nigeria since 1920, has been known for its commitment to customer service, dynamism, efficiency boosted by strong local presence as well as a trusted network, whileKingLongisaleadingChinesebusmanufacturer with strong ties to international auto parts suppliers.

L-R: Sales Manager, CFAO Equipment, Stanley Ailuelohia; Managing Director, CFAO Motors/Country Delegate, CFAO Group Nigeria, Thomas Pelletier; Head of Sales, CFAO Equipment, Idris Siyaka; and General Manager, CFAO Equipment, Laurent Friederich, at the re-launch of the KING LONG passenger bus and cargo van in Lagos… recently

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

39

AUTO

Toyota Nigeria Launches the New Generation Rush into Automobile Market Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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oyota Nigeria has formally unveiled the new generation Toyota Rush into the Nigerian automobile market.

The Rush is being introduced into the Nigerian market to fulfil customer yearnings for a Toyota SUV that would compete with the likes of Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Ford Escape and others in that category.

“Our teeming customers had continually yearned for a vehicle that would bridge the gap between the upper class SUVs and our salon category. A befitting vehicle imbued with the trappings of the Toyota Superior Quality and we responded with The Toyota RUSH,” said the Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. KunleAde-Ojo at the press launch of the elegant vehicle at the company’s showroom in Lekki, Lagos, recently.

A beauty to behold, and according to Kunle Ade-Ojo, “it favourably competes within its segment on the platform of elegance, price and the enviable Toyota family heritage. A heritage built on trust, the will to continually satisfy customers and customer safety which is paramount. As a corporate and responsive organisation Toyota (Nigeria) Limited will continually strive to yield to the aspirations of our dear customers by enriching our stables with magnificent vehicles, offering attractive variants and surpassing customer expectations.”

He said, “The inclement economic landscape of our dear nation Nigeria has not deterred us.

In fact, it has positively impacted on our creativity in responding to the demands of our dear customers all over Nigeria and we will continue to push the frontiers of technology to keep our customers satisfied and also uphold our culture of excellence.”

Regardless, he said he was very pleased and thrilled by this model that “fuses dynamic energy with sharp elegant styling”. He said the RUSH is available in three variants, and that it is equally imbued with magnificent interior beauty and comfort. “It is targeted at aspirational individuals that love the comfort and status of an SUV with excellent drive and affordable price,” which he said begins at N12 million. “It is no exaggeration that the rich pedigree of this model already imbues it with outstanding attributes peculiar only to all its siblings in our model line-up.”

According to Marketing Manager, TNL, Bayo Olawoyin, Toyota Rush was first introduced in 1997 and was available in 5-door estate form and was called Terios Kid or Toyota Cami and that the supply of Rush was restricted to the Japanese market initially until after a few years.

ToyotaRush,hesaidismanufacturedinIndonesia from where it is supplied to most of Asia and the African continent. The models available in Nigeria are: 1.5 Automatic Fabric Mid Grade; 1.5 Automatic Fabric High Grade; and 1.5Automatic Leather High Grade.

L-R: Head of Marketing, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), Mr. Andrew Ajuyah; Managing Director, TNL, Kunle Ade-Ojo; Public Relations/Advert Manager, TNL, Buki Ogunnusi; and Marketing Manager, TNL, Bayo Olawoyin, at the press launch of the new generation Toyota Rush, at the company’s showroom in Lekki, Lagos… recently

PAN Nigeria Limited Launches The New Peugeot Pick-Up

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AN Nigeria Limited, assemblers of Peugeot brand of vehicles, has launched the much awaited new Peugeot Pick-Up into the Nigerian market.

The brief ceremony at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja, was attended by members of Nigerian armed forces, other national security operatives, public service, the organised private sector and the dealership network of PAN. Speaking at the launch of the vehicle, the MD/CEO of PAN Nigeria Limited, Ibrahim Boyi, said the event will make some feel nostalgic having seen the last 504 Peugeot Pick-Up dominating Nigeria auto market in the 80’s and 90’s with last production in 2005 at PAN plant in Kaduna.

He said the new Peugeot

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Pick-Up has a greater ground clearance, power and torque to withstand difficult terrains, with its largest cabin and leg rooms for passengers amongst its class, allowing maximum comfort, safety and utility on and off the road, with unbelievable price at the cheapest in pick up segment.

Boyi added, “The New Peugeot Pick-Up comes with HDI engine, 5 speed MT. and Diesel engine proven to burn at low temperatures, extending life span of the engine components and therefore, the life cycle of the engine.”

With its brand reputation of the 404 and 504, the new Peugeot Pick-Up has retained most of the elements and improved on it.

The event ended with road test of the vehicles and on spot order of four units by one of the guests at the event.

L-R: GM Strategy and Marketing PAN Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bawo Omagbitse; MD/CEO PAN, Ibrahim Boyi; DG Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Council, Jelani Aliyu, at the unveiling of the New Peugeot Pick-Up in Abuja… recently

Faces Behind 2019 Crashes

he was only 25 years and an only child. A graduate from one of the high flying universities in the country, Chisom Kendricks (not real) name left home on a Friday noon with the intention of returning the same day. Chisom left without informing her parents to visit her lover in a town barely 30 kilometres from her village in one of the states in the South-east part of the country.

The journey was in the company of two of her close friends and confidants. Just about few kilometres to her destination, there was a crash caused by brake failure? Neither Chisom nor any of the occupants died in that crash.

However the injuries sustained- spinal cord injury, kept her bedridden for months only for her to pass on a few days to 2018 Christmas celebrations. Chisom ’s death was part of the statistics released by the Federal Road Safety Corps, whose records show that road fatality reduced by 18.6 per cent during 2018 end of year special patrol.

Last week, I painted the picture of the crash trend for 2018 and how the number of children involved has increased with an appeal to parents to save the child by procuring child restraints.

In that piece, I explained why I was raising the alarm because recent developments indicate that the number of children involved in road traffic crashes is increasing. I also reminded you of the World Health Organisation (WHO) scary global picture of deaths and injuries involving

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491

children but I noted that I was no longer dealing here with the reality of the World Health Organisation global picture but the reality of the Nigeria scenario which calls for immediate and drastic action. I expressed my excitement that the Corps is already tinkering with the most appropriate novel strategy to deal with this emerging trend.

However I shared my worry on what I feel is still fundamentally wrong with the level of compliance; wondering why a parent buckles up yet allow his three-year-old child to be lapped while driving or why a parent who can afford a car whose cost is estimated at over three million naira, fails to procure a car restraint that has the potential of saving that child in the event of a road traffic crash? The stark reality of the current trend for the whole of 2018 as captured in that statement should keep every parent on his toes... It was however sadly noted that there was an increased number of children involved

and killed in the crashes during the period, making it imperative that the Corps put in place necessary measures to curb the incidents. As noted in the report, a total of 393 children were involved in the crashes in 2018 as against 350 in 2017, with a difference of 43 representing 12 per cent increase. Furthermore, while 24 children were killed in 2017, the number increased to 29 in 2018 with a difference of 5 representing 21 per cent increase.

To address these challenges, Corps is planning a national summit on child safety in conjunction with some women related NGOs such as the National Council of Women Society (NCWS), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Military and Paramilitary Officers WivesAssociations including ROSOWA POWA, NAOWA, NAFOWA, NNOWA, among others.

Like I reminded parents that one of the most effective means of reducing deaths and injury for vehicle occupants is the use of seat belt by all occupants in the front and rear seats as contained in section 58(3) and (4)of the National Road Traffic Regulations,2004. Seat belt use saves.

They don’t prevent crashes but play a crucial role in reducing the severity of injury to vehicle occupants. Vehicle safety features are distinguished by “.primary safety and secondary safety”. Primary safety features aim to prevent an accident taking place, e.g. good brakes and tyres. Secondary safety features, on the other hand, aim to prevent or minimise injury to a vehicle occupant once the accident has occurred.

Seat belts are a secondary safety device with a number of objectives which includes; preventing ejection from the vehicle in an impact, reducing the risk of contact with the interior of the vehicle or reducing the speed of such impacts, providing a distributed force to the wearer to give the necessary support in an accident and restraining the vehicle occupant before guiding them back into their seats.

This trend makes it imperative for parents to note that the safest way to carry a child and to protect that child is to use a child seat that is suitable for the weight and size of that child.

Parents should also note that even at a minor crash; an unrestrained child would be thrown about inside the vehicle, injuring themselves and others? They could also be thrown from the car through one of the windows. Every parent should also know that in a crash at just 30km/h, an unrestrained child would be thrown forward with a force, 30 to 60 times their body weight? They would be thrown about inside the vehicle, injuring them and quite seriously injuring or even killing other people inside the vehicle. It is therefore not safe to hold a child on your laps? This is because, in a crash, the child could be crushed between our body and part of the car’s interior? That even if you were using a seat belt, the child would be torn from your arms and you would not be able to hold onto to them, no matter how hard you try. Do you also know that it is also dangerous to put a seat belt around yourself and a child or around two children; or to carry that child or children in the front passengers’ seat or on your tummy?

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VINTAGE

Multichoice: Grooming Next Generation of Africans Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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art of Femi Odugbemi’s opening comment implies that he is not good in articulation of maps and graphs, but a master in pictures, as he interacts with a select team of arts and entertainment journalists. True to that, he’s not a statistician; he’s a professional filmmaker whose overwhelming experience towers above his influence. As the Academy Director Multichoice Talent Factory (MTF) West Africa, he would first speed us up to date with a short video on the programme at the academy. The video had addressed some pertinent questions relating to the conversation.

It’s been four months after the MTF Academy was launched and as the head, no other person better than Odugbemi would give a fair assessment of the 20 student programme of filmmaking other than him. “But you can then see what we have done. We have finished first semester. We are about to go to semester two. In fact we have started semester two. Semester two is starting with this audio thing (a Master class). So what I thought is if that’s okay (the video). It addresses some of your questions.�

Relatively audible, the five minutes video shot and edited by the students had showcased immersive experiences so far in the academy with veteran filmmakers like Kunle Afolayan, Steve Gukas, and Mildred Okwo. These filmmakers are brought not as celebrities but as artists so that the students get the chance to ask them about their processes of filmmaking and not about their results. “I think my favourite person to come in so far has been Biodun Stevens. It was a very nice experience interacting with her,� one of the students heard saying in the video, taking likeness in Stevens’ acquiescence of filmmaking.

The Academy is a film school, a business school and a passion school wrapped into one. It has the potential to not only empower the students to become great storytellers but to equip them in a powerful way with upto-date information and technology and from a creative entrepreneurship perspective, to empower them to build institutions and become employers of labour. Comprising students from both Nigeria and Ghana – two of the most vibrant film industries in West Africa, the talented creative that will go through the Academy will be primed as key players in the growth and sustainability of Africa’s

Odugbemi creative film and television industry.

The immersion of different resource persons from different sub firms made it a whole new experience‌ and for her a totally different experience because they have something more practical than the theoretical class experience. The video done showing, Odugbemi continued. “We promised three things and we have tried to deliver on them. We promised a curriculum that is technically strong, foundationally solid, international best practices.

We also promised a different kind of filmmaker because what we have done, if you remember, they all come in post tertiary. “One of the things that we did in picking them was also their IQ is fairly high for almost all of them. So for me this 20 kids are something in relation to make me directly talk about my own little 30 years of being in this industry is what we are trying to‌shall we say experiment, to see if it makes a difference and I think it does.â€? Except that the students will learn how to make films by their own

forms. They are in groups. Aside being taught through the rudiment of modern filmmaking, they are taught about ethics, writing process, about so many other things interwoven that will aid their understanding of the business and art of filmmaking, thus providing lifetime opportunity for them to achieve their dreams of being a writer and producer. “We also taught them about banking, about finance, there is a whole lecture on making budget. So I do feel that we are on the right path. Both here and in Kenya and in Zambia and now we have started with the Master class series and that series is essentially meant to bring what you will call Global brands to interface with people within our industry who are not in this class; these are 18 to 25s. But there are people who are in the industry who think they need an encounter with some of the bigger brands of filmmaking like a plain level to the uphill level.

So we are doing that, we are doing sound again. We have done sound developing with Dolby. We do that for lighting. We are bringing Universal Films. “The real difference that the MTF makes is that a global player like Multichoice is putting its money to ensure that the intervention is not just about buying films from people but actually investing in growing the people who make the films. On the specific immediate and longtime objectives of the MTF Master classes and who they are conceived for. “They are really conceived for those who are really working and leading the different technical lines of our industry. We have got 60 of them there. They are at the Event Centre doing the audio sound Master Class with Dolby right now. But everybody there is selected from a major player in the industry. There are senior NTA audio people there, there are audio people from LTV, there are audio people from Silverbird, and there are audio people from independent production companies. There are audio people from Nollywood. “The real reason we are doing the Master class is to actually try and touch all the areas of the industry. There’s a lot we have done experimenting. There’s a lot you can do goggling. There’s a lot you can do with just you know your own passion and all of that. But the world is an amazing technological space. Things are changing at such an alarming rate that by the time you think you know it, everything you know has changed. So we are not talking of fundamentals only. We are talking about how to bring knowledge to the table that is current, that is global, and that is best practices.�

Touching Lives in Ondo State Ferdinand Ekechukwu

B

EE Enterprises Limited in collaboration with Goal Foundation recently organized a medical outreach at Ibulesoro Community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State. The outreach service, which was a social investment initiative of the two organizations, was partnered by the Ondo State Agency for the Control of Aids, the Ondo State Nurses Forum, and endorsed by the Ondo State Ministry of Health with support from the Hospital Services and Public Health Departments. Other support organisations and partners in the programme include Nigeria Medical Association, Enactus Futa Team, Irobi Maternal Initiative, Orange Dental Foundation, Smart360media, Accent Entrepreneural Dev., Agrokonnect, Accent, Hadassah School, Geniusmind Consult, Creatv Colony, CNI, Hope Institute, Reformation Movement, Bukola Areo and Medical CDS NYSC. As well as 54 volunteers who were on-ground for the social service reform activity.

The team was received in the community by the youth and women leader who secured the community Town Hall venue for the crew. The social enterprise had the President and State Chairman of the Ondo State Nurses Forum, Mrs. Akinye deliver a lecture on personal hygiene. She maintained that an individual with good hygiene practices is agreed to be free from diseases to a certain extent. Mrs. Akinye’s viewpoint was taken from that of parents and children to address the roles of both in enforcing personal hygiene. “No part of the human body was to be left out,� said Dr. Nimbe, a representative from Orange Dental Foundation as he further spoke on oral hygiene and teeth management.

He taught participants the essence of caring for the teeth, in comparison with the management of their money. According to him, there’s the necessity to brush the teeth often, at least once daily, in order to get rid of dirt’s; food leftovers in the oral cavity.

Same for the Ondo State Agency for the Control of Aids, led by a representative who lectured on the importance of knowledge in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. The lecturer focused on the need for everyone to regularly verify their HIV/AIDS status while stressing the significance of early detection as the most appropriate remedy for the virus

Mr. Omon-Ogudo BEE Enterprises Ltd Convener, Dr Omoteseyin NMA Ondo Chapter, Mrs Olusola Akinye Ondo Nurses Forum, Pastor Wale Akinyanmi ACCENT Business Academy

inflicted body system.

The many ways through which the virus can be transmitted were also discussed and what the help-love, rather than stigmatization of people living with aids could achieve. In response to the lectures of the Ondo State Agency for the Control of Aids, the team screened 36 adults who got to know their status.

Prior the commencement of the medical exercise, the

NYSC Medical Team spoke to the group as a final effort was made to drive home the lessons of the lectures and talks, which formed one of the high points of the humanitarian exercise. The opening address by the co-organiser and CEO of BEE Enterprises was aimed at clarifying the purpose of the training alongside the stress-free processes it offers to the beneficiaries. He went further to appreciate the entire group for the time sacrificed for human and societal betterment.

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EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

Neck-and-Neck Battle

EBERE WABARA

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ELCOME to a rewarding session.

THISDAY faulty headline of December 16 opens the class for us today: “Bouying (Buoying) the economy‌â€? “Goverment to bring back stranded Nigerians in Libyaâ€? (The Guardian Front Page Banner, November 30) Conscience, nurtured by truth: Government. To avoid this kind of embarrassment, ‘FG’ would have done it—even better! “The unprecedented onslaught against PDP faithfuls and other citizens‌.â€?

(DAILY SUN, November 23) ‘Faithful’ is uncountable. â€œâ€ŚChief Justice of Nigeria‌yesterday read a riot act to judicial officers nationwide, threatening to dismiss anyone caught perverting justice.â€? (THE GUARDIAN, November 22) Fixed expression: read the Riot Act. “Secondus, PDP plot take over of S/ Westâ€? Noun: takeover (which applies here); phrasal verb: take over. “PDP, APC in neck-to-neck battle ahead 2019â€? Get it right: neck-and-neck battle. “Tomplo Boys lay siege on Shomolu, Barigaâ€? This way: lay siege to Shomolu, Bariga “JTF arrests four over (for) illegal bunkering in Warriâ€? (DAILY INDEPENDENT, November 21) â€œâ€ŚAfrica’s richest man beseigedâ€? Spellcheck: besieged.

Nigerian Tribune of November 23 did not confirm its self-adulation: “Under him, the body which comprised of eight countries grew to become 49.� The pride of Lagos-Ibadan press: expunge ‘of’ from

BY

the extract. “It seems the bickering between the two unions is deepening.â€? (DAILY TRUST, November 23) We can conveniently do without ‘two’ in this excerpt because of its irrelevance. “They are little aware that our great men of yesteryears were able to achieve.‌â€? (Leadership, December 18) What has happened to the reputation of excellence? ‘Yesteryear’, just like ‘heyday’, is uncountable. â€?Bandits kill two police, injure three others in Lagosâ€? One of these: policemen, police officers, constables or cops; not just police.

Vanguard of November 23 bungled two expressions: “They would rather kill themselves over who is superior‌.â€?

Friends of the Niger Delta: They would rather kill one another. It is not yet a suicidal stuff. “But the governor has stuck to his gun, insisting that his action is perfectly constitutional.â€? (THISDAY, November 23) Stuck to his guns (not gun) “Well, dear honourables....â€? (Source: as above) Get it right: dear honourable members or dear lawmakers (legislators). ‘Honourables’ is Nigerian English. “Delegates in free for all fightâ€? (Sunday Vanguard, December 17) Towards a better weekly: free-for-all (take note of the hyphenation and the elimination of ‘fight’ which is otiose). “The faithful performed creditably well‌.â€? (THE NATION, December 19) No lip-service (not eye-service, as most Nigerians misinform): yank off ‘well’ because of its redundancy here. So, the faithful performed creditably. “Why would the christians (Christians, please) distrupt a sober act of paying

tribute?� (Daily Trust, December 19) Spell-check: disrupt.

Nigerian Tribune of December 19 raised two questions: â€?‌it is one agitation or the other (another: several agitations) against the present status quoâ€? ‘Present status quo’ leaves a sour taste. “That a man charged for (with) mother (sic) of all crimes set free without due process.â€? (National Outlook, December 19) “The role played by people like‌are (is) subject to thorough investigation.â€?

(Business World, December 18) “The police is (are) on red alert.�

(DAILY SUN, November 23) Always recollect that they (policemen) are not your friends and that bail is not free, contrary to what the authorities declare! “But there he was, Donald Trump, the most powerful head of government in the world, has (had) to sweat it out before lawyers that he appointed.â€? (Daily Independent, December 19) â€œâ€Śwe are being asked to bring our plates and we shall be duely (duly) served.â€? (Nigerian Tribune, November 23) “Libyan rebellion ignore (sic) peace offersâ€? (THE PUNCH, November 23) No senility: Libyan rebels‌.â€? “Essentially, those who spoke against it did so in (on) three main groundsâ€? (THE GUARDIAN, November 23) ‘WAEC disturbed over education standardâ€? (Nigerian Tribune, November 23) Nigeria’s most informative newspaper: educational standard. “Influx of obsolete equipment worry (worries) radiographersâ€? (THE GUARDIAN, November 23) Please, note that ‘reopen’ does not admit hyphenation (re-open).

2019: The Ominous Dark Clouds Ahead

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ome people detest former President Olusegun Obasanjo with a passion mostly for his poke-nosing and obtrusive style. However, citing national interest as reason behind his choosing letter writing as a medium to reach sitting presidents, Obasanjo cares less about public opinion regarding his modus operandi so long as his letters deliver his well pointed acerbic messages. I am in agreement with Baba on this. You may not like him but Baba has his nuisance value which is incalculable.

To be fair to him, he has exhibited unparalleled patriotism based on federal character. Recall that it was Obasanjo who saved this country from a lot of embarrassment when a cabal operating under the late president Umaru Yar’Adua’s presidency almost plunged the country into intractable crisis during the late president’s incapacitation.

We’ll recall also that it was the same Obasanjo who rallied the stakeholders to drum up support to pave way for enactment of the now famous ‘doctrine of necessity’ piece of legislation which cleared the grounds for the enthronement of former president Goodluck Jonathan to succeed Yar’Adua.

Today, Obasanjo is at it again. This time around, his target is to rally support against President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term if he wins in February.

Reflecting on events that have unfolded this past week across the country and beyond, there are clear signs foreboding an impending implosion in the country in no distant time. The ominous dark clouds which Obasanjo has been warning about are clearly manifesting. Let us take a look at the dangers ahead:

Buhari’s Fitness

Nigerians are not unaware that Buhari has health issues and had thought that his largely reclusive routine had more to do with allowing him time to recuperate. But nothing prepared them for the shock of seeing their president on national television, fumbling, gazing blanking into space appearing completely lost and unable to comprehend the simplest of elementary questions. It was simply appalling and sympathetic and a great disservice to Buhari for his handlers to subject him to such high level ridicule and humiliation before the world.

Slowly, the message started hitting home as to why his handlers had been shielding him from the public and equally the question of who has been calling the shots while the president is in such a confused state? Recall that both Senate President Bukola Saraki and Buhari’s wife, Aisha alerted the nation that Buhari’s presidency was being manipulated by a cabal. This now drew the now famous response from Buhari who waved aside Aisha’s comment dismissing her as belonging to ‘the kitchen and to the other room’.

The question now is: with the president in such a confused state where he hardly comprehends his immediate environment, who will be in control in the event that he wins a second term? It is already a known fact that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has never been in charge

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“It is the duty of the police to conduct investigations into the sort of killings that wasted some of its (their) men in Jos, the troubled capital of Plateau State, and fish out the culprits.â€? (THE GUARDIAN, November 23) “Since AIDS run (runs) a long course atimes (at times) up to 5-10 years before it kills its victim‌.â€? (DAILY TRUST, November 23) “Seeing this non-challant attitude as a reflection of a people lacking in unity and cohesion‌.â€? Spell-check: nonchalant. â€œâ€Śothers who thought they were immuned to injustice were arrested.â€? No round-up: just immune. â€?At the outskirts of the town, a large signpost....â€? Get it right: on the outskirts. â€œâ€Śthe instruments of instruction and education of the policy have been entrenched within the polity.â€? The road to Aso Rock: entrench in (not within). “Within the last decade, the Mugabe government had been involved in series (a series) of political and financial scandals.â€? “Since he was voted out of office in 1980, Mr. Carter had visited Nigeria several times, usually in pursuit of one humanitarian mission or the other.â€?

Certainly, the man had pursued several missions on these shores. So, the proper context should be: one humanitarian mission or another (multiple). The excerpt has just a dual function, which is wrong. “At the start, when the politicians were told to form political associations, all manners of associations, with different ideological orientations and tendencies, sprouted like mushrooms.� Stock expression: all manner of associations.

THEFRONTLINES WITH

JOSEPH USHIGIALE e-mail: jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com mobile phone: 08023422660 (sms only)

Onnoghen

even when the reins of power are bequeathed him because the cabal usurps and never let him act in that capacity. For example, almost all decisions made during his time as acting President have been returned to the status quo by the cabal.

Perhaps that is why, the cabal is packaging and manipulating the system to create a messianic aura for an unfit Buhari to contrive victory in the polls for its members to take over. The Americans who first introduced the concept of a presidential debate for their presidential candidates must be having a good laugh at us now looking at how we have turned a straight forward matter to a huge joke. Why is it that we are very poor copycats? We copied the presidential system of government from the Americans but are practicing anything but a presidential system. The shambolic NTA programme christened The Candidates conceived to hide the president’s flaws turned out to expose and humiliate him in the long run. It would go down as the worst public relations package yet. The danger is not as much as what the cabal is scheming but the seeming docility and the I-don’t-care-attitude exhibited by those who suffer the brunt of this conspiracy. It is this very docile mien that has or is emboldening the cabal to engage in this latest project of foisting a misfit as our next president.

Onnoghen Must Go

At the moment, the Buhari administration is locked in a legal battle to unseat the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen over allegations of corruption. While I am not against such inquiry, knowing the capacity of this government not to gloss over such privileged information bordering on corruption, why was he nominated and sworn in as CJN with such weighty allegations hanging on his neck? The only explanation here could be that the authorities knew about Onnoghen’s misdemeanor but preferred to overlook it hoping to use the same

information to blackmail him to carry out some dirty jobs for them.

Now that the ploy has failed, the authorities are drawing out long knives to skin the CJN. The flip side of this development is that the Buhari administration has once again demonstrated its disregard not only for the sanctity of separation of powers but also contempt for the rule of law that the President swore to uphold.

The bottom line in all this is that the administration is courting anarchy with its decision to side step clearly laid down procedures enunciating how a CJN should be removed. This is why many concerned citizens including the NBA and other legal luminaries are sympathetic to Onnoghen and are in court to defend him against what they perceive as the federal government’s injustice and move to remove and replace the CJN with a pliable Judge who would cow tow to its bidding. If Onnoghen is finally removed and replaced by a lackey, in the event that results of the presidential election are challenged in court, will opposition accept an unfavorable ruling from such a judge, would they not think the judge is biased?

As if the weight of the struggle to unseat the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) is not tough enough, the Buhari administration is again taking on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and current People’s Democractic Party. (PDP) flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Minister of information, Lai Mohammed said Atiku defrauded a defunct PHB of over N156m. All allegations have been denied by Atiku who described the latest allegation as a sham.

First, the story then was that Abubakar was indicted by the U. S authorities over corruption related issues and therefore barred from the country. I am sure many Nigerians believed the APC led federal government until Abubakar proved them wrong by traveling to the U.S and stayed a night in Trump’s Tower. Suddenly, the story changed to allegations that Abubakar crumbled Bank PHB with a N156m loan.

This allegation is ridiculous and utterly laughable. Before that bank went under, what was its equity holding? Even a layman would know that that paltry sum can not lead to any bank’s collapse. It is therefore instructive for the federal government and especially the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to heed a recent warning from the Americans to stop harassing opposition members. It is all too glaring as confirmed by the party’s chairman, Adams Oshiomhole that the present administration is only investigating opposition members for corruption because according to Oshiomhole ‘once you join APC, your sins are forgiven. The Buhari government should note that such selective administration of justice can have far reaching backlash in the long run.

Readers can continued online www.thisdaylive.com

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Lola Rae’s Shot At Creativity NAZO EKEZIE All My Battles in Nollywood Revolved Around Women pg. 48

Devotees Eagerly Await ‘Coming from Insanity’ pg. 50

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Lola

Lola Rae’s Shot At Creativity Beautiful singer Lola Rae, whose real name is Rachel Akosua Funmilola Garton, on her birthday posted some cute pictures of herself with her baby, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

L

ola Rae, the BritishGhanaian descent turned a year older on January 20 and took to social media to have fun with the creative images. In the photos she displayed on her Instagram page, the baby mama is seen posing with her child whom she had with pop star, Tekno (Augustine Miles Kelechi). Lola Rae and Tekno welcomed their daughter back in May 2018. In one of the photos, the baby is strapped to her back as she takes a walk through a market scene.

She captioned the photos: “Happy Birthday to Me, Another

year by his grace... Super thankful this year I have the best present right on my back. . . The Skye use to be the limit now she’s on my Hip.” Both music stars stunned their fans when their baby arrived last year as they were able to some extent, keep their relationship private. Then Tekno had subtly confirmed the delivery via a photo of his hand on the baby with the caption, “Skye”.

Apparently, he had tried to announce the arrival of his daughter, without giving a hint of who the mother was until he posted another photo of his long-time lover, Lola Rae with the caption, “You are the strongest!!! I love you.” Oc-

casionally, the singers have posted pictures of the adorable baby girl to the delight of their followers.

The Britain’s Got Talent reality show contestant, for whatever reason, had said during a chat with an online radio platform, ‘I am not getting married until I am 32’, adding that she would never date an artiste. But that was before she met the ‘Pana’ crooner (26) and her now 28. The singer, songwriter, dancer caught public attention with her debut single ‘Watch My Ting Go’.

It received critical acclaim and thus earned her a nomination for Most Promising Female Act to Watch at the 2013 Nigeria Enter-

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SHOWBIZFLAIR Lola Rae’s Shot At Creativity

tainment Awards.

As a follow up to that recognition, she released ‘Fi mi le’, a collaboration with singer Iyanya.

In 2014, she released a colourful video popping with ethnic African prints for ‘Fi mi le’.

She also featured in a couple of tracks by other artistes including the ‘We are one Africa’ song, which also featured Tiwa Savage, Davido, and Sarkodie; before a break and returned again in January 2015 with ‘You know What My Name Is’. After more than a year of no releases, the singing diva returned to the music scene again in 2016 with the release of a new song titled ‘One time’.

The new song is reggae rocksteady blended with elements of Caribbean music. She would later acknowledge sometime last year that she was not really ready to pursue a career in music at the time she relocated to Nigeria, but would admit that she was humbled by such experience as she thought she would be very successful. “Once I started to focus on myself, the music I started to make now. Honestly, I just thank God. I wasn’t ready before.

“I never used to speak about the struggle of music. Forget the pack-

aging, music has been tough. I was born in Nigeria, Lagos, Obalende.

I moved here (UK) towards the end of secondary school. When I wanted to make music, I had to go back to Lagos. So I moved to Lagos, I thought I would walk up in the spot and… gonna blow. I was blowing dust. Living in Naija and pursuing music is no joke.

“Shout out to everyone that is hustling there because God humbled me in Nigeria. I was humbled.

“I’ve been through so many ups and downs and one thing I have learnt is that everyone’s time frame of how things will work out and how things work out is different. Don’t give up. I have been through so many ups and downs.

By now I should have given up.”

Rae’s entertainment career started off as a dancer with a member of the dance group Mystikal.

In 2010, Mystikal auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent. Rae sang in the competition and judge Simon Cowell singled Mystikal out at the semi-final of the competition.

Upon the end of the competition, Mystikal was signed to Syco for a year. Rae turned down an invitation to The X Factor in order to pursue a solo career as a singer.

Techno and Lola

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SHOWBIZFLAIR businesses but acting is the love of my life. I can never stop making films, never. I don’t think I can figure the amount the movie cost me but it’s not above N10 million because it’s not a cinema movie, but I can say it cost me a lot of money. Shooting in Lagos wasn’t easy and I tried as much as possible not to limit myself. Where there was need for extras, I got them and paid for it. I made sure, there were no lapses.

The message my movie is passing Flawed the movie, is trying to say that people have reasons for doing what they do.

We all are not perfect. No matter how good and perfect we seem to look from the outside, there are lots of issues we still have to deal with on the inside. There are certain actions that people take and nobody would truly understand why, until he or she gets close to realise the reason behind that action. Nobody, male nor female should sit in one corner and criticise anybody’s actions without knowing what prompted it. Everybody struggles with something. No matter how popular you are, no matter how great you look, there’s a demon you’re fighting within. The movie also teaches that love conquers; that love would make everything right again.

I think my biggest problem is realness I don’t know how to fake it or pretend.

I can’t even snap besides someone’s car because there is no gain in it. I’m so real to a fault, although the society would expect more from us as celebrities. A lot of actors are pressured by society. Nigerians are conflicted, they want you to be humble, and then the next minute, they complain you are too humble. These problems are often created by women. So, if people tend to live fake lifestyles, I won’t blame them. They have to meet up.

Nollywood is one of the worst places to have female friends Most female actresses see genuine compliments as something else. The worst are those who are doing better and well paid, endorsements and all, with the fame, yet they still say rubbish about other actresses in the industry.

Every battle I had faced in Nollywood revolved around women. It’s that bad. They believe once they have made it, nobody else should. These big actresses (the A-List) are scary. Seriously, you would be in your corner, thinking they are all made and won’t stress it again. But they are the ones that are more jealous. Even on set.

Nazo Ekezie

All My Battles in Nollywood Revolved Around Women Nazo Ekezie is an actress and a movie producer who has acting in her DNA. She has struggled so hard to rise through the ranks in the movie industry. She talks to Tosin Clegg about her career, starting out, her debut film production and many more ‘Thanks for Coming’ gave me my big breakthrough have been here professionally since 2010. There were a couple of movies I did. Two or three scenes, sometimes five then I go back to school, but the movie ‘Thanks for Coming’ produced by Uche Nancy brought me to the limelight. After then, I did another one titled ‘Assassins’ with the likes of Mike Ezuruonye, Chacha Eke and others. There were a couple of other ones but these were the movies that made people take me seriously as an actor.

I

I produced my first film in 2018 At some point, I wanted to try something new. Then I developed this love for filmmaking. It has been there for a while. So, in 2018, I produced my first film titled ‘Flawed’, featuring Ebere Okaro, More Duncan, my humble self and other amazing actors. There were no particular criteria before I chose my

cast because I am that kind of person that watches movies a lot. So, if I see new faces that know their onions well, I take note of them. I have this Producer-eye. So, it wasn’t really difficult for me to know who and who would be in my film. I had taken mental note of those that I wanted. I called them up, negotiated with them and that was it. This particular production would be on CD and for the internet.

Challenges as a first-time producer I think doing a movie as a producer and also acting in the same movie should be for only superheroes, because it was not easy at all. I had to think for everyone to make sure that the production went well. It was not funny at all. I had to think from every angle to make sure everything was okay. I had a very good production manager, but I really got myself worked up. Well, some people said it’s because it was my first time and that soon, I’d get used to it. Another big

challenge I had was location issue. I paid for office space in Lekki, then like a day before the shoot, the man in charge of the space called and said we can’t move in that the office was locked, saying some government officials locked the place up. Then, he wouldn’t refund my money on time to get another office space. It was very tough, but I refused to be discouraged. We just changed plans and moved on. The good thing is I have learned my lessons. Now, I know what those other producers face, what they pass through. Now I understand them better. I have learned anything can go wrong during production. And most times, some mistakes or lapses are not entirely their fault.

The stress was fun I shot in Lagos, Lekki Phase 1 and its axis.

That’s why the production was hectic. But I won’t back down. I can’t find myself doing any other stuff aside acting. I’ll act movies till I age. Once in a while, I could do other

I’m very single and available In the course of my job as an actor, there are too many expectations from celebrities. One thing about famous people is that most times, they don’t change but people around them do. I have always looked out for someone that fame doesn’t entice or affect. One wouldn’t consider it a problem. I want someone who would be patient enough to know me and not look at me from the movie angle.

I would love someone who sees me as Nazo and not an actress all the time. My name is not actress, my name is Nazo. Right now, I want to be in a relationship so bad. I want to be with someone I love, someone who loves me as me, but not as an actress or movie star. I want to be with a person that actually knows me, loves me and willing to relate with me as Nazo. Well, I’m not a physical look kind of person but then you won’t be looking like masquerade though. I want an OK looking guy, average. And most importantly is the acceptance that I’m talking about. Then your brain is more important to me and how the mind functions. I’m not looking out to marry a Dangote but he needs to be comfortable. He has to be able to provide for me. These are the issues.

As it stands now, I’m reading another script for my next movie production There are people I really want to work with. Bisola of Big Brother Naija is one of them. She is so special, very real to the core.

She makes films very relative that you think it’s happening for real. I will do something good with her. I haven’t come across that script that would suit her, but till then. Also, I still hope to have my greatest role model, Bimbo Akintola in my movie.

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tosin Clegg 07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

MY STORY

Gists YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ENGAGED AT XPERIENCE AFRICA

ISICK

I Like to Be Versatile in Everything I Do Isaac Osemudiamen, popularly known as Isick, is a Nigerian Afro trap soup artiste with a music style of his own that is set to serenade his fans. He recently got signed to Tom Rice Entertainment Worldwide and he is more than prepared to make is mark.

He tells Tosin Clegg about his music, getting signed and more

The maiden edition of The Event Xperience Africa (TEXA2019), convened by event management pioneer and entrepreneur, Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, ended on Thursday with Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria; Amaechi Okobi, Group Head, Corporate Communications, Access Bank; Yemi Amusan, CEO, Lucere Limited; Alibaba, Veteran MC/ Compere; Ziad Nassar, Luxury Event Designer, and others engaging young entrepreneurs on professionalism, creativity and effective collaboration, during a three-day conference held in Lagos.

Themed ‘Be More, Do More:

Inspiring New Frontiers’, the conference was birthed out of the need to build and mentor an ever-growing audience of young and creative entrepreneurs within and outside Africa, while also providing opportunities for networking among businesses across international boundaries.

The event was officially launched with an opening beach cocktail on 15 January, 2019, with several celebrities in attendance including Kate Henshaw, Tobi Bakre, Kaffy, Lala Akindoju, Chef Fregz, DJ Consequence, Lamide Akintobi, and many others. There were interesting activities such as face painting, dance sessions, games and more,

with live performances by Eboni Band.

The conference, which recorded over 500 attendees from across Nigeria and beyond, featured curated classes and session on leveraging technology in the events industry, an event showcase, event marketing, and a general session with Funke Bucknor-Obruthe.

Hosted by Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, other speakers at the conference included George Okoro, Lanre Esho, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Funke Awobokun, Bovi, Jide Odukoya, DJ Spinall, Kaffy, Ebuka, Chef Fregz, Edi Lawani, Onye Ubanatu, Dr. Roberts, Mfon Ekpo and many others.

AFONJA COMES ALIVE IN LAGOS THIS SUNDAY Discussion on Yoruba history especially as it concerns Afonja, a onetime Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Oyo Empire, will be at the front burner at Musson Center, Lagos this Sunday, as historians and top culture enthusiasts, including a leading Yoruba Storyteller and Cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, take a look at Yoruba history and life and times of Afonja and Alaafin of Oyo - Aole Arogangan.

The roundtable talk is being organised to launch a book –Afonja: The Rise, written by Tunde Leye, a former staff of Interswitch, whose person for writing has produced four good books.

According to the author of the book, the discussion is being organised to further give hindsight into the history of the Yoruba before the colonial masters came to give the people alternative government.

On what informed his reason to write the book, Leye said he was compel to research and put the story together because of

the poor knowledge people of his generation has about Yoruba history.

“I’ve always loved history generally not just the Yoruba version. Before my sojourn into this, I took it for granted that everybody knows our history. I have a couple of friends and we discussed history but most of what we discussed was Western history. Of course, they were very knowledgeable at it. One day, I just mentioned Kiriji War and they looked at me like; what is Kiriji War? Meanwhile, these are guys that if you ask them about the battle of Waterloo, they will tell you the type of Calvary and artillery used. I became confused that how could they be knowledgeable in other people’s history and as Yoruba guys, they didn’t know about Kiriji War,” The author, who expresses his regret over the way young men and women today in Yoruba nation, engage history as if it started when the white men came, said with the Sunday roundtable talk, stakeholders

will appreciate the need to protect the African culture and history.

So when you mention history they tell you about the Amalgamation and those things, but are unable to tell what happened before the white men came. I realised that I wanted to write about Kiriji War, but when I started researching, it became very clear to me that I can’t start the story from Kiriji War because something led to the Kiriji War. During the research it became clear that the magical point to start the story was from the decline of the Oyo Empire. And everybody says that the person responsible for the decline of the Empire is Afonja. So this story is my take on who Afonja is and his role in the decline of the Oyo Empire.

While calling on Yoruba leaders to attend the roundtable talk, Leye recommends the book, which is written as a novel, for scholars, students and Yoruba elites who are passionate about their culture.

T

ell us about your style of music?

that I do.

I make afro trap soul music and I create my own style. The song works for me and if I make a song of that genre it goes a long way. My kind of music is also afro beat but I can’t box myself into that because I like to be versatile in everything

How did your musical journey begin?

I became a part of Tom Rice Entertainment Worldwide through a friend who told me about them and how they genuinely like good music. For me, I just want to be in the studio and create music and then I met them, got along and we started working together.

What’s unique about you?

I’m a kind of artiste that’s open to learn and I listen then adjust because at the end of the day if the music is not sweet then everything we are doing is a waste of time. So, I’m the kind of person that creates vibes with people around me.

Who would you love to work with in the industry?

I don’t know if name dropping is sensitive because I’m new in the industry, but I would just say I am opened to work with everybody that wants to work with me right now because it would be a privilege to me and a big platform.

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Devotees Eagerly Await ‘Coming from Insanity’ Regardless of the phrase “most anticipated”, which is so often being used for upcoming cinematic works, one is left to wonder what description would have been apt for the star-studded movie, ‘Coming from Insanity’, due to make cinema entry

by April 5, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

I

t seems like eternity waiting for over a year now by this writer having been firmly hinted about the movie ‘Coming from Insanity’, with the impression that the film will moderately be projected to the world via appropriate channels when shooting is done with. Then one information that was let out by the source, aside from the working title which remains same, was that selfstyled actor Gabriel Afolayan would lead the cast and as such, the poster boy of the movie when finally released.

So the anticipation was heightened.

You could imagine the relief seeing the trailer posted online just a couple of days ago, hence signaling the completion of the ‘feel-good’ movie as some scenes depict. From the stable of Movement Pro. Pictures, Coming from Insanity, their debut feature film is one of the most anticipated Nollywood movies in 2019.

Regardless of the phrase “most anticipated”, which is so often being used for upcoming cinematic works, one is left to wonder what description would have been apt for the star-studded movie scheduled to make cinema entry

by April 5.

Shot in Lagos and in some parts of Togo, Coming from Insanity is a crime drama on the awe-inspiring true story of “Kossi the Bear”, a notorious currency counterfeiter with genius-level intelligence. The trailer begins with Kossi (Gabriel Afolayan) and his crew enjoying a beautiful day at the beach, before taking viewers back in time to his childhood and his days as a house boy in Lagos. The trailer then quickly transits into a web of intricate plots full of suspense and intrigue leaving the audience gasping for more.

The synopsis has it that in the midnineties, a 12-year-old boy (Kossi) is one of many children trafficked through the Nigerian borders from Togo. He ends up with the Martins (Wale Ojo and Dakore EgbusonAkande...), an upper-middle class family of four in Lagos. At their home, he will work overtime for his meals and shelter as a houseboy.

Fast forward to present day, Kossi is still a houseboy with the Martins. He dreams of a better life, but with barely any education, he knows his future is compromised. He relies on his natural abilities and talent to carve out a way for himself, soon discovering the art of counterfeit money, printing and floating the most flawless counterfeit dollars this side of the world. Now out on his own, he employs the services of a few friends and grows the operation substantially, landing him on the radar of a young determined agent at the EFCC who will stop at nothing to bring him to justice.

Coming from Insanity promises a

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SHOWBIZFLAIR Devotees Eagerly Await ‘Coming from Insanity’

Gabriel Afolayan

Wale Ojo

production that will not fall short of any expectations of drama, suspense and intrigue. A film critic noted: “We’re expecting this movie to be really good.

A break from love stories and comedy is nice sometimes and we’re looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.”

Written and Directed by Akinyemi Sebastian Akinropo and Produced by Ibidolapo Ajayi, both US-based. In a chat with this writer, the director noted that the movie is heavy on symbolism.

He explains: “I mean, an obvious or easy title would have been ‘The Money Maker’ or ‘The Houseboy’ or even just ‘Kossi, but we decided to go with CFI because it symbolises a time, a very paradoxical moment in my life, in the producer’s life, in how the film even came about. So as far as the film goes, you can actually say that it doesn’t have a title, but what’s a title anyway? Is that going to make or break a great film? I don’t think so. I don’t know.”

The movie boasts a robust cast of winning performances from a talented ensemble like Sani Danja, Dakore Akande, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Damilola Adegbite. He adds: “I am obscenely lucky to work with this calibre of actors in this film, especially on a feature debut for me. The most important thing in casting is always finding the actors who bring truth and believability to the characters and that has less to do with how big an actor’s name is, but herein lies the irony; for the most part, the names get big because you’re doing something great.

You can’t cheat the game.”

Other star cast of the movie include Wale Ojo, Sharon Ooja, Wole Ojo, Udoka Oyeka, Sambasa Nzeribe, Tina Mba, Odunlade Adekola, Adeolu Ad-

efarasin, Temidayo Akinboro, Ijeoma Aniebo, DJ Izybeatz among others. For Gabriel Afolayan, it’s an honour being the lead cast. In a telephone chat with this reporter, the Theatre Arts graduate relieved his experience on set of the movie. “The director, Akin is my friend and we go way back. He trusted me enough to do it. He is a believer in my art.

“Our first job together was in 2011. So we cool. The experience was worth it.

Akin took me through the heart of the story as he should. And made me see the reasons to justify whatever makebelieve choices I’m putting into layers of my action while handling the role.”

Afolayan also talked about the role he played. “Kossi is that one person who is strong willed. I could connect with his state of mind next to life. He has that huge drive to succeed regardless of the situation. He took risks. And he was unapologetic for it. He is such a round character. He felt all emotions. His life is a true struggle of a determined hustler and also real in his perspectives.

I could relate with all of this personally.”

The actor who is known to display confidence in the character he assumes in movies had this said about the scenes. “There are some cool scenes and sceneries. Akin had a good taste in terms of pictures and the ambience. The production designer did a wonderful job and extras were amazing. They made the scenes look good. The director of photography Daniel Ehieme captured it aptly. He really took his time. I had great moments. We shot for longer hours but it didn’t feel so because everybody was lively all through; jokes rocking everywhere and of course free drinks on the house.”

Damilola Adegbite

Dakore Akande

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Ashanti Causes a Stir As She Goes Underwear-Free in Revealing Dress

Over the weekend, singer Ashanti, 38, caused a stir as she attended 2019 Bounce Trumpet Awards in Atlanta, United States wearing a stunning revealing dress that flaunted her chest, thigh, and curves as she went underwearfree.

Ashanti

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Atunwa Will Ensure Your Welfare, Gov Ahmed Assures Kwarans Hammed Shittu Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜

PEAK VISITS PARA-POWERLIFTERS...

Managing Director, Friesland Campina Wamco Nigeria Plc, Ben Langat (3rd from right, back row), with Marketing Director, Chris Wulff Caesar (Second from right, back row); and Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs. Oreoluwa Famurewa, with some Para-Powerlifting athletes at the National Stadium Para-Power gym, yesterday ahead of the Lagos International Para-Powerlifting competition

Ozekhome: Removal of Onnoghen, Most Despicable Act Since the Creation of Nigeria Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Mike Ozekhome has described the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen as the vilest and most despicable act since the creation of Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday suspended the embattled CJN and in his

place appointed Mr. Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed as acting CJN. Reacting to the suspension during a telephone chat with THISDAY, Ozekhome who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that the alleged suspension is ultravires, undemocratic and brazenly unconstitutional act ever carried out by any government in Nigeria, civilian or military,

since the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates.

According to him, the desperate act of a sit-tight president constitutes a direct suspension of the Nigerian Constitution and the entire democratic process. Adding that, “it has finally removed the remaining veneer of pretension to democratic credentials by Buhari and

his all- conquering cabal.�

He however suggested that “Nigerians should brace up, come out enmasse, to protest against this illegality. We are back to full Abacha era, as OBJ rightly noted three days ago in his patriotic letter to Nigerians. Nigerian lawyers and the NBA should shut down all courts in Nigeria until the CJN is returned to his seat.�

Buhari Will do More for S/West if Peak Team Visits Para-Powerlifting Athletes Ahead of the Lagos Re-elected, Say Osinbajo, Oke Kemi Olaitan Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ‹ĂŽĂ‹Ă˜ Ahead of the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Oyo State today for Presidential Campaign, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and the Director, Presidential Campaign Council, South West zone, Chief Olusola Oke, on Friday, wooed supporters statewide to troop out enmasse in welcoming the President to Mapo Hall, in Ibadan.

The two APC leaders at separate meetings, reeled out the achievements of the president and the pride of place currently occupied by the Yorubas in the nation’s politics, with a promise that he will do more for the South-west if re-elected.

Osinbajo who was in Ogbomoso earlier in the day, said the federal government will increase Npower beneficiaries to a million to accommodate more youths for empowerment.

The VP while speaking at the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, promised the monarch that the Ogbomoso/ Oyo Road will be completed, while a Federal Polytechnic will be established in the town.

Addressing the people at Soun Ogunlola Town Hall, he said the plan of the Buhari-led administration is to make Npower cuts across the federation, adding that, “we currently have 500,000 people captured in Npower but we

will increase them to one million.�

While assuring traders in Ogbomoso that they will soon become beneficiaries of the TraderMoni, he said the scheme is for small businesses, saying “we still have plans for big businesses.�

Oke on his part while addressing journalists at the Agodi quarters of the Presidential Campaign, South West, Ibadan, called on All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in both Osun and Oyo states, to come out and show appreciation to the President for the road and rail projects in addition to the women and youth empowerment that accrued to the zone in less than four years.

He said the Yorubaland which used to be the opposition centre in the country is today the powerhouse of governance and “we have so much stakes to demonstrate to the whole world because of the pride of place, presently occupied by Yoruba sons and daughters in APC administration.�

He said, “Today our people are currently heading key ministries like the Power, Works and Housing; Communications, Finance; Health and so on. The feat which brought APC to power was led by our highly revered leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a host of other leaders in Yorubaland who were in the forefront for the making of an APC presidency.

International Competition Bennett Oghifo There was palpable excitement yesterday as the management team of Friesland Campina Wamco Nigeria Plc, makers of Peak Milk, visited the world-conquering Nigerian Para-Powerflifting athletes at the National Stadium Para-Power gym, yesterday.

The team, which visited at about 6:30a.m., was led by the Managing Director, Ben Langat, who had with him the Marketing Director, Chris Wulff Caesar; and the Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs. Oreoluwa Famurewa.

They were at the gym, which the company refurbished and equipped for their usual solidarity with Para-Powerlifting athletes ahead of the Lagos International Para-Powerlifting competition.

Mr. Langat summed up the essence of the company’s mission when he said they provide the athletes with dairy products, particularly Peak Milk monthly. “Our mission is to provide quality dairy nutrition to Nigerians. For Para-Olympians like these, quality dairy nutrition is essential for their day to day physical exercise. They are a team that has worked hard to reach where they are,� stating that this aligned with the purpose of the company which is “reach for your peak.�

He said what the company was

doing with the para-powerlifters was beyond corporate social responsibility, saying “it is our purpose. It is not CSR.�

The company, he said had been providing support to the team since 2016, nourishing them, giving them Peak milk every month, “We renovated the gym, this place was not like this; we came in and put it into world class with all the modern facilities here, we provide the support for the championship they are going, we provide a bus, a special purpose-built bus. So, this will continue.�

The company has and is putting a fine patch of capital outlay into assisting these special athletes but their focus is not the money, rather it is about building a healthy nation, said the managing director.

The Powerlifting Gymnasium, used by physically challenged athletes at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, was refurbished and equipped with modern facilities by HS Media, which was retained by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, makers of Peak Milk.

HS Media Group is one of Nigeria’s leading Content, Media, and TV Production companies with expertise in Signals distribution, Corporate Events, Brand Management, Public Relations and Print Media.

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has assured that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Razak Atunwa will ensure the welfarist programmes for the people of the state if elected into office come March 2, governorship polls.

Ahmed also said that, if elected, Atunwa would also place high premium on the welfare of traditional rulers, youths and teeming women in the state.

The governor gave the assurance at Ajase-Ipo, Oro , Arandun, Aiyedun, Omuaran communities in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state during he PDP campaign tour of the affected areas.

The campaign trail also visited Oro-Ago in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state and later Isin local government council area of the state.

He said that the PDP’s governorship candidate had garnered the requisite experience at both the legislative and executive arms of government to bring the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the people of the state. “Atunwa has seen it all in the

area of governance. He was a Commissioner for Information, Works and Finance in this state.

He has also been the speaker of the state House of Assembly. And currently, he is a member of the House of Representatives,� he said.

Ahmed urged Kwarans to vote massively for all the PDP candidates during the forthcoming elections in the state.

In Oro, a few kilometres away from Ajase-Ipo, Governor Ahmed promised to elevate the status of the monarch to first class.

He added that the state General Hospital in Oro would soon be rehabilitated. “The rehabilitation of the hospital has been approved. My administration will soon cash-back that,� he said.

Speaking earlier, Atunwa promised that his administration would ensure equity and fairness in running the affairs of the state.

He added that his government would prioritise youth employment and empowerment by encouraging entrepreneurship, saying, “I will also empower the women.

He also assured the local contractors will be partronised so as to boost the economic viability of the populace.

FG EARNS $1BN FROM RENEWAL OF 22 OIL BLOCKS Cont’d from 6 The federal government said, so far, it has been able to complete the evaluation of distribution projects to be funded with the intervention fund, and has forwarded same to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for certificate of “no objection� for them.

Speaking at the inauguration of a two by 60 megavolt amp (MVA) power transmission transformer at the Suleja transmission substation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Managing Director of the TCN, Mr. Usman Mohammed, said that about half of the N72 billion will be spent on procurement of equipment for upgrade of the distribution networks.

He said that the fund would be used to strengthen very weak parts of the distribution networks, but did not disclose the parts that would be upgraded. “The biggest problem we have is distribution because that is where investment has not been deployed in the sector, but I can tell you there are various initiatives that are in place to fix the distribution, and parts of their challenges is metering. “Government has also come up with the N72 billion distribution expansion plan and the TCN is jointly implementing this with the ministry of power. We have substantially completed the deployment of about half of the N72 billion and you know procurement takes time because you have to advertise and forward to BPP,� said Mohammed, shortly after the Governor of Niger State, Mr. Abubakar Sani Bello, commissioned the power transformer which was installed

by Messrs MBH Power Limited.

He further explained: “We have completed the evaluation and forwarded to BPP, and waiting for the No Objection. We are looking at key concerns of the distribution to solve. You know the distribution generally have problems but we will look at the biggest problem and eliminate them with that money; that is how it is.�

According to Mohammed: “It is in our (TCN) interest that some investment come into the distribution networks because if you look at the 738 interfaces that

we have with the Discos, only 421 are completely covered by protection, meaning the remaining 317 are not covered by protection and which means that any fault from people’s house can hit our transformer.�

He noted that the TCN has set up strategies to eliminate instances of system collapses which are frequent on its network, pointing out that with the plan, such would be eliminated completely from its network in three years time. “For us to completely eliminate system collapses, we have to strengthen some of the key lines that are highly weak. The line between Owerri - Alaoji - Ihiala -Onitsha, we have to re-string that line because it is the weakest link in the transmission chain and it will be financed by the African Development Bank. “We have done the design and preparation and in a couple of weeks we will start the procurement and that will completely eliminate the system collapses we have in Nigeria. “Every problem we have in transmission we have a strategy to eliminate them, in the next two to three years, every problem of transmission will be eliminated because we will have adequate capacity with redundancy,�

Mohammed stated.

On the transformer installed by MBH Power Limited, Mohammed, noted that it was funded with parts of a $100 million provided by the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank as additional finance for Nigeria in its Nigeria Electricity and Gas Improvement Project (NEGIP).

The substation, he further added would now have a power transmission capacity of 162 megawatts (MW) from 66MW that it reportedly was, and be able to improve electricity supply to Suleja Town; Madalla; Gawon Babangida; Dikko; Lambata and other areas of Niger State. “This project is not only one, it involves others, they did 100MVA in Katampe and Apo, they did another 60MVA in Keffi and Calabar, amongst other places, and this one started transmitting power five months ago,� Mohammed, explained.

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Oyetola Urges Citizens to Turn Out as Buhari’s Campaign Train Hits Osun

PROMOTION DESERVED...

L-R: Unit Commander RS 11.34 Lagelu Unit Command, Assistant Corps Commander A.A. Adebayo; Route Commander B.F. Oguntoyinbo-Idowu; and Deputy Corps Commander A.A. Adewoyin, during the decoration of Oguntoyinbo-Idowu with her new rank‌ recently

Wike Raises the Alarm about Plot to Postpone Elections Says APC and INEC are plotting to unleash violence on Rivers Davidson Iriekpen Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have perfected plans to postpone Rivers elections on the altar of planned violence.

Wike declared that the APC has been directed to burn INEC offices in several local government areas to create an atmosphere of insecurity for Rivers elections to be postponed.

Speaking during the PDP Campaign rally at Asari-Toru Local Government Area in Buguma yesterday, Wike said that the plot to destroy INEC offices in Rivers State would be executed by the sacked factional Rivers State APC Chairman, Ojukaye Flag Amachree. He said Amachree and his hatchet men discussed

the strategy on Thursday. “INEC thinks they are smart, but we are smarter than them.

They met with APC and instructed them to generate extreme crisis for them to postpone the elections in Rivers State. “APC went to INEC and INEC told them that as far as the law is concerned, their hands are tied.

INEC told them that the only way they can assist the APC is for the embattled party to generate violence for security agencies to write security report to enable INEC to postpone Rivers elections. “It is this agreement between INEC and APC that emboldened APC to openly declare that elections will not hold in Rivers State.

This is a threat to national peace,� he said.

Wike noted that intelligence report indicate that INEC had instructed her printers in Switzerland to add APC on the ballot

in Rivers State because they are expecting favourable judgment at the Supreme Court. “INEC has told their printer in Switzerland to include APC on the ballot because they believe that APC will get judgment . We know the tricks of INEC. We have the capacity to chase out these animals. “Let nobody push us to the wall.

If there is any war in Nigeria, they should hold INEC responsible.

Anybody can contest, but the law must be followed,� he said.

He called on the international community to take note of the plot by the leadership of the APC to disrupt the general elections in Rivers State. “APC should stop threatening the public. Be careful how you issue threats. We call on the international community to see how APC is threatening violence in Rivers State,� he said.

The governor said following the

threats of state-wide violence by the APC, he has officially written to the police, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and the army to take immediate action. He added that this threat to violence poses the first assignment for the Acting Inspector General of Police to prove his impartiality.

On the quest by the Kalabari to produce a governor, Governor Wike said that the ambition can only be actualised in the PDP. He said the other mushroom political parties lack the capacity to produce a Kalabari governor.

He charged the leaders of the area to concentrate on winning all the polling units of the local government area.

PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru/ Asari-Toru Federal Constituency, Hon. Boma Goodhead said all efforts to create crisis on election day will fail as all PDP candidates will win fair and square.

Emmanuel ConďŹ dent of Returning FG, States, LGs Share N649bn for December as Akwa Ibom Governor Nseobong Okon-Ekong Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has assured followers of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state that with level of his performance and the preparedness of the party, he was confident that he will return as governor and candidates of the PDP will do well in the impending national elections.

The governor encouraged supporters of the PDP not to be deterred by the provocative attitudes of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). “The level of confidence here has no probability. We are talking about the biggest party in Africa, that has units everywhere. There’s nowhere you enter in Nigeria and mention PDP and people will be lost. We have structures in all the units in the country. The PDP is a party that has brought development into Nigeria. I’m not building on a probability. I believe it’s PDP or no other party. Unfortunately, I don’t mention any other political party. I don’t know of any other outside PDP,� said Emmanuel to journalists who sought his opinion

on the growing popularity of the APC in the state.

He said his administration has followed a blueprint that is delivering the dividends of democracy through a systematic method. “The question is to determine at each point in time what you want. Now, I’m building secondary health care system. The tertiary health care system is beyond my control. I’m building world class secondary health care system.

This is a little bit systematic in the way you handle it. We came here with a blueprint. The state is well organised. Things are structured.

You can’t just do things by mere response or human intuition. It’s a planned and well-laid out system that we are running here.�

Admitting that he was distracted with legal issues challenging his emergence as governor, he said he has since recovered and has performed well given the resources at his disposal. “Unfortunately, politics in Nigeria is a little bit tough. In your first year as governor, you are in the tribunal, appeal court, Supreme Court. As you are trying to settle down to work, the first tenure of four years is over.

Ndubuisi Francis Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

A total of N649.198 billion was Friday distributed as federal allocation between the federal government, states and local government councils for the month of December, 2018 A communiquĂŠ issued after a meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) showed that the Gross statutory revenue received stood at N547.462 billion which is less than the N649.629 billion haul in the previous month by N102.167 billion.

According to the communique, Federation Crude oil export sales dropped by 1.7 million barrels resulting to a drop in Federation Revenue by $83.54 million in spite of a significant increase in price from $72.84 to $81.06 per barrel.

The communique noted that there was shut-in, shut -down and closure of production at various terminals due to fire leakages and flooding.

Revenues from Value Added Tax (VAT), Import and Excise Duties and Royalities increased marginally while Companies

Income Tax (CIT) and , Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT) decreased significantly.

The total revenue distributable for the current month (including VAT and Exchange Gain Difference) is N649.198 billion.

From the Net Statutory Revenue, the federal government received N255.202 billion representing 52.68%; States received N129.442 billion representing 26.72 per cent; local governments received N99.794 billion representing 20.60 per cent, and oil producing states -- N45.524 billion ad 13 pet cent derivation revenue.

The cost of collection, transfer and FIRS refund amounted to N 21.530 billion.

Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue was distributed with the federal government receiving N14.510 billion (15 per cent ); states received N48.365 billion or 50 per cent while the local governments received N33.856 billion (35 per cent).

The communique put the current balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) at $0.631 Billion.

The Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has implored citizens in the state to turn out en masse in order to receive President Muhammadu Buhari today in Osogbo, the state capital.

He said the call is necessary to reciprocate the good gestures of President Buhari to the people of Osun and the state in general.

Governor Oyetola made the appeal on Friday while assessing the state of things at the Osogbo City Stadium, the proposed venue for the campaign rally.

Oyetola enjoined electorate to vote massively for all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) so as to as well re-elect President Buhari in the February 16 presidential election.

He said Osun has been enjoying a hand of fellowship from the administration of President Buhari since he assumed office.

Governor Oyetola call on the people of the state to make an edge among the states in Southwest region by casting their votes massively for Buhari and

his running, Prof Yemi Osinbajo..

According to Oyetola, the only way Osun people can appreciate President Buhari is to return him to power come 16 of February. “I enjoin the entire citizens of Osun to come out en masse to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari who will be visiting us on a day campaign trip to Osun. “This is necessary as part of efforts to ensure that we deliver Osun absolutely for President Buhari in particular and all the APC candidates in general. “There is no doubt in the fact that Osun has benefited immensely from the administration of President Buhari as he had supported us absolutely in all aspects of life to ensure that our administration deliver on its mandate to the people. “So, I want our people to come out to reciprocate the love extended to us by the presidency over the years particularly in social protection initiatives that had positively impacted many lives in the state,� Oyetola stated.

Buhari, Oshiomhole, Tinubu, Others Storm Abakaliki for Ebonyi Campaign Flag-off President Muhammadu Buhari will lead other stalwarts of Nigeria’s ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an epoch-making flag-off of the party’s campaign in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital on Wednesday, January 30, 2019. The flag-off is scheduled to hold at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki.

The governorship candidate of the APC in Ebonyi State, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, said that the flag-off will be an opportunity for Ebonyi people to know his plans for the liberation of the state from the stranglehold of the purveyors of poverty and underdevelopment of the State. “I am on a liberation mission in Ebonyi State. I have always believed that public officers should work to enthrone a government works with the people to enthrone a collective sense of common purpose and direction for the benefit of all stakeholders,� Ogbuoji said. “This belief has not changed; instead it has been strengthened

over the years, necessitating my desire to serve the good people of Ebonyi State.�

Other big wigs of the party who are expected to grace the occasion include Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of APC, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the APC, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Governor Nassir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Chief Ajomole, former Chairman of All Chairmen of APC, and the members of the National Working Committee of the APC. “For these people to come to Ebonyi State to support our campaign despite their already tight schedules, shows how significant the event is for the party,� said Senator Ogbuoji in a telephone interview. “Ebonyi people should rest assured that the governance of prosperity and progress which APC is bringing to the state will reach everybody.

NDDC Gets Acting Managing Director President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Prof. Nelson Braimbraifa, as acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

This was contained in a statement issued by Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja yesterday. “The President, following a Federal Executive Council resolution, has equally vested the supervisory role of the commission in the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, as well as approved the dissolution of the extant board,’’ he said.

Adesina said Buhari also approved the appointment of Mr. Chris Amadi (Finance and Administration) and Samuel Adjogbe (Projects) as

Acting Executive Directors of NDDC.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as HEIDI ADELHEIDE NNOL, now wish to be known and addressed as ADELHEID GISELA ERNA NNOLI. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS GLORY ELIJAH EKPARAM, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. GLORY ELIJAH MOSES. Date of Birth 1st October 1989 instead of 1st October 1990. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NWAOGBO PRECIOUS AMARACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as ANTHONY PRECIOUS MBONU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚Î

55

SPORTS XTRA

L-R: Manager Sports Programs of Special Olympics Nigeria, Mr. Adeola Oladugba, State Head, SME, Lagos Zone, Globacom, Oyinkansola Joseph, a member of the Nigerian contingent to the Special Olympic World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Marie Macfoy, Manager Initiatives, Special Olympics Nigeria Ibiyemi Ayeni, at the presentation of sponsorship cheques to members of the Nigerian Special Olympics Contingent by Globacom‌ Wednesday

R-L: General Manager, Sodium Brand Solutions, Titi Seun-Oremade; presenting a Cheque to Unicyclist group, winners of the Lagos Grows Talent Competition, held in Lagos, yesterday in Lagos‌‌

Mikel Craves to Achieve Something Special with Middlesbrough Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has stated that he wants to help Middlesbrough achieve something special this season.

The Nigerian midfielder sealed a return to England with Championship side Middlesbrough who are in contention to get a promotion to the Premier League next season.

Mikel who is now 32 years old is hopeful that the impact of the younger players at Middlesbrough coupled with his wealth of experience will help the club to be promoted to Premier League.

In an interview with the Middlesbrough official website, Mikel stated that several clubs

were interested in him but a conversation with Tony Pulis convinced him.

He said, “For me, it’s looking at the project. I spoke to a few clubs and I also spoke to Tony (Pulis), had a good chat with him. He’s told me where he wants to go with it and it definitely fits with what I want to do.

The club wants to get promoted so hopefully I’m here to help in any way I can. It’s a family club and this is what I want. I like stability and this is why I was at Chelsea for a very long time.�

Without putting any pressure on himself, Mikel stated that he is a team player and despite his

impressive trophy cabinet it is only as a team can they achieve their goal to qualify for the Premier League.

He said, “We have to put our heads together and help each other. If anyone knows me from my years at Chelsea, I always played for the team. The team comes first and that’s exactly what I’m going to do here. Here is going to be a challenge, but I love challenges.�

The Super Eagles captain who quit his contract at Chinese Super League (CSL) side Tianjin Teda has been handed the number 2 shirt and could make his debut when Middlesbrough take on

Newport County in a FA Cup encounter today at the Riverside Stadium.

Meanwhile, former Premier League champions, Chelsea have reacted to Obi joining English Championship side, Middlesbrough, on a six-month deal.

Chelsea took to their official Twitter page, @ChelseaFC, to congratulate Mikel and wished him good luck at his new club, Middlesbrough. “Good luck at Middlesbrough, @Mikel John Obi!,�

Chelsea tweeted alongside a picture of Mikel wearing the Blues’ jersey.

Nwakali Claims He’s Still within U23 Age Grade Category FC Porto second team midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali has explained that his desire for an invitation to Nigeria’s under-23 squad is simply because he is still within the age-limit.

The Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets captain said he and several other players in that historic squad, like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze are still

within the under-23 age-grade cadre.

Anonlinepublicationreported that Nwakali is now looking forward to being part of Nigeria’s next under-23 side, as he declared that he would willingly and gladly honour an invitation to the upcoming Dream Team.

Incidentally, Nwakali and Osimhen had both been invited to the under-23 team by then

coach, Samson Yebowei Siasia in 2015, during the early days of the squad that went on to win bronze at Rio 2016.

However, the lad with one Super Eagles’ cap and a wonder goal to his name, both of which came in his debut againstAtletico Madrid in an international exhibition match played in Port Harcourt, wants another chance to prove his mettle with the ac-

claimed ‘Dream Team 7.’ Nwakali added: “If I’m called up for the under-23, I will come because all of us that played through the under-17 and under-20 are still within the age bracket. “I believe it’s very necessary for me to keep playing and developing myself. So, if I’m invited for the qualifiers, I will surely honour the call.�

Tandoh Promises Hitch-free Access Bank Lagos City Executive Chairman of the Governing Board of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, has reaffirmed the state’s readiness to stage a hitch-free 2019 edition ofAccess Bank Lagos City Marathon.

The event, which enters its 4th edition will hold today with over 50, 000 participants all over the world.

Tandoh said that the tradition in Lagos has been that the day an

edition of a particular competition finished, preparation for the next edition starts immediately. The chairman said that the state has been preparing for the 4th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon immediately the 3rd edition ended. “I can say categorically that Lagos is very prepared. The very good thing about theAccess Bank LagosCityMarathonisthefactthat preparation for the next edition starts the day after the previous

one. We have started working together with the organisers right from February 11, last year, when the last edition was held and a lot of what we have now are things that have been done over months. “Organising marathon is not a three or four months programme, it takes a long term plan and I’m glad that we now have a structure in Lagos State to organise events with planning and organising taking place six to seven months

ahead. That structure, that template is already in place and we are running with it,� Tandoh said.

Speaking on the plans for this year’s competitors, Tandoh said, “Like marathons all over the world, it is not only those that are present live that take part in the event. There will be live coverage for the event and we want Lagosians to tune in for the coverage of the entire 42 kilometres from the start at about 6:30a.m. till the end.

St. Martins Catholic School Set for 9th Inter House Sport St. Martins Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, will on Thursday, January 31, hold its 9th Inter House Sports Competition at the Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, Sport Ground, Bode Thomas, Surulere.

This year’s competition, with the theme ‘Promoting Unity and Togetherness through Sport’, will have four

houses-Green, Blue, Red and Yellow going head to head.

According to the school’s Supervisor, Reverend Sister Stella Maris Idibe, the pupils have been preparing for the sports meet since last year and are in good shape to make everybody proud.

Some of the events to be competed for are 100m, 200m, 4*100m relay, sack race, blind

race, high and long jumps.

To add spice to the competition, the school’s Sports Master, Mr. Samuel Gborigi said three new sports were introduced to this year’s edition, and they are test for strength, balloon burst and kings and queens for parents.

Eight schools have been invited for the invitational

relay and they include, St. Catherine Model School, Surulere, Goodnews Baptist School, Surulere, St. Mary’s Private School, Lagos, Our Lady of Fatima, Aguda and Sacred Heart School, Apapa.

Others are Mount Camel Private School, Ebute-Metta, Maryland Convent Private School, Maryland and Perfect Standard School, Lawanson.

Australian Open 2019

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Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova meet in the Australian Open final today amid high emotional stakes and with the world number one ranking on the line.

Osaka, who received her US Open trophy in tears, and to boos, after Serena Williams’ meltdown, can become the first player since 2001 to follow her maiden Grand Slam title with another.

Kvitova, meanwhile, is in a first major final since being stabbed in 2016.

The winner will replace Simona Halep as world number one. The Melbourne match between fourth seed Osaka and eighth seed Kvitova, who have never met before, starts at 08:30 GMT. Japanese 21-year-old Osaka is aiming to become the first player since American Jennifer Capriati in 2001 to win back-to-back majors after a maiden triumph.

She hit 15 aces and 56 winners as she beat Czech seventh seed Karolina Pliskova, who knocked out 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams in the semi-finals.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova, 28, eased to a 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 win over unseeded American Danielle Collins.

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said both finalists are “playing at their peak� but that Osaka has the edge over Czech Kvitova. “Based on the level of tennis I saw in the semi-finals then I’d pick Osaka as the winner,� Bartoli said. “And I think you have to say the player who has lifted a Slam most recently is the slight favourite.�

Osaka won the US Open in September by beating Williams in a dramatic final, although it was somewhat overshadowed by the American’s row with umpire Carlos Ramos.

Williams appealed for calm in her runner-up speech, asking her supporters to “give credit� to Osaka’s achievement, while the Japanese player pulled her visor down to hide her tears during the trophy ceremony.

Four months later, Osaka is back in another major final after becoming the first Japanese player to reach the Melbourne showpiece.

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Top seed Novak Djokovic set up a tantalising Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal by thrashing Lucas Pouille in a one-sided semi-final. The Serb, 31, needed just one hour and 23 minutes to win 6-0 6-2 6-2.

Djokovic broke serve seven times as he outclassed 24-year-old Frenchman Pouille, seeded 28th and in his first Grand Slam semi-final.

Djokovic and Spaniard Nadal - who have 31 Grand Slams titles between them - meet on Sunday.

The world number one set up their first meeting in Melbourne since their epic six-hour final in 2012 - which the Serb eventually won - with a near flawless performance against Pouille. He made just five unforced errors and hit 29 winners on Rod Laver Arena. “It is definitely one of the best matches I’ve ever had on this court,� said the 14-time major winner. “Everything worked how I imagined it before the match - it was a tough one for Lucas.�

Djokovic, is aiming for a seventh Australian Open crown, which would move him clear of Roy Emerson and Roger Federer in terms of all-time victories in Melbourne.

Saturday, January 26, 2019

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MISSILE

Agbaje to Sanwo-Olu “Sanwo-Olu is the candidate of a god father who controls Lagos affairs. If he wins the governorship election, his loyalty will definitely not be to Lagosians.”

– The governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, chastising the candidate of the APC, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

PENDULUM Our President Has Done It Again DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

F

ellow Nigerians, the way events happen at the speed of light, in our dear beloved country Nigeria, is unbelievable. I flew out of Lagos yesterday on a few hours flight to Sierra Leone but within that twinkle of an eye, a monumental development had occurred back home. Thanks to social media, cyberspace was awash and agog with the story of President Muhammadu Buhari literally firing the Chief Justice of the Federation, Honourable Justice, Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen GCON, with automatic alacrity, even though the President claimed that his action was merely a suspension.

I’m not a lawyer but I’m knowledgeable enough about the Constitutional supremacy, rule of law, fair hearing and judicial process. For now, I will not go into the rights and wrongs of the allegations against the CJN, Honourable Justice Onnoghen because the matter is subjudice as it is still being dealt with by the courts. The President’s actions yesterday would seem to belie this crucial fact. The case against CJN Onnoghen may later turn out to be unassailable, but until then he should be given the benefit of the doubt and allowed to enjoy his right to be presumed innocent until declared guilty by a court of law. It is for him to choose the path of honour and resign, but it is also entirely his discretion, knowing the strength of his case and the conviction about his innocence, to insist on remaining in position until the outcome of the case against him is known.

Without jumping to any conclusions yet, I took time to read President Buhari’s speech dealing with the swearing in of the newly appointed Acting Chief Justice of the Federation, Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed.

I was alarmed by what I read. The rhetoric seemed to me to be even worse than it has been in the past. The dictatorial and strident tone and toga of the President in his first speech as Military Head of State was all too palpable for me. I am certain that this speech will go down in the annals of Nigerian history as one of the epochal speeches that shaped Nigeria.

Whether for good or ill, only time will tell. Let me therefore literally and figuratively take the pain to quote him verbatim.

Fellow Nigerians, A short while ago, I was served with an Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal issued on Wednesday 23rd January 2019, directing the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen, from office pending final determination of the cases against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and several other fora relating to his alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

2. The nation has been gripped by the tragic realities of no less a personality than the Chief Justice of Nigeria himself becoming the accused person in a corruption trial since details of the petition against him by a Civil Society Organization first became public about a fortnight ago.

3. Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.

4. Perhaps more worrisome is the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s own written admission to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets,

Buhari

citing ’’mistake’’ and ’’forgetfulness’’ which are totally unknown to our laws as defences in the circumstances of his case.

5. One expected that with his moral authority so wounded, by these serious charges of corruption, more so by his own written admission, Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen would have acted swiftly to spare our Judicial Arm further disrepute by removing himself from superintending over it while his trial lasted.

6. Unfortunately, he has not done so. Instead, the nation has been treated to the sordid spectacle of a judicial game of wits in which the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his legal team have made nonsense of the efforts of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear the allegation on merit and conclude the trial as quickly as possible considering the nature of the times in which we live.

7. Whether deliberately or inadvertently, we have all seen the full weight of the Chief Justice of Nigeria descend on the tender head of one of the organs of justice under his control. There is simply no way the officers of that court, from the Chairman to the bailiffs, can pretend to be unaffected by the influence of the leader of the Judiciary.

8. Not only the trial court, but others have been put on the spot. Practically every other day since his trial commenced, the nation has witnessed various courts granting orders and counter-orders in favour of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, all of them characterised by an unholy alacrity between the time of filing, hearing and delivery of judgment in same.

9. The real effect has been a stalling of the trial of Justice Onnoghen, helped along by lawyers who insist that these orders, whether right or wrong are technically valid, and must be obeyed till an appellate Court says otherwise. No doubt, that it is the proper interpretation, but is it the right disposition for our nation?

10. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and no one must be, or be seen to be, above the law. Unfortunately, the drama around the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria has challenged that pillar of justice in the perception of the ordinary man on the street. For it is certain that no ordinary Nigerian can get the swift and special treatment Justice Onnoghen has enjoyed from his subordinates and privies in our Judicature.

11. In the midst of all these distracting events, the essential question of whether the accused CJN actually has a case to answer has been lost in the squabble over the form and nature

of his trial. This should not be so.

12. If Justice cannot be done and clearly seen to be done, society itself is at risk of the most unimaginable chaos. As a Government, we cannot stand by wailing and wringing our hands helplessly but give our full backing and support to those brave elements within the Judiciary who act forthrightly, irrespective of who is involved.

13. As you are all aware, the fight against corruption is one of the tripod of policies promised to Nigerians by this administration. Needless to say that it is an existential Policy which must be given adequate attention and commitment by all the three arms of government. The efforts of the Executive will amount to nothing without the cooperation of the Legislature and especially the Judiciary.

14. It is no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate courts.

15. Since there is nothing the Executive Arm can do after the apex court of the land has spoken on any matter, several of these individuals walk free among us today, enjoying what are clearly the proceeds of the corruption which for so long has defeated the efforts of this nation to develop and prosper.

16. It is against this background that I have received the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal directing me to suspend the Chief Justice pending final determination of the cases against him. It also explains why I am not only complying immediately, but with some degree of relief for the battered sensibilities of ordinary Nigerians whose patience must have become severely over-taxed by these anomalies.

17. In line with this administration’s avowed respect for the Rule of Law, I have wholeheartedly obeyed the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal dated 23rd January 2019.

18. Accordingly, I hereby suspend the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen, GCON as the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

19. In further compliance with the same Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, I hereby invite Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed JSC, being the next most Senior Justice in the Supreme Court, to come forward to take the Judicial Oath as Chief Justice of Nigeria in an Acting Capacity.

20. Fellow Nigerians, we can only stand a chance to win the fight against Corruption, and position our dear nation for accelerated development when we stand together to contend against it.

Thank you and may God bless our country.

It is worth reiterating that this aforementioned speech read to me like a coup day speech, with all the preaching and pontificating, especially as it was littered with huge dollops of self-righteousness and moral indignation. The President sermonised in a holier than thou manner with the trenchant rectitude that has now become the hallmark of this administration particularly in the twilight days of this first term. President Muhammadu Buhari turned himself into a real four plus four.

He became the Investigator, Prosecutor, Judge and Executioner in one fell swoop.

From that moment, Nigeria immediately transfigured, and migrated, to full blown dictatorship. The President, with one stroke of the pen, instantly abolished the principle of separation of powers as enshrined and entrenched in our Constitution. He more or less abolished any notion of the independence of the judiciary and checkmated the legislature with which he shares the joint responsibility for the suspension or removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Indeed, the President’s action is an abrogation of the supremacy of the Constitution, a document which he has given short shrift and practically turned to toilet paper. To all intents and purposes, that is how worthless our Constitution is right now!

One thing is sure, the President is no longer in the mood for the niceties or nuances of Democratic tenets and concepts, but is firmly in the autocratic power mode that militocracy so generously offers. I weep for Nigeria and I cry for the President and his gang of powermongers who have refused to read the history of Nigeria, and, if they did, have refused to learn anything from it.

I heard and read of many Buharideens shouting, jumping and jubilating that the President has done the right thing by summarily sacking the CJN. I don’t blame them, but I wish to let them know that the ozone layer they have entered is too dangerous for anyone to contemplate.

Anytime it seemed Nigeria has been conquered, the conqueror is usually defeated by the resilience of our long-suffering people. The tragedy is, I see many lawyers in this government who are all keeping mute in the face of tyranny, just for them to remain in power, by fire by force. As I wrote to our dear President not too long ago, man shall not live by power alone.

God has been very kind to President Muhammadu Buhari. He became Head of State about 35 odd years ago and was sacked in 1985.

Anyone would have thought it was over and finished for him. In less than a couple of years, many Nigerians who hailed his emergence as Head of State were jubilating on the streets when his military government was toppled in a palace coup by those close to him. But God, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, brought him from the shadows of death and restored him back to even greater power and glory in a democratic setting, after making several amazing shots at the Presidency.

Holy Moses! No one would have thought Baba would blow his second chance and shatter it into smithreens in this manner. Since 2015, it’s been obvious that President Buhari is only different from Major General Buhari in terms of change of nomenclature and uniform. He must feel a sense of nostalgia for those days when he didn’t have to share powers with the legislature and Judiciary, and now craves a return to that time he was alpha and omega.

But truth is whatever victory he hopes to record, by playing for broke yesterday, can only be pyrrhic. Nothing more. When tomorrow comes, like it would come, sooner rather than later, he would look back with regrets and ask, why did I do that which may have been needed, but totally unnecessary.

I have no doubt in my mind that whatever happens, it shall be well with Nigeria and this too shall pass away.

Dear compatriots, stay strong and resolute.

The best is yet to come. God bless our great country.

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