TUESDAY 4TH APRIL 2023

Human Rights Commission Cautions NBC over Sanctioning of Media Houses Nigerian media owners unveil national complaints commission Segun James, Ayodeji Ake in Lagos and Michael Olugbode in Abuja The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), yesterday, in a form of appeal, advised the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)

to apply caution when acting on petitions of political parties against media organisations.

Also, as part of efforts to strengthen public confidence in the media, the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), the umbrella body for

media practice in the country, has inaugurated the board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman.

The NHRC appeal came against the backdrop of the sanction against

Channels TV by the NBC after a petition was written against the news channel by one of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) spokesperson for airing an interview with the Vice Presidential

Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Datti Baba Ahmed that was allegedly inciting.

Channels TV was slammed a penalty of N5 million by the broadcast control body and further warned against airing any content that could

incite the public to violence.

However, speaking at the monthly review of the NHRC’s Mobilising Voters for Elections (MOVE) Programme, yesterday, in Abuja, the Continued on page 9

NCDMB Performs Groundbreaking for Construction of $7.04bn Pipe Manufacturing Plant in Bayelsa... Page 5 Tuesday 4 April, 2023 Vol 28. No 10219. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Donald Trump Arrives New York Ahead of Today’s Historic Arraignment... Page 10

Gunshots,Violence Disrupt APC, PDP’sVisit to INEC’s Office in Rivers Thugs attack opposition party’s secretariat Tonye Cole cries out, says his life in danger Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Heavy gunshots and violence, yesterday, disrupted a visit by members of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to demand for

the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the March 18 election result sheets.

Thugs believed to be loyal to the PDP would later attack the APC secretariat in the state and in the

process, descended on the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, who has since alleged threat to his life, after he was reportedly roughened up by the thugs.

The APC, led by Cole, had Friday, said it would storm the INEC office on Monday to demand release of the CTC documents used for the election to enabled the party file

petitions at the election tribunal.

As at 8am yesterday, while the APC members were planning to Continued on page 9

Yahaya: Army Will Contain All Threats to Nation's Sovereignty Says operations against saboteurs raised oil production to 1.3m barrels per day Major shake-up as Navy redeploys senior officers

Story on page 9

INAUGURATION OF THE NATIONAL MEDIA COMPLAINTS COMMISSION...

L-R: Members, National Media Complaints Commission: Mrs Eugenia Abu; Mr. Edenton Ojo; Prof. Stella Okunna; Dr. Hassan Abdu; Chairman, THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Emeka Izeze; PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA Chairman, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Mallam Kabiru Yusuff and Publisher, Vanguard Media, Mr. Amuka Pemu, during the Inauguration of the National Media Complaints Commission in Lagos...yesterday

2

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

3

4

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

5

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

DANGOTE INDUSTRIES FUNDING ₦300 BILLION SERIES 1 AND 2 BONDS...

L-R: Head, Debt Capital Markets, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Tokunbo Aturamu; CEO, FMDQ Group, Bola Onadele ‘Koko; Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries, Olakunle Alake; and Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Funso Akere at the listing ceremony of the Dangote Industries Funding ₦300 billion Series 1 and 2 bonds, held at FMDQ in Lagos…. Friday

NCDMB Performs Groundbreaking for Construction of $7.04bn Pipe Manufacturing Plant in Bayelsa Peter Uzoho The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote has performed the groundbreaking ceremony of a $7.04 billion pipe manufacturing plant at Polaku community, Bayelsa State.

Being promoted by AS Energies Limited, the plant would manufacture Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) and Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) pipes and has an estimated investment outlay of about N7.04 billion to $8.8million.

Speaking at the event which held recently, Wabote commended the management of AS Energies Limited and its subsidiary, African Star Manufacturing Services Limited, on the successful take-off of the construction work on the pipe manufacturing plant.

He noted that the project was in line with the mission statement of NCDMB, which was, “to promote the development and utilisation of in-country capacities for the industrialisation of Nigeria through the effective implementation of the Nigerian Content Act.’’ In a statement issued yesterday, Wabote further described the ongoing construction activities as a dream come true for the Polaku community as plans for a pipe manufacturing mill in the area had been on the drawing board for a decade.

He said the Polaku community

and the Gbarain Clan, generally were blessed, given the concentration of strategic industries in the area and indications that others would be there.

Some of the firms that are in the locality include the Shell Gas Gathering Plant, Azikel Refinery (a modular hydro-skimming processing plant), the $45 million Types 3 LPG Composite Cylinder Manufacturing Plant, owned by Rungas Prime Industries Limited, and Eraskon Nigeria Limited.

Wabote said the pipe manufacturing plant was a testament to the giant strides in local content drive in the country, while assuring AS Energies Limited that the NCDMB would give due consideration to its request for support.

He equally enjoined the company’s management to explore available financing options so as to ensure project delivery on schedule.

The NCDMB boss expressed delight that AS Energies' pipes would be produced to meet the regulatory standards such as: ISO 9001- Quality Management System Requirements; ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System Standard; & BS 18001 – Occupational Health & Safety Management System Standard.

In a welcome address, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AS Energies Limited, Gbenga Olaniyan, said the choice of Polaku as the site for the $8.8 million project was deliberate,

as the company seeks to be a development partner in the area.

He expressed profound appreciation to the state government, the NCDMB management, and the host community for the encouragement as his company initiated moves toward actualising its plans.

Olaniyan assured that AS Manufacturing Services Limited would integrate the community in its operational plans and activities, adding that one of its cardinal principles is to source essential materials locally in advancement of federal government’s drive for in-country value addition.

He expressed confidence that the construction phase of the plant would be completed within 12 months, giving way to actual production.

Managing Director, AS Manu-

facturing Services Limited, Mr. Augustine Taribene, described the pipe manufacturing plant as “echo-friendly,” stating that the company has a waste management policy and strategy that would keep the environment free of any form of pollution.

According to him, “We want to ensure that whatever we do will not hurt the environment.” Besides, company policy is to establish a workshop to guarantee that operational tools and spares are produced locally and not imported.

According to the company, the Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) and Glass Reinforced Plastic pipes are more resistant, lighter, less corrosive, and more durable than conventional carbon steel pipes in use, meaning reduced maintenance cost.

Bassey Inyang in Calabar The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bankers’ Committee have enjoined traders in Cross River State to embrace the eNaira and other electronic payment channels in system in other to reduce physical use of cash and promote seamless business transactions.

The CBN working in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, made the appeal yesterday, at Watt Market, Calabar, when they staged an awareness and sensitisation campaign on cashless policy and the use of e-Naira by traders for business transactions.

Addressing the traders, Assistant Director, Payment System

Nnorom: We'll hit our 2023 set targets Shareholders of Transcorp Hotels Plc yesterday approved the payment of N1.33 billion as dividend for the 2022 financial year. The figure translated to 13 kobo per share.

The company also reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N4.5 billion, representing 172 per cent increase compared to the N1.7 billion realised in the preceding year.

Speaking at its 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Transcorp Hotels, Dupe Olusola, said total revenue also grew by 47 per cent to N32 billion in the review year compared to N21.7 billion in 2021.

Shareholders, however, hailed

the company over its impressive performance amid a volatile business environment in which it also won a flurry of awards from the business world in particular.

Olusola said, "The excellent financial performance we achieved in 2022 despite adverse economic conditions, is a result of the detailed execution of our strategy, our out-ofthe-box approach, our nimbleness, and unswerving commitment to delivering value to all our stakeholders.

“I feel incredibly optimistic about the great feats ahead for our company. We have market-leading asset-light hospitality products and services, our proposed event center, and partnership with iconic brands that will surely boost our expansion

munity along in their operations.

A spokesman for the Polaku community, Chief Kenigua Dinikpite, welcomed the company into their midst, assuring them of peace and the full cooperation of their indigenes.

He expressed hope that AS Manufacturing Services Ltd would abide by NCDMB’s Community Content Guideline, which stipulates obligations of corporate organisations to host communities and expectations from communities to to create a conducive work environment for the firms.

The presence of the plant, which was the first of its type in Nigeria, is expected to facilitate technology transfer in pipe manufacturing technology and development of a variety of skills among the local population.

CBN, Bankers’ Committee Urge C'River Traders to Embrace eNaira, Other e-Payment Channels

Shareholders Approve Transcorp Hotels’ N1.33bn Dividend James Emejo in Abuja

Also speaking, the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV, expressed pleasure at the physical presence of the company in the community, and thanked the NCDMB for wonderful work it has done facilitating the establishment of major indigenous firms in the state.

The monarch urged the Management of the company to avoid the practices of international oil companies (IOCs) in the Niger Delta that have done very little to assist in development of host communities, but have rather been engaged in divide-and-rule and causing intra- and inter-communal crises.

He assured them of the full support and cooperation of the community if they take the com-

and growth rapidly further adding to our footprints and bottom line.

“We recognise the enormous responsibility to inspire and support our people to succeed. We continue to look for ways to invest in our people’s growth and development and to help them balance their work and personal lives.”

She added that the company remained committed to exploring profitable business adjacencies while racing to complete its pipeline projects and initiatives as part of efforts to expand the horizon and push for new frontiers.

Also, chairman of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom, said the dividend pay-out was indicative that the hospitality coy closed the 2022 financial year strongly.

He said the performance further demonstrated that the positive results that could be achieved with the support of all relevant stakeholders and proper utilisation of the people and processes.

Nnorom said, “Our resilience and innovation were imperative and key as we navigated through the various challenges during the year.

“As we proceed into the new year, we will not rest on our laurels, the team is energised and committed to going above and beyond the call of duty to deliver a superior performance like we did this year, and we believe that with your continued support, we will hit our set goals in 2023.

"Our continued focus on strategic financial management remained

Management, CBN, Mr. Chika Ugwueze, said the sensitisation exercise was aimed at providing adequate information to traders, and members of the public about the cashless policy as an alternative to the use of cash in the country.

Ugwueze who stated that the CBN introduced the eNaira as an alternative to cash, explained the benefits of the digital payment platform to the traders.

He advised every Nigerian that operates in the nation's banking system, especially those engaging in business to download the eNaira and use it as digital money.

“The important message to all Nigerians is that the eNaira is not an alternative to your bank account, but an alternative to cash in your wallet because it offers efficiency in payment and improves security.

“Generally, the eNaira has helped to deepen the payment options in the market. The CBN has developed different platforms of using the eNaira.

“As long as you have a telephone in Nigeria, you can have access to the eNaira “There is no deadline for going cashless; we are just presenting options that will widen payment platforms and make them available for Nigerians,” Ugwueze said.

Speaking at the event, Assistant Banking Officer, Zenith Bank, Calabar, Mrs. Ebere Bassey, said

in view of the CBN’s cashless policy, the sensitisation campaign was timely.

Bassey urged the traders to reduce overdependence on cash by reducing electronic means of payment.

The Relationship Manager, Access Bank, Calabar, Mr. Thomas Udie, who also addressed the traders, said public campaign was initiated to create awareness on the cashless policy and need to subscribe to the eNaira.

Udie urged the traders and other members of the public in the state to embrace the various electronic platforms for digital money transactions so as to reduce the physical movement of cash.

However, Udie said so far, the CBN had been supplying them with cash for business so, Access bank branches in Calabar have no issues with cash disbursement to customers.

A trader in the market, Mrs. Theresa Okon, said although the cashless policy was a good one, traders still required cash to transact their businesses daily.

A Nollywood actor, Imeh Bishop-Umoh, popularly called “Okon Lagos”, who featured in the public awareness campaign and spoke in Efik language, urged the traders to make good use of the eNaira and electronic payments to increase their turnover, as well as reduce the movement of cash.

6

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NINTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING...

Non-Executive Director, Mr. Peter Elumelu; Non-Executive Director, Dr. Owen Omogiafo; Non-Executive Director, Mr. Alex Okoh; Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Dupe Olusola; Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom; Independent Non-Executive Director, Ms. Bola Onagoruwa; and Non-Executive Director, Mr. Udechukwu Obi Osakwe at the ninth Annual General Meeting of Transcorp Hotels Plc, held in Abuja... yesterday

Trade and Investment Ministry to Submit Auto Policy for FEC’s Approval Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, yesterday disclosed that the ministry would soon submit a new auto policy for Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval.

Addressing Senior Executive Course 45 participants of the

National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), who paid a visit to the ministry, the Minister said the auto policy was reviewed with the objective of increasing local production of vehicles.

Besides, the new policy would help the country to transit from Semi Knock Down to Completely Knock Down/Completely Built Up

manufacturing, he was quoted to have explained in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Ifedayo Sayo.

The minister said the new policy also has as one of its objectives, a plan to increase employment in the automotive value chain.

Apart from the auto policy, Adebayo said the ministry was also working on a new investment

policy and a review of the current trade policy which it intends to conclude before the expiration of the Buhari administration.

Speaking on the, “Industrialisation, Climate Change and Energy Security in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects,” Adebayo said the Buhari administration has demonstrated in the last

eight years, its determination to turn around the fortunes of the country from a dependence on oil to diversification of the economy, as evident through the adoption and implementation of robust policies such as the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

Jonathan, Wabote, Akpata, Sekibo Bag Prestigious African Heritage Awards Ex-president to African leaders: Initiate policies that would improve lives of citizens, build institutions that will outlive you Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos Former President Goodluck Jonathan; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote; and the immediatepast President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata have been conferred with prestigious awards at the inaugural African Heritage Concert and Awards in Kilgali, Rwanda.

The former Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank, Dr. Ifie Sekibo was also honoured in Kigali, Rwanda.

The awards conferred on the Nigerian nationals and other recipients from other African nations were in recognition of their different change-making contributions for the good of Nigeria and Africa both in the public and private sector spaces.

In a statement, the NCDMB said Wabote was conferred with the Champion of Local Content Development in Africa Award.

While Jonathan won the African Democracy and Peace Icon Award, Akpata bagged the African Legal Icon Award.

Also, Sekibo received the African Philanthropist Award.

However, a former President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama picked up the Africa Philanthropist Award, while pan-Africanist and legal practitioner, Prof. PLO Lumumba was conferred with the Africa Advancement Icon Award.

Some other winners included the late President of the Republic of Tanzania, Mr. John Magufuli, who won the African Icon Award (posthumous), even as the Triplets Ghetto Kids from Uganda won the African Entertainment Award.

In his acceptance speech, Jonathan, according to a statement from his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu

Eze, commended organisers of the African Heritage Concert and Award for honouring Africans who have distinguished themselves in different endeavours.

He regretted that, “we live in a thankless society,” adding that it was important to celebrate efforts of individuals who were changing the narrative.

Admitting that the African continent was facing huge challenges, Jonathan noted that some persons were yet working hard to ameliorate the difficulties and we're making huge differences in the same environment, hence the need to acknowledge their efforts.

The ex-Nigerian president challenged political officer holders to initiate policies that would improve the lives of the citizenry and build institutions that will outlive them in order for them to be remembered for good when they left office.

He further commended the Government and people of Rwanda for their developmental strides and for becoming a preferred destination where organisations and groups across Africa and beyond now prefer to host their events.

Jonathan also appealed to African leaders who are privileged to hold public offices to become servants of the people, and not turn themselves into the “bosses of the people”.

He said as elected leaders they have obligation to run their countries properly, not to dehumanise human beings and make their lives difficult.

Jonathan who advised leaders to prioritise the rights and humanity of the citizens also noted that the welfare of citizens should guide national aspirations and development initiatives on the continent.

Speaking further, Jonathan emphasised that the duty of leaders was to run their countries properly and efficiently, and “not to dehumanize human beings and make their lives difficult.”

“What people will remember

you for is what should guide our decisions, and I believe every leader should begin to think that when he leaves office, one day he will be remembered one way or the other, positively or negatively.

“Will the world remember you for killing people? Will the world remember you for unnecessarily jailing people, will the world remember you for destroying their systems or will you be remembered for doing good?”, he queried.

He stated further: “I was president of Nigeria for only five years. I believe the little contributions I made within that period and probably after leaving office may have convinced the organisers to honor me today as the Icon of

Democracy and Peace in Africa.

“This means that it is not actually how long you stay in the office that will make people remember you but how well you served them and the little impact you make.”

Also commenting on the award conferred on him, Wabote dedicated it to his family and the hard-working staff of the NCDMB. He noted the award and several others he had clinched in the past were made possible by the staff’s dedication and support.

He hinted that the award would challenge him to continue promoting local content across Africa in concert with other organisations and individuals.

The executive secretary empha-

sised that all Africa nations should optimise value addition to their natural resources and develop the capacities and capabilities of their human resources to enable them participate fully in the value chain of their extractive industries, particularly the oil and gas industry.

Also, Lumumba, in his acceptance speech, hinted that Africa was currently in the cusp of hope and development.

He warned that foreign interests were currently scrabbling for the resources in the continent, advising that “if we are not careful, Africa will be eaten for lunch. We should be alert and ensure that it does not happen again, our continent should not be conquered again.”

According to him, "As part of the process of enhancing and fast tracking our mandate towards industrialisation in this country, the ministry came up with the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), a 10-year plan to be reviewed after five years.

"The NIRP was approved in 2014 but its implementation started in 2015. The plan which is now under review, is designed to accelerate the build-up of industrial capacity in Nigeria.

"Its aim is to significantly raise manufacturing contribution to GDP which is based on priority sectors, where Nigeria has competitive and comparative advantage.

"These are Agriculture and Agroallied Industries; Metals and Solid Minerals Industries; Oil and Gas Related Industries; Construction, Light Manufacturing and Services."

He said the ministry under him has recorded appreciable achievements in the implementation of the NIRP, especially in the development and implementation of some sectoral policies such as Backward Integration Program (BIP) in the Cement industry, the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) policy, Leather and Leather products policy as well as the Tomato Industry policy.

Aero Contractors: We Warned NCAA, FAAN against Anti-Tinubu Ibom Air Passenger Chinedu Eze Aero Contractors has disclosed that the unruly passenger who shouted that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu must not be sworn-in onboard an Abuja-Lagos Ibom Air flight last Friday, was refused boarding by officials of its airline when they noticed his unusual behaviour and suspected that he would be a flight risk.

Aero Contractor officials disclosed to THISDAY, that they reported him to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and had advised the agencies to stop the passenger from flying any airline because he could be a security risk.

The passenger later boarded Ibom Air 6:00 pm flight from Abuja to Lagos on March 31, 2023, and while in the aircraft started shouting that

other passengers should not allow Tinubu to be sworn-in, made the Ibom Air crew uncomfortable, prompting the pilot in command to call security operatives at the airport to remove him from the flight.

However, Aero Contractors internal memo on flight operations identified the passenger as “unruly passenger under the influence with name Mr. Obiajulu Uja with PNR number: 14J1FG.” The memo seen by THISDAY, explained that the passenger was denied boarding because of his unruly behaviour.

“The report below is about the unruly passenger on the 31st of March 2023 in Abuja. The station denied him check in due to his unruly nature. A report was sent to NCAA and FAAN on this issue,” Aero Contractors, Danjuma Yaro wrote in the memo.

THISDAY contacted NCAA

PR department, which denied knowledge of the report and also the head of public relations, FAAN, Mrs. Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, who also told THISDAY that she was unaware that the unruly passenger wanted to board Aero Contractors flight first, adding that FAAN had handed the matter over to the police.

“I am not aware that he wanted to travel with Aero flight but the matter is no more in our hands; it is now with the police. AVSEC (Aviation Security) removed him from the plane and handed him to the police, so we are no more in charge of the case,” she said.

Industry insiders and officials of Aero Contractors were miffed that FAAN and NCAA did not react immediately to the report made by the airline about the unruly passenger and stated that if he were a terrorist he could have carried an action that could jeopardise security

of the airport.

A Senior Aero Contractors official who pleaded to remain anonymous, told THISDAY that, “The passenger had Aero ticket. He exhibited a trait which made us conclude he could be a security threat and suspected he could be a terrorist.

“We decided we should not board him and then reported him to NCAA and FAAN. He was at the boarding counter. So I am wondering why an airline should reject a passenger and you allow him to board another airline. Based on his unruly behaviour that day he should have been investigated because he exhibited the trait of a terrorist.

“To me, FAAN and NCAA can do better. Aero detected the trait and rejected the passenger. Terrorist do not give you enough time for bureaucracy. The two agencies should have acted immediately,” he said.

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

7

8

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

RECOGNISING WOMEN IN MARITIME AND ENERGY...

L-R: General Manager, Nigeria Ports Authority, Funmilayo Loremikan; Director, Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group, Ejiro Gray; Head, Strategic Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Oando Energy Resources, Modupe Oyeneyin; Director-General, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Mrs. Vivian Azubuike-Chibuike; Business Development Manager, David Almond Consulting, Mrs. Abiola Soremekun, and Deputy Director, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Mrs. Chizoba Anyika, at the Women in Maritime and Energy Awards held in Lagos…recently

Arunma Oteh: Nigeria’s Rising Debt Unsustainable, Situation Heart-breaking Seplat Energy empowers 55 youths with skills, seed funding Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A former Treasurer and Vice President of the World Bank, Arunma Oteh, yesterday lamented Nigeria’s rising debt burden, likening it to a man with a full family who spends all his income on paying debts without consideration for feeding, healthcare and the education of his children.

Speaking at the celebration of Seplat Youth Entrepreneurs organised by the oil company in collaboration with Conversations for Change (C4C), the former Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), argued that Nigerian leaders have not done much to ameliorate the hardship in the country.

She spoke on the topic: “Unleashing Nigeria’s Untapped Potential Through Entrepreneurship and Sustainability” at the event which took place in Abuja.

Through the partnership, Seplat has successfully trained and supported three batches of fellows, including over 55 young entrepreneurs who it said are thriving despite the odds stacked against businesses in the country.

“Every nation is facing challenges...

But there’s no excuse for our nation to be where it is today. And where it is, breaks my heart. I want to just share a few things about where we are.

“Give or take, we are spending all of our revenues on debt servicing. At a forum on Thursday, I said to the participants that can you imagine a household where you haven't paid for your children's education and transport, and there’s a health problem, you can’t pay.

“You are just taking all that money and using it for debt servicing. There’s no household that can survive like

that. On top of that, we have an inflation rate of 20 per cent,” she lamented.

While clearly stating that she was not calling for a public protest, Oteh, now an academic at the University of Oxford and Chair of the Royal African Society (RAS), in bemoaning the country’s inflation rate, explained that when the UK's rate hit 11 per cent, citizens took immediate action.

“We have not invested in infrastructure. We have not invested in education and no country can survive a future without those kinds of investments. Our United Nations Human Development Index was ranked 164 out of 191 countries. So we're basically enjoying ‘carrying last' with a lot of failed states...we're very close to it.

“And some of the countries that enjoy the same status with our country are countries like Afghanistan, Yemen, and other countries that I consider failed states. 133 million Nigerians are in multi-dimensional poverty,” she stressed.

Oteh further cited the recent management of the general election in the country, stating that whereas over N300 billion was allocated to improve the process, the outcome was underwhelming.

The economist said the next government would be in for serious work, stating that compared to the skills required to deal with the current challenges, the recent Covid-19 pandemic pales into insignificance.

“And so, in my view, the new leadership has a lot of hard work. I think the Covid-19 crisis pales into insignificance compared to the work the leadership of this country has today.

“And I hope that they will focus at all levels on creating an enabling

environment for each one of you (entrepreneurs) and others to thrive.

Nigerians don't want handouts.

“They just want you to create an enabling environment. And if you can't create a living environment, they want you to just step aside so that we can progress,” she opined.

She posited that Nigeria’s leaders have not done a good job of developing the country, arguing that they have done a bad job in reality.

“And our leadership and government has not done a good job. But I think everybody recognises that and I hope that they will focus on doing a good job,” she declared.

On the essence of the programme, Oteh lauded Seplat and C4C, noting however that the government can't do it alone and that small and medium scale enterprises remain the backbone of any economy.

She explained that 70 per cent of the global income and employment is posted by SMEs, and encouraged the entrepreneurs to, “chin up, put your shoulders high, because this country will depend on each one of you to come out of a challenge that we face today.”

In her remarks, Seplat’s Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, said the programme was aimed at developing participants’ leadership skills, social entrepreneurship and business management abilities, through generalised and targeted capacity building workshops.

The graduates’ ability to put into action their ideas, she said, was also supported through equipment funding, as well as mentoring.

Quoting the International Labour Organisation (ILO), she stressed that

The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) last night stated that it read with utmost dismay, a report by an online platform alleging that it paid the sum of N20 billion to ghost consultants and was involved in the theft of multi-billion naira tax due to the Ogun state government.

The NNPC in a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Garba Muhammad, stated that as a responsible corporate

organisation, the NNPC does not have or deal with ghost consultants.

“At NNPC Ltd, the process of engaging consultants whenever the need arises is clear and verifiable and follow global best practices.

“It is therefore unfortunate that for whatever reason, the said online platform would make such a grievous allegation, mindless of the consequences of such actions.

The claim of a missing N20bn is absolutely false and baseless,” it added.

The NNPC, therefore demanded that the online platform retracts the

worked together to ensure that we improve the lives of young Nigerians by supporting them to start and sustain their business enterprises.

“Through this partnership, we have successfully trained and supported three batches of fellows; about 55 young entrepreneurs who are thriving, despite the odds stacked against businesses in the country,” she added.

President and Founder, C4C, Dr Kechi Ogbuagu, in her comments explained that the organisation and its partners were in the habit of giving without expecting anything back in return apart from the expectation that beneficiaries will empower others.

Others who spoke during the programme were a non-Executive Director at Seplat, Mr Bello Rabiu and a member of the board of C4C, Carol Ndaguba.

Adeleke Stops Forfeiture of Osun Mining Licences, Meets Federal Authorities for Revalidation Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has stopped the forfeiture of Osun’s mining licences due to mismanagement by previous administration.

The move was part of the government’s continuous bid to secure the state’s assets and stabilise its economy.

Osun State has about seven mining licenses across the solid mineral value chains. The licences were allegedly almost sold off in the last days of the Gboyega Oyetola's

administration through what appeared like a deliberate refusal to revalidate the licences by paying required fees to the federal mining licensing body.

After the submission of the report of the Solid Minerals Committee, Adeleke however ramped up actions to reposition the sector and ensure the revalidation of the state mining licences.

At a meeting with the Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Agency, Engr. Obadiah Nkom, the governor affirmed the readiness of his administration to

We Are Not Aware of Missing N20bn in NNPC, Says Management Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

the global unemployment level is expected to rise in 2023 by around 3 million, to 208 million, corresponding to a global unemployment rate of 5.8 per cent. In Nigeria, she explained that youth unemployment remains a major concern.

“According to the 2022 Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 33.3 per cent, compared to 27.1 per cent in Q2 2020. This implied a staggering 23.18 million persons of Nigeria’s labour force being out of job. It further indicated an increase in the country’s unemployment portfolio, mostly among young and able youths.

“That is why, at Seplat Energy, we are proud to play a pivotal role in changing the narrative for young people in Nigeria.

“Since 2019, Conversations For Change and Seplat Energy Plc have

said publication immediately; noting that going forward, the platform should verify its facts before going to press.

“The second component of the said unfortunate report is related to Ogun State Government claiming a back duty tax liability of about N18 billion, against an NNPC subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Ltd. “For clarity, PPMC had objected and challenged the claim through its tax consultant. Consequently, the Ogun State Government took the matter to court which is not unusual

in business circles,” it stressed.

According to Muhammad, the matter is currently before the court and NNPC Ltd will prove its case accordingly.

In conclusion, NNPC advised the said online publication to be mindful of the consequences of its actions before taking them.

“For a matter that is already in court, as admitted by the online publication, it is sad that any medium can arrive at such subjudice conclusions as shown by the actions of the online medium,” it maintained.

ensure all necessary fees are paid so that the state's mining licenses can be secured.

"I am meeting you today to affirm our administration's readiness to revalidate our mining licences. We apologise for the conduct of the previous government. Under my watch, the licenses will be better managed in compliance with relevant laws.

"We also thank the mining authorities for protecting the state mining assets during those transition periods. We appreciate the professionalism of the management of the licensing office.

“On our part, we will pay the required fees and we will move ahead with a transparent management of the field operations.

"We are however coming back to meet the Federal Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals. Osun has been brutally environmentally violated. Those the federal government gave mining licences to have destroyed the Osun environment.

Underground water across the Eastern senatorial district is polluted.

Osun deserves a marshal plan to clean up her environment,” he said.

According to the governor, “but we are coming to officially provide proof of these environmental crimes. We will partner with the Federal Ministry on how to clean

up our environment. There must be accountability."

Responding, Nkom expressed the readiness of his agency to partner with the Osun State Government for the revival of the state's mining sector.

The Director General who described Osun as an important mining state commended the political will demonstrated by Adeleke, stressing that, "this direct meeting with our agency is unprecedented in federal-state mining relations.

"We are honored and challenged

by Your Excellency's direct meeting with me on this issue of Osun mining licenses. I can assure you that our cooperation is assured.

We will work with your team to resolve all outstanding issues," Nkom pledged.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Kazeem Akinleye applauded Adeleke for his commitment to rescue the mining sector in Osun state, adding that, "We now have a matching order of his Excellency to work hard to ensure safety of the licences.

"We will act immediately on the directive by hosting a follow up meeting with the agency and the Federal Ministry on the issue of environmental degradation and pollution," Akinleye noted.

9

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NINE

Oil Prices Surge After OPEC+ Producers Announce 1.66 Million Bpd Surprise Cuts Nigeria’s benchmark hits $85 per barrel Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Oil prices spiked Monday after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies OPEC+ producers unexpectedly announced that they would cut output.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped 5.33 per cent to $84.15 a barrel, while WTI, the US benchmark, rose 5.42 per cent to $79.79 earlier in the day, but rose to $85 and $80.51 respectively later in the day. Both were the sharpest price rises in almost a year, according to a CNN report.

The oil prices sunk as low as $73 and $67 a barrel respectively in the week following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the United States on March 10, as the turmoil spread to the wider banking sector, raising fears of a global recession.

With oil prices now rising, inflation could remain higher for longer, adding pressure to a hot-button issue for consumers around the world.

A communiqué after the 48th Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring (JMCC), yesterday, said that OPEC had reviewed the crude oil production data for the months

of January and February 2023.

“The meeting noted the following voluntarily production adjustment announced on 2 April 2023 by Saudi Arabia (500,000 bpd); Iraq (211, 000 bpd); United Arab Emirates (144,000 bpd); Kuwait (128,000 bpd); Kazakhstan (78,000 bpd); Algeria (48,000 bpd); Oman (40,000 bpd); and Gabon (8,000 bpd) starting May until the end of 2023. “ These will be in addition to the production adjustments decided at the 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting,” it stated.

It added: “The above will be in

addition to the announced voluntary adjustment by the Russian Federation of 500,000 bpd until the end of 2023, which will be from the average production levels as assessed by the secondary sources for the month of February 2023.

“Accordingly, this will bring the total additional voluntary production adjustments by the above-mentioned countries to 1.66 million bpd,” it stated.

The cuts will start in May and last through the end of the year, an official with the Saudi Ministry of Energy was quoted as saying by

Saudi state-run news agency SPA. The reductions are on top of those announced by OPEC+ in October, according to SPA. Meanwhile, in a note, Goldman Sachs analysts said the OPEC+ move was unexpected but “consistent with the new OPEC+ doctrine to act pre-emptively because they can, without significant losses in market share.”

The collective output cut by the nine members of OPEC+ totals 1.66 million barrels per day, the analysts said. They increased their price forecast for Brent this December

to $95 per barrel.

Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry described its latest reduction as a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil markets, according to SPA. Goldman Sachs also issued a revision of its oil price forecast, raising it to $95 from $90 at the end of the year for Brent crude.

The bank also raised its Brent crude forecast for 2024, now seeing it at $100 at the end of the year from an earlier projection of $97.

various groups, organisations and distinguished individuals have commended our troops' efforts during the 2023 general election.

Our efforts in Operation Hadin Kai in synergy with the sister services and other security agencies no doubt have significantly curtailed terrorism and insurgency that hitherto bedevilled the North-east part of the country," he said.

Yahaya explained that the army's "continuous injection of specially trained troops and special equipment through Operations Lake Sanity and Desert Sanity to complement efforts by Operation Hadin Kai, has been rewarding. The insurgents and terrorists no longer have freedom of action and that has amongst other benefits resulted in massive surrender by the unauthorised on this sheet violates the adversaries.

"These efforts expectedly have enhanced troops’ poise and greatly improved the security situation and public confidence in the North-east.

It is on record that last year (2022),

Nigeria attained its best record against terrorism since 2011. Put differently, in the past 11 years, from 2011 to date, Nigeria recorded its highest rating against terrorism last year, 2022".

The army chief, however, commended officers and personnel for the achievements recorded so far.

He said, "This is indeed a commendable effort and achievement by all of you, the other sister services, stakeholders and indeed our able predecessors. Though impressive are these efforts, but we are not relenting. Rather, we are even channeling more efforts towards consolidating on these successes in order to completely neutralise insurgents that fail to surrender."

Yahaya reassured Nigerians that the Nigerian Army would not relent in its our efforts at safeguarding the nation’s commonwealth, rather, "We are now even more resolute to sustain the ongoing efforts to ensure maximum revenue accrues

Continues online

YAHAYA: ARMY WILL CONTAIN ALL THREATS TO NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, yesterday, issued a stern warning to violent groups across the country to desist from threatening the sovereignty of the nation, because the army would do everything within its power to contain all forms of threats against Nigeria.

Yahaya, who gave the warning in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference 2023, also hinted that operations against saboteurs had raised oil production to 1.3 million barrels per day.

In a related development, the Nigerian Navy, yesterday, announced new appointments and redeployment of senior officers in what it said was a routine reorganisation exercise following promotion of senior officers.

The Department of State Services, recently raised the alarm that there

were plans by some political actors to push for the setting up of an interim national government, with a view to undermining civil rule as an aftermath of the general election.

Although the development has sparked reactions from different quarters in the country, with the Labour Party specifically saying it had nothing to do with the DSS claims, especially after it had embraced the legal path in seeking redress.

But Yahaya said yesterday that, the peaceful conduct of the general election across the country, including in the South-east despite the sense of insecurity created by criminal elements in the region was a testament to Nigerian Army's resolve to ensure security in the entire nation.

Yahaya noted that this was made possible through successful conduct of Operation Safe Conduct 2023 across the nation, which saw the Nigerian Army along with other services and agencies ensuring

GUNSHOTS, VIOLENCE DISRUPT APC, PDP’S VISIT TO INEC’S OFFICE IN RIVERS get to INEC office, supporters of PDP with placards had already barricaded the area, chanting that the INEC officials should release CTC documents to them too.

THISDAY, which was a witness to the incidents, reported that immediately Cole in company with the state APC Chairman, Emeka Beke, and other party leaders arrived the GRA axis of Aba Road and were proceeding to the INEC office, some thugs accosted them, and tried to deny them access to the INEC office.

At this point, there were releases of gunshots, while some protesting youths raced towards Cole's direction, throwing stones and water sachets at him.

Security operatives attached to Cole immediately shielded him and whisked him into his waiting vehicle, but the violent protesters continued throwing sachet water at the direction of other APC members at the scene, and in the process, one person, sustained gunshot injury after being hit by a stray bullet either from the police trying to scare the protesters or the thugs wielding arms, too.

The area was later condoned-off by anti-riot policemen, soldiers and NSCDC personnel to forestall any further breakdown of law and order.

THISDAY further gathered that the APC state secretariat in GRA, Port Harcourt was attacked by thugs, who were escorted by men on police uniform. The thugs destroyed the party’s flags at the entrance gate, vehicles parked in front of the their office, including vehicles belonging to the deputy governorship candidate and state party chairman, Emeka Beke.

However, lamenting threat to his life by the thugs, Cole, who spoke to THISDAY at the protest scene, claimed the thugs were working for the PDP and had threatened to kill him.

He explained that they were at the INEC office to demand the release of the CTC documents with no knowledge that the PDP was protesting at the area. He said on getting near to the INEC office, some suspected hoodlums stopped them,

allegedly forcing them back, while throwing some harmful objects on them.

He however, demanded the intervention of security operatives for his safety and members of APC in the state, stating that the INEC national office should get the documents for them as soon as possible to enable the party approach the election petition tribunal.

His words: "I only went to the INEC office with my deputy governor, party chairman, woman leader and youth leader. We were not armed but our security men who were there with us. They did some raking and came back to tell us that the thugs were fully armed.

They are the ones shooting.

"When we left the INEC area, we retreated back to our office, suddenly, we saw the thugs coming to our secretariat shooting and our security men tried to stop them from accessing our party secretariat but in the presence of policemen that escorted them, they destroyed our flags, throwing stones, threw canister into our office, destroyed our vehicles.

"There is a section of the police they called Wike’s Police from Wike Police station that attacked our secretariat. The same people that arrested our lawyers were those that led the thugs to attack our party secretariat."

Asked if they would return to the INEC office for the documents, Cole said, "INEC National must insist that those documents without being tampered must be released. Now, if they are not going to release it here, they will either put it in a bullion van and send to me or they will carry it to Abuja, but INEC cannot deny us those documents.”

On his part, Beke, said the attack on the party was a shame to democracy and security in the state, saying, "It’s alarming that we have right to go and ask for certain document from INEC, give us our agent pin copy. And when we got there, what we saw were hoodlums, Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, Deputy Speaker of House of Assembly in the state attacked us.”

successful general elections.

His words: "Our additional efforts through Joint Task Force Operation Udoka paid off in the South-east thus ensuring successful elections in the region as well, even though, long before the actual elections, IPOB/ESN and their supporters had threatened that there would be no elections in the zone.

"Elections were, therefore, held in the South-east and successfully too, just like other parts of the country. Generally, our operations and decisive actions against the criminal elements have impacted positively on the security situation in the region, giving confidence to law abiding citizens in the South-east."

The COAS also noted that the troops deployed in the South South region for Operation Delta Safe had continued to perform commendably.

He said, "The efforts of the rejuvenated joint operations in the region have led to discovery and destruction of several illegal oil refining camps and arrest of

criminal suspects.

“These anti-illegal bunkering operations have significantly increased crude oil production in the country to over 1.3 million barrels per day as affirmed by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as at March 2023.”

He said the efforts were also acknowledged by the federal government through a message delivered to troops by the Minister of State for Petroleum and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The COAS commended the efforts, commitments and dedication to duty by field commanders, officers and soldiers to ensure successes in various operations across the country.

He noted that the efforts by the Army Headquarters to go round formations to deliver lectures on "Introspection of Past Experiences and Efforts at Improving NA Support to Ops Safe Conduct 2023" also yielded desired outcomes.

"I am proud to say that

Continued on page 28

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CAUTIONS NBC OVER SANCTIONING OF MEDIA HOUSES Commission’s Project Coordinator, Hilary Ogbonna, noted that freedom of the press was an important feature of democracy and actions that may be construed as gagging the press must be avoided.

He noted that the manner in which some media organisations were recently sanctioned by the government over complaints made by political parties was creating negative narrative on the democratic process in the country.

He said the speed at with which sanction was imposed on Channels TV station just five days after a complaint was made through a petition against it was wrong, adding that such quick action was capable of sending wrong signal to the public and international community that thorough investigation was not carried out.

According to him, the NHRC was not questioning the rights of sister government agencies to carry out their statutory responsibilities, but said caution should be exercised when it involves petitions written by politically exposed persons.

He said as the body saddled with the protection of human rights in the country, the NHRC found it expedient to advise sister government agencies to promote human rights in the country, rather than impede rights of citizens.

The NHCR Project Coordinator added that due to the crucial roles played by the media, sanction should be the last resort when it concerns the sector.

In his opening speech, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the briefing was the fourth in the series of the efforts of NHRC to bring the media up to speed with what was being done to ensure that those tracked to have made hate speech, violated the rights of citizens and other actions that hindered access and participation at the just concluded elections were brought to book.

He called on Nigerians and others living in the country to continue to maintain peace, saying it was the only way to engender development of the country.

The NHRC boss thanked the media, the Ford Foundation, UN bodies and other partners for the successes recorded so far in tracking those that undermine the just concluded elections.

Nigerian Media Owners Unveil National Complaints Commission

The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), the umbrella body for media practice in the country, has inaugurated the board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman.

The NMCC is made up of nine members. The National Ombudsman is being driven by the NPO which is made up of NPAN, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), along with other strategic media players and the civil society, in particular the MacArthur Foundation and Media.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the founder of the Vanguard Media Group, Mr. Sam Amuka-Pemu; Chairman THISDAY/ ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah; President, Nigeria Union of Journalist, Chris Isiguzo; The Ombudsman, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, among several others.

The National Ombudsman, according to the President of NPO, Malam Kabir Yussuf, who is also the President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, would serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly and free of charge. They are also to maintain high standards of Nigerian Journalism and journalistic ethics, defend the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know.

Yussuf, who stated this at the inauguration of the nine-man board which is headed by Mr. Emeka Izeze, former Managing Director of the Guardian Newspapers yesterday, said it, “will be watching the watchdog

in deference to the dictum, that journalism is too important to be left to journalists alone.”

Others members of the commission drawn from the media, the bar, the academia, and civil society are: Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. A. B Mahmoud; Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Academics) Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna; a Development Specialist and Country Director, Care International (Nigeria), Dr. Hussain Abdu; Editor-in-Chief.

There were also Diamond Publications Ltd. and Founder, Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), Mr. Lanre Idowu; Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr. Edetaen Ojo; a journalist, lawyer and arbitrator, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo; Broadcaster, author and columnist, Mrs. Eugenia Abu, and Chair, House of Representatives Committee on Information.

Yussuf, said the inauguration of the body became necessary because there was need to regulate the press used by various interests, adding that although, “Radio and television are already regulated, some will say over-regulated, but print which is the oldest and Online which is the newest have escaped such control.

The former warned by the lessons of history and the latter, by the amplitude of technology.”

He said the idea may, “sound like an attempt to sanctity the press, let me switch gear. We have our own faults enough. Some journalists seem all out to prove that their pen is indeed a sword for slaying real or imaginary enemies.”

He stressed that, “the Ombudsman will call such people to order! To appreciate the power of the press, it should be used for good, not for self-aggrandisement.

“To be effective, the physician has to heal himself before he can apply the cure to others.”

The commission would serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly, and free of charge; maintain high standards of Nigerian Journalism and journalistic ethics; and defend the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know.

In his acceptance speech, the

Chairman of the Ombudsman, Izeze, said the stakeholders had over the years fought for so long to keep the media unaffected by the political shenanigans of those in government at one time or the other in the country.

He said since the time of the military, there has been disdain for the media and people always look for how to keep the media in check.

"What has happened lately is that we (media practitioners) haven't also been very fair to ourselves in keeping ourselves in check. Our responsibility primarily is not to come and gag the press, we will not do that. We think that we have to be fair to ourselves.

We must always do the right thing.

"So, when the public is complaining, instead of waiting for the people who do not understand what this job entails to begin to put us down and to insist on doing it in their way for their selfish reason, you will accept that an Initiative such as this by the NPO, NPAN, NGE, NUJ and others, is something that is worth giving a shot.

"That is the only way we can keep our profession sane and keep it free of restrictions. People do not like their dirty stories being told in the public glare and there are too many dirty stories that have to be told particularly in our environment, to make progress," the media expert said.

According to him, the job was to give the public a channel for seeking redress, hence, the Ombudsman.

"I thank you very much for the confidence, I assure you that with my colleagues here, we would attempt to do justice to your expectations and see how far we can go to help the media operate professionally.

“We will see how far we can go to help the media to observe some of those rules that we drew for ourselves and help the media to build what this nation needs.

"We cannot make progress in this nation without the media operating professionally. It is not possible.”

Izeze described the assignment as not being the most pleasant one because it involved checking colleagues, who said journalists were unruly and didn't want another to control them.

10

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS...

L-R: Founder/CEO, Reigh Advertising, Mr. Ikenna Ukwa; Amen Odigie; Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; Olori of Warri Olori Ivie Atuwatse III; Chairman, Wells Carlton, Osahon Okunbo, and Tarilah Alamieyeseigha, during a courtesy visit to the Warri Kingdom for the birthday celebration of the Olu of Warri...recently

Donald Trump Arrives New York Ahead of Today’s Historic Arraignment Donald Trump has landed in New York ahead of his court appearance on criminal charges related to his role in hush money payments to a porn star.

The former US president, yesterday, made his way to the Trump Tower in Manhattan, where he would spend the night before attending court today, BBC reported.

The exact charges he faces would be disclosed in full at the hearing, at around 14:15 local time today.

Trump is the first US president in history to be charged with a crime but has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

“On Tuesday morning I will be going to, believe it or not, the Courthouse," he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday. "America was not supposed to be this way!"

Trump flew in to New York's LaGuardia Airport aboard his private Boeing 757 plane and was expected to spend the rest of

Monday inside his former New York home with legal advisers.

He would travel to the Manhattan Criminal Courts Building, in Lower Manhattan, with a large Secret Service detail on Tuesday and surrender voluntarily for his arraignment.

Trump would be fingerprinted, as per standard arrest procedure, but it remains unclear whether he would be photographed.

He would then appear before a

judge who would read the indictment - the set of charges - to him.

His lawyers have already said he will plead not guilty.

One source told the BBC's US partner CBS News that Trump faces a felony charge over falsifying business records. Other US media reported there were approximately 30 counts in his indictment.

The former president was expected to be released on bail and to return to his Florida home

Audit Report: 558 Federal Agencies Couldn't Provide Details of N969bn Intangible Assets in 2019 Budget Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate yesterday uncovered how about 558 federal ministries, departments and agencies failed to provide classification of intangible assets valued at N969 billion in the 2019 budget.

An intangible asset is not physical in nature, such as patents, trademark and copyrights, while tangible assets include land, vehicles, equipment, and inventory. Additionally, financial assets such as stocks and bonds, which derive their value from contractual claims, are considered tangible assets.

The shocking revelation was contained in the 2019 annual report of Auditor General for the Federation currently being scrutinised by the Senate Public Accounts Committee.

The investigative meeting was chaired by the Vice Chairman of the Committee , Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia .

Members were shocked about the huge amount of money categorised as intangible assets in the 2019 budget in the Auditor General's report.

The report read: "Audit observed from review of notes 36 and 36A ( Intangible) to the FGB Consolidated Financial Statement (CFS).

"The sum of N969 billion was recognised under notes 36A as Intangible Assets without a schedule showing the classification /nature of the intangible assets contract to the provision of IPSAS 31.

"There was no disclosure to enable the audit confirm which

of intangible Assets has finite and infinite life, a bad for determining whether amortisation should be or not."

The representative of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Shuaibu Sikiru in his response before the Senate Committee said the template would be re-designed to accommodate this observation in subsequent years.

Among the affected 558 agencies were State House, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), National

Population Commission (NPC), and the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan.

Others were the Federal College of Forestry, Jos, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Nigerian Police Academy, Wudili.

They also included the Federal Civil Service Commission, National Security Adviser, Federal Ministry of Interior, Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Police Formation and Command, Headquarters, and the Nigeria Security

and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Federal government Staff, Housing Loans Board, Federal Training Centre, Ilorin; Office of the Economic Adviser to the President, and the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC. Also affected were the Voice of Nigeria, Nigerian Film Corporation, National Theatre, Federal Ministry of Information, Headquarters, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Administrative Staff College of Nigeria and many others.

Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday evening, where he plans to deliver remarks at 20:15 local time.

Ahead of Trump's arrival in New York, security measures were beefed up at Trump Tower and outside the courthouse.

Law enforcement agencies - including the FBI, New York police and court officers, and the Secret Service – were said to be coordinating on security, in anticipation of any scenario.

At a press conference earlier on Monday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said while there were no specific threats against the city, officials were prepared.

"While there may be some rabble rousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow," he said, "our message is clear and simple: control yourselves."

Trump was last week indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter – the first time in American history that a current or former president has faced criminal charges.

But in a swift reaction, Trump had released a statement in response to the indictment claiming it was “Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history.”

The former President faces more

than 30 counts related to business fraud the indictment, according to two sources familiar with the case The indictment had been filed under seal and would be announced in the coming days. The charges are not publicly known at this time, one source told CNN. The DA’s office had been investigating the former president in connection with his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that dates to the 2016 presidential election.

Manhattan grand jury had voted to indict Trump.

The decision sent shockwaves across the country, pushing the American political system – which has never seen one of its ex-leaders confronted with criminal charges, let alone while running again for president – into uncharted waters.

The legal action against Trump jolted his 2024 presidential campaign into a new phase – where the former president has vowed to keep running in the face of criminal charges.

Trump had frequently called the various investigations surrounding him a “witch hunt,” attempting to sway public opinion on them by casting himself as a victim of what he’s claimed are political probes led by Democratic prosecutors.

Unions Demand Full Release of Funds Approved for NASENI Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Technical Staff Association of NASENI (TSAN) and the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU) have called on the federal government and its relevant agencies to fully release all funds allocated to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) The joint unions made the demand yesterday, during a press conference in Abuja.

They argued that with what the agency had been able to achieve with only eight per cent released so far; if it gets the full allocation approved by both the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari,

it would manufacture weapons, electric transformers, aircraft and other things.

TSAN President, Dr. Oluwaseyi Ogungbenro, who read the unions' joint position said: "We therefore graciously and firmly appeal to relevant authorities: The Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS), Nigerian Governors Forum and National Economic Council to ensure the release of the remaining funding without further delay because NASENI remains the economic and technological solution for myriad of problems confronting this great nation.

"The advanced nations of the world are where they are today in their military might and competitive economy mainly because of the robust spending

on science and technology. This we cannot shy away from if we must surmount our problems and grow our economy."

Speaking further, he said: "It may interest you to note that till now, NASENI has only been able to access eight per cent of the funds approved by National Assembly and signed by the President. If NASENI has been able to do so much in one year with eight per cent, one can only imagine what NASENI will achieve if granted access to 100 per cent of its approved funding."

The unions called on relevant government institutions responsible for the implementation of their new salary structure to implement it.

"We also wish to use this medium to call on all responsible

for ensuring new salary structure for NASENI to expedite action to further motivate NASENI workforce who now works round the clock to reposition the agency.

"Working under Prof. M.S Haruna has made the staffers of the agency work 24 hours a day so as to ensure the country is technologically turned around to meeting its various challenges and solve its economic problems.

There is no better motivation to workers than effective and adequate wages," they added.

Both TSAN President, Ogungbenro and NASU Coordinator, Tijani Wakili were full of praises for the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NASENI, Prof.

Mohammed Haruna, saying he has improved the working conditions and management/

staff relationship.

The unions said they were happy with the decision of the federal government to extend by two years, the tenure of Haruna.

This move, they noted, would no doubt help to consolidate on various ongoing federal government interventions through NASENI in the different sectors of the economy such as agriculture, power, youth empowerment, aviation, security and transportation among others.

According to them, Haruna, had demonstrated uncommon capacity in utilising science and technology to turn around the fortunes of the nation through its various programmes, interventions, research output, technology transfer, collaborations, reverse engineering and much more.

11

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

BOOK PRESENTATION IN HONOUR OF THE LATE COMRADE YINKA ODUMAKIN...

L-R: Human Right Lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko; President, Oluyinka Odumakin Foundation, (OOF), Dr. Joe Odumakin; Leader of Afenifere/Chairman of the Occasion, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Co-Founder, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc/Book Presenter, Mr. Fola Adeola and Constitutional Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, at the 2nd anniversary Lecture and Book Presentation in honour of the Late Yinka PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT Odumakin in Ikeja, Lagos…recently

Buhari, Tinubu, Lawan, Sanwo-Olu, Uzodimma Commiserate with Kalu over Wife's Death

Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Segun James in Lagos

President Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, have sympathised with former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, over the death of his wife, Ifeoma Ada, who was 61 years. The deceased was survived by her husband and four children.

Kalu had announced the passing on to eternal glory of his first wife, Ifeoma, in a post on his official social media page, signed by him.

The former governor and Chief Whip of the Senate had said Ifeoma was a woman of virtue who was committed to the service of God and humanity.

Kalu wrote, “With a heavy heart and pain, we announce the passing on to the eternal glory of Mrs Ifeoma Ada Kalu aged 61. She was a woman of virtue who was committed to the service of God and humanity.

“A memorial service in her honour is scheduled to hold in the United States of America.”

He urged the public to remember Ifeoma and her loved ones in prayers during this difficult period.

Reacting to her demise, Buhari, in a statement issued yesterday, by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, commiserated with Senator Kalu and Ifeoma's family, friends and associates, urging trust in God for comfort and care during the very

difficult period of pain and deep reflection.

Buhari believed the testimonies of the late wife’s fear of God and charity should provide strength for the family, knowing that she lived well, and served the will of the Almighty.

The president prayed for the repose of her soul, and fortitude for the family to bear the loss.

On his part, Tinubu commiserated with Kalu, in a statement yesterday that was signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman.

Tinubu noted that the death of a loved one, especially a wife, was painful and saddening.

He urged the former governor to accept the loss as the will of God. Tinubu said: "Please be consoled by the memories of the good time you both shared and the fact that the late Mrs. Ifeoma Kalu lived most of her life in the service of God and humanity," the President-elect said in a statement on Monday from his office."

He prayed that God Almighty console Senator Kalu, the children and all those left behind by the deceased and grant her soul eternal rest.

Lawan also expressed shock and sadness over the news of the death of Ifeoma Kalu.

Lawan, in a statement by his media aide, Ola Awoniyi, described the death as untimely and tragic and prayed Almighty God to comfort the Senator and his entire family.

He said, "I condole with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu over the tragic and untimely death of his wife.

"The death of a darling wife is traumatic and harrowing but we

must accept the will of the Almighty.

"We further take consolation in the fact that Mrs Kalu lived a virtuous life invested in the service of family, community and God. "I extend my condolences to the government and people of Abia State and pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the great loss," Lawan said.

Also, Sanwo-Olu commiserated with Kalu. The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, sympathised with Kalu, his family and the entire people of Abia State over the loss.

The governor described the death

as shocking and a great loss to Senator Kalu and urged the former Governor of Abia State, members of the immediate and extended families, deceased friends and associates to take the demise of the late Ifeoma Kalu in good faith, praying that God will comfort them.

"I also sympathise with all the children of the deceased - Neya Uzor Kalu, Michael Uzor Kalu, Olivia Uzor Kalu, and Nicole Uzor Kalu over the death of their mother.

“No doubt the death of a loved one is usually a painful episode in our lives because it is irreparable but we must always take solace

in God for a good life spent by the late Ifeoma Kalu during her lifetime,” he added.

Uzodimma also commiserated with the former Governor of Abia State.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma said he received the news of the death with deep shock and sadness, regretting that the family, friends, Abia State and the society at large have lost a warm, kind-hearted, God- loving and God-fearing woman and mother.

The governor recalled that

WHO Celebrates 75th Anniversary, Seeks Health Equity Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja As the World Health Organisation (WHO) marks 75 years of existence, the global health authority has urged countries to promote health equity in the face of unprecedented threats to mankind.

In a statement to commemorate the day, the Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged governments and leaders to take action to protect and invest in health and care workers who are at the forefront of the response to health and climate emergencies WHO would mark its 75th anniversary, along with its 194 Member-states and other partners on April 7, 2023.

Seventy-five years ago, in the aftermath of the deadliest and most destructive war in human history, the

Constitution of the WHO came into force via a treaty between the nations of the world, who recognised that health was not only a fundamental human right, but also fundamental to peace and security.

Ghebreyesus said over the past seven and a half decades, there has been extraordinary progress in protecting people from diseases and destruction, including smallpox eradication, reducing the incidence of polio by 99 per cent, saving millions of lives through childhood immunisation, declines in maternal mortality and improving health and well-being for millions more.

“The history of WHO demonstrates what is possible when nations come together for a common purpose,” said Ghebreyesus.

The WHO Director-General added: “We have much to be proud of, but much work to do

to realise our founding vision of the highest attainable standard of health for all people.

“We continue to face vast inequities in access to health services, major gaps in the world’s defences against health emergencies, and threats from health harming products and the climate crisis. We can only meet these global challenges with global cooperation.”

To meet these challenges, Ghebreyesus urged countries to take urgent action to protect, support and expand the health workforce as a strategic priority.

He said investments in education, skills and decent jobs for health needed to be prioritised to meet the rapidly growing demand for health and avert a projected shortage of 10 million health workers by 2030; primarily in low- and middle-income countries.

$1.4m Fraud: Court Admits More Evidence against Alleged Fraudster, Erinle Wale Igbintade and Steven Aya A Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday admitted as evidence correspondences between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), against a United States convicted fraudster, Kolawole Adedayo Erinle, who was arraigned before the court for alleged $1.4million fraud.

Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted the documents after listening to arguments on both sides by the Prosecution and the Defence counsel over the admissibility or otherwise of the said documents.

Erinle and his company, RindeRemdex Nigeria Limited, are standing trial on a three-count

charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of $1,410,000.

They were previously arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the same jurisdictions on March 11, 2022, but the trial could not be laid to rest before retirement of the judge. Subsequently, the case was reassigned to Justice Oshodi, as it began de novo on October 28, 2022.

The defendant was alleged to have defrauded the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, KCUMB, in the United States of the said sum.

He again pleaded "not guilty" to the charges when he was rearraigned.

as First Lady of Abia State, the deceased did a lot in the service of the downtrodden, the women, the children, the physically-challenged and generally, humanity and God. The governor therefore urged Senator Kalu and his family to be consoled by the fact that the deceased positively impacted the society while alive and that her good works will forever speak for her.

More importantly, Uzodimma advised them to continue to pray for the repose of her soul, with the assurance that she is already resting peacefully in the bosom of the Lord.

During yesterday’s proceedings, the court admitted documents tendered by EFCC counsel, Tayo Banjo, as part of evidence to prove the case against him.

The documents included bundles of correspondences between the FBI relating to the alleged offence, as well as extra-judicial statements made to the EFCC by one Victoria, the mother of the defendant and one A. Abdulazeez, a clearing agent that helped the defendant in the clearing of vehicles imported into the country.

The fourth prosecution witness, an EFCC investigator, Alex Ogbole, had on February 10, 2023, told the court that the EFCC led the Nigerian-end of the investigation into the alleged crime, and that

investigation showed that his mother was a beneficiary.

He had told the court that the EFCC received a petition from the United States’ FBI which indicated that the victim of the alleged fraud, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, KCUMB had been a victim of Business Email Compromise, BEC. However, when the prosecution sought to tender the correspondences between the EFCC and the FBI, which also included a judgment of a US court convicting the defendant of an eight-count charge bordering on bank fraud, which saw him serve a 27-month jail-term, the defence counsel, Lawal Pedro, SAN, raised objections to their admissibility.

Arguments were thereafter taken by the court as both parties argued on the admissibility or otherwise of the said documents.

After listening to the arguments, Justice Oshodi dismissed the objection raised by the defence, noting that, "the weight should be considered, and relevance is key to admissibility."

Thereafter, Justice Oshodi admitted the statements of the mother as Exhibit Q to Q3; statement of Abdulazeez as Exhibit Q4; FBI correspondence dated December 21, 2022 as Exhibit Q5; FBI correspondence dated March 8, 2022 and February 8, 2022 as Exhibit Q6 and Q7, respectively.

Continues online

According to him, a global education programme on basic emergency care targeting 25 per cent of nurses and midwives from 25 low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2025 was also recently announced

by WHO. "This 25x25x25 emergency care programme will provide nurses and midwives with the skills and competencies to make a major difference in saving lives and reducing disabilities," he said.

Beyond the next 75 years and close to the turn of the next century, Ghebreyesus said a renewed commitment to health equity would be the key to addressing future health challenges.

"In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO’s roadmap to recovery includes an urgent paradigm shift towards promoting health and well-being and preventing disease by addressing its root causes and creating the conditions for health to thrive.

"WHO is urging countries to provide health by prioritizing primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage,” he added.

The WHO DG said the COVID-19 pandemic showed that protecting health was fundamental, “to our economies, societies, security and stability, adding that learning from the worst pandemic in recent history.

“WHO stands ready to support the countries of the world as they negotiate a pandemic accord, the revision of the International Health Regulations and other financial, governance and operational initiatives to prepare the world for future pandemics".

He further noted that in the past five years, WHO had invested in science and digital health, creating a Science Division led by the Organisation’s first Chief Scientist.

12

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NLNG’S FULLY SPONSORED HOSPITAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME IN YENAGOA...

L-R: GM, NLNG’s External Relations & Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh and Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, representing the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Toyin Azebi, cutting the tape at the inauguration of a one-storey Intensive Care Unit building at the Niger-Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) as part of NLNG’s fully sponsored Hospital Support Programme (HSP) phase 1 projects n Yenagoa ... yesterday

Lukman: NWC Members Now Rubber Stamp Under Adamu, Omisore Says highly placed leaders worked against APC candidates Party leadership refuses to recognise Omo-Agege’s suspension Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC), took a dramatic turn on Monday as the APC National Vice Chairman, North-West, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has accused the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, of turning other members of the NWC of to rubber stamp.

Lukman, in a statement, yesterday, decried the fact that the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the party had not been

inaugurated more than a year after the Adamu-led NWC assumed office, saying the duo of Adamu and Omisore take all decisions bordering on managing the finances of the party without the knowledge of other NWC members.

He also alleged that most highly placed members of the party worked against candidates of the party in the just concluded national elections, just as the national leadership of the APC has refused to recognise the purported suspension of the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege in Delta State.

He stressed that the constitution

of the party under Article 13.2B. (i) stipulated that, "The National Secretary shall, not later than one month after an elective convention, convene the meeting of the National Advisory Council," but added that one year after assuming office, Omisore has never proposed any action towards the inauguration of NAC. The party chieftain said there was only one meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) held on April 8, 2022, noting that there was never any meeting of the National Caucus.

According to him, instead,

meetings of the NWC held without necessarily ensuring that existing constitutional provisions were respected, adding that, in the circumstance, critical functions of the NEC, which included approving the national budget of the party as provided in Article 13.3A(xiv) of the party’s Constitution was ignored.

"We are yet to, as NWC, declare to any organ of the party how much we inherited from His Excellency, Mai Mala-led Caretaker Committee and how much was received as donations and contributions for the 2023 elections. Large-scale expenditures, which include the renovation

Labour Party Affirms Abure as Its National Chairman Emameh Gabriel in Abuja Labour Party has passed a vote of confidence on its National Chairman, Julius Abure, who was last week suspended by factional members of the party.

Some groups that claimed to be ward 3 executives of the party in Edo State, led by the Ward's Chairman, Martins Osigbemhe, had in a press conference, last week in Abuja, announced the suspension of the LP national chairman over allegations of scandals, forgery, perjury, mismanagement of funds,

anti-party activities, among others.

In a statement by seven out of the 11 members of the ward executives, Osigbemhe pointed out that the decision to suspend the national chairman was reached after the leadership of the ward thoroughly reviewed Abure's conduct at the end of the just-concluded general elections.

But states executive members of the party, who stormed the national headquarters of the party yesterday also described the suspension as the handiwork of imposters being sponsored by other political parties

PDP C’ttee Hears Guber Primaries Appeal from Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo Aspirants Chuks Okocha in Abuja The three-man committee appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to serve on the ward congresses electoral appeal panel is to consider appeals arising from the conduct of the congresses in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States.

A statement by the National Organising Secretary, Bature Umar, stated that the appeal panel was scheduled to sit today, Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at the NWC Hall, Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja by 10am.

The appeal committee headed

by Umar has Ambassador Lilian Uju as member and Friday Itula as secretary.

The appeal is coming mainly from Kogi State, because the

governorship elections in Imo and Bayelsa States are mainly thorough consensus.

Bayelsa state has only one candidate in the person of Governor Douye Diri and for Imo State, it is only the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu since the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has withdrawn from the race.

However, Kogi has more than nine governorship aspirants.

Those screened for the governorship primary election were Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Attai Aidoko, Kebiru Usman, Abdullahi Haruna SAN, Hon. Zakaria Alfa, Musa Wada, Bolu Femi, Arch. Yomi Awoniyi and Idoko Lona, Idah.

They have all filed various appeals that would be heard today.

to destabilise the success recorded by the party at the just concluded general election.

The national headquarters of the party has also condemned and expressed shock over the invasion and occupation of its secretariat in Owerri by agents of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, whom they said deployed thugs and unauthorised police men drafted from the Government House to carry out the operation.

Speaking with pressmen at the party's national headquarters in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the party, Sir Kelly Ogbaloi, said the constitution of the party didn't empower any group or party members to suspend a national officer, who was elected

by a national convention, talk less of those he described as imposters who were not registered party members, describing their actions as an act of ignorance.

"Those who did it don't even understand the message they were asked to deliver. It's nonsense when few boys assembled themselves in Abuja and made the pronouncement they made. For once, they are not members of the party, they are not at the ward, they are not at the local government and they are not recognised at the state level.

"In the constitution of Labour Party, no state, no local government, no ward has the right or whatsoever to assemble anywhere to suspend a national chairman, who is a product of a national convention."

of the National Secretariat complex are being undertaken without any organ of the party exercising the powers of due diligence.

"As a member of the NWC, I can say without fear of contradiction, all decisions bordering on managing the finances of the party are being taken by the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore. Most members of NWC are reduced to onlookers or at best rubber stamp.

"All appeals for accountability have fallen on deaf ears. Decision of the NWC to convene NEC meeting in August last year was simply sabotaged," he said, warning that once the party’s constitution was no longer the guide for managing the affairs of the party, discretionary decisions of leaders took over.

Lukman said even what gets paid to party officials and organs becomes acts of benevolence by the national chairman or anyone he delegates, adding that party staff were hired and fired by Adamu and Omisore without reporting to any organ, including the NWC. He therefore, called on the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to immediately intervene to restore constitutional order in the management of the party affairs, pointing out that it would be a mockery to continue to bear the name progressive and continue to run affairs of the party based on the personal discretion of Adamu and Omisore.

"There is also the challenge of urgently reviewing the performance

of the party in the 2023 general elections. One of the issues that should be addressed as a matter of urgency is the case of indiscipline by party leaders at all levels. There are highly placed party leaders who have worked against our candidates during the 2023 general elections.

This should be investigated, and appropriate disciplinary actions taken in line with provisions of our party’s constitution," Lukman added.

He also expressed displeasure over the inability of the NWC to activate the process of convening meetings of NEC to appropriately take decisions and regulate the emergence of the 10th National Assembly leadership.

Meanwhile, the APC has refuted reports of the suspension of OmoAgege from the party.

National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, who spoke to the Vanguard Newspaper, said the APC national did not recognise the factional executive of the party, who announced the purported expulsion of Omo-Agege from the APC in Delta state.

A faction of the APC in the Delta Central Senatorial District, had suspended Omo-Agege, and urged the national secretariat of the party to ratify its decision.

Vice-Chairman of the Delta Central Senatorial District, Sir Michael Oruafe, confirmed the development in a statement in Abuja on Monday, saying the executive of the party in the Senatorial District was already in possession of the receipt of OmoAgege's expulsion from his ward.

APC Tells Ayade to Delay Salaries of Political Appointees over Alleged Anti-party Bassey Inyang in Calabar The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Cross River State, has appealed to Governor Ben Ayade, to delay for two weeks, the payments of March salaries to political appointees at the state and local government levels, until the party concludes the investigation of its members suspected to have engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 general election.

The APC made the appeal in a press statement yesterday and signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, which announced

the "Constitution of Special Committee for Identification, Report, Reprimand, and Discipline of Anti-Party Activities in the last National and State Elections in APC Cross River State.

"The party hereby appeals to the Governor, Sen. Prof. Ayade CON to please delay the payment of State and Local Government Political Appointees March salaries for two weeks pending the conclusion of this report and necessary disciplinary action," the statement stressed.

The party said the disciplinary committee was instituted following request by its faithful and committed

members, which was deliberated on during series of engagements with critical stakeholders.

"The State Excos in its meetings of Thursday 30th March 2023, has approved the constitution of a Special Committee to receive complaints of all anti-party activities (including but not limited to working in cohort with opposition Parties and their Candidates except Yala 1 State Constituency House of Assembly alliance with Labour Party which was consequent upon the nullification of the duly elected Candidate of the Party,) ceaseless litigations by members of the Party

which were not withdrawn, collusion with security agencies against the Party and her Candidates, etc," the statement stated.

The party advised any member of the committee who was indicted to recuse him or herself before sitting, stressing that any person invited to defend him or herself shall do so in person, as representation by legal practitioners shall not be entertained.

Stressing that complaints shall be entertained only from card-carrying members with proof of membership, no form of political witch-haunt and frivolous petitions shall be entertained by the party, it added.

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Ikpeazu: INEC Used BVAS to Defraud Nigerian Voters During 2023 Poll Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, in this interview with Udora Orizu, speaks on salient issues particularly the use of BVAS machine for 2023 election by INEC, his failed senatorial bid, G-5 membership and his achievements in the last eight years.

A

somebody comes to correct it for the general good of the people of Abia State. Nobody is an angel and nobody was made in heaven.

We’re all from here.

re you disappointed losing senatorial election and your party, the PDP, also losing the governorship poll few weeks after?

The two are not the same. For me, I’m a man of very modest expectations and public office is a call to serve. If I offer myself to serve and the people say no or wait, it’s not a personal loss. It gives me the opportunity to open other doors and do other things. I had a manifesto, I had an agenda which I thought was going to bring about some paradigm shift in the way things were done especially having been here for a couple of years and seen what I felt were gaps that needed to be filled and I offered myself.

I congratulate myself also for the courage to run that race and I also congratulate myself for the courage to be able to say, oh, well, may be the people think otherwise or something happened because what comes to play in an election is not entirely about what the people want.

There are artefacts in every experiment. So whatever thing it is, I feel sufficiently bought to put myself together and move on. I won my last elections at the biggest league in the state.

So this one for me is not a do-or-die thing or question of life and death. Ultimately history and posterity will make things clearer.

Did you just allow the system to run because, in this part of the world, it’s difficult for a Governor to want something and not get it?

If I want to be frank with you, I’m one of the people that the BVAS deceived. I’m one of the people who believed the stories around BVAS. No two elections are the same and this particular season of the election was difficult.

I give you an example, at some point, more than 102 polling units with more than 100,000 registered voters could not vote in one of the LGAs in our senatorial district. The margin of lead for the first 3 candidates was not up to 30,000. Ordinarily, when the margin of lead is not up to what’s outstanding the right thing should be done. Again, same election was declared inconclusive at some point by the same INEC returning officer who later came back to say she was now ready to declare the results as directed from “above”.

That is obviously neither here nor there. The Nigerian system creates victims and creates scenarios of varying victory, but I said to myself, that I needed to teach Nigerians that, though an incumbent, if you try an election and it doesn’t work, you can move on.

Especially if you really think that it is a call to serve. As governor, even with the very very tight schedules of a Governor, I was able to write a book on Biochemistry. So I’m certainly not a man of combat. I can get busy doing other things and I have callings in other spheres of human endeavour. I think I have given my eight years, no vacation, and never slept anytime earlier than 2am. My family needs me too and I need to take a break, so, I have moved on.

You talked about being deceived by BVAS, in what way?

Yes, because of all the advertisements about the BVAS, the human element and interferences in the entire process is still above 90 per cent.

We thought BVAS was a super technology, but it’s nothing. They’ve taken it to a point where somebody sits back to say I feel like I should look at the BVAS but under a different circumstance, the same person will say I don’t feel like looking at the BVAS now or the results are still uploading. So, if you look at the scenarios you see opportunities for people to be mischievous. Unfortunately also, characters within INEC advised some of the ad-hoc staff not to bother about the BVAS so some of us believe that there was something like that.

From our situation room, what we get and the tumbling results that eventually manifested on

After the presidential election, didn’t you feel that the Peter Obi wave will make LP do well here?

The Peter Obi factor was a huge factor. People became very sentimental and emotional and a lot of things contributed to the cultic image that Peter Obi has in this part. One of them is that there’s hardly anything you can preach in favour of the established political parties that will excite Nigerians. Whatever you’re doing, if you touch on security, everyday life like food and access to money for my people here, you’ve touched on their jugular. So, people became extremely sensitive, frustrated, and angry and they voted and reacted out of frustration.

But we know that very soon, the scales will fall from their eyes because there can only be one Peter Obi. In the days ahead, Nigerians will interrogate the Peter Obi personae on one hand and also look at all those who rode on his back to become something and put them side by side with the Peter Obi personae and the question will now come naturally, was this what we went in for? But I pray that some of the aspirations of Nigerians will be assuaged in the coming days because I don’t think we still have the energy for further experimentation because our elasticity has elapsed. That’s what it is.

Ikpeazu

the result sheets do not tally. It’s a monumental fraud.

With all these, one wonders why you advised that aggrieved people should not bother the governor-elect with litigations?

Yes, that is because this same governor-elect took me through hell when he lost in 2015.

He’s been in this race for eight years and for me, I feel he must have an agenda. He must be desperate to begin to work for Abia and I’m still serious with my advice to candidates to let him be. Whatever be the case the money that will be thrown into the tribunal belongs to Ndi-Abia.

The energy and time would have been deployed to other things and the governor-elect would have sufficiently been distracted. I know that some people take others to court just to distract them so that at the end of the day, they’ll be sufficiently weak and become vulnerable as they attack them the next time, but I do not think that is necessary. However, unfortunately, nobody wants to heed

my advice. Even the Labour Party is taking some PDP candidates to court. So, nobody wants to listen. It’s only in this country that you want to expect what you can’t offer. Somebody says to you, I’m not going to take you to court, you tell the person thank you and then you go home and brief your lawyers to take the same person to court.

I can’t understand where people are coming from. It’s crazy. But I still think that in Nigeria, we must learn to walk away and say I’ll need to fight another day. And sincerely speaking, I have sufficient courage to commend even my most vociferous opponent if he is doing well.

Nothing is big enough to make me tell a lie.

If you are doing well or if you do better than me, I will congratulate you and say you have done better than me. I was arguing with, my friend and I asked him between better and best, which one is more superlative? And he told me grammatically that it’s best, but I said what if something is better than your best? So, I think better is more.

So there’s always room for improvement. if I look back retrospectively, I will take pride in the things that I’ve done properly, but I thank God who has given me the courage to also own up to those things that I didn’t do properly.

He also gave me the humility to pray that

We thought BVAS was a super technology, but it’s nothing.

They’ve taken it to a point where somebody sits back to say I feel like I should look at the BVAS but under a different circumstance, the same person will say I don’t feel like looking at the BVAS now or the results are still uploading. So, if you look at the scenarios you see opportunities for people to be mischievous. Unfortunately also, characters within INEC advised some of the ad-hoc staff not to bother about the BVAS so some of us believe that there was something like that. From our situation room, what we get and the tumbling results that eventually manifested on the result sheets do not tally. It’s a monumental fraud

But do you think people got tired of 24 years of PDP in Abia State?

You see, the growth curve is a dumbbell.

It has a point where it begins to experience diminishing returns and input will no longer be commensurate with the output. So, it flattens out and now begins to nosedive. The established parties have come to that point.

The truth of the matter is, who’s not from PDP in Abia? That’s what it is. I pray that what happened to Nigerians in 2015 will not be the case here because I don’t think the change we subscribed to in 2015 met our expectations. Most times we change and change into something that will make some people in the PDP become heroes.

Did the issue of the death of PDP’s first candidate for governorship & emergence of a new one a few weeks before the election in Abia state have an impact?

It’s very difficult to assess but what I can give you for free is that the demise of Prof.

Ikonne wouldn’t have been to our advantage.

There’s no way his death could have helped our fortune.

So, if it didn’t anything, then it would have counted against us. So, we were swimming against some very negative tides. Most importantly, we were contending with vitriolic propaganda because some people are experts in creating bubbles in the air and castle in the air, that don’t exist.

They do these things deliberately in Abia. This is the safest state in Southeast, this is the third state in foreign direct investment in Nigeria.

This state has brought down infant and maternal mortality rate by 71% as reported

by World Bank. This state is working. It’s at variance with the picture that people try to create. There are 31,000 workers and 29,000 of them have received their salaries up to date.

But they create scenarios and make it look as if there’s a utopian paradise existing somewhere.

But I know that having sat here for eight years, public service is not a tea party. There are things embedded in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that must discipline you. So, the demise of Prof. Ikonne must have reflected negatively on the outcome.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

15

16 T H I S D AY TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Tuesday April 4, 2023 Vol 27. No 10219

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

THE OBI-OYEDEPO LEAKED VIDEO SENATOR IROEGBU argues that wiretapping conversation without the consent of the parties involved is illegal

See page17

DELTA APC AND THE 2023 ELECTIONS The PDP won the governorship election fair and square, contends JACKSON EKWUGUM

See page 17

EDITORIAL

OF IMPUNITY AND STATE AGENTS

18

1

Samuel Ortom is a skilled and experienced political leader, writes TUNDE OLUSUNLE

THE TOUGH GUY AS NASCENT STATESMAN For avid followers of Nigeria’s sociopolitics, the name Samuel Ortom regularly hums in the ear like the droning rhythm of the busy bee. The man who has been governor of Benue State for almost eight years, is outspoken, fearless, even daring. He is never shy of intruding into the tooth-picking, complacent comfort zones of those whose actions and inactions, have made life unbearable and un-liveable for our people. Their kinsmen superintend over swathes of the national landscape, rendering them ungovernable. Ortom has EHHQ D JDGÁ\ D FRQVLVWHQWO\ ORXG YRLFH RQ issues of insecurity in his state and indeed in the entire Benue trough. His reactions to the murderous, blood-spilling preoccupation of marauding Fulani herdsmen who have serially violated the peace, quiet and pristine equilibrium of simple agrarian folks in the state, have brought him into regular collisions with the establishment.

He has tirelessly voiced his grief and helplessness about the relentless activities of the cattle-herding nomads, who have illegally arrogated to themselves, the QDWLRQ·V LQÀQLWH QDWLRQDO ÁRUD DV XQIHWWHUHG grazing ground. It has become pastime for the aggressors to invade unsuspecting communities typically under the cover of night. To loan the popular Biblical quote from John 10:10, the itinerant Fulani, “cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy.” This trend has compelled DERULJLQHV WR ÁHH WKHLU KRPHODQGV DQG WR seek refuge in spawning camps for Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs). Such impromptu infrastructures dot the torso of the nation’s renowned number one grower of food in the country. The crowded, spilling, inconvenient camps, it has been suggested, hold numbers in the region of a million IDPs. That the camps have largely survived devastating epidemics remain a contemporary mystery.

This is even as the numbers of those uprooted from their homelands, continue to balloon. New joiners in the forms of newly dislocated persons and newborns sired under such intolerable circumstances, have swelled the tallies.

Visits to scenes of the invasions and desecration of the pristine abodes of his people and tours of various medical facilities where victims are managed, KDYH EHFRPH FRQVWDQWV RQ 2UWRP·V R΀FLDO itinerary, inevitably and unfortunately.

Having to arrange and fund the internment expenses of many of his constituents, felled by the herdsmen rascals has been a PRVW XQSOHDVDQW À[WXUH RI KLV JRYHUQDQFH UHJLPHQ :LWK VWDWLF ÀVFDO DFFUXDOV WR WKH state from the national till, Ortom has depended on the goodwill of colleague governors and public-spirited individuals and organisations, to augment material provisions for the management of the IDP saga. The development has indeed become

D FRVW LWHP RQ WKH ÀQDQFLDO VSUHDGVKHHW RI the Ortom government.

In his hands-in-the-air consternation, Ortom expected the unambiguous denunciation of the trend from the highest levers of state administration. He anticipated VSHFLÀF GLUHFWLYHV IURP WKH &RPPDQGHU LQ &KLHI WR KLV WURRSV WR GHDO GHFLVLYHO\ ZLWK the ogre. Ortom sought audience with the president a few times so as to brief him about the niggling situation in his state to no DYDLO +H WKXV FDPH RͿ ZLWK WKH LPSUHVVLRQ that a conspiracy by senior members of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari who are from Benue State, had culminated in his being shielded from the QDWLRQ·V FKLHI H[HFXWLYH $ PLͿHG 2UWRP surmised that the central government, constituted by the political party to which he belonged in the early years of the security situation in his state, the All Progressives &RQJUHVV $3& FRXOG QRW EH ERWKHUHG WR mitigate the quantum emergency he was contending with. He took his fate in his own hands and decamped to the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP), to seek a second term as governor. The line had been drawn in the relationship between Ortom and the federal government therefore.

Much as he was a “returnee” to the PDP, Ortom sustained his capacity for vitriol. He has relentlessly tackled the leadership of the party on issues he feels very strongly about.

At various times, he has spoken about the imperative for internal democracy at the several rungs of the political structure of the party. He has advocated inclusiveness, equity and balancing. Ortom chaired the PDP committee which opted for the “borderless zoning” of the presidential ticket of the party, early 2022. This implied that aspirants from every geopolitical section of the country could aspire for the ticket of the QDWLRQ·V QXPEHU RQH R΀FH 1LJHULD·V IRUPHU vice president, Atiku Abubakar beat about half a dozen other aspirants to clinch the ticket at the primary held late May 2022.

Ortom in concert with four of his colleagues, Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, of Rivers, Oyo, Enugu and Abia, teamed up to constitute a group known as *G-5.* They mandated themselves to press for a 1RUWK 6RXWK EDODQFH EHWZHHQ WKH R΀FH

of the national chairman of the party and the presidential candidate. Since Iyorchia Ayu the chairman hailed from Benue in the north central, it was expected he would step down like he promised before the primary, and be replaced by a southern chairman since Atiku comes from Adamawa in the north east. Ortom would become a very vocal member of the quintet, and pulled no punches in his engagements on the subject.

He riled severally at Atiku and the Fulani ethnocultural stock in general, arising from his bottled-up anger about the irreparable damages being committed by them against his people.

Governor Ortom by the way has been my friend for a while now. Our relationship developed at the instance of his chief of VWDͿ 7LYOXPXQ 1\LWVH ZKR KDV EHHQ P\ EURWKHU VLQFH P\ ÀUVW GD\ LQ WKH XQLYHUVLW\ back in 1982. The educational course and professional careers of Nyitse and I have followed similar trajectories in every material particular. We both studied English and regularly sat next to each other all through our years in university. We graduated the same year in 1985. We variously worked as teachers during the early years of our post-graduation occupational ventures. We pursued our passions in journalism where he worked with the sadly now defunct 1DWLRQDO &RQFRUG QHZVSDSHUV ZKLOH , VRXJKW IXOÀOPHQW LQ WKH SULPRUGLDO 'DLO\ Times* of Nigeria. Nyitse and I both served DV GLUHFWRUV RI SUHVV DͿDLUV DQG FKLHI SUHVV secretaries to strings of civilian governors and military administrators in our various states, Benue and Kogi, between 1992 and 1999.

Nyitse subsequently joined the bureaucracy in his state, rising to the position of permanent secretary. This was before his voluntary retirement in January 2014, to pursue his ambition to be governor of Benue State. I served in several portfolios as an aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, between 1999 and 2007, and took a shot at the senate in 2011. Nyitse obtained a doctorate in mass communications, while I earned my doctorate in media arts. The YDULRXV FRQJUXHQFHV EHWZHHQ WKH SURÀOHV RI 1\LWVH DQG , DUH LQGHHG WKH VWXͿ RI D IDLU\ tale. Ortom indeed took me up for working for Atiku during the latter’s robust and recent presidential quest, following from he, Ortom’s position on the Fulani question.

I methodically explained to him that I had EHHQ DQ $WLNX DÀFLRQDGR HYHQ EHIRUH RXU “Aso Villa” odyssey beginning from 1999.

Ortom understood and the relationship between him and I, therefore, was not impacted.

Olusunle, PhD, poet, journalist, scholar and author is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE).

T H I S D AY

317

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023

SENATOR IROEGBU argues that wiretapping conversation without the consent of the parties involved is illegal

THE OBI-OYEDEPO LEAKED VIDEO Over the weekend, a carefully counter-narrative from the Muslim north choreographed propaganda war machine over the MM-ticket, the ethnic solidarity was unleashed, leading to supporters of the from the South West who voted ethnicity All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate over religion, and other reasons like and President-elect, Mr. Bola Ahmed stomach infrastructure, party, and business 7LQXEX %$7 ÀQGLQJ WKHLU YRLFHV DJDLQ RQ loyalty, etc. Nevertheless, the ruling party, social media. the main opposition Peoples Democratic For a long time, APC knew that its choice Party (PDP), and their supporters never of Muslim-Muslim ticket had riled the gave Obi, LP, Obidient Movement, and average Christians in Nigeria though some their supporters a chance of success but may not publicly admit it. While most were outrightly dismissed as “structureless Christians who look at people based on noisemakers’’, who won’t garner up to two shared humanity, competence, principles, million votes. But to their utter shock and and ideologies, may not deeply have any disbelief, not only did he surpass the two million votes but won most states if the real results from Rivers State were accounted for - he would have won with 13 states against Atiku’s 12 and Tinubu’s 11. His electoral success was symbolic in many ways as not only did he annihilate hitherto PDP strongholds in South East and South-South, he defeated the APC candidate in Lagos, the APC Head of Presidential Campaign Council in Plateau, APC Chairman in Nasarawa, and President Buhari’s polling unit in Aso Villa and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Rattled but not removed, APC and some elements within PDP had changed tactics in post-election campaigns focused on demarketing and containment of Obi, LP, and Obidient Movement. They were issue with the controversial M-M ticket frenzied in their reaction and became EXW ZLOO ÀQG WKH RSWLFV RI LW KDUG WR LJQRUH HYHQ PRUH WHUULÀHG DQG DSSUHKHQVLYH especially in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, when the resulting outcome as announced and heterogeneous complex society like by the Independent National Electoral Nigeria. Deny it as much as you want, Commission (INEC) was in doubt and most Christians are angry at this choice, controversial. So, a template to achieve the especially considering the highly sectional above two major aims (de-marketing and and clannish administration of President containment) was fashioned out, and some Muhammadu Buhari. The administration’s were applied immediately, while others style has polarized Nigeria into an “us were applied later on as events unfold.

YHUVXV WKHPµ ]HUR VXP JDPH W\SLÀHG E\ 7KH ÀUVW VWHS ZDV WR PRFN GHPRQL]H the “97 versus 5 percent” (wrong math) and demoralize the Obidient Movement vote cast reward policy. Most Christians to discourage LP/Obi-Datti from going watched in disbelief as all the heads of the to court given that they came a close third three arms of government and the ruling while applying other strategies. When party were dominated by one-half of the this didn’t work, then the strategies were two main religions in the country. activated into a full propaganda war.

1DWXUDOO\ VRPHRQH PXVW EHQHÀW IURP The second step was to make Peter Obi a the fallout of such anger and indignation sectional Igbo candidate and in a worstfor an open assault on the sensibilities of case scenario, an IPOB sympathizer. If the pluralist nature of our country, and that didn’t work, then they cast him as here comes, Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party a Christian candidate who divided the (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 votes along religious lines and not the presidential election. Obi’s choice was not APC’s insensitive Muslim-Muslim ticket hard and it is easy to unwrap as a guess that that Christians were naturally reacting to.

Christians chose Obi and not the other way 3RVWV IURP $3& DQG VRPH 3'3 LQÁXHQFHUV around because his nature and antecedents like Reno Omokri and Deji Adeyanju are made it easy to support him. As a result, pointers to this. The third step was a do-orthe candidate of the Labour Party emerged GLH HͿRUW WR VHFXUH /DJRV XVLQJ WKH DERYH as a breath of fresh air whose message of narrative, which succeeded resoundingly. transparency and accountability resonated Buoyed by the outcome of the Lagos with the youth population of the Millenials propaganda warfare but still roundly and Gen-Z under the umbrella of the mauled by Obidients on social media, they Obidient Movement. Obi’s personae and activated the second step: choreographed timing of the candidacy were also suitable and coordinated demarketing of Obi’s for people of the South East and South- ethnic group, Igbo; his core support base, South based on equity, fairness, and justice. Obidient Movement/Youths, and his His emergence was also championed by character. The well-coordinated events at people with genuine interest in the unity the weekend including the so-called Eze and inclusivity in Nigeria’s polity from Ndigbo whose past dalliance with APC South West, North Central, and all over the in Lagos has been exposed, the so-called country. In the end, Obi’s moral bank and Obidient constituting nuisance on board backing were solid and remain despite the Ibom Air, and the leaked but allegedly current hullabaloo about the leaked audio. edited conversation with Pastor David Armed with all these, Obi would have Oyedepo. won resoundingly despite the alleged rigging, but he was checkmated by the Iroegbu, system and power of incumbency, the a journalist, writes from Abuja

The PDP won the governorship election fair and square, contends JACKSON EKWUGUM

DELTA APC AND THE 2023 ELECTIONS Whenever I hear members of the APC in Delta State boasting about “retrieving” their “mandate,” I am reminded of the student who never admits to failing an examination. “I got an A,” he would proudly announce when he is successful. But the day the tables turn, it is that “the lecturer gave me D.” It is a classic example of living in denial or never owning up to one’s failure.

Consistent with their penchant for propaganda, the APC wants the world to believe that they were robbed of victory in the March 18 governorship election. And their argument is as illogical as it is pedestrian.

They refer to the results of the February 25 presidential election in the state as proof that the PDP had been “rejected by majority of Deltans,” gloating about the fact that the APC won two of the three senatorial seats in the state in that election. But they conveniently omit the fact that PDP won six out of the nine House of Representatives seats in the same election, the Labour Party won two while the

mention the bogus result from Ughelli North, the local government area of the APC governorship candidate, which was the subject of much concern as it was, as usual, deliberately delayed, for obvious reasons. But as it turned out, it was an exercise in futility. The PDP had mounted an insurmountable lead, having won in all the 17 local government areas in Delta South and North Senatorial Districts. Even the eight local government areas in Delta Central, the supposed stronghold of the APC was split in half, undeniable proof of PDP’s spread and acceptance in the state.

Delta APC should stop daydreaming and wake up to the reality that the election has been won and lost; there is no mandate to retrieve. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the APC were soundly beaten in a free, fair, and credible election. Even before the UHVXOWV ZHUH R΀FLDOO\ DQQRXQFHG IULHQGV and relations were calling me from overseas and other cities in Nigeria as they viewed the results that were being uploaded on the INEC IREV portal, a testament to the transparent nature of the election in Delta State. Except for the naysayers, there was a remarkable improvement in the performance of INEC in the governorship election.

The fact is that a man as full of bile as Omo-Agege did not stand a chance against a level-headed, liberal, and pan-Delta FDQGLGDWH OLNH 5W +RQ 6KHULͿ 2ERUHYZRUL in a free and fair electoral contest. Divisive and abrasive as ever, Omo-Agege’s entire campaign strategy was built on heaping vitriol on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who APC won only one. Even more telling is that was not contesting against him. His the results of the presidential election showed propaganda machinery churned out lie that the Labour Party polled 341,866 votes, the after lie against the governor, notably PDP got 161,600 votes and the APC came a that he plunged the state into a phantom distant third with 90,183 votes.

N850b debt. Despite the visible signs of Yet in their warped thinking, APC members infrastructural renewal and human capital believe they won the March 18 governorship development across the state, Omo-Agege election based on the pattern of results for and his troops continued to make mockery the senatorial election alone. It is at best of themselves by lying about the situation preposterous, and at worst, delusional. in the state.

Any politician who is worth the name As the campaign wore on, it became knows that factors such as zoning, ethnic apparent from his vituperations and sentiments, political/community rivalries, body language that Omo-Agege was, and the acceptability of individual candidates inexplicably, on a vendetta mission against loom large in local elections, including the the governor. Together with his army of governorship. social media propagandists, they dissipated Perhaps they also banked on leveraging the so much energy in maligning Okowa, they imagined political clout of the eleventh-hour failed to tell Deltans what Omo-Agege was defectors from the PDP, but these are men and coming to do as governor. I doubt if those women with an entitlement mindset whose who were chorusing “Agege is coming” electoral value has substantially declined over could explain the import of the so-called the years, as the results for the governorship EDGE agenda to the public. They were just and state assembly elections clearly show. content to denigrate Okowa, and it was Furthermore, these persons lost whatever apparent they derived joy and satisfaction integrity they had left with their cowardly and from doing that. opportunistic defection soon after the APC was Meanwhile, Oborevwori, the PDP declared winner of the presidential election. candidate, and members of the party (LWKHU ZD\ 'HOWD $3& PHPEHUV UHÁHFW WKH were busy communicating his vision for popular saying, “do not confuse me with the the state as encapsulated in the MORE facts, my mind is already made up.” Their agenda. They traversed all the wards claims of ballot box snatching, BVAS tampering, and local government areas, as well as voter intimidation, and rigging by the PDP regularly consulted with sundry groups during the March 18 governorship election and stakeholders in the state. The result only exist in their imagination. In Lagos, and was that the people found in Oborevwori other states where such happened, we saw a man who is humble, calm, unpretentious, photographs and videos of such incidents. But accessible, open to advice, and a consensus despite all their talk about rigging, the APC in builder with the right temperament to Delta has not presented any proof. carry the various ethnic nationalities along On the other hand, the social media space as governor. was awash with cases of personalities working for the Delta APC who hijacked BVAS Ekwugum PDFKLQHV DQG KHOG HOHFWRUDO R΀FHUV KRVWDJH is Manager, Communications, Government in a futile attempt to rig the election. Not to House, Asaba

18 4

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

OF IMPUNITY AND STATE AGENTS Wilful acts of lawlessness by security agents are unacceptable Despite the promise of reforms, the reign of impunity among security agencies is worrisome. Last week, a viral video surfaced on various social media platforms of some policemen dehumanising a woman at Agbarho, near Warri, Delta State. Stripped almost naked, the lady was seen being beaten, kicked and with hands tied with a rope. Similarly, in Babanna, Borgu local council of Niger State, a soldier deployed in the community to protect lives and property shot at a commercial motorcyclist over N200 bribe at a checkpoint. The cyclist survived the incident, but not his passengers, a nursing mother, and her baby.

In the wake of the EndSARS protest in October 2020, the federal government disbanded the brutal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). It also promised some reforms, including adequate training that will produce more citizenIULHQGO\ SROLFH WKDW DUH ÀW for purpose. Demanded was the proper vetting of prospective recruits, including their psychological state of mind. But two years after the protest, police brutality is still unchecked.

And under the pretext of restoring order, they are using excessive force to extort, arrest, torture and kill citizens without reason. According to Global Rights, a Washington, DC-based human rights group, there were 164 recorded extrajudicial killings by law enforcement agents between January and September last year.

The latest brutal reminder of impunity of law enforcement agencies was the killing in Lagos, on the last Christmas Day, of a lawyer and expectant mother, 2PRERODQOH 5DKHHP E\ D WRS SROLFH R΀FHU 3UHVLGHQW Muhammadu Buhari described the unfortunate incident as a stark reminder of the recurring menace of the mishandling of weapons, and called for operational reforms not only about weapons handling, but also on the need to understand their role as basically to protect the rights of citizens. What police authorities must deal with is the impression

that those who carry arms on behalf of the state are licensed to act above the law.

Across the country, many citizens are molested and brutalised by the police, soldiers, and sundry security personnel. Several reasons have been adduced to explain the trigger-happy disposition of these men and women in uniform. Such reasons include their conditions of service especially the meagre remunerations, the poor living condition in their barracks and low self-esteem. Yet, nothing could MXVWLI\ WKH ZKLPVLFDO UHVRUW WR ODZOHVVQHVV E\ R΀FHUV whose primary responsibility is to uphold the law. As we have argued repeatedly on this page, no matter the extent of provocation, a person in uniform must not resort to taking the law into their own hands.

The growing number of recorded cases of police brutality, human rights violations and abuse of power has contributed to the increasing incidence of citizens’ resort to selfhelp and other informal methods of airing grievances as displayed during the EndSARS protest. “The danger of continued police brutality in Nigeria is an erosion of SXEOLF FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH IRUFH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU NHHSLQJ them safe,” says Osai Ojigho, former country director of Amnesty International in Nigeria. “The police are the most distrusted security agency in Nigeria.”

However, we recognise the fact that most personnel of the force are good professionals who are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. But there are a few bad eggs who get away with serious infractions. Indeed, it is the nonchalant attitude towards investigating and punishing these deviants that has allowed a culture of impunity to persist. The Inspector General RI 3ROLFH WKHUHIRUH KDV WKH SULPDU\ UHVSRQVLELOLW\ RI re-educating his men especially around respect for people’s rights and the sanctity of human life. The same goes for the heads of the other military and security institutions that bear arms. The issue of protection of lives by law enforcement agencies is sacrosanct.

What police authorities must deal with is the impression that those who carry arms on behalf of the state are licensed to act above the law T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY 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 SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS

APPLAUDING OUR ARMED FORCES’ APOLITICAL POSTURE Despite streams of criticism, the Nigerian Armed Forces have demonstrated strength, nobility, and capacity in the preservation of Nigeria’s nascent democracy. As an important stakeholder and critical institution, the Armed Forces have played a key role in the sustenance of democracy in the country.

Since its return to civil rule in May 1999, several challenges have confronted Nigeria. Some of these issues bother national unity, inspiring a sense of belonging in some parts of the country, ensuring peace, stability as well as management of the economy.

Of course, achieving peace was particularly crucial to the progress and prosperity of the nation at that crucial stage of our democratic experience, and without the active support of the troops, the desired stability would have eluded us as a people.

7R GDWH R΀FHUV DQG PHQ RI WKH 1LJHULDQ $UPHG )RUFHV KDYH continued to pay huge prices for peace in the country, supporting the sustenance of our 22-year-old democracy. Several lives ZHUH ORVW DORQJ WKH ZD\ HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH ÀJKW WR FUXVK WKH %RNR Haram insurgency in the North East region. Banditry, militancy, and kidnapping across the country have also come with painful FRQVHTXHQFHV 7KHVH R΀FHUV DQG PHQ DUH PDGH WR VWD\ DZD\ from their families for a long period solely in the service of defending the territorial integrity of our dear country.

The Nigerian Armed Forces have demonstrated loyalty to all democratically elected authorities at all levels of our federation.

Although there were rumours of possible coups, no such thing materialised even in the wake of several national crises witnessed since the return to democratic governance. There was no such attempt because the Armed Forces knew that a new era has evolved.

In all fairness, the Armed Forces deserve all the kudos for resisting the urge to once again, get themselves enmeshed in politics which is not part of their orientation. They have placed themselves in the same realm as their counterparts in other advanced democracies across the globe. Our beloved troops have the trappings of national unity hence they remain a bastion of hope for the feasibility of a workable and united Nigeria.

In most of their recent activities, in the bid to protect the territorial integrity of our dear country, the Armed Forces have clearly shown that presently, they are the only institution with patriotic and nationalistic zeal in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities. No other known body exudes such nationalistic ÁDYRU DV WKH DUPHG IRUFHV Succinctly put, the Nigerian Armed Forces are “tireless and KHURLFµ WKHUHIRUH WKH VLPSOH DFW RI DSSUHFLDWLQJ WKHLU HͿRUWV

must be enacted to propel them to do more for the preservation of our national values and nationhood. The success stories recorded so far in the war against insurgency and other security WKUHDWV DUH TXLWH HQFRXUDJLQJ 7KH FXUUHQW HͿRUWV WR WDNH WKH EDWtle to the camps of the bandits are unprecedented in the history of African warfare against insurgency.

On top of that, the Nigerian Armed Forces have been supportLYH RI HͿRUWV WR UHORFDWH LQWHUQDOO\ GLVSODFHG SHRSOH LQ WKH 1RUWK East to their ancestral homes, an action that has helped reclaim territories earlier held by insurgents in the region. So, therefore, VKRZLQJ JUDWLWXGH WR WKHVH VHOÁHVV 1LJHULDQV VKRXOG IRUP DQ LQtegral part of our lives as a people.

Appreciation, as they say, has a spirit of compelling the recipient to go to astonishing levels to achieve more. It is an incentive with unimaginable level of stimulation. For instance, when the Independent Electoral Commission warned that insecurity could pose a serious to the conduct of the 2023 general elections, the president was goaded to give a matching order to the Armed )RUFHV WR VHFXUH WKH QDWLRQ E\ WDNLQJ WKH ÀJKW WR WKH HQFODYHV RI the bandits in the forest.

Kunle Ashimolowo, Ajah, Lagos

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

19

20

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Japa'ing Abroad Not Always a Good Idea Think of that before saying Nigeria is useless, because to the best of my knowledge, you cannot get access to free healthcare in many of these countries that we deify. Good healthcare? Yes. Free? Absolutely no. Be prepared to pay through your nose!

In any state of Nigeria, if you have health challenges, you can go to a General Hospital, and even though you will wait for hours, you will be seen by a doctor, without an appointment, or health insurance. You can't get that type of on-demand doctor consultation abroad. Even with health insurance, it takes weeks to see a GP! Many Nigerians do not even know that our food is subsidised. It was when I worked under President Jonathan I realised that every Nigerian farmer is entitled to subsidised fertiliser and almost free seedlings. And the Federal Government is a buyer of last resort for their produce!

Of course Nigeria is not a perfect country. But life in Nigeria is better than existence in many other nations. Notice I did not say more comfortable, or more prosperous, or more upwardly mobile. I said better. Why? Because there is more to life than comfort, prosperity and upward mobility!

In Nigeria, you will face hardship, but you will also encounter opportunity, cruise, and the genuine human interaction that makes life meaningful. Your neighbours know you. They interact with you. They are not cold and standoffish as you would experience abroad.

Moreover, growing up in a country where the President, legislators, judges, soldiers, police, billionaires, doctors, pilots, teachers and every other authority figure are Black, like yourself, does something good to your psyche, and gives you the type of confidence that makes you a Nigerian. The type of confidence that South Africa's Julius Malema admires about Nigerians.

N

igerians in Nigeria and abroad take delight in running down Nigeria before foreigners. We have very little sense of national pride. In fact, we delight in telling others the worst about Nigeria.

And often, what we talk about is an exaggeration.

I do not understand why we do this. Telling foreigners negative things about our country serves no purpose. Because they are not in a position to change our country for the better. And talking down our country will not make them esteem us higher.

So, what is the point?

What is it with us that we just love to be nattering nabobs of negativity? Even if Nigeria is the worst place to live in the world (it is not), it is only we, as Nigerian citizens, that will change it. No superhero White saviour is coming to save us from the West.

I have publicly called out Nigeria's government.

That is a very different matter. What I will not do is use my platforms to de-market Nigeria. I may have an issue with Buhari, due to his style of governance, or better still mis-governance. But I will not de-market the country in order to get at the president.

Obasanjo, Yar'adua, Jonathan, Buhari and other Presidents will come and go, but Nigeria remains forever. We hope.

And Nigerians in the diaspora, who ought to be ambassadors for Nigeria, are perhaps the worst culprits when it comes to talking down Nigeria.

And they project their lives in the Western world as one of endless bliss.

Many of those you think are enjoying in Canada, America, and the UK, hold down three jobs just to sustain the illusion of wealth they flash at you. If they miss three mortgage payments, their banks WILL (not may) foreclose on their homes.

They work themselves to the bone to make monthly payments for their houses, cars, furniture, and health insurance. And when they close from work, they spend hours in rush hour traffic, or waiting at sometimes overcrowded train stations, before they get home exhausted. They can hardly relax. No time to just do nothing. A lot of them have very little family or social interaction. The rat race takes the place of family.

God forbid that you are a single Nigerian female.

You can stay ten years in London (not so much in America and Canada) without any man asking you out. The men are more fortunate. Oyinbo, Caribbeans and African-American women heavily dig certain types of Nigerian men (an ethnic group that likes to party and enjoy. But I don't want to fight. So I won't mention their name).

Expatriate Nigerians have to pay through their noses for childcare, because it is not like Nigeria, where your relatives and friends can watch your kids. And one half day in a month, they take photos in cars that they will only pay off in 5 years, and designers that they pay for monthly on their credit

President Muhammadu Buhari cards, to feed you the illusion that they are in heaven and you are in hell. Then they return to their life as worker ants.

Sadly, too large a percentage of Nigerians have been blessed by satan to always and only say negative things about Nigeria. Get the book, the Lonely Londoners and read it. It is old. But it still accurately captures life in the Western world. We may not have a perfect life in Nigeria. But we have a good one!

Sadly, Nigerians have almost innate abilities to exaggerate the bad and minimise the good. The way we complain about Nigeria to the outside world makes our country look like hell. Balance things.

Also talk about the many good things about Nigeria once in a while! You say there is nothing good about Nigeria? Really?

NYSC Cheap petrol Free primary and secondary education Inexpensive public universities Good climate

World class entertainment industry Owambe Culture of respect Low taxes Free travel and easy business within the ECOWAS sub-region Personal Travel Allowance at official rates Good cuisine (Suya and jollof) Good beaches Great football culture I could go on. But the summary of what I am trying to say is that Nigeria is not such a bad country!

While I was at the Nigerian Law School, in 1999-2000, I had a medical emergency. I needed surgery. As a result, colleagues rushed me to Wuse General Hospital, Abuja. At that government-owned facility, they operated on me and saved my life.

And it cost me NOTHING. To my knowledge, other colleagues also received free healthcare at various other government-owned healthcare facilities in the Federal Capital Territory.

On Obidients’ hypocrisy

No set of human beings on planet Earth suffered from Obidients like my family and I did. There is no dirty thing that they did not do to my family and me. They used a famed, hungry desperado so-called investigative journalist to lie about my marriage and my children. They used a compromised TV journalist to threaten my life. They published fake documents about my home that I bought with my own money in 2009 (when I am ready, I will deal with the cross-eyed albino in court). A man from Anambra, that I accommodated in my house in Abuja, free of charge, and pastored both in California and Nigeria, was leaking my address details to them and thinking I did not know. They attacked me in other dirty ways that are just too sleazy and unprintable. And today, they are saying they are not being treated well? A local proverb says, 'First to do, e no dey pain'. Hmm! As e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us. As è dey sweet us, e dey pain dem!

He who laughs last, laughs best.

NEWS

INEC Accused of Implementing Proposal on BVAS, IReV, Without Credit to Innovators David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A US-based medical professional, Dr. Adah Edache Obekpa and a diaspora group, the Renaissance Network Africa (RNA) have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of implementing the use of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), without credit to them.

Obekpa and the group in a letter written on their behalf by their counsel, Mr. Jonathan Akeme said they made the proposal for the use of BVAS and IReV to INEC in 2010, when Prof Atahiru Jega was the chairman.

They were disappointed that the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC implemented the proposal it submitted in 2010, without credit to them.

The letter by Akeme, which was made available to THISDAY in Anambra read: "Our clients,

Dr. Adah Edache Obekpa and Renaissance Network Africa (RNA), firmly believe in the rights of creators to benefit from and be recognised for their innovative contributions.

"They view INEC's actions in circumventing their pioneering I-voting proposal as a violation of these fundamental rights.

"Our legal action seeks to protect not only our clients' interests but also to uphold the principles of transparency, justice, and fair recognition for inventors and innovators. It is our belief that these values must be honored and defended in this matter."

Obekpa and the RNA insisted that the I-voting proposal for INEC was the same in contents, features, design, and operation as the ification System (BIVAS) tech device and INEC online result viewing portal (IReV).

They alleged that the failure of the BVAS and IReV, as well

as the lack of complete transparency in the just-concluded 2023 general elections, was as a result of INEC's refusal to adopt salient

security features contained in the I-voting proposal submitted to the commission.

Akeme said the duo of Dr

Obekpa and RNA had approached the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court seeking compensation from INEC and the federal govern-

ment to the tune of N77 billion, for their novel and innovative I-voting proposal, which birthed the BVAS and IReV.

Dapo Abiodun: My Second Term 'll Focus on Direct Impact Projects James Sowole in Abeokuta Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday said the second term of his administration would focus on providing basic amenities that would have direct impacts on the people and improve their standard of living.

Abiodun, stated this in Abeokuta, at a meeting with the newly elected members of the 10th House of Assembly under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) The governor, specifically said his attention would be directed towards the provision of electricity, potable water, housing and construction of

more roads.

He added: "We are now going to focus on public utilities. Water supply is going to get our utmost attention in our second term. Power supply will also receive utmost attention as we have started the implementation with a pilot programme in Abeokuta.

Ado-Odo/Ota, Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu will begin to enjoy 24 hours uninterrupted power supply.

"We will continue with our infrastructural development across the 20 local government areas.

We will ensure that the choice of infrastructure in terms of roads, comes from our people so that we remain inclusive and participatory

in governance.

“We will continue with the rehabilitation, renovation and reconstruction of schools, both in the primary, junior and senior secondary schools and improve the quality of our education."

The governor emphasised that the health sector would receive further boost with the renovation and provision of facilities, adding that the government would improve on the standard of the Primary Health Centres in all the 236 wards of the state.

He added his administration's affordable housing programme would also continue, disclosing that,

"we have contracted 1,700 houses already and we are planning to make 4,000 in our second term."

Abiodun maintained that his administration would give special attention to the Special Agro-Processing Zone situated at the state-owned Agro-Cargo Airport, while special attention would be given to the Kajola Dry Port to ensure that goods destined for the state from any part of the world are not routed to Apapa port, but Kajola, hoping that it would also fast-track ease of doing business in the state.

Continues online

LAWYER TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023

A

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

WEEKLY PULLOUT

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

CHAIRMAN, GOVERNING COUNCIL, LAGOS MULTI-DOOR COURTHOUSE, HON. JUSTICE JUMOKE PEDRO

‘LMDC is the First Court Connected ADR Centre in Africa’

II

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

R E Y W A L A

TUE SDAY, APR

LLOUT WEEKLY PU

TRU

T H & RE A S

TRU

T H & RE A S

ON

ON

IL 4, 202 3

OOR , LAGOS MULTI-D ERNING COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, GOV JUMOKE PEDRO HON. JUSTICE E, OUS RTH COU

Failure of Respondent to File Cross-Appeal Against Adverse Finding Page IV

First e h t s i C D ‘LM DR A d e t c e n n o C Court ica’ r f A n i e r t Cen

Stakeholders Set Stage for Climate Justice in Nigeria

JI ADELEKE

QUOTABLES

Page V

‘My overall assessment of the electoral process, is that INEC absolutely bungled it…..The problem is that, the logistics nightmare is beyond INEC’s capacity.’ - Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association ‘Sitting Governors and a sitting President, could not deliver their States for their political parties. In spite of the challenges, a number of positive developments have been recorded by our country.’ - Femi Falana, SAN

COLUMNIST PROF MIKE OZEKHOME, CON, SAN, FCIArb, PH.D. LLD Constitutional Democracy, means a system of government, in which political and governmental power, is defined, limited and shared by a grundnorm called the Constitution, which provides inbuilt checks and balances.

This column seeks to fiercely discuss constitutional, legal and political issues, with a view to strengthening, deepening and widening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy and good governance, without fear or favour.

The writer of this column, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is a Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Notary Public and Motivational Speaker. He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria’s pioneer human rights league, on October 15, 1987, the Universal defenders of Democracy (UDD), in 1992, and with Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others in 1998, the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), to push out the military. In his early days, he lectured at the University of Ife. Prof Ozekhome is an author of many books. He is also a Special Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

LAWYER

Awomolo Becomes Body of Benchers’ Vice Chairman Page V

Olumide Akpata Named African Legal Icon Page V

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023

Seplat, FDI and the Rule of Law FDI and the ‘Japa’ Syndrome t is our hope that one thing the incoming administration will prioritise, is attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). FDI is a must, for a developing country like ours that seeks economic growth; Nigeria definitely needs it; because, unfortunately, not only have our foreign investors been leaving the country in their numbers, our young and strong Nigerians have also been ‘checking out’ to greener pastures in droves (it’s now referred to as the ‘Japa’ Syndrome). The oil majors have been divesting themselves of most of their onshore assets, only keeping those that are offshore. There is insecurity, oil theft, pipeline vandalisation, to name but a few problems that foreign investors are obviously tired of dealing with here. Instead of trying to make the environment more conducive, not just for foreign but local businesses, Government has succeeded in doing the opposite - repelling FDI and driving our young talent away to other countries to be snapped up. Our own factory in Ibadan which was the largest gas cylinder manufacturing factory in West Africa, with French, British and Nigerian employees, closed down years ago, due to an unsustainable high cost of production brought on by lack of electricity supply, multiple costs and taxation, and inconsistent Government policy, rendering almost 1,000 employees jobless. As far back as the 1980s, we were already exporting to other African countries like Ghana, Senegal etc. Every other factory on the same road, also suffered the same fate. Yet, Government is boasting about an ‘ease of doing business policy’ whose effect is mostly theoretical, and cannot really be felt in the real sense by most.

Section 16 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018)(the Constitution) sets out laudable economic objectives and ideals which Government/the State is mandated to achieve, and to a large extent, we require FDI for this - Alas! We couldn’t be as further away from these objectives, as we are today. In the past two months, people have been unable to do something as simple as withdrawing their own money from the Banks, while foreign companies like the airlines have experienced great difficulty in trying to repatriate their funds to their home countries. It seems that in the last few years, Government policy has been to chase away FDI, so much so that these days, many would rather go to other African countries like Ghana to invest and set up regional offices, instead of swimming in the more murky, complicated, seemingly unfavourable, difficult and corrupt Nigerian waters. Everyone needs FDI, and therefore, going forward, we need to re-attract it. People from all over the world go to China and India to have them manufacture goods for them, and then turn around to sell their products on the international market.

For example, it is commonplace in USA and Europe to purchase clothing items, whose labels show that they are made in one Asian country or the other. There is an excess amount of well-qualified human capital here; we need the type of investments that Asian countries get, while also exploiting our own resources. This will certainly boost employment and the economy, generally.

I

Attracting FDI However, in order to attract FDI, apart from a secure environment, political stability and sound economic incentives including moderate inflation rates, relatively easy access to foreign exchange and ability to repatriate funds to home countries, relative ease in doing business, decent infrastructure, FDI is attracted to an independent, fast and efficient, reliable and just judicial system. Foreigners will certainly not be attracted to investing in countries where they believe that their justice systems may be deployed unfairly and wrongly to discriminate against them in favour of indigenes, as such practices may make it impossible to protect their investments. The bitter truth is that in the absence of an abundance of the aforementioned favourable elements, it will be an uphill task attracting FDI, especially when investors are able to secure viable alternatives in more welcoming climes.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “Foreign Investors must not feel that the machinery of State, can easily be arbitrarily deployed against them. Why would anyone want to risk investing their funds, in a place where jungle justice is acceptable?” company pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory injunction. It seems that these days, some courts grant ex-parte applications, without following the laid down procedure for granting same.

With respect to the nature of ex parte applications, in Kotoye v CBN 1989 1 N.W.L.R. Part 98 Page 419 at 440 per Nnaemeka Agu JSC, the Supreme Court held inter alia that: “The rationale of an order made on such an application, is that the delay to be caused by proceeding in the ordinary way by putting the other side on notice, would or might cause such an irretrievable or serious mischief.

Such injunctions are for cases of real urgency.

The emphasis is on ‘real’ ”. Also see the case of Azuh v Union Bank (2014) LPELR-22913(SC) per Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun JSC. In Attamah & Ors v Anglican Church of the Niger & Ors (1999) LPELR-599 (SC) per Idris Legbo Kutigi JSC, the Supreme Court held thus: “It is settled that ex-parte injunctions are for cases of real emergency or urgency, where it is not possible to give notice of motion”.

A cursory look at the petition/motion ex-parte brought against Seplat, the British CEO, Mr Brown, and the Chairman of the Company, Mr Basil Omiyi, revealed that not only was there no emergency or urgency that warranted the application being brought ex-parte, no res would be destroyed before the hearing on notice, which is a precondition for granting same.

The application did not elicit anything so urgent, that could not wait to be decided upon the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. See Kotoye v CBN (Supra); 7 Up Bottling Co. Ltd v Abiola & Sons Ltd 1995 3 N.W.L.R. Part 383 Page 257 at 261. It seemed more like a desperate attempt, to get the Briton out of the company and out of the country,

FDI and the Seplat Example I have chosen to use Seplat as the example, because it is a leading indigenous energy company quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange, and it has been in the news recently that there are issues confronting the company’s management and board of directors.

Court Proceedings The other day, I read that the British CEO of Seplat, had his visa and work permit revoked by the Ministry of Interior, while an interim injunction was granted upon the hearing of an ex-parte motion at the Federal High Court, inter alia, to prevent him from acting in the capacity of CEO of the

CEO Seplat, Roger Thompson Brown

by hook or by crook! How does an allegation in the Petition that Mr Brown abuses President Buhari, constitute an emergency in law which warrants the grant of an ex-parte interim order? The last time I checked, Section 39(1) of the Constitution guarantees ‘every person’s’ right to freedom of expression, and this is not the exclusive preserve of Nigerian citizens alone. As long as the utterances, are not unlawful.

If a bright Nigerian was headhunted to work in a top American firm, how would we feel if he was deported and chased out of the US not because he didn’t perform at his job, but because he called President Trump a narcissist?

Importance of Adherence to the Provisions of the Law Section 354 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) emphasises that the interest of a member bringing an action seeking redress for illegal or oppressive conduct by a company, or the interest of the whole of the members must be affected. Such interests include election of directors, participation in meetings, sharing and receipt of dividends, and inspection of company records, and not just general discontent about the day-to-day running of a company which is the responsibility of the management and not the shareholders, and hasn’t been shown to have had any negative impact on the aforementioned shareholder interests. Though wrongdoing must not be condoned, be it by a Nigerian or a foreigner, our courts must be seen to be impartial arbiters, acting judicially and judiciously to ensure that substantial justice is done to all matters. See the case of Thomas v Federal Judicial Service Commission (2016) LPELR-48124(SC) per John Inyang Okoro, JSC. Unfortunately, the handling of Seplat matter by the Ministry of Interior and the Federal High Court

so far, does not portray Nigeria in the best of lights. It is unattractive to FDI, where there is a perception that judicial decisions are handed down without taking the provisions of the law into consideration, but only to satisfy Nigerians, even if it may be wrongly. To make matters worse, Seplat is not only quoted on the London Stock Exchange, but has an office there, which means that it is a Nigerian company in the global spotlight. The world is watching!

I saw a Report which shows that most States in Nigeria are endowed with one natural resource or the other. Nigerians expect that another priority for the incoming administration, will be to create a favourable environment for the States to harness their resources. Again this will require FDI. Apart from funding, we may require foreign expertise (which should subsequently be transferred to Nigerians) in harnessing some of our resources. For instance, the issue of putting an end to gas flaring or reducing it to a bare minimum, and exploiting our gas deposits in a clean manner, the way for example, Norway does it, in order to earn good revenues from this extremely valuable energy resource, should be uppermost in the mind of the Nigerian Government.

But then, how do we attract foreign investors and expertise, when they hear that they can be chased out from Nigeria at the drop of a hat, without even being given the opportunity to be heard, contrary to Section 36(1) of the Constitution which enshrines the principle of ‘audi alteram partem’ - listen to the other side (fair hearing).

In Oyeyemi v Commissioner for Local Government, Kwara State (1992) 23 N.S.C.C. Part 1 Page 371 at 388 per Akpata JSC, the Supreme Court held inter alia that no one should be condemned unheard. In that case, the Apex Court held that the Appellant who was a traditional ruler or chief, shouldn’t have been removed from his position without being given a fair hearing. Ditto for Mr Brown. Since the petition against him wasn’t urgent, and it raised issues that required responses; in the spirit of fair hearing, it should have been an application only on notice, thereby giving Seplat and Mr Brown a chance to respond - that would have been ideal, in the quest to meet the ends of justice.

Revocation of Visa and Work Permit Foreign Investors must not feel that the machinery of State, can easily be arbitrarily deployed against them. Why would anyone want to risk investing their funds, in a place where jungle justice is acceptable?

The fact that the visa and work permit of the CEO of Seplat were revoked by the Ministry of Interior, just a few days before the interim injunction was granted against Seplat, Mr Brown and the company’s Chairman, is instructive, as it appears to be a ‘fait accompli’! It seems more like a foreigner being forced out of his job by Nigerian shareholders, without them following due process, and ensuring that he has no effective recourse to any illegality that may have been thrown his way, since he no longer even has a means of access into the country to come and defend himself. Racism is the worst form of discrimination, and cannot be tolerated. Mr Brown was accused of being a racist; was he given the opportunity to defend himself against this disgusting accusation?

Assuming that a Director is to be removed before the expiration of his period of office, Section 288 of CAMA provides for the procedure to do same, notwithstanding any contract of employment or anything in the company’s articles of association. It should be done by means of an ordinary resolution which requires a special notice. The notice of the ordinary resolution should be circulated to the members of the company and the director involved, who is permitted to make a representation defending his/ herself. See the case of Longe v FBN PLC (2010) LPELR1793(SC) on the removal of a Director. The machinery of State cum the ex-parte order, were deployed to short-circuit the proper process.

Conclusion It could be that those who brought the petition against Mr Brown, were not certain that they could achieve their goals if they had followed due process by means of the approved ordinary resolution process, since he enjoys the support of the Seplat Board of Directors, and consequently, decided to orchestrate the alternative rout they took instead. They may probably have been unable to secure the ordinary resolution, without the buy-in of the Board of Directors.

It is simply off-putting, especially for those who are contemplating coming to invest in Nigeria, and no one would blame them if they decide to go and fish in other friendlier waters, where they can feel secure in the assurance that their investments will be better protected. This negative Nigerian narrative needs to be changed, and as quickly as possible too. It all boils down to every arm of government, upholding the rule of law. This would be a magnet to FDI.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

Failure of Respondent to File CrossAppeal Against Adverse Finding Facts The Respondent was awarded a contract by the Appellant, to build residential houses for its staff who were undertaking a project at Katsina State.

The Appellant gave the Respondent a building plan (Exhibit 3) containing the specifications for the said residential quarters, and the parties executed the agreement (Exhibit 2) setting out the terms of the contract.

Subsequently, and prior to the commencement of the project by the Respondent, the Appellant introduced another building plan (Exhibit 7) with different specifications, and the parties agreed that the buildings should conform with Exhibit 7 and not Exhibit 3. The Appellant paid the contract sum to the Respondent in instalments, as the construction progressed. After the completion of the project, the Appellant refused to pay the Respondent the amount due to him as cost incurred by the variation of the contract, through the use of the specifications in Exhibit 7. Consequently, the Respondent instituted an action against the Appellant at the High Court of Katsina State, seeking the amount purportedly due to him as well as general damages.

In its judgement, the trial court held that the parties had abandoned their initial contract - Exhibit 2, and had by agreement made the Respondent incur additional expenses; hence, the Respondent was entitled to claim on quantum meruit basis having expended his personal money on the project. The trial court however, held that the Respondent failed to prove the amount claimed and on this basis dismissed his claim. Aggrieved, the Respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal set aside the judgement of the trial court, and ordered the Appellant to pay the sum of N7,622,955.98 to the Respondent, as the reasonable sum due to him on quantum meruit basis. The lower court also awarded general damages, in favour of the Respondent.

Displeased, the Appellant filed an appeal at the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The Supreme Court considered the following issues in its resolution of the appeal:1. Whether the Respondent was the proper party before the trial court, and whether the Court of Appeal had the jurisdiction to entertain the matter as constituted.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right when it held that the Appellant and the Respondent had abandoned their contractual obligations under Exhibit 2, and that the Respondent was entitled to relief based on quantum meruit.

3. Whether the Court of Appeal rightly awarded the sums it awarded to the Respondent on quantum meruit basis and as damages.

Arguments On the 1st issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that the Respondent was not a party to the contract, and had merely signed the contract as director on behalf of “M.I. Inwala K/Kaura kt”.

He contended that the Respondent did not sign the said documents in his personal capacity, but as an agent duly authorised to sign for and on behalf of M .I. Inwala K/Kaura kt, and his acts in this regard were those of a disclosed principal in respect of which only the principal can sue.

He submitted that it was M.I. Inwala K/Kaura kt that ought to have sued, and the suit before the trial court had not been properly constituted; therefore, the Court of Appeal could not validly exercise jurisdiction to entertain the appeal.

In response, counsel for the Respondent submitted that when the Respondent gave evidence at the trial court, he stated that his name was "Muhammad Isa of Kofar Kaura Inwala Katsina. He stated that

jurisdiction; and c) The case comes before the Court initiated by due process of law and upon fulfilment of any condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction. The Court held that from the evidence led at trial by both the Appellant and the Respondent, it was not in doubt that the Respondent had dealings concerning the construction contract with the Appellant in his personal capacity, and there was no indication in the evidence or in the pleadings that the Respondent acted on behalf of any person, or as an officer of a company. There was thus, no feature in the case, that would have prevented the trial court from exercising jurisdiction to hear and determine the same. The Court held that the Respondent had the locus standi to institute the suit at the trial court in his personal capacity; and the Court of Appeal in turn, had the requisite jurisdiction to adjudicate on the appeal that emanated from the suit.

Honourable Adamu Jauro, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 3rd day of March, 2023 Before Their Lordships Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Mohammed Lawal Garba Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Adamu Jauro Justices, Supreme Court SC/686/2014 Between C.G.C. NIGERIA LIMITED

And

ALH. MUSTAPHA ISA

APPELLANT RESPONDENT

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Adamu Jauro, JSC)

the M.I. in “M.I. Inwala K/Kaura kt” refers to “Mustapha Isa”, while K/Kaura refers to “Kofan Kaura" where he resides and that “kt” refers to Katsina. He argued that the Respondent had signed the contract and undertaken the construction project in his personal capacity, hence, he was the proper party before the trial court and for this reason, the suit before the trial court was properly constituted, and the Court of Appeal rightly exercised jurisdiction over the appeal that emanated from the same.

On the 2nd issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that there was no basis for the court below to have held that the parties

“If the party against whom the decision was rendered files an appeal, the Respondent who was negatively affected by certain finding(s), holding(s) or order(s) made in the decision ought to file a cross-appeal, in order to get the part(s) of the decision which is/ are adverse to his interest set aside….once such an order or holding is not appealed against, it becomes binding and subsisting”

abandoned their contractual obligations under Exhibit 2, and to have granted any relief to the Respondent on the ground that he was entitled to relief on the basis of quantum meruit.

In reaction, the Respondent’s counsel submitted that the findings challenged by the Appellant in the issue were made by the trial court, and having failed to challenge them before the court below, the Appellant could not validly challenge them at the Supreme Court.

On the 3rd issue, the Appellant’s counsel argued that the lower court erred in holding that the Appellant is estopped from denying Exhibit 22 relied upon by the Respondent at trial, despite unchallenged evidence showing that it was not the Appellant’s duly designated official who signed it.

There was no argument before the court by the Respondent on the issue.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the 1st issue, the Supreme Court restated the settled principle in MADUKOLU v NKEMDILIM (1962) 2 SCNLR 341 that a court is competent to adjudicate over a matter if: a) It is properly constituted as regards numbers and qualification of the members of the Bench, and no member is disqualified for one reason or another; b) The subject-matter of the case is within its jurisdiction, and there is no feature in the case which prevents the Court from exercising its

On the 2nd issue, the Court in agreement with the Respondent’s argument held that where a finding or order or holding is made by a court in its judgement, it behoves the party negatively affected by the said finding or order to appeal against it. If the party against whom the decision was rendered files an appeal, the Respondent who was negatively affected by certain finding(s), holding(s) or order(s) made in the decision ought to file a cross-appeal, in order to get the part(s) of the decision which is/are adverse to his interest set aside. The duty to appeal against a finding or order or holding stems from the fact that once such an order or holding is not appealed against, it becomes binding and subsisting. The Court placed reliance on its decision in NNPC v KLIFCO (NIG.) LTD (2011) 10 NWLR (PT. 1255) 2019. The Court held that the Appellant (as Respondent at the Court of Appeal), having obviously been displeased by the unfavourable finding of the trial court that the parties abandoned their obligations under Exhibit 2, that the Respondent incurred additional expenses and was entitled to be paid on a quantum meruit basis, ought to have filed a cross-appeal at the Court of Appeal against these findings. It follows therefore that the Appellant’s failure to appeal to the lower court against the findings of the trial court enumerated earlier, are indicative of its satisfaction with those findings. They thus, remain binding, conclusive and unalterable.

The Court held further in light of the fact that the findings were made by the trial court and the Appellant did not challenge them at the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court could not entertain any appeal in respect of the said finding. In other words, the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain an appeal directly from the trial court. Reliance was placed on JAIYESIMI & ANOR. v DARLINGTON (2022) LPELR-57344 (SC).

In the Court’s consideration of the 3rd issue, the Court held that it is an important rule of brief writing that not only must issues for determination be based on ground(s) of appeal, arguments canvassed therein must be based on the issue for determination. Arguments on an issue must not sing a discordant tune, with that sung by the issue itself. The Court held that, it was apparent that the issue was questioning whether the lower court rightly awarded the sums it awarded on quantum meruit basis and as damages to the Respondent; whereas, the Appellant’s argument focused entirely on whether the lower court ought to have placed reliance on an exhibit that had in fact, been tendered by the Respondent without any objection by the Appellant. The court held that the failure of the Appellant to canvass an argument as to the propriety or otherwise of the amount awarded to the Respondent, thus rendered the issue lifeless.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Kachi Chima Ochu, Esq. for the Appellant.

Hussaini Sani, Esq. for the Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Former NBA President, Olumide Akpata accepting his African Legal Icon Award

Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN

Cross-section of Participants at the a two-day workshop on Climate Justice in Abuja

Stakeholders Set Stage for Climate Justice in Nigeria Want Full Implementation of 2021 Climate Change Act

Alex Enuman in Abuja The need for all Nigerians to begin to act responsibly towards the environment and the climate, was the focus of a two-day workshop in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

Participants in their various submissions opined that Government and relevant stakeholders, must take urgent steps towards addressing the challenges and dangers posed by the effect of climate change.

The workshop tagged, "The Rule of Law and Climate Justice" was organised by the Attorney General Alliance Africa (AGA-Africa) Programme, in collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) and the National Environmental Standards and

Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

In his remarks, Director General (DG) of NIALS, Professor Muhammed Ladan, who identified the oil and gas, mining and automobile industries as the major drivers of climate change in the country, called on the Federal Government, including all regulatory agencies, to, in line with the Paris Agreement, 2015 and the national laws, ensure that companies in the industries comply with laid down corporate responsibility action.

According to Prof Ladan, the law provides that all MDAs have desk officers on climate change, while the private sector particularly, those in oil and gas, coal, mining and automobiles provide information about efforts

Awomolo Becomes Body of Benchers’ Vice Chairman Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN has been unanimously endorsed by the Body of Benchers as its new Vice Chairman.

The Body took the decision on Thursday, as the Body’s outgoing Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, handed over the baton to Justice Mary Odili, who was his Vice Chairman.

However, the body outrightly rejected the nomination of Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN, who was nominated by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Its President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, had in a letter dated March 27, 2023, nominated Mrs Adekoya for the post.

Contrary to NBA’s nomination, BoB adheres strictly to the rule of seniority as to admission into the Body. It does not permit contests, lobbying, or jumping the gun. Everyone is expected to strictly wait for his or her time. The register is arranged strictly on the basis of seniority, and is not subject to change.

This arrangement according to a source close to the operations of the Body, is in line with its conservative nature, and standard of orderliness, distinction, and

reputation expected of every member of the Body.

At the meeting, the members unanimously endorsed Awomolo as Vice Chairman to take over from Mrs Odili on March 30, 2024.

The next in line is Chief Albert Akpomudje SAN, followed by Mrs Adekoya, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, and Chief J.B Daudu, SAN in that order.

A versatile and amiable gentleman, Awomolo studied Law at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, between 1974 and 1977; and attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, in 1978. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978.

In addition to his legal education, Awomolo, a devout Christian and Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, attended the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho, between 2003 and 2004, where he obtained a Diploma Certificate.

A Life Bencher, Church Usher, Life Member of Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship, and a Volunteer Legal Adviser to the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Awomolo has a unique and diverse work experience.

they are making in ensuring that their products, operations, services, are within the climate goal targeted at reducing carbon emissions.

Citing the Intergovernmental Panel Report which warned against crossing the threshold of 1.5 degree Celsius in order to avert further global warming that triggers climate change, the DG called on participants to harness efforts, especially in the area of climate justice.

He disclosed that Section 20 of the Constitution and Sections 1, 22 to 25 of the Climate Change Act 2021, "provides for a basis of litigation against our government

and against our corporate entities in the oil and gas, coal and automobile sectors, so we should be ready for litigation.

"We are not encouraging that, but, we are saying that they should go back and read their obligation under the Act, so that they will advise themselves as to how best they can do their part in terms of climate action or reduce carbon emissions".

On his part, the Director General of NESREA, Prof Aliyu Jauro, disclosed that the Agency is working with other Regulators to reduce carbon emissions in the country, adding that in some

instances, companies have been sealed up until they comply with climate laws.

Prof Jauro further disclosed that the Agency is also engaging with the Judiciary to get their understanding and cooperation, so as to get speedy trial of offenders, thereby serving as a deterrent to others.

While observing that the workshop was timely, as it would sensitise all relevant stakeholders on their respective responsibility when it comes to climate justice, he urged participants to come up with concrete solutions on how the country can achieve climate

justice.

Similarly, Ebelechukwu Enedah of Punuka Associates and Solicitors, who spoke on behalf of AGA-Africa, stated that the workshop was aimed at creating awareness about climate change issues and also create synergy with the different organisations and agencies that are working in the area.

“We need to have concerted effort in dealing with this issue", she said, "we are to ensure the preservation of the climate and our environment, we have to ensure that justice is being done in that area”.

Whitney Adeniran: Court Grants Chrisland Principal, Others, N30m Bail Four members of staff of Chrisland School, Ikeja, who were charged with involuntary manslaughter of a 12-year-old student of the school, Whitney Adeniran, were on Thursday granted bail by an Ikeja High Court.

The Lagos State Government charged Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Nwatu Victoria with involuntary manslaughter and reckless negligent acts by the Lagos State Government, following the teenager’s death. The Defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Oyindamola Ogala admitted the Defendants to bail,

after the defence counsel moved an application for bail dated March 28 and March 29 respectively.

There were no objections from the prosecution led by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN. Ogala admitted the 1st and 2nd Defendant to N10 million bail, each with two sureties each in like sum.

She also admitted the 3rd and 4th Defendant to N20 million bail, each with two sureties each in like sum.

The Judge said all the sureties must be gainfully employed, have credible and verified evidence of

financial status, and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

“All the sureties must have two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and must submit their international passports to the Chief Registrar of the State High Court”, Ogala said.

The court also ordered the defence counsel to write an undertaking, in order for the Defendants to be released to them before the perfection of their bail.

The defence counsel are Mrs Bimpe Ajegbomojon (1st Defendant), Richard Ahonarougho, SAN (2nd Defendant), Olukayode Enitan, SAN (3rd Defendant), Ademola Animashaun (4th

Defendant) and Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN (5th Defendant), while Mrs Oluwatodimu Ige held brief for the family of the deceased.

According to the charge information signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, on March 24, the Defendants allegedly committed the offence on February 9, about 1.

00 p.m. in Agege Sports Stadium, Agege, Lagos.

The Prosecution said that the Defendants negligently killed Adeniran, by not ensuring her safety. The State also submitted that, the Defendants acted in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered human life.

Olumide Akpata Named African Legal Icon Templars Senior Partner and the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olumide Akpata, was on Saturday, April 1, 2023, presented with the African Legal Icon Award at the first-ever African Heritage Concert & Awards (Afri-Heritage 23) which took place at the Kigali Marriot in Kigali, Republic of Rwanda.

Mr Olumide Akpata shot to national limelight in July 2020, when he was elected as the 30th President of the NBA, the first non-SAN to do so in thirty years. The NBA is Nigeria’s foremost and oldest professional membership organisation, and Africa’s most influential network of legal practitioners, with almost

200,000 members and 128 Branches.

Olu, as he is fondly addressed, then went ahead to serve the Association creditably for a single two-year term as stipulated by the Association’s Constitution, before handing over to his successor in August 2022.

According to The Heritage Times who organised the event, the AfriHeritage 23 is a platform “carefully intended to re-tell the African story through contemporary music performances and poetry” and to “appreciate those distinguished Africans who have projected the collective image and aspirations of the African people through their various works and profession, across diverse sectors and industries, whilst creating sustainable impact that

uplifts others and the continent.”

In a communication issued by the organisers, Mr Akpata was unanimously selected for special recognition and presented with the highly coveted award of African Legal Icon in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as a legal practitioner, his genuine service to humanity and his positive contributions to the growth and advancement of the African Continent with several other key landmark achievements when he served as NBA President.

Other distinguished awardees on the night include Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, former President of Nigeria who was presented with the African Democracy and Peace

Icon Award and Seretse Khama Ian Khama, former President of Botswana, who bagged the Africa Philanthropist Award. Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor, the Vice President of Liberia, was also presented with the African Humanitarian Award, while Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, former Director of the Kenya AntiCorruption Commission received the African Advancement Icon Award.

Speaking, while accepting the Award, Mr Olumide Akpata dedicated the award to his Partners at Templars Law Firm, all of whom agreed to let him take a sabbatical for two years, to fully concentrate on the highly demanding job of NBA President.

#upjudicialsalaries “Judges are entitled to a range of benefits and allowances, in addition to their salary. The package of benefits and allowances, is an integral part of judicial remuneration. This has helped enhance the living conditions of Judges…..The current official allowances are inadequate, in view of the status and work schedule of a judicial officer.” - NBA Working Committee on Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service

VI COVER

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

Chairman, Governing Council, Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, Hon. Justice Jumoke Pedro

‘LMDC is the First Court Connected ADR Centre in Africa’ Lagos, as the most populous and most cosmopolitan city in the West African Sub-Region, has the largest Judiciary which expectedly, comes with numerous and complex challenges. With Magistrates and Judges saddled with overloaded case dockets and its worrisome impact on justice delivery, the State came up with an ingenious and novel method of settling disputes outside conventional litigation. This birthed the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) in 2002, to settle disputes through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism. The steady growth of the LMDC has seen over 58,000 cases pass through the system, with a good success rate. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi sought out the Chairman of the LMDC Governing Council, Honourable Justice Jumoke Pedro, who gave deep insights into its origin, workings of the ADR Court House, and its achievements so far Your Lordship, kindly, give us a brief overview of your career I attended University of Lagos, where I obtained an LLB with a 2nd Class Upper Division in 1980. In July 1981, I was called to the Nigerian Bar. I practised briefly between 1982 and 1984 with the

reputable firm of Akin Olugbade & Co. after completing my N.Y.S.C as a legal officer with the Military Police, Apapa Cantonment.

In 1984, I joined the Lower Bench of the Lagos State Judiciary as a Magistrate. I also served as the Registrar of Titles at the Lagos State

“The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) is the first Court connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre in Africa. Although it started with only six cases in 2002, presently 2,000 cases are received on a yearly basis, with over 70% being referred from the Court”

Land Registry, and rose through the Bench to become a Chief Magistrate.

In 1999, I was appointed the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Lagos State, and served as the Probate Registrar, the Sheriff, the Tax Master, and the Official Receiver. In 2001, I was appointed a High Court Judge of Lagos State.

I have worked in various Divisions of the Court: General Civil, Family and Probate, Commercial, Fast Track, Lands Division, ADR (Track) and once as the designated Judge of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Matters.

I am presently the Head of Fast Track and Commercial Division of the High Court of Lagos State.

I authored the books ‘The Living Law’ and ‘Fundamental Principles of Law Practice and Procedure’.

I am a member of the International Association of Women Judges and National Association of Women Judges, a member of the Olave Baden-Powell Society and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria. I am also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK, and a Certified Mediator; a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators. In 2021, I was appointed as the Chairman of the Governing Council, Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC).

What is your role at the Lagos Multi-Door Court House (LMDC)?

As the Chairman, I am responsible for the overall supervision of the Governing Council of the LMDC. The members of the Council were appointed by the Hon. Chief Judge of Lagos State, and vested with the responsibility, though not exhaustive,

VII COVER

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

‘LMDC is the First Court Connected ADR Centre in Africa’ of ensuring the overall development and growth of the LMDC in order to enhance the effective administration and delivery of justice. My role is to provide leadership, guidance and direction to the Council, in order to achieve the objectives set out by the LMDC Law 2015.

How has the LMDC fared since its inception in 2002?

The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) is the first court connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre in Africa. Although it started with only six cases in 2002, presently 2,000 cases are received on a yearly basis, with over 70% being referred from the Court.

The LMDC had developed a reputation for expertise in resolution of commercial disputes being referred from the High Court and Magistrate Court, through efficient and effective use of ADR mechanism. Cases are often referred from individual and corporate organisations, and they are speedily resolved through online dispute resolution.

In addition, the LMDC has commenced the resolution of criminal cases through Restorative Justice, by seeking to repair the harm done to the victim of such crime. And, providing opportunity for both the victim and the offender who took responsibility for the crime, to communicate about their needs in the aftermath of the crime.

The purpose is not only to provide restitution to the victim, but to ensure that the offender is reintegrated into the community.

We now have walk-in matters, where cases are being resolved without parties having to go before the court. Such walk-in matters are mediated upon, and the terms of settlement reached. The terms of settlement may be presented before the court, for enforcement.

The LMDC has a distinguished Panel of over 300 Neutrals, which provides disputants and the ADR Industry with the expertise of carefully selected, skilled and experienced Mediators, Arbitrators, Restorative Justice Facilitators and Neutral Case Evaluators from different fields of endeavour (including retired Judges).

Between the year 2017 and 2022 the LMDC through mediation has been able to recover a total sum of N38,533,163,666.53 (Thirty-Eight Billion, Five Hundred and ThirtyThree Million, One Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Naira, Fifty-Three Kobo) as outstanding claims and debt for commercial institutions, and individuals. This has greatly contributed in boosting the economy of Lagos State and Nigeria; and engendered trust in the Judicial system for the attraction of foreign direct investment.

On a final note, the use of ADR mechanisms has come to stay, it has now become an integral part of Lagos State Judiciary through the High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedure Rules 2019, the preamble, Order 2 Rule 1, which deals with overriding objectives of the rules of this Court, Order 5 Rule 8 which clearly states that all Originating processes filed at the Registry shall be screened to determine their suitability for the ADR and may be referred to

Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba

the LMDC or any appropriate ADR institution or Practitioner, in line with the Practice Directions issued by the Chief Judge. Orders 27 and 28 of our Rules of court, are quite enlightening.

Has the LMDC succeeded in making ADR more popular in Lagos?

Yes, the LMDC has succeeded and is still creating necessary awareness in making ADR more popular in Lagos State, particularly through the kind support of the Lagos State Government under the leadership of our Governor; Dr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba.

However, more awareness needs to be created; and, to this end, we recently held the 1st Conference of All Multi-Door Courthouses/ ADR Centres with the theme “Enhancing ADR Practices & Synergy”. It had in attendance eminent jurists, and to mention but a few, Hon. Justice Kudirat M.O. Kekere-Ekun CFR, JSC; the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem; the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba as the Chief Host; the President of the National Industrial Court; Hon. Justice B.B. Kanyip and many other Justices.

“….. the LMDC has commenced the resolution of criminal cases through Restorative Justice, by seeking to repair the harm done to the victim of such crime”

Chairman, Governing Council, Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, Hon. Justice Jumoke Pedro

Also, a total of over 18 Multi-Door Courthouses and ADR Centres were in attendance, Government Agencies, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other Lawyers, ADR Institutions, Security Agencies, Academic Institutions, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Corporate Organisations and other Stakeholders.

The Lagos Settlement Week (LSW) started out as a ‘one week’ program in the year, whereby, disputants have an opportunity to have their cases mediated at no cost to the parties. However, due to the huge acceptance and success of the LSW Programme, the LSW has evolved into three programmes per year, with a district programme and two central programmes focused on Ikeja and Lagos High Court and Magistrate Court. The District Programme has resulted in the resolution of disputes in communities and Courts across Badagry, Ikorodu, Yaba, Lagos Island, Epe, Ogba etc; and in 2023, the District Programme will be taken to the Eti-Osa Courts and Communities.

The LSW is fully funded by the Lagos State Government, which showcases its commitment to providing access to justice under the Security and Governance Pillar of the Lagos State T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. The LSW commenced in 2009, and won the coveted CEDR Award for significant achievement in the field of dispute resolution; it was designed to impact the Justice System of Lagos State through a gradual but definitive reduction of the case load of the Courts within a specified time, and to encourage the early settlement of cases pending litigation in the High Court and Magistrate Court of Lagos, while providing satisfactory, timely and cost-effective justice to litigants.

Since inception, the LSW Programme has received a total of 13,248

cases with a 49.5% rate of settlement achieved by the LMDC. This has significantly resulted in ensuring equal access to justice for all and promotion of the rule of law, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals 16 (SDG 16).

The 1st Online Settlement Month (OSM): The LMDC organised the 1st Online Settlement Month (OSM) Programme in Africa, to ensure that despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protest, the citizens of Lagos State had unhindered access to justice.

Being the first of its kind, the OSM Programme commenced with the 1st OSM in Africa Webinar which generated commendable publicity, with over 800 registrations and more than 400 Participants at the webinar. The Webinar was greatly supported by stakeholders who cut across the Lagos State Judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Young Lawyers Forum (YLF), ACCORD South Africa, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Private Sector.

During the 1st Online Settlement Month (OSM) Programme, Disputants and Lawyers referred from the Lagos State High Court, Magistrate Court and the Private Sector, engaged in the settlement of disputes through the deployment of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR).

Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) is a branch of dispute resolution, which uses technology to facilitate the resolution of disputes between parties. Online dispute resolution is a mechanism that allows disputing parties resolve their disputes using web-based communication tools such as email, chat, and videoconferencing, as opposed to the physical meeting of parties. Before 2020, the LMDC had been settling disputes between parties with ODR; however, cont'd on page VIII

VIII

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER ‘LMDC is the First Court Connected ADR Centre in Africa’ cont'd from page VII

the pandemic led to the relaunch of ODR on a larger scale. Consequently, disputants can file a case online, get a session scheduled online and sign the Terms of Settlement without a physical visit to LMDC. A case involving outstanding sum of $1 million, was settled during two mediation sessions.

Terms of settlement were filed, and entered as consent judgement.

LMDC ADR Trainings: The LMDC has, over the years, developed into a full-fledged ADR training institution that provides ADR services, as well as training and consultancy services to a wide range of clientele who cut across various professional sectors. The LMDC offers a number of trainings which are geared towards the development of international best practice mediation skills, ADR advocacy and education amongst Judges, Magistrates, Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, HR Practitioners, Estate Surveyors, Entrepreneurs, Mediators, Court Registrars, Case Managers etc. The LMDC is known to provide international best practice ADR Training, using a curriculum curated by professionals from the academic and ADR sector.

The Restorative Justice Youths and Juveniles Reform Programme In response to the enactment of the Practice Direction by the Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State on Restorative Justice by the Lagos State Judiciary in 2019, the LMDC Restorative Justice Unit was set up in February 2021, as approved by the Honourable Chief Judge (HCJ) of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Kazeem.O. Alogba.

The LMDC Restorative Justice Unit (RJ Unit) initially received direct referrals from Magistrate Court in Lagos State, but now receives cases from the Lagos State Restorative Justice Hub, and successfully facilitated and resolved a number of Restorative Justice cases resulting in restitution for the victim and an opportunity for the offender to be accountable.

On Friday, the 24th of June, 2022, LMDC commemorated its 20 years (2002 – 2022) of Dispute Resolution Excellence with the launch of the Restorative Justice Youths and Juveniles Reform Programme featuring an Anniversary Lecture focused on the theme; “The Transformation of Juveniles and Youths through Restorative Justice in Lagos State”.

The LMDC maintains relevance and propagates the gospel of ADR, through our social media handles: Instagram: lagosmultidoor Tweeter: @LMDC_thinkADR Facebook: lmdchall@gmail.com Website: lagosmultidoor.org What kind of Matters are handled at LMDC? At LMDC, we handle civil cases, such as commercial, banking and insurance related disputes; landlord and tenant matters; property disputes; debt recoveries; libel and slander; administration of estate; employment and trade disputes; construction disputes; accident and

Chairman, Governing Council, Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, Hon. Justice Jumoke Pedro

tort; medical negligence; contract enforcement; family disputes; succession disputes; Maritime, Energy, Business disputes and small claims.

Restorative Justice Cases where the offender or Defence has pleaded guilty to the offence in open court, and is referred for restorative justice facilitation.

Does LMDC have any jurisdictional floors or ceilings in terms of the value of disputes and the types of cases which can be referred there?

There are no jurisdictional boundaries as to the value of disputes. However, there are some cases that are not ADR amenable, such as land cases relating to title; where the Claimant requests for a declarative order; divorce petitions – although an order for decree nisi cannot be granted in mediation, however other aspects of the claim relating to custody and maintenance can be handled in mediation.

On average, how long does it take to dispose of a matter?

The applicable timelines for cases handled at the LMDC are 180 days for walk-in cases and 90 days for Court Referred cases.

However, some cases are resolved within one day, two days, one month, etc.

How many cases does the Multi-door Court House receive in a year, and how many are

“During the 1st Online Settlement Month (OSM) Programme, Disputants and Lawyers referred from the Lagos State High Court, Magistrate Court and the Private Sector, engaged in the settlement of disputes through the deployment of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR).

successfully settled without need for litigation?

On the average, based on a five-year period, the number of cases received is 2,454 and the settlement rate is 54%.

One of the aims and objectives of LMDC as set out in Section 2 of its establishment statute, is to promote the growth and effective functioning of the justice system through Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods. What ADR methods are available at the LMDC? The LMDC, in line with the law establishing it the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse Law 2015, provides variety of doors through which parties can resolve their matters amicably such as: Mediation, Arbitration, Conciliation, Early Neutral Evaluation and other ADR mechanisms, Restorative Justice, Hybrids.

How has it promoted the Justice System and decongested the courts?

The LMDC has actually promoted the justice system in achieving one of its major objectives, which is to enhance access to justice. The use of ADR mechanisms to supplement litigation in the resolution of disputes, has actually reduced some of the work load of the court. It will interest you to know that since its inception, more than 16,809 cases had been referred to the LMDC for mediation, which has effectively reduced the courts’ docket, with a 57% rate of settlement achieved by the LMDC. The synergy between LMDC and the Lagos State Judiciary has certainly bolstered the justice system, and created a high level of trust in the justice system by parties.

The High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2015, has also helped to fasttrack justice dispensation in Lagos State. Through the ADR track Unit of the LMDC, the impact of court decongestion is felt by the reduction of the number of cases that find their way into the mainstream of litigation.

The ADR Track “catches” the case (through screening for suitability for ADR) before it gets into the litigation track, thereby reducing the number of cases in the courts’ docket.

In addition, since the implementa-

tion of the first edition of the Lagos Settlement Week (LSW) in 2009, the LSW has become a part of the Judicial calendar of the Lagos State Judiciary, and has recorded an increasing impact towards the decongestion of the Courts’ docket. The LSW has mediated over 7,000 cases, with its achievements including, but not limited to; the speedy recovery of over N39 billion in monetary claims within seven years, amicable resolution of cases in various sectors including aviation, telecommunications, construction, oil and gas, matrimonial and real estate cases, amongst others; saving the resources, time and manpower of the court, which should ordinarily have been expended on adjudicating these matters in the courtrooms, thereby causing a huge relief to the Judges, Magistrates and other Judicial Officers and in turn, improving the socio-economic well-being of the residents of Lagos State, and also making Lagos State an attraction to foreign investors, as disputes are resolved quickly and confidentially.

What is the process for bringing a matter for ADR at LMDC? Do you have Walk-Ins or must all matters be referred from the High Court?

At the LMDC, matters are initiated through – Walk-ins, Court Referrals and Direct Intervention.

Can part-heard matters be mediated upon at LMDC? What are the requirements?

A Judge or Magistrate has the discretion, to refer a part-heard case in the Court docket to the LMDC. Any of the parties in a part-heard case can also request for their matter to be referred to the LMDC, at any time before judgement is given in such cases.

Does LMDC still have the Settlement Week Programme?

If so, what happens then?

Yes, it does.

At the LSW, selected cases (that have been screened and identified as suitable for a time bound Mediation) are referred by the Court to the LMDC. cont'd on page IX

IX COVER

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

‘LMDC is the First Court Connected ADR Centre in Africa’ cont'd from page VIII

Workshops are held for various Stakeholder Groups to ensure they fully understand, participate and benefit from the gains of the Programme.

Mediation Sessions are conducted in these cases within the week of the programme and are held concurrently at various court locations, predominantly at the Ikeja, TBS and Osborne Courts.

Upon conclusion of the Mediation Sessions, the outcomes could be a resolution where both Parties endorse a Settlement Agreement and which is forwarded to the referral Court to be entered as consent judgement; or a non-settlement, whereby, a status report is forwarded to the referral court for continuation of proceedings; or an adjournment for another session to further explore resolution.

The Lagos Settlement Week (LSW) has become an integral and vital part of the Judicial calendar of the Lagos State Judiciary, and it is held thrice annually. The Lagos Settlement Week (LSW) Programme has been organised for 13 consecutive years, from 2009 – 2022 and its still achieving its objectives of providing free ADR services to members of the society.

The LMDC has over the years, conducted the Settlement Week programmes in the various Judicial Divisions and Magisterial Districts of Lagos State, and has recorded an unprecedented success in creating awareness, decongestion of the cases in the dockets of various courts, and promoting the growth and effective functioning of the justice system through ADR methods in Lagos State.

The LSW, in achieving its objectives, has impacted the integral part of the Lagos State THEMES Agenda by assisting to uphold Law and Order as captured under Pillar 6; Security and Governance and ensuring that the wheels of Justice are not clogged, and continuously oiled to provide avenues for the citizens of Lagos to access Justice.

The next LSW 2023 Programme, is scheduled to hold at Eti-Osa in May 2023.

Give us an idea of the scale of fees at LMDC The scale of fees at the LMDC, is very cost friendly. However, it is important to note that Mediation session fees are more cost effective than Arbitration Session fees, due to the complexity of the Arbitral process. The LMDC Fee Schedule, guides parties on the required fees to be paid per case.

How successful has the Banking Track under LMDC’s Commercial Intervention Strategy which allows Banks to bypass the courts and go directly for ADR, been?

The Banking Track of the LMDC was introduced with the primary objective of initiating a structured dispute resolution intervention in the banking sector; to create awareness within commerce and industry; and to facilitate referrals of commercial disputes to the LMDC for resolution through Alternative Dispute Resolution. The Banking Track kicked off in January 2010 with the Dispute Resolution Survey exercise, in which

Chairman, Governing Council, Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, Hon. Justice Jumoke Pedro autographing her Book

25 Banks completed a questionnaire which revealed what dispute resolution mechanisms were used by their organisations to resolve banking disputes, and to rate the effectiveness of each of these mechanisms on a scale of 1 to 5.

The responses received revealed a need for dispute resolution intervention, and the selling point was the need for the Banks to take proactive steps to reduce their high litigation burden and consequently, their contingent liability profile.

Subsequently, the LMDC has held a Settlement Week Programme using a Pilot Bank.

At a meeting with the Head of Legal of the Pilot Bank, the Bank representatives expressed their satisfaction with the Bank Settlement Week Programme and enumerated the benefits to the Bank, as including the enhancement of their Bank Brand Perception. He said that the speedy and cost-effective programme not only saved the bank money and time, but that its relationship with its customers and even external counsel was preserved and enhanced. On their own volition, the Pilot Bank recommended the programme highly to other Banks. They indicated changes in the approach by external counsel, who now notify clients (that ask them to take out a writ against the Bank) that the Bank will rather negotiate a settlement in mediation, and that the process produces more

“I was inspired to author this book to provide a tool for the Bench, legal practitioners and law students, to easily access these fundamental principles of law drawn from judicial precedents and relevant statutory provisions, based on my experience over the years in the practice of law and while sitting on the Bench”

beneficial outcomes.

Recently, the LMDC Commercial Intervention Strategy (CIS) was relaunched, and the focus is on Micro Finance Banks. The strategy for the CIS is to identify and engage sectors in need of dispute resolution, and reach out to these Banks with a view to assisting in the resolution of their disputes. The first phase of identifying and contacting the Banks has been concluded, and the next phase is about to be kickstarted.

What inspired you to author the Book ‘Fundamental Principles of Law: Practice & Procedure’? It seems to be a compendium of a vast array of basic principles of law - a must have useful tool for all Lawyers?

It is commonly said that a good Lawyer is not necessarily one that knows all the laws, but one that knows where to find them.

However, as a legal practitioner, you need to be conversant with the basic principles of law relevant to your client’s case, and be able to proffer quick and effective solutions to legal issues.

I was inspired to author this book to provide a tool for the Bench, legal practitioners and law students, to easily access these fundamental principles of law drawn from judicial precedents and relevant statutory provisions, based on my experience over the years in the practice of law and while sitting on the Bench.

Lagos State Judiciary was the first to initiate and compel all Litigants to go for Pre-trial Proceedings in a Court-Connected Mediation before a Mediator. Although other States have emulated and copied that initiative now, how would you assess that Mechanism? Is it achieving its purpose?

In Lagos State, by virtue of the provisions of the High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedure Rules 2019, other settlement options must have been explored (or seen to have been explored) before resorting to litigation.

I must say that, the ADR Track

has immensely contributed to the decongestion of the court docket of cases that can easily be resolved in mediation. From the year 2013 to date, over 7800 cases have been found suitable for ADR, and 57% of the cases concluded have been settled successfully in mediation.

Can matters of a criminal nature be handled by LMDC? Not all criminal cases can be referred to the LMDC for amicable resolution; criminal cases such as rape, murder, armed robbery, cannot be referred to the LMDC. However, the LMDC receives referrals of criminal cases (simple offences) from the Restorative Justice Hub at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

Consequently, where an offender or Defendant has pleaded guilty to an offence in open court, the Magistrate may refer the case for Restorative Justice to the Lagos State Restorative Justice Hub, which thereafter refers the matters to Restorative Justice Outlets such as the LMDC for Restorative Justice facilitation. This is to encourage persons who commit minor offences not to end up in jail, but face noncustodial sentences including fines, restitution orders, community service orders.

In concluding, I wish to seize this opportunity to thank my Lord, the Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba for his unflinching support to the LMDC . His visionary leadership in the Lagos State Judiciary, has helped the Council in moving the LMDC forward as the foremost leading ADR Centre in Africa. My gratitude goes to the Members of the Governing Council, for their support and commitment towards ensuring the development and growth of the LMDC. And, finally to the Management and Staff of the LMDC, who have worked tirelessly throughout the years. Above all, I thank God Almighty for this privilege and the honour to serve. God bless you.

Thank you, Your Lordship.

X

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY PROF MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

CSOs and the Media in Promoting Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria (Part 3) Introduction ecently, we commenced with good governance and how it differs from country to country. Governance is a relationship between rulers and the ruled, the State and society, the Governors, and the governed.

Countries that are quite similar in terms of their natural resources and social structure, have shown strictly different performance in improving the welfare of their people. Much of this is attributable to standards of governance, which may stifle and impede development.

Today, we shall continue our discourse on this imperative issue.

R

Good Governance Differs from Country to Country (Continues) In countries, where there is corruption, poor control of public funds, lack of accountability, abuses of human rights and excessive military influence, development inevitably suffers.

Michels states that government is one of the actors in governance. Other actors, according to Regina .O. Arisi and Ukadike, O. J, involved in governance vary, depending on the level of government that is under discussion. In rural areas for example, other actors may include influential landlords, associations of peasant farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research institutes, religious leaders, financial institutions, political parties, the military, etc. Similarly, Odion-Akhaine stated that, formal government structures constitute one means by which decisions are arrived at and implemented. At the national level, informal decision making structures such as “Kitchen Cabinets’’, or formal advisors may exist. In some rural areas, powerful families may make or influence decision making. Such informal decision making is often the result of corrupt practices, or leads to bad governance.

Major Good Governance Indicators UNESCAPE states that good governance has eight major characteristics. They are, participatory by both men and women, which is the key to good governance. Next is the rule of law, which requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of the minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent Judiciary and incorruptible Police Force. The third point is transparency, which means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations.

The fourth is responsiveness, which means that good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe. The fifth characteristic, is consensus orientation. Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society, to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved. It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development, and how to achieve the goals of such development. The sixth characteristic is equity and inclusiveness. A society’s well being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it, and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society. This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable have opportunities to improve or maintain their well being.

The seventh characteristic is effectiveness and efficiency. Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society, while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance, also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment. The last characteristic of good governance is accountability. It is a key requirement of good governance, not only governmental institutions, but also the private sector and civil society organisations. Conclusively, good governance is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its totality. Very few countries and societies, have come close to achieving good governance in its totality. However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality.

Civil Society Organisations What is Civil Society?

Civil society is an unusual concept, in that it always seems to require being defined before it is applied or discussed. In part, this is because the concept was mainly used in discourse before the late eighties and many people are therefore, unfamiliar with it. In part, it is a result of an inherent ambiguity or elasticity in the concept (this is not so unusual. The apparently straight forward notion of freedom can, in certain circumstances, carry a meaning

“….when followers fail to register for voting and actually fail to vote, they are boldly voting for bad governance, because the unpopular candidate may win the election. Therefore, citizens have no moral reason to complain against bad governance, because they failed in their duty select the good candidate”

closer to licence than to liberty).

Civil Society can be defined in broad terms, as the arena where people come together to advance common interest, not for profit or political power, but because they care enough about something to take action (Edwards & Gaventa 2001). Perhaps the simplest way to see civil society is as a “third sector”, distinct from government and business. In this view, Civil Society refers essentially to the so-called “intermediary institution” such as professional associations, religious groups, labour unions, citizen advocacy organisations, that give voice to various sectors of society and enrich public participation in democracies.

In all three schools of thought, the Civil Society is essentially a collective action by associations, across society and through the public sphere. Consequently, the Civil Society provides an essential counterweight to individualism. As a propeller of creative action, Civil Society provides a much needed antidote to the cynicism that infects so much of contemporary politics. As values-based action, Civil Society provides a balance to the otherwise-overbearing influence of State authority and the temptations and incentives of the market, even if those values are contested, as they often are. The ideal of Civil Society remains compelling because it speaks to the best in us-the collective, creative and value-driven core of the active citizen.It calls on the best in us to respond in kind to create societies that are just, true and free.CSOs are non-State, not-for-profit, voluntary entities formed by people in the social sphere, that are separate from the State and the market.

CSOs represent a wide range of interests and ties. They can include community-based organisations, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In the context of the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework, CSOs do not include business or for-profit associations.

Good Governance Needs Strong Followership (Civil Society Organisations) Strong followership, is a principle of good governance. It is as important as good leadership. They are siamese twins. This followership is elicited and promoted by the

attitude of those in governance. If the citizens are regarded as the source and indeed, the essence of the power of governance and focus of State craft directed at satisfying their aspirations (Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution), a good followership that is supportive would be achieved. If their freedom and rights are guaranteed, their opinion respected and those in power deal honestly with them, supportive followership will be entrenched in the political community. As noted by Samuel Eziokwu, Supportive and responsible followership starts with sincere participation in political activities like party organisation, exercise of franchise, civil obedience to laws, programmes, policies and protest against obnoxious ones. Good parties are sustained by good party ideologies and manifestoes, as galvanised by members. He also notes the following as the fall out of good followership.

Political participation by the followers, finds expression in registration as voters and actual voting during election. Hence, when followers fail to register for voting and actually fail to vote, they are boldly voting for bad governance, because the unpopular candidate may win the election. Therefore, citizens have no moral reason to complain against bad governance, because they failed in their duty select the good candidate. Elites in a political community have a duty to ensure that they assist in mobilisation of the citizens, to participate actively in political activities. Their failure will have colossal deleterious impact, on the polity. A stitch in time, saves nine.

Civil obedience to the laws, policies and programmes of the political community is a means of supportive followership. It makes the polity stable, peaceful and governable. It avails funds to those in government for development programme, when citizens pay promptly their taxes, levies, duties, bills, etc. It must be stressed that failure to pay such legal financial obligation willingly, is tantamount to disloyalty, disobedience and lack of support. It is a breach of social contract between the Governor and the followers, and bane of good governance.

Genuine demonstration or protest against obnoxious laws and abuse of rights of the people, is also means of a supportive followership. Let us note that slavish acquiescence to law, does not make a good citizen. Supportive followership as a principle of good governance, requires the citizens to be alert and react promptly to actions of bad governance meted against them, as a means of changing the status quo and engender a new order. Those in government should tolerate demonstration, or mass action against bad and anti-people policies. Such actions should be appreciated, as a way of calling them to order.

Withdrawal of support is a way of showing the government in power, that it has derailed from the wishes and aspirations of the people.

Constructive criticism or opposition to those in government, is also a means of supportive followership. Those who are interested in the affairs of government should be able to criticise what is wrong, and proffer viable options for the overall good of the people.

Total abandonment of those in authority, or resigning to being apolitical, amounts to withdrawal of supportive followership.

Members of the political community should see good governance as a collective effort, where they must play their part. Citizens can set up Non-governmental organisations, to address or assist government in tackling some perceived problems of the polity. Civil societies like religious organisations, organised labour, academic unions, student organisations, should be strengthened and help in defending the autonomy of private interest. The civil society and Non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, market associations, professional associations should be able to collaborate and mobilise the citizens to stand against democratic abuses, obnoxious laws and policies; roguery in positions of power, election rigging etc. The end will be a massive withdrawal of support in the form of mass action, strikes, demonstrations etc, until government purges itself of the toga of enslavement and maltreatment of the people.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Good governance requires working toward common ground. It isn't easy.” (Pete Hoekstra)

XI

TUESDAY, APR ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž ŝƉƐ Ϭ͘ϭй

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƚŽ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Ϯ͕ϱϯϭ͘ϵϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ 'd K ;Ͳ Ϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;ͲϬ͘ϱйͿ͘ ƵŵƵůĂͲ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϭ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Price Previous Current Price Change Change Price YTD Index to Weighting Change Date

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

2531.91

-0.09%

36.5%

153.2%

24.0%

4.8%

1,479.00

0.0%

34.8%

-9.5%

-9.5%

18.7%

6.3%

102.00

0.0%

11.5%

56.9%

56.9%

38.4%

15.1%

19.4x

7.5x

3.7%

97.85

0.0%

7.3%

0.1%

0.1%

25.0%

12.6%

32.8x

8.1x

3.0%

3.0%

240.00

0.0%

7.5%

11.6%

11.6%

119.8%

14.4%

13.6x

14.6x

6.7%

7.3%

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Foods PLC

dŚĞ ĞĂƌƐ KƉĞŶ ƚŚĞ DŽŶƚŚ͙ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϵďƉƐ

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

dŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĐŽŵŵĞŶĐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŽŶ Ă ŶĞŐĂͲ ƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ϵďƉƐ ƚŽ ϱϰ͕ϭϴϰ͘ϯϰ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕

d/ ;Ͳϯ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h^dK / E ;Ͳϴ͘ϵйͿ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϱ͘ϳй ;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ͗ ϱ͘ϴйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ʬϮϲ͘ϮďŶ ƚŽ ʬϮϵ͘ϱƚŶ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϰϳ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϯϱ͘ϯϳй ƚŽ ϮϵϮ͘ϲŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ ʬϮ͘ϰďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƉƵƌǀŝĞǁ ǁĂƐ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ĂƐ ϯ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐͲ ƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ Kŝů

Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͛ ĐŚĂƌƚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϯϮďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϯϭďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ĂĐͲ ĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ d ZE ;Ͳϵ͘ϲйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;Ͳ ϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ , DW/KE ;Ͳϲ͘ϯйͿ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞͲ ƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ d/ ;Ͳϯ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ

5 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 6 Zenith Bank PLC 7 Dangote Cement PLC

ĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ďƵLJ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŽŶ D E^ Z ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ // K ;нϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ > ^ K ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ǁĞĂŬ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚƐ͘

0.8x

8.3%

14.3%

1.7% 5.2%

25.40

-0.4%

4.7%

10.4%

10.4%

20.5%

3.1%

4.1x

0.9x

11.8%

24.3%

25.80

-0.2%

4.5%

7.5%

7.5%

20.7%

2.6%

3.6x

0.6x

12.4%

27.6%

0.0%

3.4%

3.4%

3.4%

37.2%

15.0%

12.1x

4.4x

7.5%

8.2%

2.3%

1.4%

1.4%

24.6%

2.2%

2.0x

0.4x

3.2%

50.4%

26.00

0.0%

5.8%

8.3%

179.6%

13.5%

9.5%

7.8x

1.0x

11.5%

12.8%

10 Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,080.30

0.0%

1.8%

-1.8%

-1.8%

122.7%

13.7%

18.4x

20.7x

5.7%

5.4%

11 Access Holdings PLC

9.00

0.0%

1.9%

5.9%

5.9%

19.2%

1.5%

1.8x

0.3x

2.2%

55.6%

12 SEPLAT Energy PLC

1,150.00

0.0%

1.7%

4.5%

4.5%

3.5%

1.7%

23.2x

0.8x

3.8%

4.3%

13 United Bank for Africa PLC

8.40

0.6%

1.7%

10.5%

10.5%

16.5%

1.4%

1.7x

0.4x

13.3%

57.6%

14 Ecobank Transnational Inc

10.90

-3.1%

1.2%

2.8%

2.8%

19.9%

1.1%

2.0x

0.5x

4.6%

49.9%

15 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

37.00

0.0%

1.1%

-9.8%

-9.8%

7.5%

2.4%

28.6x

1.7x

3.6%

3.5%

16 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

37.60

0.0%

1.3%

12.4%

12.4%

20.2%

2.7%

5.6x

1.2x

9.2%

17.8%

17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

183.50

0.0%

1.1%

11.2%

11.2%

43.8%

25.7%

10.1x

4.7x

6.5%

9.9%

18 Fidelity Bank PLC

5.36

0.2%

1.0%

23.2%

23.2%

15.0%

1.3%

3.3x

0.5x

1.9%

30.3%

19 International Brew eries PLC

4.20

-6.7%

0.7%

-10.6%

-10.6%

-17.1%

-4.5%

20 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

31.00

0.0%

0.8%

9.2%

9.2%

11.4%

2.5%

6.0x

0.7x

7.1%

21 Guinness Nigeria PLC

70.00

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.0%

13.4%

5.1%

14.1x

2.0x

11.0%

7.1%

22 FCMB Group Plc

4.15

0.0%

0.5%

7.8%

7.8%

12.7%

1.2%

2.5x

0.3x

4.8%

39.5%

23 United Capital PLC

11.55

3.1%

0.3%

-17.5%

-17.5%

30.4%

1.8%

7.2x

2.1x

13.0%

13.9%

24 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

2.09

10.0%

0.4%

4.5%

4.5%

8.4%

2.3%

5.7x

0.7x

14.4%

17.5%

25 Presco PLC

150.80

0.0%

0.4%

9.7%

9.7%

53.4%

13.5%

7.8x

3.5x

1.4%

12.8%

26 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

17.00

0.0%

0.4%

5.9%

5.9%

36.5%

12.9%

3.8x

1.2x

8.8%

26.5%

27 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

10.80

-3.6%

0.3%

-4.8%

-4.8%

29.0%

8.7%

3.6x

1.1x

9.4%

27.5%

28 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.38

-0.7%

0.3%

22.1%

22.1%

17.6%

4.1%

29.0x

0.5x

3.6%

3.5%

29 Wema Bank PLC

4.00

0.0%

0.2%

2.6%

2.6%

16.9%

1.0%

3.8x

0.6x

6.0%

26.5%

11.4%

22.1%

32.7%

30 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri

1.0x

-19.1% 16.5%

218.80

0.0%

0.2%

13.4%

13.4%

31 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

7.00

0.0%

0.2%

9.4%

9.4%

4.1%

0.4%

10.1x

0.8x

32 Custodian and Allied Insurance

5.65

0.0%

0.1%

-5.0%

-5.0%

18.4%

5.5%

3.1x

0.5x

11.5%

33 Jaiz Bank PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

0.91

1.1%

0.1%

-1.1%

-1.1%

24.5%

1.6%

5.9x

1.4x

54.9%

16.9%

26.95

0.0%

0.1%

10.0%

10.0%

16.9%

1.9%

3.7x

0.7x

9.3%

26.8%

35 Unilever Nigeria PLC

13.50

0.0%

0.1%

16.4%

16.4%

8.9%

5.2%

13.0x

1.1x

1.9%

36 Oando PLC

5.75

0.9%

0.1%

46.7%

46.7%

37 Sterling Bank PLC 38 Champion Brew eries PLC

1.60

0.0%

0.1%

14.3%

14.3%

12.4%

1.1%

2.5x

0.3x

5.20

-6.3%

0.0%

-5.5%

-5.5%

16.8%

11.7%

25.4x

3.9x

3.9%

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

62.50

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-13.0%

-2.8%

1.9x

-18.9%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

6.90

0.0%

0.0%

10.4%

10.4%

4.5x

9.9%

-21.5%

27.5x

6.3%

1.1x

1.9%

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

M A N SA R D

2.09

10.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

79.7

0.2%

LA SA C O

1.21

10.0%

T R A N SC OR P

28.8

-0.7%

NA HCO

8.90

9.9%

UB A

26.8

0.6%

17.1

0.0%

IKEJ A H OT EL

1.32

8.2%

A C C ESSC OR P

F T N C OC OA

0.28

7.7%

OA N D O

13.0

0.9%

12.0

10.0% 10.0%

C WG

0.92

5.7%

M A N SA R D

J A P A ULGOLD

0.29

3.6%

LA SA C O

11.7

GT C O

10.4

-0.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

8.2

-0.2%

R OYA LEX

8.0

-3.8%

0.60

3.4%

UC A P

11.55

3.1%

M B EN EF IT

0.33

3.1%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

SC OA

P ric e 0.90

P ric e C hg % -10.0%

UA C N

8.60

-9.9%

SUN UA SSUR

0.47

-9.6%

ET ER N A

6.15

-9.6%

0.34

-8.1%

T ic k er

Value

F ID ELIT YB K

426.8

P ric e C hg % 0.2%

GT C O

265.5

-0.4%

UB A

224.1

0.6%

Z EN IT H B A N K

210.9

-0.2%

A C C ESSC OR P

153.6

0.0%

SEP LA T

117.2

0.0%

R T B R ISC OE

0.23

-8.0%

WA P IC

0.37

-7.5%

NB

105.1

0.0%

N EST LE

101.9

0.0%

IN T B R EW

4.20

-6.7%

C H A M P ION

5.20

-6.3%

WA P C O

76.2

0.0%

-5.6%

OA N D O

73.6

0.9%

UP D C

1.01

7.7% -132.9%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a in e r s

A B CTRA NS

ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ tĞƐƚ ĨƌŝĐĂ >ŝŵŝƚĞĚ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

-0.5%

T ic k er

ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ŝŶ

4.9x

P/BV

11.05

ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ǁĂŶĞĚ ƚŽ ͲϬ͘Ϭϴdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϭϬdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ϭϳ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ͕ ϮϮ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϲϲ

P/E

270.00

A IIC O

KƵƚůŽŽŬ

ROA

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC

ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĚŽǁŶ ϮϲďƉƐ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ

ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ŽŶ ĂĐͲ

ROE

ƌŽŬĞƌĂŐĞ

ƐƐĞƚ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ

ĚĞĚŽLJŝŶ ůůĞŶ ͮ ĂĂůůĞŶΛĂĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ͘ĐŽŵ

ZŽďĞƌƚ KŵŽƚƵŶĚĞ ͮ ƌŽŵŽƚƵŶĚĞΛĂĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ͘ĐŽŵ

ďŝŽĚƵŶ <ĞƌŝƉĞ ͮ <ĞƌŝƉĞΛĂĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ͘ĐŽŵ

dĂŝǁŽ KŐƵŶĚŝƉĞ ͮ ƚŽŐƵŶĚŝƉĞΛĂĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ͘ĐŽŵ

ŚƌŝƐƚŽƉŚĞƌ KŵŽŚ ͮ ĐŽŵŽŚΛĂĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ͘ĐŽŵ

ĂŵŝůĂƌĞ ƐŝŵŝLJƵ ͮ ĚĂƐŝŵŝLJƵΛĂĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ͘ĐŽŵ

40.3%

3.6%

XII

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, ͰͮͰͱ ˾T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Trump in New York to Face Hush Money Criminal Case Former US President Donald Trump has arrived in New York, where he plans to spend Monday night at his Trump Tower residence and then turn himself in Tuesday to face a criminal indictment, the first-ever filed against a current or former US leader.

It is not known how Trump’s appearance at a state courthouse will play out.

But his lawyers say he emphatically will plead not guilty to charges linked to his $130,000 hush money payment to a porn actor just ahead of his 2016 presidential election victory to silence her about her claim of an alleged tryst with him a decade earlier. Trump has long denied the claim.

Cable networks tracked each minute of Trump’s voyage to New York on Monday, from his Mar-a-Lago home in the southern US state of Florida to Trump Tower in Manhattan. The former president passed cheering supporters during his motorcade ride from his home to the airport in nearby West Palm Beach, where he travelled in his Boeing 757, painted in red, white and blue and emblazoned with his name in big letters.

The former president disembarked from the plane at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, purposefully walking down the plane’s steps alone. Wearing a blue suit and red tie, he then took a motorcade to Trump Tower.

Officials familiar with the indictment say a grand jury last week charged the 76-year-old former president with more than 30 counts of criminal wrongdoing.

The indictment remains sealed, and the exact charges and possibly supporting evidence could remain secret until the indictment is publicly disclosed at Trump’s arraignment Tuesday before Judge Juan Merchan in New York State Supreme Court.

not recognize the arbitration decision.

According to the Malaysian state news agency Bernama, the issue was raised at a meeting between Anwar and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Malaysia’s state energy firm Petronas has its largest oil platform in the disputed area and several exploration projects, which Anwar wants to safeguard.

Addressing his department on Monday, Anwar said he told the Chinese, “As a small country that needs oil and gas resources, we have to continue.

But if the condition is that there must be negotiation” to project Malaysian projects, “then we are ready to negotiate.”

The plan, which would see a tightening of government control over judicial appointments and give parliament the power to overturn many Supreme Court decisions, triggered unprecedented nationwide demonstrations, some involving military reservists saying they might refuse call-ups.

With tensions running high during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which coincides with the Jewish Passover this year, Netanyahu decided to hold off on replacing the former navy admiral until an unspecified time.

UN Calls for Urgent Help for Malawi Cyclone Survivors

India’s Opposition Leader Gandhi Appeals Conviction in Defamation Case A court in India has suspended a twoyear prison sentence handed down to opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, pending his appeal in a criminal defamation case that led to his expulsion from parliament ahead of next year ’s general elections.

Gandhi was accompanied by his sister, Priyanka Vadra, and several senior party leaders in his Congress Party as he appeared in a Gujarat court on Monday to appeal his conviction. The court is set to hear the petition on April 13.

Gandhi was sentenced in connection with a comment he made at an election rally in 2019 where he asked, “Why do all thieves have the name Modi” and mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name and two fugitive businessmen, Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi.

The case against Gandhi was filed by Purnesh Modi, a lawmaker in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the prime minister’s home state of Gujarat, who alleged that the comments defamed the entire Modi community.

A lawmaker who is convicted and sentenced to a prison term of two years or more faces disqualification from parliament, according to Indian law.

More significantly, Gandhi will not be able to contest general elections scheduled to be held next year unless the sentence is suspended or he is acquitted following his appeal.

The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Malawi are calling for $70.6 million to help more than a million people affected by Cyclone Freddy.

The storm also hit Mozambique and Madagascar, killing hundreds of people and displacing more than 650,000 in southern Malawi.

The UN says the flash appeal will provide shelter, nutrition, health, water and sanitation for those hardest hit by the crisis.

The appeal comes on top of the $45.3 million called for earlier this year by humanitarian partners to respond to a cholera outbreak, bringing the total revised flash appeal to $115.9 million.

The UN says the funds would enable it to work swiftly to support the Malawi government-led response to assist communities affected by Cyclone Freddy and cholera.

UN resident coordinator in Malawi, Rebecca Adda-Dontoh, said Malawians have mobilized to support one another in this time of tremendous need, and the appeal aimed to step up solidarity as the international community.

The cyclone destroyed many bridges and cut off roads in Malawi, making many areas reachable only by boats and aircraft.

Government statistics show that the cyclone left at least 676 people dead, and the death toll is expected to rise as more than 600 others are still missing.

Israel’s Netanyahu Puts Defence Minister’s Sacking on Hold Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will delay the dismissal of his defence chief, announced over a week ago after the minister called for a halt to the government’s flagship justice overhaul, a source close to the matter said Monday.

Netanyahu announced on March 26 he was firing Yoav Gallant, following Gallant’s public call to pause the bitterly contested plans for the judiciary, which opened social divisions he said were affecting the military and threatening Israel’s security.

US-China Relations under Scrutiny as Taiwan Leader Stops in California Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen returns to the United States this week, where she will meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers in the event that Beijing has said it firmly opposes.

Tsai will talk with McCarthy and a group of other lawmakers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday in what McCarthy’s office calls a “bipartisan” meeting.

Last week, a Foreign Ministry

spokesperson said China firmly opposes the meeting and will “closely follow the development of the situation and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

It’s still unclear whether Tsai and McCarthy will make public remarks together. Officials have described the meeting as “private.” The location is seen particularly meaningful because a key part of the US-China policy known as the Six Assurances was issued under the Reagan administration and became a fundamental part of Washington’s own One China policy.

Under the Six Assurances, the US has not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan, nor has the US altered its position regarding sovereignty over Taiwan. The US also promised never to pressure Taiwan to negotiate with Beijing.

Iranian, Saudi Foreign Ministers to Meet Soon The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia spoke by telephone Sunday evening and agreed to meet each other in the coming days, according to Iranian state media.

The state-run IRNA news agency reported that the exact time and place for the meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud were still to be determined.

Tehran and Riyadh cut diplomatic relations in January 2016 after the attacks of supporters of the Iranian government on Saudi diplomatic centres in Tehran and Mashhad.

On March 19, the two countries agreed to resume relations in an agreement mediated by China.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed that development, saying last month, “From our perspective, anything that can help reduce tensions, avoid conflict, and curb in any way dangerous or destabilizing actions by Iran is a good thing.”.

Malaysia Open to Talks with Beijing over South China Sea Dispute Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Monday the country is prepared to negotiate with Beijing over an ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea. China claims to own in its entirety the South China Sea, a key waterway that $3 trillion in trade passes through annually. However, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam have overlapping claims to the passage.

The US routinely sends naval vessels through it to assert freedom of navigation in international waters.

An international arbitration ruling in 2016 said Beijing’s claim has no legal basis. China maintains it does

ISIS-K Leader in Alleged Audio Message Discusses Afghanistan Losses An official pro-Taliban media outlet in Afghanistan has released an alleged audio clip of the leader of the local affiliate of Islamic State in which the man acknowledges his group’s significant recent losses.

“Only a few of our comrades are left, and their number can be counted on the fingers,” Shahab al-Muhajir, the so-called emir of IS-Khorasan, said in the Pashto language in a message to his group.

The militant commander also spoke about the killings of key leaders in recent Taliban counterterrorism operations against IS-Khorasan hideouts in the capital of Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan.

The al-Mersaad state-affiliated channel, which released the audio, is working to counter IS-Khorasan terrorist propaganda, according to Taliban officials.

There has been no comment from IS-Khorasan on the alleged audio clip attributed to its leader.

VOA has not independently confirmed the speaker’s identity.

Taliban security sources tell VOA the audio clip is that of al-Muhajir, whose real name is Sanaullah Ghafari, and said that he is a resident of Kabul.

Abdul Sayed, a Sweden-based independent researcher on jihadists, said that Islamic State official sources had never released any audio message from al-Muhajir until now.

Sayed noted that al-Muhajir had named a slain IS-K commander, Mualawi Muhammad, also known as Mualawi Ziauddin, in the audio and declared his death “a heavy loss” for the group. The Taliban killed Ziauddin in an operation in the northern Afghan province of Balkh on March 26.

NASA Announces Diverse International Crew for First Moon Mission Since 1970s ”It’s been more than a half century since astronauts journeyed to the moon — that’s about to change,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson as he stood before the current astronaut corps as well as veterans of the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs at Johnson Space Center’s Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. The crowd was gathered for the historic announcement of the crew for Artemis II — Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen.

“This is humanity’s crew,” said Nelson, emphasizing the diverse makeup of the international crew, all in their 40s.

“We choose to go back to the moon and on to Mars, and we are going to do it together because in the 21st century, NASA explores the cosmos with international partners.”

International Space Station veteran Reid Wiseman is the mission commander for Artemis II, while engineer Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen will serve as mission specialists. Hansen is the first international astronaut scheduled to launch on a mission to the moon, while Koch would make history as the first woman to take part in such a journey.

“Am I excited? Absolutely,” Koch said to the cheering audience during the announcement ceremony. “But my real question is: Are you excited?”

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY APRIL 4, 2023

IMAGES

L-R: Deputy Director, Public Affairs, NAFDAC , Mrs. Christiana Obiazikwor; Executive Secretary, Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), Mr. John Ichue; representative of the Minister of Health, Mrs. Olubunmi Aribeana; and Advocacy Lead, DIBAN, Mobolaji Alalade, during the launch of the third phase of the campaign ‘Against Underage Drinking and Excessive Consumption of Alcohol’, in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

XIII Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Representative of the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Strategy/Director, Public Relations in the ministry, Mrs. Grace Akpan; Principal, St. Mary’s Senior Science College, Ediene-Abak, Mr. Paul Nkanta; Managing Director/CEO, Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATECH), Dr. Emmanuel C. Okon; Boys Senior Prefect of the school, Master Gabriel Sam; Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, Mr. Uduak Obot; and Girls Senior Prefect of the school, Miss Awesome Udoh, during the inauguration of Biology and Chemistry laboratories built and donated by EATECH to the school in Abak, Akwa Ibom State...recently

L-R: Director, Internal Audit, Airtel Nigeria, Ngozi Akamelu; Director, Airtel Business, Ogo Ofomata; former Director-General, Nigeria Securities and Exchange Commission (NSE), Arunma Oteh; Director, Human Resources, Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias; and Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Airtel Nigeria, Chioma Okolie, during the launch of Airtel Women Network at the Airtel headquarters on Banana Island, Lagos…recently

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke (left), and United States Consul-General, Mr. Will Stevens (right), during his courtesy visit to the governor at his office in Abere, Osogbo, Osun State…recently

L-R: Managing Director and CEO, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Olukayode Pitan, and President of LCCI, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, during the courtesy visit of LCCI executives to the BoI in Lagos...recently

L-R: Deputy Chief Executive, Geregu Power Plc, Julius Owotuga; Chief Executive Officer, Akin Akinfemiwa; Independent non-Executive Director, Doron Grupper; Chairman of the power company, Femi Otedola; Independent non-Executive Director, Anil Dua; Independent non-Executive Director, John Robert Lee; Independent non-Executive Director, Paul Miyonmide Gbededo; non-Executive Director, Christopher Adeyemi; and non-Executive Director, Olawunmi Christine Otedola, during the 11th Annual General Meeting of Geregu Power Plc in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

XIV

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY APRIL 4, 2023

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email: chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Prison Decongestion in Sight as Item Moves to Concurrent List Udora Orizu writes that end to prison congestion may be in sight, following President Muhammadu Buhari's assent to a Bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to move correctional centers from Exclusive legislative list to Concurrent legislative list

A

fortnight ago President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to move correctional centers from the Exclusive legislative list to the Concurrent legislative list.

Over the years, prison security and administration in the country has been a matter of debate and criticism, particularly since the breach of security at Kuje Maximum Custodial Centre in July 2022.

Issues of dilapidated prison structures, congestion, high number of awaiting trial inmates and other related matters, have been of concern to many.

For decades, there has been a steady rise in the Nigerian prison population. The prison population in the country comprises of adult males and females and young persons. More than 60 percent of prison admissions are waiting trial or being remanded in custody.

Factors identified as causing overcrowding in prisons include delays in the administration of justice, overuse of prison sentences by judges, over-criminalisation, and lack of adequate resources to build new prisons.

One particular factor responsible for congestion of detention and custodial facilities is the difficult bail system and perceived reluctance of judicial officers to grant bail to inmates especially for offences that are ordinarily bailable.

In a report from the Ministry of Interior months ago, it was disclosed that the entire national custodial facilities have maximum capacity for 57,278 inmates, however, the total population of inmates all the facilities across the nation was given at 68,747 inmates.

The governmental data showed that the facilities were congested by 18 per cent.

The report noted that 50,992 inmates, representing 74 per cent of the total population of inmates are awaiting trial, while only 17,755 inmates had been tried and convicted.

This overcrowding has led to side effects that inmates experiences and they include damage to physical and mental health and human rights violations.

The situation is so bad that the right which grants that those awaiting to be accommodated in separate units should be kept apart from convicted prisoners, is not possible due to the level of congestion in the correctional centres.

The congestion problem got to a terrifying point that in 2021, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, had freed over 10,000 inmates in the past four years.

Also in 2020, in outbreak of COVID-19, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in a bid to curb the disease spread released 3,751 inmates consisting of convicts and persons awaiting trial.

This was in response first to the order by President Muhammadu Buhari and second, a subsequent instruction by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad to the chief judges of the states and the Federal Capital Territory to decongest the correctional facilities under their respective jurisdictions.

While Buhari hinged his order on the expediency imposed by the danger of COVID-19, the former CJN on his part, was prompted by a charge from the United Nations to, consciously reduce the population of inmates since physical distancing and self-isolation in such conditions are practically impossible.

Similarly, last year, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said he will meet with state governors to agree on the mass release of at least 30 per cent of inmates from custodial centres across the country.

Aregbesola who made this known when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja said that the interface was necessary as more than 90 per cent of the inmates were being held for contravening various state laws.

Aregbesola also said that over 70 per cent of the 75,635 inmates at present were awaiting trial.

The minister said that the federal offenders in

Prisoners in jail

President Buhari the system were far less than 10 per cent, adding that the bulk of people in custody were those who had run foul of state laws.

He said that they were therefore being kept under the legal jurisdiction of their respective states.

The minister added that the decongestion of the 253 custodial centres nationwide was necessary as some of the inmates have no reason to remain in custody.

He said, “I have written the Nigerian Governors Forum to allow me to come and address them on how they can support the process of decongestion.

Because the governors must buy into this system for us to do a massive decongestion especially of Awaiting Trial Inmates. If we get the buy in of state judicial authorities and the government of the states, we can pull out 30 per cent of those who are there."

While the federal government in response to these issues has in one way or another initiated holistic prison reforms, including the modernisation of custodial centres to ensure the reforma-

Bill sponsor, Hon. Kalu tion and rehabilitation of inmates, stakeholders have stressed the need to build new facilities and redesign the bail system.

This need for the improvement of custodial facilities in the country, led the House of Representatives Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu to sponsor a constitutional amendment bill which seeks to move Correctional Services from Exclusive list to Concurrent legislative List.

The Bill which was listed among the 16 bills assented to by Mr. President on March 17th, 2023 was first read on the 24th of November, 2020, and passed for second reading on the 23rd of February, 2021.

Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State had in his lead debate lamented that the problem of prison congestion in the country is huge.

He stated that the bill also seeks to enable states to share in the responsibility of prison funding and management which would help check indiscriminate imprisonment of people for minor offenses created by state laws.

According to him, "For instance, the March 2019 edition of the Lagos State Criminal Information System revealed that though the five prisons in Lagos State have a combined holding capacity of 4,087, they were holding 9,044 inmates. A former

More prisons must be built. Achieving total reform of the reformatory institutions in Nigeria won’t be possible until we take deliberate & bold steps to encourage our federating units to be part of the establishment & running of correctional facilities in their respective domains

Comptroller of Prisons in Lagos State, Mr. Tunde Ladipo, said the Badagry Prison, which was built to house only a little over 100 inmates, was at a time holding over 700 inmates. In fact, there are 240 prisons in Nigeria with an official capacity of 50,153 inmates but currently holding over 74,000 inmates. This is an obstacle to the implementation of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (a.k.a. Mandela Rules) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

"Of course, there are also Covid-19 concerns,, especially in the context of social distancing protocols.

Concerns have also been raised about the practicability of Section 12(8) of the new Nigerian Correctional Service Act empowering the State Comptroller of Correctional Service to reject additional inmates when the facility under his watch is full. The question that easily comes to mind includes: where will the inmates be taken to? Will such an inmate be released, particularly where he has been alleged to have committed heinous crimes?

"More prisons must be built. Achieving total reform of the reformatory institutions in Nigeria won’t be possible until we take deliberate & bold steps to encourage our federating units to be part of the establishment & running of correctional facilities in their respective domains. Once this is done, the federating units can cater for many of the inmates in prisons and correctional centers who committed state offenses and that of course will lessen the burden of the Federal Government.”

Following President Buhari's assent to the bill, the House Spokesman expressed delight that states will now have the power to establish Correctional and Custodial facilities, and State Assemblies will have the power to legislate over it.

The lawmaker while commending the President noted that it will significantly reduce the current congestion of correctional centers in Nigeria while enhancing the human rights of inmates who are entitled to basic living space.

He added this is another milestone for him as a legislator as this is his third bill being signed by the President in his first tenure as a Representative.

He said, "I am glad that my input to the constitutional amendment was approved by the Parliament and assented to by Mr. President. I am proud that Bende is part of the effort to present a better constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Going forward state offenders will go to State prisons while Federal offenders to Federal prisons. I thank the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase for their support to this bill over the last three years”.

XV

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY APRIL 4, 2023

PERSPECTIVE

An Alien in my Country: Every Nigerian's Reality Orondaam Otto

T

his is our collective story. A story that every Nigerian is an alien in Nigeria.

I was born in Zaria, Kaduna State, to parents from southern Nigeria. I spent my early years in Kaduna before my parents moved to my "state of origin," Rivers State. Nevertheless, I would never be classified as an "indigene" or “citizen” of Kaduna State. But if I had been born in the UK or the U.S.A., I would have.

Twenty-two years later, I was posted to Lagos State for my National Youth Service by the Federal Government. Since 2011, I have lived in Lagos and served my country for 12 years; however, I would also never be classified as an indigene of Lagos. But if I had moved to Canada or Australia, I would have.

If I get married to a woman from Anambra state and we decide to live in Enugu, myself, my wife, and our children would never be indigenes of either states because, in my country, every "non-indigene" is a stranger, irrespective of their place of birth, duration of residence, marital ties, or social or economic investment. And this is the root of our division.

In 1956, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first and only premier of northern Nigeria, whose picture is on the 200 naira notes, in a bid to improve the representation of northerners, introduced the "northernization" policy that promoted northerners living in the north above other ethnicities. While the policy was born out of good intentions, today, similar policies are practiced across the country, which are eroding the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians across the country.

In 1965, Sir Ahmadu Bello took it too far when he said, "We do not want to go to Lake Chad and meet strangers catching our fish in the water and taking them away to leave us with nothing." We do not want to go to Sokoto and find a carpenter who is a stranger nailing our houses. "I do not want to go to the Sabon-Gari in Kano and find strangers making the body of a lorry, or to go to the market and see butchers who are not Northerners."

Sir. Ahmadu Bello was an influential leader who loved his people and wanted them to be well-educated and compete with other ethnicities, so he prioritized them through the North First ideology. He promoted education in the north, creating the first university in the region, which was where I was born (Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital). However, all other regions also adopted the "we first" mentality, strengthening ethnic prejudice.

A friend of mine, Dr. Abayomi, was born in Kano State to parents who have lived in Kano for 62 years. Yomi has never been to Ekiti State, where his parents are from; neither can he speak Ekiti, a dialect of Yoruba, but he speaks Hausa fluently. He went to school at Bayero University, but although he is married to a woman from Kano, he and his children are discriminated against and ethnically profiled as nonIndigenes in a land where he was born, lives, works, is married, and has been called home his whole life.

Why does this still happen after 60+ years of independence and 100+ years of amalgamation?

Nigeria is a remarkably diverse country with more than 250 different ethnic groups, many of which had no real ties or relationships to one another before the British government forced (amalgamated) all of us into the same colony in 1914.

Before 1914, many of these tribes got along better with each other. However, since then, there has been a lot of competition and conflict between ethnic groups as people move from one region to another, marry people of different ethnic backgrounds, and do business across regions.

To create a sense of belonging for the "ancestral natives,” every state and local government in Nigeria divided its residents into two groups: those who are considered “indigenes” and those who are not.

Indigenes were said to be those who could trace their ancestry to that place, while everyone else, regardless of if they were born there, married there, or how long

Otto they or their relatives have called that place home, will forever be non-indigenes. To put it more frankly, they are considered second-class citizens and are usually treated like foreigners.

This discriminatory policy claims to protect the culture, traditions, language, and values of ethnic groups so that non-indigenes do not erase them. But all over the world, cultural values are kept alive by adopting policies that include everyone and don't rely on tribal discrimination and ethnic profiling, which exclude and marginalize people whose ancestors are not from that area.

It is ironic that the federal government, on the one hand, spends billions of dollars with the goal of promoting national unity, yet sustains discriminatory policies that directly counter these efforts.

What is the essence of the NYSC program that aims to promote national integration when citizens will be forced to live as second-class citizens when they work, get married, or reside in those states?

Why do we claim to be a federation, yet we place more value on ethnicity, which makes being a Nigerian meaningless?

Why do we allocate funds monthly from revenueproducing states to states that don’t produce substantial revenue, yet discriminate against those natives when they move to those states?

Why do we feel comfortable hiring expatriates for contracts

but uncomfortable hiring Nigerians who come from a different ethnicity?

In a BBC interview in 1965, Sir Ahmadu Bello speaks about the northernization policy where northerners and then foreign expatriates will be considered for opportunities in the north, before Nigerians from other tribes.

He justifies the northernization policies by saying that northerners aren't employed in the civil service or appointed into political offices in the eastern and western regions so why would more easterners or westerners be employed in the north.

And while that was true in 1965, unfortunately, because of our emphasis on "state of origin", this is still our reality today, both in the north, south, east, and west.

Five years ago, the Lagos State House of Assembly became the first state to pass a law that only students who pass Yoruba language in WAEC or NECO will be offered admission into the Lagos State Universities. While this policy is not different from 1965, Lagos is also not the first state to have such discriminatory policies. In almost all states across the country, there is a similar practice called "catchment area" or "quota system," where preferential treatment is given to indigenes over non-indigenes.

Why would an indigene who scores 60% in the Post-UTME be offered admission to the university before a non-indigene who scores 70%? Why would a non-indigene be forbidden from applying for state academic scholarships even if they lived there all their lives?

Why would non-indigenous people be admitted to state-owned universities on the condition that they pay double the tuition fees as indigenous people?

Why would a child born to a Yoruba mother in Lagos State be denied his state rights because his father is from Imo State?

In Nigerian politics, the practice of

zoning the positions of the president, vice president, senate president e.t.c between ethnic tribes could have been born out of good intentions for equity, however, it is similar to treating the symptoms of a disease as opposed to curing the disease.

And all around the world, we have seen how the struggle for power, legitimacy, and superiority led to ethnic cleansing and genocides. Wherever this happened, it always follows a pattern as shown below.

There are several horrifying examples, such as the massacre of Armenians by the Turks during World War I, the extermination of six million European Jews by the Nazis during the Holocaust, the forced migration and mass killings in the former Yugoslavia, and the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, where almost a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed with machetes by the Hutus in less than 100 days and even the genocide that happened during the Nigerian Civil war.

So how do we diffuse this ticking atomic bomb before it detonates right in our homes? How do we build a more united Nigeria where citizens of Nigeria are not discriminated against in the local communities where they call home?

For Nigeria to be more united, we need to abolish the divisive concept of "state of origin," which is hidden under the Federal Character provision in the 1999 constitution.

We need to realize that restricting the rights and privileges of citizens to the villages of their ancestors is outdated, tribalistic, and a major root cause of the division in Nigeria.

We need to replace “state of origin” with "state of residence" while preserving the diverse cultures of each ethnicity.

We can achieve this using generally agreeable guidelines where indigeneship is given based on duration of stay, place of birth, marital tie and several other justifiable provisions etc.

When this is done, we will have lesser conflicts, improved national unity, peace, and the faster gross development of our nation. What this will mean in practice is that, when myself or my friend Dr. Abayomi knows that by law we are given equal rights in Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Ekiti, Anambra, Rivers, or Lagos States to run for elected positions without having a godfather, be granted scholarships legitimately, and our children will not be discriminated against in state-owned institutions, we will take these states as our home if we decide to reside there, accepting their cultures and ensuring that they become successful.

All across Nigeria, Nigerians will do the same, including the "Hausas" in Anambra, the "Igbos" in Ibadan, the "Ibibios" in Sokoto, and the "Ijaws" in Jos. Everyone will love the community they live in, be integrated into its culture, and feel respected.

Nigeria does not need an Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, or Niger Delta president. Nigeria needs a Nigerian president. Nigeria does not need a Christian president and a Muslim vice president. Nigeria needs a Nigerian president and a Nigerian vice president.

We need to stop tribalising, ethnicising, regionalising, and zoning leadership positions. We must build a Nigeria that is detribalised and de-ethnicised. A Nigeria where a Nigerian born or living anywhere in Nigeria is considered a Nigerian first, with equal rights and privileges irrespective of the color of their skin, tone of their accent, sound of their names, or language of their ancestors.

The sooner we set aside our differences and prioritise our strengths, only then will we begin to actualise the true potential of our country, Nigeria. The uniqueness of our diversity, the abundance of our natural wealth, the gift of our mineral resources, and immeasurable talents in our human capital should make us one of the greatest economies in the world and the true giants that we are. The time to act is now!

We need to stop tribalising, ethnicising, regionalising, and zoning leadership positions. We must build a Nigeria that is detribalised and de-ethnicised. A Nigeria where a Nigerian born or living anywhere in Nigeria is considered a Nigerian first, with equal -Otto is a African social entrepreneur, deconsultant, educator, writer and rights and privileges irrespective of the color of their velopment community organiser. He is a public policy skin, tone of their accent, sound of their names, or graduate from Harvard Kennedy School and the founder of the award winning education language of their ancestors social enterprise, Slum2School Africa.

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Sanwo-Olu Rehabilitates Infrastructure to Ease Movement in Ikorodu Bennett Oghifo

L

agos State Government has rehabilitated two major roads in Ikorodu, a vital town in the state, dualising one of them using rigid concrete.

The government rehabilitated the 2.5-kilometre single-lane Oba Sekumade Road, which it listed in the state’s strategic emergency road rehabilitation programme and awarded it for comprehensive upgrading and expansion, using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP). Movement on this road was harrowing, given its deplorable conditions, but the rehabilitation has brought reprieve.

The government also rehabilitated a failed section on T.O.S Benson Road, covering a stretch of 500 metres. To ease vehicular congestion on the T.O.S Benson Road, a comprehensive junction improvement project was done to diffuse traffic towards Ikorodu Roundabout.

These were among the infrastructure the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated at the weekend to ease access to residential and industrial areas in Ibeshe, Igbogbo-Baiyeku, Ebute Ipakodo, Ikorodu town and Ipakodo Mega Jetty Terminal.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who did this inauguration after his re-election two weeks ago, also promised to break ground for the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge in the next two months.

“In the next couple months, we will be doing groundbreaking for the Fourth Mainland Bridge, which will cut across major sections on SagamuIkorodu Expressway before finally opening to

Lagos Ibadan Expressway. We are committed to delivering this project in our second term to completely open Ikorodu to the world.”

He said: “The commissioning of Oba Sekumade Road and the rehabilitation of T.O.S Benson Road is another demonstration of what purposeful governance is all about. These projects reflect our commitment to deliver dividends of democracy and ensure that development touches every nook and cranny of Lagos. These projects are strategic to strengthen various interventions initiated to improve traffic management on this axis.

The hardship being experienced by drivers has been resolved, as we have enhanced connectivity and reduced journey time.”

Sanwo-Olu said the Ikorodu Division would further reap more infrastructure benefits during his second term, stressing that the State Government had gotten the assurance of contractors to accelerate construction work on other infrastructure projects being constructed in the area.

The governor said the ongoing construction of Agric-Isawo Road had reached 60 percent completion, and pledged there would be improvement in the pace of work on Ewu ElepeGberigbe Road, Igbogbo-Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road and Adamo-Agunfoye Road construction.

L-R: Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, HRM Oba Semudeen Kasali; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr Obafemi Hamzat; Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr Mrs Aramide Adeyoye; Sekumade of Ipakodo, HRM Oba Bashir Shotanwa; and Ayangburen of Ikorodu, HRM Oba Kabiru Shotobi, at the official commissioning of the Rehabilitated/ Reconstructed Oba Sekunmade Road, Ipakodo and Strategic Sectional Rehabilitation of T.O.S Benson Road in Ikorodu L.G.A at Dangote Roundabout Ikorodu… recently

He also charged Lagos State Public Works Corporation to race up the work on IgbogboBaiyeku Road in order to improve connectivity within the axis.

Sanwo-Olu said the traffic interchange being developed at Ita Elewa Roundabout will change the transportation landscape of Ikorodu when completed. The project, currently at 55 percent

completion, will open a new BRT corridor within Ikorodu.

He said: “What we are about is ensuring that the next four years come with bigger dividends delivered faster than we have done in our first tenure. There will be accelerated development across the city in the next dispensation. Ikorodu is part of the Greater Lagos that is rising.

Construction Begins at Periwinkle Multibillion Atlantis Project Fadekemi Ajakaiye

T

he construction of Periwinkle Atlantis building, a 16-storey multi billion Naira facility has begun in Lagos, following a groundbreaking ceremony, last week.

Subscribers, vendors, contractors, and stakeholders gathered to witness the turning-ofthe-sod that represented a statement of intent that the company is poised to continue playing

a leading role in the industry going forward.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Periwinkle Residences, Dr. Chiedu Nweke said, “What we are all gathered here today is to witness one of the symbolic moves of Periwinkle Residences to confidently make its statement of intent that we are here to stay. I am excited to announce that the

first 30 units issued sold out within weeks.”

Tracing the short but meteoric rise of the company, Nweke said in just five years, Periwinkle Residences has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

“Periwinkle Residences began in 2017 first as Orange and then Oxygen and it’s been a very short but progressive journey for us.

In 2020, we saw this location and indicated interest because we reasoned that it matched our vision.

“We were told it was owned by the UAC. We went ahead and acquired it in 2021. Today, we have done tremendous work from understanding the soil texture to structuring, architectural work, and marketing to the groundbreaking we are witnessing today. It takes a lot of work and it’s been a long time coming. Apart from the structure of six spaces you are all seeing today, we have about four of these in Lagos alone including a foothold in Eko Atlantic”, Nweke announced.

FG Institutes Task Force to Ease Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Traffic Gridlock Fadekemi Ajakaiye

A

special task force to ease traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been set up, according to the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Mr Umar Bakare.

Bakare stated this during inspection of section one of the Expressway, after a stakeholders’ meeting with law enforcement and traffic regulatory agencies, which was held at the Julius Berger Yard, the site office of the contractor working on this section, at the old Toll Gate

at the Lagos end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Present at the meeting were officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), the Nigeria Police and Julius Berger Plc. According to Bakare, all the issues causing impediments along the LagosIbadan Expressway reconstruction

and rehabilitation project were discussed and resolved during the meeting.

He said the stakeholders had deployed strategies that would ensure moving traffic, but that vehicular traffic could not be completely ruled out at construction points.

He said the contractor was under obligation to work till night hours to achieve speedy completion of the work by the end of this month or early May. He said that the practical implementation of strategies discussed at the stakeholders meeting was reason for the inspection, and

that improvement was already being seen with moving traffic experienced at the weekend.

The meeting was to reassess efforts and review traffic architecture to reduce stress on road users, adding that the collaboration would continue, he said. ”The section one of the project which spans Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu Interchange is over 93 per cent completed.

“The contractor has improved in the operations over the time. We have increased the locations and areas where we are working. We are doing this because of the time and weather,” he said.

‘Julius Berger-AFP is Major Development Partner in Evolution of Fct’ Bennett Oghifo

J

ulius Berger-AFP, the furniture production, home design and implementation wing of the leading construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, hosted its customers to an exclusive reception at its showroom in Abuja.

The event brought the Julius Berger-AFP Management and its highly valued clients together to toast in celebration of its resilience, and progressive quality and growth culture.

The event which was held at the high-end Gana Street Maitama showroom of AFP, was also an opportunity for the AFP and its clients to mutually explore the AFP’s ever widening, globally competitive and classy range of furniture and furnishing options defined by pioneering and efficient home design solutions.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, who was represented by Arc. Olugbadebo Adebowale Ademo, the Director of Public Building in the

L-R: AFP’s Assistant Senior Liaison Manager, Alhaji Kaita Ahmed; AFP’s Managing Director, Oliver Cohnen; Director, FCT Public Building, Arch. Olugbadebo Adebowale Ademo, and Protocol Director, FCT, Sani Musa Daura,at the Julius Berger-AFP event, recently

FCT, stated that the administration is concerned with quality work in and around the city and will always

partner with professional firms that can enhance government efforts. The Minister, who praised the AFP, added that the FCT administration will

always strive to enhance Abuja’s aesthetics to world class. According to the Hon. Minister, “AFP has been a major partner in the development of the city, it is well known for producing high quality furniture over the years. So, we want it to continue to complement the government’s efforts”. The Minister described the establishment and resilient business history of Julius Berger-AFP as very impressive, considering the quality of products the company produces.

“This is what the administration has been looking for, a situation whereby people can come in with a lot of commitment to the City and also provide the necessary services that will complement the efforts of Government by ensuring that Abuja becomes one of the 20th most habitable City in the World.” He added, “The Government has made a lot of efforts to ensure that the aesthetics of the FCT is respected, as we desire and encourage businesses that contribute to the development of the City, respecting the City’s Laws and also requirements of the Abuja Master Plan.”

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023

21

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

A P R I L

S & P INDEX

3 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Nigeria Under-produces OPEC’s Crude Oil Quota by 30.6M Barrels in Two Months

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude producer, drilled 30.6 million less barrels of oil in January and February compared to the quota allocated to the country by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during the period, a THISDAY analysis has indicated.

A review of data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)

for the two months showed that while in January, Nigeria drilled 39 million of the 55 million barrels allocated to it, in February this year, it only managed to produce 36.5 million of the total projected output of 50.4 million barrels.

According to the analysis, in total, Nigeria was expected by the international oil producers’ group to produce 106.2 million barrels of oil in January and February, but could only drill 75.5 million barrels during the period under

consideration.

The 13-member OPEC group distributes oil production quotas to its members based on market conditions to ensure price and supply stability in the global oil market. Nigeria’s share of that quota was 1.8 million barrels per day for both months under review.

For over two years, Nigeria has been unable to meet its OPEC production quota for what it blames on oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

But in the second half of last year, just before production fell to a historic 900,000 bpd, the government in collaboration with local security groups took steps to curb the menace.

The development led to the significant increase in Nigeria’s production to 1.3 million bpd in February, although Africa’s most populous country was supposed to produce 1.8 million bpd for the period.

The erstwhile Minister of

State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, have had to shift the date Nigeria will meet its OPEC production quota several times in the last two years.

However, while Sylva before his exit had pledged that finally, Nigeria was on its way to fulfil its production obligation in May this year, Kyari in February

promised that Nigeria intends to hit 2.2 million bpd, without OPEC restrictions this year.

“We have crossed 1.6 million barrels per day, this is not rocket science. We have a line of sight to recovery to the quota level of 1.8 million barrels per day.

I know that it is not far away probably two to three months maximum. But we will be there and that will bring back partners Continued on page 22

Eko, Ikeja, Abuja Discos to Implement Bilateral Power Purchase Deals with Gencos This Year Peter Uzoho

Three power distribution companies (Discos) including Eko, Ikeja and Abuja Discos will be implementing bilateral power purchase agreements with some Generation Companies (Gencos) of their choice before the end of this year, Managing Director of Eko Disco, Dr Tinuade Sanda, has revealed.

Sanda disclosed this during an exclusive interview with THISDAY in commemoration

of her one year in charge of the power distribution company.

She noted that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had singled out the three Discos as the excellent Discos to start the innitiative.

Sanda said when the bilateral power deal between the three Discos and Gencos take effect, Nigerians would be able to witness improvement in power supply towards the end of the year as the Discos will now be dealing directly with Gencos.

She described the implementation of the partial power activation by the market participants last year, which was ‘botched’ as a step in the right direction.

Sanda stated: “Towards the end of the year we should see some improvement. Some part of last year was really bad. This year is looking better and we hope that it continues to improve. So, in my opinion, I feel that that partial activation implementation was a good one, the right step in the right direction.

FOOD

“I know that the regulator has been talking about Eko, Ikeja, Abuja Discos being the excellent Discos to start full bilateral. What it means is that we are looking to implement bilateral before the end of this year. When this commences, we will be dealing directly with the Gencos and that is when the real change will start in the power sector.

“So, I will buy the energy that I want, I pay for the energy I want, there is gas commitment

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N35,000 – N45,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N35,000 – N45,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N32,500 – N42,000

50KG

KWARA

N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

N35,000 – N45,000

50KG

RIVERS

N36,500 – N46,500

50KG

SOKOTO

50KG

EDO

PRICE

for the energy that I want to buy.

And at the same time, I know that the regulator is trying to be careful in ensuring that they are able to balance the grid, they are able to balance every other interest because everybody in Nigeria is also important, they are all entitled to receive power.”

She, however, noted that lessons had been learnt from the implementation of the failed partial activation, stating that with the introduction of the partial activation last year, there has

been some discipline in the sector.

THISDAY had reported last month that the hope of an improved power supply in Nigeria may have evaporated with the failure of the anticipated minimum 5000 megawatts (mw) Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) activated by market participants in the second quarter of 2022 under the coordination of NERC and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET).

Continued on page 22

T O D AY

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N30,000

BEANS

MAIDU GURI

N22,000 – N30,000

100KG

BENUE

N32,000

50KG BAG

100KG

N32,000

100KG LAGOS

N36,000

KADUNA

50KG

ENUGU

N24,000

100KG

KANO

N35,000

50KG

LAGOS

N26,000

100KG

DELTA

N36,000

N60,000 – N70,000

100KG

DELTA

N35,000

N17,000–N20,000

100KG

ABIA

N36,000

100KG

ABIA

N35,700

SIZE

22

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

COMMODITIES

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG KANO

N20,500

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N60,000

MAIZE

100KG

OYO

N10,000

N24,000 – N35,000

100KG BENUE

N27,000

100KG KANO

N30,000

100KG ENUGU

N16,500

100KG BENUE

N65,000

100KG DELTA

100KG LAGOS

N32,000

N14,000

25CL IBADAN N22,000 — N35,000

100KG PLATEAU

N45,000

100KG

ABIA

N11,000

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N35000 25CL

PH

STATE

GROUNDNUT

T O D AY

PRICE

STATE

SIZE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

NAME OF COMMODITY

25CL

IMO

N24,000 – N36,500

100KG DELTA

N34,000

100KG DELTA

N50,000

50KG

LAGOS

N9,000

25CL

EDO

N20,000 – N35,000

100KG

ABIA

N27,000

100KG LAGOS

N60,000

100KG KANO

N9,400

100KG ENUGU

N23 000

100KG ENUGU

N45,000

50KG

N6,000

25CL ABUJA N25,500 – N35,000

BENUE

NMDPRA Moves to Regularise about 1,000 Unlicensed Petroleum Retail Outlets Peter Uzoho In a review of its method of clamping down on illegal filling stations operating in Nigeria, which it put at about 1,000, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority

(NMDPRA) has said it now intends to engage the operators of the facilities in discussions in order to get them properly registered and licensed.

The Southwest Zonal Coordinator of NMDPRA, Mr. Ayo Cardoso, disclosed this in

Lagos during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the agency’s one-day Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) workshop for downstream players.

Cardoso explained that the decision to now engage the

operators of the unlicensed filling stations was taken by the agency after realising that the routine clamping down on them, shutting the filling stations down and arresting the promoters had not yielded the desired results.

He said the NMDPRA also

realised that it was better to engage them in a special stakeholder meeting where they would be educated on the need for them to come under the licensing regime for proper monitoring and regulation of their activities by the agency.

“I brought it to the fore that

we are also doing the same thing with the stakeholder engagement to tell people that are not licensed, that are operating individually.

We’ve been shutting them down, we’ve been taking them out of business, but what we want to do now is that we are going to engage everybody again, “he said.

NCDMB, FIRS Offer Tax Incentives for Oil Industry R&D Investments S h e l l S p l i t s Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Oil and gas companies desirous to reduce their tax burden and grow profitability should consider increasing investments in research and development (R&D), and take advantage of the incentives provided in existing fiscal laws, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)

and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have canvassed.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Simbi Wabote and the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami, spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at a one-day Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Suppliers’ Tax Awareness Workshop jointly organised by the

two organizations at the NCDMB Conference Hall.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, the Wabote stated that the Finance Act 2021 and other extant tax codes relating to research and development provide attractive tax incentives for oil and gas firms that invest in R&D. He hinted that many oil and gas companies were oblivious of

the opportunities that exist within Nigerian tax laws for the oil industry to harness from investing in Research and Development.

In his remarks, Nami reiterated that: “Research and Development (R&D) have been identified as a veritable means for companies that want to remain competitive and profitable in today’s rapidly changing business environment.”

NEITI Hails Appointment of Chinery as New Regional Director for NRGI Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has welcomed the appointment of Nafi Chinery as the new African Regional Director of the Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI).

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, in a statement, stated that Chinery’s appointment was an important step towards deepening NRGI operations in the West African sub region in particular and sub-Saharan Africa in general.

Chinery, he said, has demonstrated enormous capacity, interest, and passion to addressing some of the gaps

that are widening every day on the flow of international aid to sub-Saharan Africa.

“NEITI is quite excited to work with Ms. Chinery in the areas of Opening Extractives, Energy Transition and Climate Change and in promoting gender and environmental rights issues in the extractives.

NEITI is also looking forward

to ensuring that data from NEITI reports continue to shape the reforms in the extractive sector in Nigeria and within the sub-region,” Orji noted.

NEITI commended the president and the global leadership of the NRGI for its initiative to invest such enormous social

and professional trust for indigenous manpower in the African region which were usually overlooked in the past in such appointments.

He advised Chinery to work with partners like NEITI and multi-stakeholders in the EITI countries in Africa to deepen reforms in resource rich countries.

Renewables Business in CEO Efficiency Drive Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Shell is splitting up its renewables and low-carbon division as part of plans by its Chief Executive Officer, Wael Sawan’s shake-up to boost the energy giant’s returns.

The changes come as Sawan, who took office at the start of the year, has signalled in recent weeks that Shell is considering ditching oil reduction output targets as part of its energy transition plans.

Shell is eliminating the global role of executive vice president for renewable generation held

by Thomas Brostrom, who joined the company in 2021 from Danish renewables giant Orsted, a company spokesperson said.

Wind and solar power businesses will now fall under the

regional heads of Shell Energy, reporting to Executive Vice President Steve Hill, Reuters reported.

At the same time, Shell named Anna Mascolo as executive vice president for low carbon products and sectors, including biofuels, carbon capture and nature-based solutions.

Hill and Mascolo report to Huibert Vigeveno, who heads the downstream and renewables division. The changes were first reported by Bloomberg.

The changes to the renewables business come two months after Sawan announced plans to combine the oil and gas production and liquefied natural gas (LNG) divisions and place the renewables business in the downstream division.

Oil Price Dip: Goldman Sachs Still Bullish, Sees Quick Recovery Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Despite the market panic caused by the collapse of two United States banks, Goldman Sachs has remained bullish, with the Global Head of Commodities for the group, Jeff Currie, insisting that China’s recovery will boost

prices.

“We would argue you are buying the dip at this point. I have never seen a market sell off that sharply, but retain a bullish structure,” Currie said, during a Bloomberg interview.

Goldman is still a believer that we will see a “solid recovery”

from China toward the latter part of the year, as economic activity snaps back from its strict COVID-19 lockdowns.

China activity—and therefore oil demand—has shown signs that it could be ready to take off, although a market panic over the possibility that two U.S. bank

failures could start a contagion has threatened the would-be rally.

West Texas prices has begun to fall off their $122 highs in early June of last year, trading between the low $70s and $80s for the better part of this year. But two weeks ago, when news broke of the SVB bank collapse, WTI

sank further, to just $66.93 per barrel.

Last week, Goldman said that it expected higher oil prices 12 months from now, pointing to a forecast demand increase in China to more than 16 million barrels per day, oilprice reported.

EKO, IKEJA, ABUJA DISCOS TO IMPLEMENT BILATERAL POWER PURCHASE DEALS WITH GENCOS THIS YEAR Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

NERC had on June 15, 2022 announced in Lagos that market participants including Gencos, Discos, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), gas suppliers and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) had signed a contract that would ensure that at least 5000mw of power

was generated, paid for 100 per cent and successfully delivered to consumers on a daily basis with effect from July 1, 2022.

But Gencos attributed the collapse of the partial activation to the imposition of the contract and its terms on them, as well as the lack of key contractual details in

the agreement document handed to them by the regulator.

However, as a fallout of the partial activation, Sanda stated that stakeholders have upped their game and were being careful of not incurring liquidated damages, adding that there was improved

efficiency arising from the activation.

She observed that the gas challenge in the power sector still remains while the vadalism of power facilities was still happening, pointing out that those issues were being addressed by the government.

Sanda added that the securitisation of premium waterfall for the gas companies has also given some level of assurance to the gas companies that they would get paid, maintaining that that has improved and helped generation to some extent.

NIGERIA UNDER-PRODUCES OPEC’S CRUDE OIL QUOTA BY 30.6M BARRELS IN TWO MONTHS to invest, return the confidence of our investors and ultimately bring back growth.

“For us, we see a trajectory of restoring production including condensates within the year. We believe we can hit a target of 2.2 million bpd, but our budget target is 1.8 million bpd, but we know that it is practical to do 2.2 million bpd within 2023,” he said on at least two occasions in February.

On his part, Sylva who pro-

jected that normalcy will return

by May this year, stressed that: “Once we are able to build enough confidence in the security of the pipelines, producers will then be able to inject into the pipelines once again.”

However, when the NUPRC data is analysed against the 1.69 million barrels per day oil production benchmark in the 2023 Nigerian budget in contrast to the OPEC production quota of 1.8 mil-

lion bpd, the deficit reduced, with the country recording about 23.7 million barrels in both months.

A recent THISDAY’s review showed that with that huge deficit production recorded in January and February, despite the rise in production and against the $83 price per barrel of oil for both months, the country could have lost as much as $2 billion in gross revenue, translating to about N920 billion at the N460 to a dollar

official exchange rate.

In recent times, the largest volume of production has come in from Forcados with 6.93 million barrels during the month, followed

by Escravos terminal with 4.03 million barrels during the period.

But when condensates are added, Nigeria produced 46.3 million barrels in January, while in February it drilled 43.3 million barrels. That is 1.5 million bpd in January and 1.54 million bpd

in February. Condensates are outside OPEC computations for oil production.

Aside oil theft, another critical challenge hindering production, has been the years of underinvestment in the sector.

This has now been made even worse by the decision of the Europe and America to halt the funding of hydrocarbons exploration due to their impact on the environment.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023

23

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Advancing Power Supply via Local Content Emmanuel Addeh writes that the engagement of competent indigenous firms to carry out major works in the Nigerian power sector could make a significant difference in in ramping up power supply in-country

T

here’s no gainsaying that power supply remains a major problem in Nigeria, with severe challenges in the entire value chain of the system, including generation, transmission and distribution.

But with still a long way to go to improving supply and stimulating growth in the economy , vandalism of electrical installations and equipment across the nation remains a major challenge.

Although Nigeria has 23 generating plants with the capacity to send 12,000 megawatts to the national grid, but less than 7, 000 megawatts is generated, transmitted and distributed at the moment. However, analysts say that the country could need about 40,000 megawatts to have stable supply in Nigeria.

Many promises have gone unfulfilled, but the recent approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), of a $61. 5 million, and N16.

3 billion contract to procure transmission line materials and the construction of 15 kilometres turn-in-turn-out substations across the country could make a marked improvement in supply.

With documented projects to realise its power sector reform agenda, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, recently disclosed that the $61.5 million and the onshore component of N145 million had been approved for ‘reconductoring’ works for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

According to him, another approval was sought and given in respect of the award of contract for the Akure-Ado-Ekiti 132 single-circuit transmission line in Akure at the cost of $2.5 million with an onshore component of N988.5 million.

To play a major role in bringing these projects to life, the Nigerian government says, is a Nigerian firm, Laga CePower Limited, which it adds has the full capacity and credibility to carry out some of the critical works.

“By the time we are able to energise the Akure line, this project would have been completed so that the whole area will have no problem with electricity.

This project will be completed in 12 months and was also approved by the council,” Aliyu stressed recently while announcing Laga CePower as the key entity to accomplish the assignment.

NEW SUBSTATION, TRANSMISSION LINES

The minister remarked that another memo approved had five projects that included the installation of a 132, 33kV substation and transmission lines across different locations in the country for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in favour of several local contractors for $53m; N15.6bn onshore sum.

“The projects are all similar – that is, to design, supply and install two by 60MVA 132, 33kV transmission sub-stations across the country,” he noted.

Giving additional breakdown of the projects, Aliyu said there was also a substation project in Misau in Bauchi State, another in Mashi in Katsina and one in Apir and North bank in Makurdi, Benue State.

He added that the TCN was also executing a project of 60MVA transformer substation at the Ebonyi State University, and also one at the Ebonyi airport. In Kano, he explained that the TCN was delivering a 30km transmission line from Rimin Zakara to Kayin in Kano.

“So, these are the various projects that constitute the various amounts– offshore of $53m and the onshore component of N15.6bn,”Aliyu clarified.

Managing Director of the firm, Rhoda Afolabi,

in a chat, reiterated that the company has an ‘impeccable’ track record of performance, having completed strategic power projects across the country before the latest round.

“We have completed the mechanised maintenance work of the Benin-Onitsha transmission lines, construction of new AbeokutaIgboora Lalante transmission lines, Shagamu outdoor substations as well as the construction the of 132/33 kv D/C Bays extension in Ikorodu and Shagamu Lagos,” she said.

According to her, other construction works carried out by the indigenous company are the the 2x60 MVA, 132/33KV at Odogunyan, 2x60MVA, 132/33KV at Ayobo and Ikeja, construction and furnishing of the 250 capacity lecture hall and the supply of special sports equipment at the 29th National sports festival. “It is a Nigerian company with 90 percent local content,” she added.

FG’S COMMENDATION

It was further learnt that the power firm also received commendation from by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in a letter in which he referred to the firm as having ‘very impressive track records’. “This to me is quite encouraging and a good motivation for us to do more,” Afolabi added.

She appealed for more opportunities to build more challenging projects in the country. “As a female entrepreneur in a male dominated field, I can assure you that I will continue to work extra hard to ensure that we continue to excel and stand out in projects in the power sector,” she explained.

She however lauded the federal government for its support for indigenous entrepreneurs and companies, noting that “this is the only way we can continue to build local capacity.”

Also, during a recent visit to Osinbanjo, the power firm which also fabricates and manages engineering works, in an industry dominated by foreign engineers and electrical contractors, told Osinbajo that the company will continue to maintain standards to ensure that local companies become a force to reckon with in the country.

“Our mission is to provide the highest quality services in Nigeria’s energy, oil, and gas sector, while being the catalyst behind industry progress every single day,” she pointed out.

In addition, a major stakeholder in the sector, the Managing Director TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, has been speaking on the work put in by Laga Cepower limited to raise the rating of local firms.

EXECUTING POWER PROJECTS

While thanking the company for its leading role in executing power projects, especially in terms of competence and local content, Abdulaziz said the company had also provided employment and career progression for practitioners in the engineering and power sector to drive needed growth.

He noted that the substation in Akure, which had been completed for over two years ago could not be energised because of the absence of the line which was supposed to come from Benin under construction and was encountering right of way issues.

On the importance of the projects, he said: “This project is 132 lines from the Akure substation going to Akure-Ado-Ekiti and it is simultaneously going on with the Benin North-Akure line.

“By the time we are able to energise the Akure line, this project would have been completed so that the whole area will have no problem with electricity.

This project will be completed in 12 months and was also approved by the council.”

Incoming Administration Must Waive Customs Duties on Medical Equipment, Incentivise Healthcare Entrepreneurs’ The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Grover’s Hospital, Dr. Grover Anil, in this interview shared his thoughts on how to make Nigeria’s healthcare sector compete with its counterparts across the globe. Gilbert Ekugbe brings the excerpts Tell us about the journey so far rover’s hospital is the subsidiary of Grover medicals and diagnostic limited. We started Grover’s medicals six years back with a humble journey of small GP clinic in Adetokunbo Ademola street and by the grace of God, the initial response was very good and then we upgraded from the clinic, to the multi specialist hospital in this current building we are in since 2019.

Although, I am not new to Nigeria, my wife and children have been living in Nigeria for more than 20 years. I have spent almost 22 years of my life in this country and I love Nigeria so much. I am a very passionate person when it comes to Nigeria and I always carry a Nigerian flag on my chest. Somehow when we came to this country initially we came for a short project just to live here for four years, that was the initial plan, but at that time, our children were very young schooling in Lagos and just because we love Lagos, love Nigeria and gradually, when we started living here, we found out that this country is a God blessed country.

Nigeria is a blessed country with great people, a very peaceful place and weather wise, it is excellent.

Socially, when we started moving around, we made very good friends and professionally also. We were happy and so we decided to stay back. After the initial project, 15 years back, I got a very big assignment. I was the first pioneer Chief Medical Director of one of the largest diagnostic center in Nigeria where I worked in a medical diagnostic industry for almost seven years before we started our own hospital in 2016. It was sheer coincidence actually around 2016 during my 50th birthday celebration in our temple, it was a turnaround in our life story because me and my wife actually wanted to go back to India at that time in 2016 when I achieved 50, but I think God had destined something else for us.

My son came back from India, after finishing his engineering course as a software engineer, it was his idea who actually inspired and motivated us to set up our

G

Anil own small enterprise which is Grover’s medicals and diagnostic limited, the parent organisation of Grover’s hospitals. We thank God that the journey so far has been very rewarding. It has been very successful, in spite of few challenges here and there, which is part of any business and any country as I mentioned to you from a simple ordinary GP general practice clinic, we gradually moved to a bigger multi specialist hospital, but when we came to this building in 2019 immediately after that, unfortunately, Covid 19 struck in 2020 to 2021, I want to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to our medical team who rendered brilliant services to the community and to the people for saving lot of lives during Covid 19 pandemic.

Our hospital rendered free ambulance services in collaboration with our Indian community and rotary club at that time, the period was tough, people were afraid, lots of people were dying during this period. We were among the selected private hospitals by the Ministry of Health in Lagos State to render Covid 19 management services in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for critically ill patients and after that, post COVID in 2021, we realised that there are certain areas in medical field where there is a lot of gap where we thought we should do strategic investment. Our board of directors and management decided to invest into the healthcare infrastructure aggressively mainly in three areas. Number one, critical care management. There are not many facilities available in Lagos state, where you have ICUs. So, in 2021, first thing what we decided was upgrade and invested into the critical care ICU for adult patients, as well as for newborn babies. We have even one of the most advanced, ultra modern, highly advance critical care unit for newborn babies called Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The NICU is for newborn babies, premature babies to give them critical care for survival of those babies.

We have a very well highly advanced eight bedded NICU unit available in our hospital. The second area which we thought we should invest after 2021, is urology, because there are not many centers or many hospitals where you can do laparoscopy or endoscopy urology surgeries.

So, we invested heavily into setting up new urology department. Our urology department is equipped with all laser and everything related to the laparoscopy surgery for urology problems.

There are many people who used to travel abroad for prostate surgeries, stone removal surgeries, kidney related issues, but now all those problems can be treated here in Nigeria. We have all the technology and equipment in Grover’s hospital. It is a heavy investment we have done into technology, into the infrastructure to set up a laparoscopy, endoscopy, urology unit.

NOTE: The story continues online on

www.thisdaylive.com

24

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Oramah Advocates Regulation of Foreign Banks’ Participation in Africa Nume Ekeghe President/Chairman, Board of Directors of African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, has called for the creation of a ‘Domestic Financial System’ that would encourage and attract foreign banks into Nigeria but with strong This is as the the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Afreximbank Academy for capacity building and certification programmes on trade and finance.

Oramah made this call at the made CIBN Annual Lecture with the theme: “Unlocking the Constraints to Africa’s

Economic Transformation: Insights into the Power of Capital,” in Lagos.

According to him, the share of foreign of banks in Nigeria is below 20 per cent but is not the same in other African countries and he further advocates that there should be collaboration with African banks holding a majority stake in the sector.

He said: “it is, therefore, important that we build a Domestic Financial System that welcomes foreign banks but which, as a deliberate policy, must have the strong participation of Africa-owned banks.’’

Oramah said: “There can be no better explanation as to why Africa became a continent of atomistic and fragmented

state. For decades, Africa could not trade amongst itself and Africans could hardly invest across borders and its natural resources could not accumulate the capital needed to finance its development. It is that strategy that explains why the African banking system is dominated by foreign banks and, therefore, unable to act as an agent for capital accumulation within Africa.”

On his part, President/ Chairman of CIBN, Dr Ken Opara, noted that unlocking the constraints to Nigeria’s economic transformation would certainly impact the entire continent as the country was considered Africa’s biggest economy,

AFOS Foundation Commits over €5.5m to Agric Interventions Kayode Tokede AFOS Foundation, a Germanybased autonomous and charitable foundation developed to support micro and small businesses and the rising middle class in developing and emerging nations said it has committed over €5.5million to agriculture interventions in Nigeria.

Speaking on the Foundation’s interventions in Nigeria’s agricultural sector since it commenced its project activities in the sector in 2017, the Chief Executive Officer and Country Representative, Mr. Oladipupo Akoni, disclosed that the Foundation had expended over €5.5 million towards the development of the sector through Capacity Building, Value-Driven Organizational Development, Management Development,

Corporate Governance and Product Development interventions.

Akoni, during a brief chat with journalists during the AFOS Foundation’s first Stakeholders’ Roundtable event held on Friday in Lagos, said: “Since the commencement of its agricultural project activities in Nigeria in 2017, AFOS Foundation has reached over 45,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria with the attendant positive impacts on their skills, productivity and earned incomes, and targets to reach 60,000 small farmers by the end of 2024.

The Country Representative said that to consolidate on the Foundation’s achievements in Nigeria, AFOS’ projects are now focusing on Improved Agricultural Practices for Smallholder Farmers (SHF), Institutionalised Dual Vo-

cational Training Systems, Value-Based Management Training, and development of an Agricultural Training Centre for the Agric sector, in addition to Microinsurance Product Development, Agric Finance training and sensitization for the Microfinance sub-sector.

Commenting on the purpose of the event and its benefits to the Agric sector, the Foundation’s CEO and Country Representative, said: “AFOS’ ongoing project, which is the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) being facilitated by our implementation partner in Nigeria -MLDC, will have a tremendous impact on the Nigerian agricultural sector by addressing its skills and development challenges, as well as capacity replacement, especially in this era of massive emigration.“

Access Bank Partners AfriGOpay to Boost Payment Ecosystem Nume Ekeghe In a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, Access Bank has partnered with AfriGOpay, a financial services business affiliated with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to launch the first Nigerian national domestic card designed to meet the needs of the Nigerian payment industry.

The scheme, which was introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) will provide

innovative solutions to users of financial services in Nigeria, Africa, and across the global markets.

Speaking on the partnership, Deputy Managing Director, Retail Banking, Access Bank said, Victor Etuokwu said: “It is with excitement that we announce that Access Bank, Nigeria’s largest retail bank with over 60million customers is the first financial institution in Nigeria to successfully issue the first live card of the Nigeria’s National card scheme- AfriGO.” Speaking on the product launch, Robert Giles, Senior

Retail Advisor, Access Bank said, “The National card scheme operates locally, and it is tailored to the specific needs of the country. We have also recorded successful purchases on POS and ATMs which began on March 14, 2023. Domestic ownership of a local card scheme eliminates demand on foreign exchange and reduces cost of transacting. It will also help us partner with local fintechs and payment companies to build solutions on the AfriGO scheme that solve customers’ pain points.”

Court Gives AMCON 14 Days to Render Arik Air’s Accounts Chinedu Eze Justice Ambrose Lewis Alagoa of the Federal High Court siting in Lagos on Friday gave the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) 14 days to render Arik Air’s accounts since 2017 take-over and insisted that the attempt by the federal government agency to transfer the assets of Arik Air Limited to NG Eagle Airlines (third defendant) and Super Bravo Limited (fifth defendant) was not in the best interest of Arik Air. The Court granted all the prayers of the plaintiffs: Sir Johnson Arumemi Ikhide and his wife, Mary Arumemi Ikhide ordering the defendants

(AMCON) to render accounts and/or deliver returns to the Corporate Affairs Commission covering the entire period of receivership over Arik Air Limited within 14 days of making the order.

The court also ruled that the transfer of Arik Air Limited assets to NG Eagle Limited, Super Bravo Limited (fifth defendant) was done in bad faith and a violation of Omokhide’s fiduciary duty to Arik Air Limited as a whole imposed by section 553 of CAMA 2020.

The founder of Arik Air, Sir Johnson Arumemi Ikhide, and his wife, Mary Arumemi Ikhide (Plaintiffs) had filed had upon the originating motion sum-

mon dated December 14, 2021 prayed the court that the duty imposed on the first defendant (Kamilu Alaba Omokhide) by section 553 of the CAMA 202O to act in the best interest of Arik Air Limited as a whole includes the duty to act in the best of the plaintiffs (Arumemi and Mary Ikhide) as members of Arik Air Limited.

The plaintiffs claimed that the transfer of Arik Air Limited assets to NG Eagle (third defendant) and to Super Bravo Limited (fifth defendant) “was done in bad faith and a violation of Omokhide’s (first defendant) the fiduciary duty to Arik Air Limited as imposed by section 553 of the CAMA 2020”.

L-R: Agric Operations Manager Flour Millers Association of Nigeria’s (FMAN), Ibrahim Saidu; Agronomist, FMAN, Ahamed Tijani; Program & Partnerships Manager, FMAN, Kehinde Akanni; National Program Manager, FMAN, Aliyu Samaila; Executive Secretary, FMAN, Alhaji Olalekan Saliu; General Manager Northern Nigeria Flour Mills, Adrian Naidoo, and Technical Marketing Manager, FMAN, Esmond Edmond at FMAN’s Brown Field Day Event to Promote Nigeria’s Wheat Production in Azambu Village in Jigawa State…recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 8 MARCH, 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $84.37 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $84.59 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

25

T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023

MARKET NEWS

Ikeja Hotel Record Worst Results Since 2019 on OPEX, Finance Cost Kayode Tokede On the backdrop of hike in total operating expenses and finance cost, Ikeja Hotel Plc yesterday announced N3.94billion loss in 2022 financial year as against N180.6million loss reported in the corresponding period of 2021.

The reported N3.94billion loss in 2022 is the company’s worst performance since 2019

when it posted N834.9million profit after tax.

The hospitality company listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) saw it loss before tax at N3.36biullion in 2022 from N200.9million profit before tax in 2021.

The combination of total operating expenses and finance cost dragged the company’s 2022 to losses According to audited result

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

and accounts on the NGX, Ikeja Hotel announced N6.2 billion total operating expenses in 2022 from N1.91 billion reported in 2021, while its finance cost stood at N1.06 billion inn 2022 from N946 million in 2021.

The Board of Directors of Ikeja Hotel proposed a dividend of 7.5 kobo per 50kobo ordinary share amounting to N155,909,730 on the existing issued ordinary shares of

2,078,796,399 units for the year ended December 31, 2022.

However, the company announced N12.9billion revenue from contracts with customers in 2022, representing an increase of 31 per cent from N9.87billion reported in 2021.

The breakdown of revenue from contracts with customers showed N7.47billion room sales in 2022, an increase of

S E C U R I T I E S

T R A D E D

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

30 per cent from N5.7billion in 2021, while Food and beverage stood at N4.47billion in 2022 from N3.44billion reported in 2021.

In addition, Other minor operating departments closed 2022 at N963.13million, an increase of 41.4 per cent from N680.94million reported in 2021.

The Managing Director of the company, Theophilus

AS O F

Netufo, recently expressed optimism that the firm would sustain its prime position as the flagship of hospitality and tourism business in Nigeria.

According to him, “Since the new board came, and I was asked to supervise the company as Group Managing Director, with collaboration and support of the board, we had no choice but turn the company around.

0 3 / 0 4 / 2 3 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

26

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 • T H I S D AY

27

28

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

VICTORY PARLEY FOR APC CANDIDATES IN OGUN...

L-R: House of Assembly members-elect, Fola Salami (Ifo II); Tunde Tella (Abeokuta North); Lateefat Ajayi, Yewa South; Governor Dapo Abiodun; Haruna Egungbohun (Yewa North); Abiodun Yusuf, (Ado-Odo/ Ota I); Musefiu Lamidi, (Ado-Odo/Ota II) and Segun Kaka (Ijebu-North) during the victory parley of the All Progressives Congress candidates held at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta on Sunday

Slain Lawyer: You Have Case to Answer, Court Tells Suspected Killer Cop Wale Igbintade Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, yesterday, dismissed a "no case submission” filed by the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Drambi Vandi, who allegedly killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on December 25, 2022.

Vandi had filed his application on February 28, 2023 before the court in a bid to quash the charge brought against him by the Lagos

State government, on grounds of weak and inconsistent evidence linking him to the murder.

But, Harrison in her ruling held that the prosecution led by the Attorney-General of Lagos, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) had established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking the defendant to the crime, which required explanation from him.

The court held that the evidence of the defendant, being the only other eyewitness, who had yet to testify before it about the incident, would

YAHAYA: ARMY WILL CONTAIN ALL THREATS TO NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY to government coffers from oil explorations in the South South region," he said.

He maintained that, the Nigerian Army would continue to perform its constitutional roles in collaboration with other security forces as well as civil authorities in the region.

Major Shake-up as Navy Redeploys Senior Officers

The Nigerian Navy yesterday announced the new appointments and redeployment of senior officers in what it said was a routine reorganisation exercise following promotion of senior officers.

A statement issued by Naval Spokesman, Commodore AyoVaughan, said the reshuffling followed the December 2022 promotion exercise of senior officers, notably 52 Rear Admirals and 76 commodores.

The new appointments showed that Rear Admiral Garba Abubakar is reappointed as the Nigerian Navy Delegate to the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while Rear Admiral Akano Adesope, formerly a Moderator at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru is appointed as the Admiral Superintendent Naval Ordinance Depot.

Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchulam, formerly Director of Administration, Naval Headquarters is now reappointed to Naval Headquarters as the pioneer Chief of Communications and Information Technology, Rear Admiral Nnamdi Muogilim, former Chief of Defence Space Administration, Defence Headquarters is appointed as the Executive Director Operations, Navy Holdings Limited while Rear Admiral Adewale Olanrewaju, formerly Commander Nigerian Navy Ship WEY is to take over as the Director Standards, Naval Headquarters.

The former Deputy Director Communication Intelligence at Defence Intelligence Agency, Rear Admiral Fatah Sanusi is now the new Executive Director, Administration,

Human Resource and Personnel Management at the Navy Holdings Limited.

Rear Admiral Nuhu Bala, the former Director of Transformation, Defence Headquarters has been reappointed as the Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration, Defence Headquarters while Rear Admiral Danjuma Moses, former Director of Training, Defence Headquarters takes over as the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

The statement said the routine reshuffling of the senior naval officers also affected Rear Admiral Vincent Okeke, former Director of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, who has been reappointed to Defence Headquarters as Director of Plans and Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, the immediate past Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command moves to Defence Headquarters as the Director of Transformation.

The former Director Veterans Affairs, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Ismaila Zelani has been reappointed to Naval Headquarters as Director of Administration, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Beckley, the erstwhile Admiral Superintendent Naval Ordinance Depot moves to Headquarters Defence Intelligence Agency as the Director of Logistics while Rear Admiral Domnan Dangwel, formerly Deputy Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Defence Headquarters resumes at Naval Headquarters as the Director Special Projects.

Rear Admiral Tanko Pani, who served as Director of Plans, Defence Headquarters has been reappointed to Defence Headquarters as the Director of Training.

Rear Admiral Hamisu Sadiq, formerly the Deputy Director Earth Observation, Defence Space Administration, Defence Headquarters is now the Director of Safety, Naval Headquarters while Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole has been reappointed as the Director Communications, Naval Headquarters among other appointments.

shed light on what happened that day.

"The prosecution has established a prima facie case requiring some explanation by the defendant. The court isn't looking at the credibility of the prosecution witnesses at this stage. The court will not delve Into the substantive case right now. The only real issue now is whether a prima facie case has been made by the prosecution, and not whether it has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt," the court added.

The court noted that some of the witnesses had testified that they saw him shoot the deceased that day and that the defendant's rifle was short of two ammunition upon his arrest for the shooting.

Court noted that before the prosecution closed its case on February 15, it had called 11 witnesses made up of eight police officers, some of whom were colleagues of the defendant; two eye eyewitnesses and a pathologist.

While reacting to the ruling, defence counsel, Gbenro Gbadamosi, told the judge that the defence team would review the ruling and decide on whether to Appeal.

But the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Babajide Martins, said an interlocutory appeal of this nature would not stop the continuation of the trial in line with section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Lagos State, and he applied for a date for

further hearing.

The case was then adjourned till May 16 for the defendant to open his defence. On January 16, 2023, the prosecution arraigned ASP Vandi on a one-count charge of murder.

The charge stated that he shot and killed the 41-year old pregnant property lawyer by shooting her in the chest, an offence contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

SGF, Mustapha, Condemns Attack on DabnaVillage in Adamawa Kaduna imposes 24-hour curfew on Chikun community as two die in gang clash Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, has condemned in strong terms, the unwarranted attacks and killings in Dabna village in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State by unknown gunmen.

This is as the Kaduna State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Sabon Garin NasarawaTirkaniya, a surbub within Kaduna metropolis, located in Chikun LGA, following the death of two in a gang clash.

However, the repeated attacks

have led to loss of lives, property and means of livelihood of the people of Dabna and surrounding communities, who are basically agrarian.

In a statement on Monday by the Director, Information Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, the SGF commended the swift intervention of law enforcement agencies in containing the attack from spreading to other communities.

He condoled with the government and people of Adamawa State, Dabna Community and families of those who lost their loved ones in the incident.

Also, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement, yesterday, said the curfew was imposed in the area following breakdown of law and order, which led to the killing of two people in clash by two gang groups.

Aruwan said security agencies had been directed to enforce the curfew in the area to restore order as investigations were on.

“The Kaduna State Government hereby announces the immediate imposition of 24-hour curfew on

Sabon Garin Nassarawa-Tirkaniya area of Chikun LGA of the state.

This decision was reached following a breakdown of law and order which led to the killing of two citizens in an incident of urban gang violence.

"Security agencies have been directed to enforce the curfew in the said location, to restore order as investigations proceed. Citizens are therefore urged to strictly observe the curfew in this location, which takes effect immediately. Further updates will be communicated accordingly," the statement said.

Arase Sets Up Police, PSC C’ttee Wike Assures of Rivers’ Support to Review Recruitment Process for APC Speaker-nominee Says force’s face-off with commission now over

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has assured the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of the state’s support for any candidate presented by the party for the position of the speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

Wike made the assertion yesterday, when the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Wase, led a delegation of other lawmakers on a courtesy call to the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Rivers governor insisted that those to be nominated as principal officers of the 10th House of Representatives must be individuals with requisite experience to steer the affairs of the legislature.

He explained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won eleven out of the thirteen federal constituencies in the state, adding that the lawmakers-elect would back whoever the national leadership of the ruling APC presented as

their sole candidate for the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“The way we are now, the truth must be told that we are going to support the leadership of your party at the national level. I am not going to support anybody that is coming from anywhere,” he said.

The governor, however, insisted that only those with requisite experience and have the capacity to stabilise the country should be presented as principal officers of the 10th House of Representatives.

Wase had told the governor that he was in Port Harcourt with his delegation that cut across various political parties, to solicit his support ahead of the election of the Speaker of the 10th House.

“Your excellency, we just finished the national and presidential election, we are about to go into the National Assembly politics and that is why are here to seek your support, to seek your prayers and blessing, by the grace of God so that we can have a unified country, stabilised system,” he said.

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The new Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, yesterday, declared that there would be no further rift between the commission and the Nigeria Police over recruitment of police constables into the force, and subsequently set up a joint committee of the two to that effect.

He also assured that the lingering face-off between the force and the commission over promotion of officers would become a thing of the past.

Arase, a retired Inspector-General of Police, spoke in his office while receiving the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, and the force management team in Abuja.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, Arase said he would ensure that a harmonious working relationship between the commission and the police force was emplaced.

“We don’t have to quarrel about their promotions. We don’t have to quarrel about their recruitment. So, everything will be seamlessly done in such a way that everybody will

be happy and it will be a win-win situation for everybody,” he said.

According to him, the recruitment of police personnel should not be an issue, saying both the commission and police force needed understanding to achieve results.

“A small team would be set up to sit together and take a look at the issue to enable the police high command and the commission to review the process,” he said.

The PSC chairman, however, assured the police that the commission under his leadership would ensure that the best personnel would always be recruited into the police force to enhance competence and professionalism.

On his part, the IG said the visit was to assure the commission of the readiness of the police force to work in harmony and improve their relationship.

He noted that proper leadership guidance, sense of direction, proper maintenance of discipline, promotion and appointment in the police force as well as personnel would be motivated to enhance performance.

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

29

NEWS

THE ROYAL QUEENS CONFERENCE...

L-R: Wife of Ooni of Ife, Olori Ronke Ogunwusi; Wife of Osun State Governor, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, and Wife of Alapomu of Apomu, Olori Janet Afolabi , during the Royal Queens Conference in Ile-Ife, Osun State...recently

2023 Poll: Igini Accuses Some Judges of Compromising Judicial Integrity He also stressed that he won’t be part of any plot or design to deceive Nigerians. Some Nigerians including those in the Diaspora had recently accused Igini of deceiving the public through his weekly voters’ and civic education enlightenment programme before the February 25 presidential and

National Assembly elections where he had assured that with the BVAS and the IREV, the elections would be transparent, credible, free and fair.

Besides, some Nigerians also

Rivers APC Assembly Candidate Defects to PDP

Gunmen yesterday invaded and killed three persons at Dabna community in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa state An eyewitness who confirmed the attack, said gunmen in their numbers stormed the affected areas last night and killed three persons

Deji Elumoye inAbuja Former Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, has expressed deep concern that some Nigerian judges have compromised the integrity of the judiciary.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Obio-Akpor Constituency 2 in the justconcluded House of Assembly election in Rivers State, Alex Wele, has dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking with journalists on the development yesterday in Port Harcourt, Wele said APC did not prepare for the elections and had no strategy in place for winning the elections.

Wele, who congratulated the PDP candidate, Emilia Lucky Amadi for her victory at the House of Assembly election to Obio/ Akpor Constituency 2, said he would rather promote peace in his LGA than continue

battling at the election tribunal.

He also said APC does not have the fund to go to tribunal, alleging that the governorship candidate, Tonye Cole hardly connect himself with other APC candidates, regretting that the election was a one-way traffic as candidates were all left on their own.

Weli said the candidates have been urged to contribute money for the journey to the tribunal which he said, was not necessary to him because he needed peace of mind.

Wele said:”I have chosen not to be on dilemma side any longer, APC had no plans to win the 2023 elections. In all the meetings we attended prior to the election, there was no strategy on how to win elections.”

Neveah Limited Redeems N5.7bn Commercial Papers Neveah Limited, a commodities export and trading company in Nigeria, has redeemed its series 3 and 4 commercial papers (CP)at maturity. The leading commodity trading company registered its N10 billion CP with approval from the FMDQ in 2021, which, as with any organisation, has provided alternative sources of funding for its short-to-mid-term objectives.

The Series 3 CP repayment, valued at approximately N3.6 billion, was issued on May 26, 2022.

And after a tenure of nine months, it was successfully redeemed, in line with its maturity on February 20,2023. On the other hand, its N2.1 billion series 4 CP on June 1, 2022 with a maturity date of November 28, 2022.

The redemption of the series 3 and 4 CP reflect Neveah’s continued commitment to its business growth and financial obligations.

Commenting, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Neveah Limited, Mr. Ibidapo Lawal, highlighted the company’s commitment to good corporate governance practices.

He said: “We are glad to have the support of our financial and investment partners whose expertise and keen sense of good judgment keep us on the right track. In line with Neveah’s business goals, we will continue to strengthen our market position and corporate governance, as we seek to support job creation and industry growth in Nigeria. We will maintain the momentum around our commitments and maximize stakeholder investment.”

The company was recently assigned a “BBB-” rating by leading Pan-African credit rating agency, Agusto & Co, as it proves to hold satisfactory financial conditions and meet obligations.

accused the judiciary especially the judges of not rising to the occasion when it matters most and have allowed themselves to be compromised by politicians.

Reacting yesterday to the issue that the judiciary in the country appeared to have lost its reputation, where monetary inducement has become the deciding factor

in delivering judgements, Igini said though there were some bad eggs that had given the judiciary bad name, there were still good ones that could be relied upon.

Gunmen Invade Adamawa Community, Kill Three Persons

DajiSaniinYola

after destroying properties worth millions of naira in the community.

He said development ensued confusion and uncertainties, resulting to citizens running for safety.

The eyewitness said the gunmen had a field day without any confrontation until they finished their operations and left.

Another eyewitness said unknown gunmen had Sunday

night, attacked the sleeping community of Dabna, shooting sporadically at innocent citizens which resulted to the dead of three people.

Confirming the attack, the state Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Babatola, strongly condemned the attack by the yet to be identified gunmen.

Consequently, the CP ordered the

immediate arrest and investigation into the matter with a view to ensuring peace and order.

The CP in a statement signed by the spokesman of the state command, SP Suleiman Nguroje, warned that attacks on innocent souls would no longer be tolerated under whatsoever guise, saying the Command holds the lives of citizens sacrosanct.

Obaseki Charges Researchers, Developers to Enhance Inclusion for People with Autism The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has charged researchers, developers, and innovators to leverage their skills and expertise to come up with new technologies and innovative solutions that will ensure the inclusion of persons living with autism to reach their full potential.

The governor, who gave the charge in commemoration of the

2023 World Autism Awareness Day, marked by the United Nations, said the state government was undertaking a wholistic reform of its health and education sectors to meet the needs of persons with neuro-developmental disorder and other related health conditions.

Obaseki said the state was deploying technology in improving learning outcomes in the basic

education sector through the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme and would sustain investment in providing technologies to enhance the learning of students with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs.

He said: “On this day, we join the global community in recognizing World Autism Awareness Day,

and we do so with a renewed commitment to advancing the cause of a neuro-inclusive world for all. The theme for this year’s observance, ‘Transformation: Towards a Neuro-Inclusive World for All,’ highlights the need for us to embrace a holistic approach toward addressing the challenges faced by individuals living with autism and their families.

11 Persons Injured, 40 Houses Destroyed in Ebonyi Communal Land Dispute Benjamin NworieinAbakaliki No fewer than 11 persons were injured and over 40 compounds destroyed in Ndiefi-Ishieke village of Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State over a communal land dispute.

The attackers were said to have

invaded the village on March 30, shot some villagers and destroyed their property.

A stakeholder of Ndiefi-Ishieke village, Dr. Nwoba Benjamin confirmed the incident.

When THISDAY visited the village for on the spot assessment, heavy security operatives have

been deployed to forestall further breakdown of law.

He narrated that the dispute started when the family of OkukuEde of Igbogima kindred was laying claim to the community land, which had been shared among all youths of the village.

Nwoba alleged that some

key stakeholders of Igbogima kindred conspired with the said Okuku-Ede family to attack the innocent villagers.

“The thugs were hired and were shooting sporadically. They were led by some members of Igbogima kindred. About 100 buildings were destroyed.”

Group Vows to Resist Intimidation, Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A group, The Natives, has vowed to resist any form of intimidation and threat against democracy in Nigeria. The group made the pledge yesterday in Abuja when it members staged a peaceful walk to the headquarters of the

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Addressing journalists at the commission’s headquarters, the Leader of the group, Hon. Smart Edwards, cautioned politicians to stop inciting Nigerians against Nigerian people and the democratic process.

He specifically cautioned the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Datti against inflammatory statements.

Edwards stated: “We want to particularly warn the LP vice President candidate, Yusuf DattiAhmed to apply caution because Nigeria is a country and not The

Base University.

“We have come to INEC to affirm that elections were conducted and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), LP and other political parties went into the contest.

Abiodun Appoints Three New Permanent Secretaries Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has approved the appointment of three new permanent secretaries in the state civil service.

This is contained in a statement yesterday in Abeokuta.

According to the statement, the new appointees would fill the existing vacancies in the

public service. Seniority, merit, professionalism, and inclusiveness were considered in appointing the new permanent secretaries.

It noted that the governor relied on the provision of Section 208 (c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) for the appointments.

The new permanent secretaries are: Mr. Timothy Ayoola Olatunji, Director of Administration and Supplies, Ministry ofAgriculture; Mr. SamuelAdeogun, Director, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme; and Mrs. Moriamo Oluwatosin Oloko, Director of

Education, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

The statement added that the governor, while congratulating the appointees, urged them to brace up for the challenges of their positions and apply themselves diligently to the “Building Our Future Together” agenda of his administration.

30

TUESDAY APRIL 4, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

SUPPORT FOR NASENI CEO...

L-R: The Co-ordinator, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Family, Comrade Tijani Wakili; President, Technical Staff Association of NASENI(TSAN), Dr. Oluwaseyi Ogungbenro; Representative of NASU for NASU in NASENI and Institute, Comrade Emmanuel Chukwu, and National General Secretary of TSAN, Comrade Oyebanji Taofeeq, during the press conference by the joint staff unions in NASENI in Abuja...yesterday

Gunmen Sack Ibbi Police Station in Niger Kidnap two Policemen, escape with arms

Laleye DipoinMinna Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram elements on Sunday sacked the Ibbi Police Station in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger state kidnapping two Policemen and injuring about nine other people.

The bandits also sacked the police armoury in the police station making away with some arms and

ammunition.

Eyewitnesses told THISDAY that the gunmen suspected carried out the raid on the police station 24 hours after an aircraft allegedly carried out a surveillance of the police station and the town.

According to the eyewitnesses, the gunmen after the invasion of the police station, took the kidnapped policemen into the Ibbi forest reserves.

NCC Trains NDA Students on Warfare Communication

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun the training of students of the Department of Computer Science, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), on modern warfare using Information Communication Technology (ICT) Speaking after the lecture at the NCC headquarters in Abuja yesterday, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the

NCC Prof. Umar Danbatta said modern warfare is won without physical combat.

According to him, they are investing in modern communication warfare to be able to maintain, sustain peace and combat external aggression.

He said: “The ultimate training, we have given our officers and gentleman in the military is modern warfare technique. And this technique does not rely on physical combat anymore.

However, according to the source, before the gunmen entered the forest they kidnapped not less than 32 victims with nine of them from Ibbi town, and 15 from Mazakuka town.

It was also learnt that two villagers were killed by the gunmen.

THISDAY learnt that a combined team of local vigilance from New Bussa and Mokwa towns went after the gunmen in the forest

during which there was exchange of gunfire for several hours between the two groups.

Some of the bandits were reported to have been killed during the fierce encounter while

the Commander of the vigilance was also killed in the encounter.

The remains of the Commander of the vigilance group was being taken for burial as at the time of filing this report.

Stop Treating State Security with Levity, APC Tells Adeleke Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Worried by the high level of insecurity of the inhabitants of Osun State before, during and after the last series of elections in the state, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to stop treating the security issues with levity.

No fewer than 30 members of the opposition APC members were allegedly sent to the great beyond by the militia wing of the state chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) through which the elections were fraudulently won by extra-judicial means by the PDP’s candidates across the state.

Again, on Wednesday and

Friday last week, two incidents of kidnapping along Osogbo-Ikirun Road were reported in which the victims were said to be in captivity of the kidnappers as at the time of making this statement with the exception of a woman whose release was secured by the police on Sunday.

The Osun State acting Chairman of the APC, Mr. Sooko

Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement that was issued yesterday in Osogbo by the APC’s Director of Media and Information, Mr. Kola Olabisi, said that Governor Adeleke is not getting it right in the area of security as his four-month-old administration has not done anything spectacular to excel in providing security of lives and property.

NSCDC Operatives Arrest Fake Soldier for Alleged Fraud Kwara- Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Operatives of the Kwara State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) have arrested a 42 years old man for allegedly impersonating as a “Soldier “ to defraud two persons to the tune of N796,000.

The 42 years old man,

Mr. Abdulsalam Ajibola was apprehended at Oke-Onigbin in Isin local government area of the state by the tracking Unit of the Civil Defence Corps in the state.

It was gathered that, the suspect was alleged to have impersonated as a soldier to defraud Mr. Saheed of seven hundred thousand naira (N700,000), and Ropo

Gabriel to the tune of Ninety six thousand naira (N96,000) having promised to help them get admission into Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

It was further learnt that, the suspect was also alleged to have falsely taken a Toyota Picnic car from one Prophet Samuel Olugbemiga for commercial

transportation after which he absconded.

Sources close to the NSCDC told THISDAY that, “The suspect was tracked down at OkeOnigbin in Isin LGA, Kwara state on the 24th of March,2023 by the tracking Unit of the Command and was subsequently arrested and detained for interrogation.

A coalition of groups in northern Nigeria has urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider the Northcentral geopolitical zone for the position of the Senate’s deputy president in the 10th National

The groups, under the aegis of the Amalgamation of the All Progressives Congress Northern Forums in Nigeria (AAPCNFN), made the appeal yesterday in a statement that was issued by the Coordinator of the AAPCNFN, Mr. Habibu Salau.

Salau said that since the offices

deputy president of the Senate must be shared between the north and the south, the North-central would stood a better chance to produce the presiding officer of the red chamber.

He specifically said that Senator Sani Musa, who is a ranking senator from the

eminently qualified to be elected either as the Senate’s president or deputy.

He said: “If the leadership of the APC decided to zone the position to the south, the deputy senate president should automatically go to the Northcentral.

Assault/Stealing: Court Grants Groups Urge APC to Pick Deputy Senate President from North-central Popular Singer, Portable, Bail Sunday AborisadeinAbuja Assembly. of the Senate’s president and the North-central geopolitical zone, is James Sowole inAbeokuta

An Ogun State Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Ifo, headquarters of Ifo Local Government, yesterday ordered that the popular singer, Habeeb Okikiola, also known as “Portable” be remanded at the facility of Ilaro Correctional Centre pending the time he meets up with his bail requirements.

Okikiola, who is also the “Zaa Zoo Zee” crooner, was standing trial in suit number: 1192/C/2023 on a five-count charge bothering on assault and stealing before a Chief Magistrate Court in Ifo presided over by Chief Magistrate Aliyu

Soneye.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to those charges, was however, admitted to a bail conditions of N300, 000, and N500, 000 with two sureties each in the first and second count charge.

Appearing before the court yesterday in Ifo, the police prosecutor, Inspector O Awolana told the court that the accused had on 18th November, 2022 conspired with others now at large to “unlawfully assault” one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi, thereby, committing an offence contrary to section 351 of the Criminal Code of Ogun State.

Uniben Final Year Shot Dead In His Hostel

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

In what appears like a cult related incident, a final year student resident at the Hall 3 hostel of the University of Benin was reported to have been shot dead in his room by unknown gun men.

The late student popularly known as ‘Mayor’ is said to be in the Department of Public

Administration and was shot at about 9.00pm causing panic among students.

As at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that his remains had been moved into an ambulance to mortuary at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Efforts to reach the University authority or the Police proved abortive as their phones refused to connect.

Cleric Seeks Peaceful Transition of Power in Nigeria Apostle Okoriko who is the outcome of the 2023 avert any turbulence before or Okon Bassey in Uyo Worried by political tension mounting in the country, a clergy, Apostle John Okoriko has called on Nigerians, especially Christians to pray for peaceful transfer of power in the country.

the Founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Akwa Ibom State, made the call while fielding questions from Jòurnalists in Uyo. He expressed concern over the tension building up across the country considering

general election, especially the presidential poll.

He stressed that as some candidates, dissatisfied over the outcome of the elections results have approached the Tribunal to seek redress, that there was need for prayers to

after the ruling of the Tribunal.

“I told members of this Church about two Sundays ago that Christians have to pray, to avert any form of violence in the country. And I have been praying over the issue” Apostle Okoriko stressed.

APGA Urges Security Agencies to Stop Njoku from Disparaging Supreme Court Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has asked the police and other relevant security agencies in the country to stop the leader of a factional group, Mr. Edozie Njoku, from further distortion of the judgment of the Supreme Court on the authentic

leadership of the party.

A statement that was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Mr. Tex Ikechukwu, said that Njoku has even ignored the latest ruling of Hon. Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on the correct interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling in

which it made an unequivocal pronouncement of Oye as the national chairman of APGA. He said that the police should act swiftly to ensure that Njoku and his group would not continue their mischievous attacks on APGA leadership.

Okechukwu expressed concern that Njoku has

continued to attack APGA leadership and using some media platforms to accentuate his laughable claims.

He said: “Sadly too, there appears some sort of connivance with some vested interests against APGA in haranguing Edozie Njoku in his vituperations against the leadership of APGA.”

31

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Fear Grips Liverpool’s Klopp After Record 13 Managers Sacked

Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp jokingly questioned why he still had a job as clubs around the Premier League sacked their managers as the season enters its home stretch.

Chelsea sacked Graham Potter on Sunday with the club sitting 11th in the league, hours after relegationthreatened Leicester City parted ways with Brendan Rodgers. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur also parted ways

PREMIER LEAGUE with Antonio Conte late last month.

Klopp has been at Liverpool since 2015 but despite guiding them to Premier League and Champions League titles, he is under pressure with the Anfield club eighth in the standings — eight points off the top four after losing 4-1 to Manchester

City.

“What can I say about that (the sackings)? The elephant in the room is probably why am I still sitting here in this crazy world? Last man standing,” Klopp told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game against Chelsea.

“So I think both clubs are not in the spots where they expect to be… I respect them (Potter and Rodgers) a lot. Really good people and fantastic

managers, both of them. But things can go wrong.

“We all accept that part of the business, but that’s it. Conte was last week, (Julian) Nagelsmann and now these two. The season is in a decisive part, people are afraid of maybe not reaching their targets.”

Nagelsmann was shockingly sacked by Bayern Munich during the international break despite being

in a much healthier position in the league.

The Premier League has had a record 12 managers sacked this season, which Klopp described as an “awful number”.

“It is how it is. Some clubs are under achieving, definitely us too…

There are expectations out there, rightly so, and if you don’t reach them, then you have to accept the decisions,” he said.

On his own future, the German manager said Liverpool have “smart owners” but he did not like the fact that he was still in the job because of his previous success with the club.

“I’m here to deliver, I’m not here as a talisman or for murals on houses’ walls,” he said.

“I know as well I’m still here because of what happened in the last few years, I don’t like the fact that I have to rely on that.

“But we have to sort it, we cannot just continue playing like we do from time to time. Not always, thank God. That’s not allowed, really. I’m really disappointed about us, but it happens and we have to find a way out.”

EPL Managers who Have Left their Posts this Season

Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp under pressure to return the Reds to winning ways or face the same treatment given to the 13 gaffers sacked from the Premier League clubs this season

NUGA: 100 Athletes to Represent Nigeria at World University Games in China Appoints marketing consultants Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

With about 140 days left for the opening events of the World University Games in China, the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) has appointed Red Saphire and Integrated Marketing Communications firm to secure sponsorship and partners for Nigeria’s active participation in the games.

Acting Secretary General of NUGA, Chidiebere Ezeani, who spoke in Abuja over the weekend said: “This is indeed a great opportunity for Nigerian students to showcase talents on a global stage and bring glory to the nation”.

In this regard, NUGA has appointed Red Sapphire Nig Ltd an integrated marketing company to coordinate the marketing and management of the process.

They are expected to coordinate a media, public relations and marketing strategy for NUGA’s participation in the World University Games billed for Chengdu, China in July 2023 and is expected to attract over 10,000 participants from more than 170 countries.

The World University Games,

also known as the Universiade, is a multi-sport event that takes place every two years, bringing together student-athletes from around the world to compete for honours in a variety of sports.

The Chief Marketing Officer of Red Sapphire, Ono Akpe, hired by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and NUGA to scout for sponsorship for the Nigerian delegation to China said it will be honourable to have Nigeria fully represented in Chengdu.

Mr Akpe who in this regard

coordinated a courtesy call on the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), an association of 221 Federal, State and Private Nigerian universities, was hosted by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Cui Jianchun in Abuja.

The team led by Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary General of the CVCNU, used the occasion to table requests for collaboration, inter-university exchanges and partnerships between Nigerian universities and their counterparts

in China.

The CVCNU team that visited the embassy also included Professors Olayemi Akinwunmi (Federal University, Lokoja), Georgewill Owunari (University of Port Harcourt), Isaac Itodo (Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi), a representative of the Vice Chancellor of ABU, Ms. Chidiebere Ezeani, NUGA acting Secretary General, Ms. Karen Daor, Communications Officer, CVCNU and Mr. Stanley Nkwazema media consultant.

*SCOTT PARKER (Bournemouth) The first managerial casualty of the 2022-23 Premier League season was Bournemouth’s Scott Parker. His departure came after a 9-0 thrashing at Anfield against Liverpool, equalling the biggest Premier League defeat of all time. *THOMAS TUCHEL (Chelsea) Tuchel was relieved of his duties as Chelsea manager just 33 days into the 2022-23 season – the morning after they suffered a poor 1-0 defeat away at Dinamo Zagrebin the UEFA Champions League. *GRAHAM POTTER (Brighton) The only non-sacking managerial departure of the Premier League season, so far. Potter left Brighton & Hove Albion after three full seasons at the club, where he’d turned the Seagulls from relegation contenders into challengers for European football. *BRUNO LAGE (Wolves) Lage was relieved of his duties at Wolves on 2 October following a 2-0 away defeat at West Ham a day earlier. The Portuguese boss had picked up just one win in his first eight Premier League games in charge across 2022-23, losing half of games (four). *STEVEN GERARD (Aston Villa) Aston Villa had only won nine points from their opening 11 games of the Premier League season when they sacked Gerrard on 21 October – only Leicester City (eight) and Nottingham Forest (six) had won fewer points than the Birmingham-based club (nine). *RALPH HASENHUTTL (Southampton) At the time of Hasenhüttl’s sacking, only Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Thomas Frank had been in charge of current Premier League clubs for a longer period than the Austrian (1,432 days),

but his tenure came to an end in early November. After back-to-back defeats in the Premier League against Crystal Palace (1-0) and at home to Newcastle eight days later (4-1). *FRANK LAMPARD (Everton) After being sacked as Chelsea manager in January 2021, Lampard suffered another setback in his managerial career with a second Premier League sacking two years later – this time at struggling Everton.

His departure was the first following the mid-season 2022 World Cup, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

At the time of his sacking, Everton were only kept off the foot of the table on goal difference ahead of Southampton. *JESSE MARSCH (Leeds) Leeds United called time of American Marsch’s spell as the club’s manager on 6 February, just a day after a 1-0 defeat in a crucial game against fellow relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

At the time, Leeds were kept out of the relegation zone only on goal difference but had gone on a seven-game winless league run (L4 D3). *NATHAN JONES (Southampton) Southampton chose Luton manager Nathan Jones as their ideal replacement for the outgoing Ralph Hasenhüttl, but the Welshman was quick to find out that the Premier League wasn’t as forgiving as the Championship.

Jones lasted just 94 days as Southampton manager *PATRICK VIEIRA (Crystal Palace) Former French international midfielder Patrick Vieira was dismissed as Crystal Palace boss in mid-March, where he was replaced by their former gaffer and oldest ever Premier League manager, Roy Hodgson. Admittedly, Palace weren’t doing well under Vieira, with the side on an 11-game winless streak in the Premier League. *ANTONIO CONTE (Tottenham) Conte was dismissed as Spurs manager following this outburst in the post-match press conference in the hour after a 3-3 away draw at struggling Southampton. *BRENDAN RODGERS (Leicester) Rodgers may have seen his Leicester City side struggle this season, but overall he can be proud of the job he did at the Foxes – even bringing them FA Cup glory in 2021.

Across his spell as Leicester City manager, only the so-called ‘big six’ won more Premier League points than they did (222), while 29% of his league defeats as the Foxes’s boss (17/58) came this season. *GRAHAM POTTER (Chelsea) Potter became the 13th Premier League manager to leave his job in 2022-23, and the 12th to be sacked.

Having already overseen two Premier League clubs this season, it would be foolish to rule out the chance of a third, with Potter’s stock still high and many clubs needing or likely to be needing a new coach in the competition.

Young Athletes Seek Increased Funding for Cycling Devt in Nigeria Oluchi Chibuzor

The slow pace of the growth of cycling in Nigeria has been attributed to lack of adequate funding.

Speaking in Lagos at the March 2023 PitStop Criterium 40km race, the founding trustee of the PitStop Community Cycling Foundation, Aminadab Adegboro, described the winners as very strong cyclists and called for more favourable

conditions to help their growth.

According to her, “We have a lot of them that are really strong, but unfortunately, the situation of things in the country has never really helped them to progress in the career they’ve chosen; which is one of the reasons why we started the Pitstop Community Race. We are just trying to build and put them out there to be discovered by cycling federation officials to win laurels for Nigeria.

“You never know who would find them and realize how talented they are. Cycling is teaching them the right way to live — the discipline, and the leadership skills they need in life to be better humans,” stressed the Adegboro.

Meanwhile, David Johnbull emerged the winner of the fiercely contested March 2023 PitStop Criterium 40km race. He beat beat 55 other riders to win the N150,000 top

prize money at stake.

Speaking shortly he was presented with the winner’s prize, Johnbull who just returned from Cape Town in South African and Rwandan Tours, noted that representing Nigeria remains his top priority.

He however regretted that the unnecessary bureaucracy hindering the growth of sport in the country has not allowed him to achieve his set goals. He admitted that the

PitStop Community Race was his 11th victory in cycling.

According to him, “Last month I was in Cape Town for the Cape Town Cycling Tour and I really appreciated the sponsors for making the race successful.

This is the first cycling race for the year 2023 in Lagos. I am really looking forward to representing Nigeria. I have made several efforts in the past with no success,” he concluded.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Soyinka to Tinubu

“The people of this country will not cease to demanding a restructuring of this nation. New voices are being heard and they are more powerful than before. They are not just whining voices, they are voices based on actualities. We have failed in so many directions...and you cannot ignore it. Otherwise, even your economic policies will fail, your infrastructure and transformation will fail. We’ll just go back threading the same old spur.”

--- Prof. Wole Soyinka, tasking the incoming Tinubu administration on how to succeed.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Other Tales the Country Told Me “M

y man, are you sure we are in the Holy Month, because I am not understanding anymore?

There is so much tension in the country on all fronts.”

“Of course, it is the Holy Month. Two days ago, it was Palm Sunday, a significant moment in the Christian community’s observance of Lent, when Christians fast for 40 days and 40 nights, and take on Christ-like conduct and virtues and seek the eye of God. Muslims are also in the Ramadan season, the Holy Month. Both religions preach friendship, understanding, kindness towards the poor, sacrifice and the spirit of sharing and giving. A few days earlier, there was so much talk about traditional worshippers, especially in Lagos state, talking about rituals, placement of sacrificial offerings at crossroads, and yet you say there is so much tension in the country.”

“You have not answered my question. What I know is that every day, Nigerians mouth the mantra that we all worship the same God and that we are all children of God, whoever and whatever we worship.

But what I see is a country that has no fear of God. What people do is different from what they say!

Religion has failed in this country. We should ban religion.”

“Hey Hey, calm down. Nobody has banned religion in Russia, China, United States or Cuba. Na here you want to ban religion? Human beings are by nature superstitious, but the problem we have in this country is that there is a gap between public morality and private morality. People go to church or the mosque but don’t be deceived, they don’t care about values, they don’t give a damn about virtues, they go to church, the mosques and shrines, they claim we are all serving one God, but you can’t see a trace of it in their relationship with other human beings.”

“Free me. Tell me as you see it.”

“There is too much wawulence in the land.”

“Speak English. What is wawulence?”

“The language of persons with street credibility. Too much violence, verbal, physical and spiritual in the country of our birth, right now, today, everywhere.

Too much ethnic and religious hate and bigotry. I think people are losing their minds because of the elections. And I think we need to remind ourselves that there is a country, and that the country is more important than individual ambitions and preferences.”

“Point of correction. There was a country.”

“There is a country. And there will still be a country.

Can we all step out of the mass psychosis that we are dealing with?”

“The psychotics know themselves. The people who have turned election into a source of craze know themselves.”

“Yes. Like your friends in the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are now leaking Peter Obi’s telephone conversations, and who claim that he is trying to start a religious war by campaigning on the basis of ethnicity and religion, and they and their allies have put into circulation a doctored version of a telephone conversation between him and Bishop David Oyedepo. Their intent is to ridicule him and lower him in the estimation of serious-minded and reasonable people of society”.

“I don’t know who put out any audio conversation, doctored, not doctored. What I know is that there is so much hostility out there because of an election.

In the first place, don’t believe everything that you see on social media. We are in the age of Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT and all kinds of manipulations.

You must always fact-check.”

“The Labour Party and the Obidients have confirmed that their candidate actually spoke with Bishop David Oyedepo except that the leaked audio is manipulated, fake, doctored. They say there is a plan to arrest Peter Obi for treasonable felony” “Nobody is above the law. But is that how people are arrested? The people that should be arrested are the people who leaked the phone call between two persons. It is a violation of Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution and all other relevant laws on data protection, consumer protection and freedom of

Bishop David Oyedepo information. People have the right to privacy. That is why there is something called lawyer-client, doctorpatient privilege and confidentiality. If people are allowed to go about leaking other people’s private conversations, society will be ruined. Imagine someone for example, hacking into your conversation with your female friends, and sending same to your wife and other girlfriends, you would have instant chaos in your life. Your life expectancy will reduce.”

“That is a wrong analogy. I am a straight and decent man. I am not even a card-carrying politician.

But someone told me that we have the right to know everything about people in the public domain, and that it is a good thing to leak everything about politicians.”

“I know what you are saying. Volenti non fit inuria. That is the principle. It does not apply here though. Even politicians have rights. In any case, in the so-called released audio conversation, I don’t see anything that is wrong. People are just making a mountain out of a mole-hill. Politicians all over the world play to their base, they mobilise their base, they reach out to persons of influence. Peter Obi calling Bishop Oyedepo, a man of great influence and asking him for support for whatever reason is not an issue. It does not amount to calling for a religious war. It is perfectly within his right to seek celebrity endorsement. In any case, Bishop Oyedepo has shaken it all off. Did you listen to his riposte? He is a man of God. He advises everyone that seeks his counsel, whether they take it or not. Has anybody queried why in the last elections, Muslim clerics supported the Muslim-Muslim ticket? Have they looked for conversations between Muslim candidates and Muslim leaders? Look, the election is over, people who are aggrieved should go to court. The various spokespersons who have been exchanging vitriol over nothing should go and look for work. You can’t be a spokesperson for another man permanently.

Get busy. Election don finish oh! Boys! Move on!”

“I hear people are looking for appointments, especially within the APC, and that the President-elect is already putting together a team. He is building

a team.”

“You mean team-ship?”

“Yes, team-ship. Serious lobbying going on. The other day, it was Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi lobbying openly that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers must be given a core role in the Tinubu government. I hear some people are also already organizing civil society groups to say that they must be in the government.

In fact, some men have since abandoned their wives and children and turned themselves into Tinubu’s handbags, struggling to make themselves useful.

They are with him in France as we speak.”

“The things that hunger, greed and poverty will cause in this country will be serious. But truly, I don’t have a problem with the attempt to put a team together. Nigeria can no longer afford a ridiculous situation where a President would be sworn in and for six months, he would claim he is still looking for a team. No. There are urgent matters ahead. The President must hit the ground running. As long as he recruits the best and the brightest, not mediocres, not IOU-seekers, opportunists, habitual drunkards, and second-rate clowns in the corridors of power, I don’t have a problem with that.”

“Who is a second-rate clown? A clown is a clown” “I know what I am saying. Some first-rate clowns in this country are educated billionaires. Don’t force me to mention names. If you must recruit a court jester, at least get the good ones. We have had too many jesters running the Nigerian government.”

“But people say Tinubu should wait till the dispute around the Presidential election is resolved.”

“There is nothing in our laws that says so. Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution provides very strict timelines for election petitions. Lawyers exploit this.

They will stretch the matter with every possible trick.

By May 29, Tinubu would be sworn in. The process has started. He will promptly announce a Cabinet and activate Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution which grants him extensive executive powers to appoint and disappoint. Within a week, a full government would be up and running. You can keep talking to the courts!”

“I don’t think that is right” “It is not a matter of what you think. It is what the law makes possible.”

“We have to change the law. All election disputes must be finalized before inauguration. The Uwais Commission made such a recommendation. We must go back to it. That is what they do in Kenya and other places. Now I understand why some people are calling for an Interim National Government and why one man tried to stop a commercial plane from flying and threatened that there will be no Presidential inauguration on May 29.”

“I hope you also understand that the Department of State Services, and other security agencies have made it clear that anybody who tries to subvert the state, will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Nobody should test the patience of the state-qua-state.

Be careful. I won’t make a case for you.”

“I don’t make trouble with anybody. I have enough issues of my own. I mind my business. I only discuss politics when we are together like this. I raise questions. I am not likely to go on television like Datti Baba-Ahmed to say any attempt to swear in Tinubu would signal the end of democracy, and then get a TV station fined. I will not board a plane like that Obiajulu man and say there will be no inauguration on May 29. I will not act like the Eze Ndigbo of Ajao estate and proclaim that Igbos in Lagos will invite IPOB to Lagos to defend Igbo properties and investments. But we have to understand the context and understand that people are angry.”

“You know I know what you mean by context” “Yes” “Eluu Pee” “Yes Daddy” “Obi Nwannem” “Yes Daddy” “Obi Kererenke, Obi oh” “Yes Daddy” “Whoever is not happy, go to Court and fact-check” “But you know why we are having these issues,

because the people do not trust the courts. Not even that musician called Portable, Habeeb Okikiola. When the police went to arrest him, after several invitations and he had snubbed them, he told them that he is a government liability, a celebrity, a Baboon, who belongs to the zoo. Zazuh zeh! That is how many Nigerians behave. They don’t trust the system.”

“But I hope you know what has now happened to him?”

“What happened to the Omo Ijoba himself?”

“You don’t read the news.? On Friday, he was arrested by the police, and told in clear terms that being a celebrity does not confer any constitutional immunity on him, and that he is truly a government liability and not an asset. He spent the weekend in a police cell in Abeokuta. Yesterday, he was arraigned in a Magistrate Court in Ifo, Ogun State where he was slammed with a three-count charge, and remanded in Ilaro prison until he discharges his bail terms.”

“Nigeria is a wicked place to aspire to be anything.”

“No. Obey the law. The same Portable that was boasting that he is a Baboon. He has been told now that Baboons in the zoo are kept in cages, and he has been kept behind bars accordingly. I hope they lock him up with very gluttonous mosquitoes. In fact, I suspect they did. He was looking very contrite in court. A se ko ti e le. Him no get liver. Egungun better be careful! This is why everybody should be calm. After the elections, everyone should learn to be calm.”

“Make we calm, make we calm down. But there is a way this country also gets on your nerves. People are reacting in their own ways. Look at Rivers state, lawyers who went to Port Harcourt for election matters were arrested and detained, and the materials in their possession were seized. That is enough to make anybody angry.”

“They have been released.”

“So. But a point has been made. Whoever wants to challenge the election results in Rivers State is not welcome and you know what happened on February 25 and March 18 in that state and after the elections, parties across the country have been suspending key officials of their parties from the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Benue, the Labour Party in Edo State to the APC in Delta, Kwara, Bauchi and Zamfara States.

Some people are just determined to heat up the polity.”

“I am sure if you check the stories from those states very well, you’d see that for the most part, it is mainly about disagreement over ego, stomach infrastructure, and nothing about Nigeria and its future.”

“Even when people try to fight for the future, they are not allowed. I am sure you know that is the way we are.”

“You tell me.”

“Take Kano State.”

“What about Kano State?”

“Earlier on, we discussed Tinubu getting ready for the future, you said that was right. In Kano, Governorelect, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has issued two advisories. On March 30, he issued an advisory on ongoing constructions in the state in public spaces and urged that they should be stopped until the incoming administration assumes office. On March 31, he issued another advisory to say that no financial institution should grant any loans to Kano State because the in-coming administration will not honour such loans. He has been told he is jumping the gun. Governor Ganduje has told him that he is still in charge until May 29.

I don’t understand this country. We are a nation of hypocrites and double standards.”

“To be fair, the Governor-elect of Kano State does not yet have the imprimatur of the law. He is not yet a constituted authority” “Is Tinubu a constituted authority?”

“It is not the same thing. The comparison is off-key.”

“This is the problem then. How can we have a proper country when Nigerians have over 200 million opinions on any subject under the sun and the country’s population itself is over 200 million!”

“I don’t have an answer to that.”

“I’d be surprised if anybody does.”

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com