TUESDAY 15TH AUGUST 2023

Petrol: As Marketers Mull N720/Litre, NLC Warns of Workers’ Strike without Notice

Oil, gas suppliers decry high diesel price, want 7.5% tax withdrawn Lament bad roads, say over 1,000 trucks stuck, members killed

Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Emmanuel

Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),

yesterday, warned that its members would commence a nationwide strike without any formal notice if the federal government approved

another increase in the pump price of petrol without conclusion of ongoing negotiations. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, gave

the warning at the ongoing African Alliance of Trade Unions meeting in Abuja. On same day, National Oil and

Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) called for the removal of the 7.5 per cent tax on diesel fuel, stressing that it is contributing

to increases in the overall price of petrol in the country.

Continued on page 26

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Niger Junta: We’ll Prosecute Bazoum for High Treason

Alleges exchanges with foreign leaders, others It’s a provocative step to take, ECOWAS warns

Kingsley Nwezeh and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Niger’s military junta, yesterday,

said it would prosecute ousted President Mohammed Bazoum for high treason over his exchanges with foreign heads of state and

international organisations. But the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said the plan to charge Basoum

with treason constituted another provocation. The General Abdulrahmane Tchiani-led military government

had, weekend, agreed to dialogue with ECOWAS, which had earlier activated a standby force to restore constitutional order in that country.

The junta also apologised to ECOWAS Chairman and Nigerian

Continued on page 26

FX Arbitrage Widens to N206/$1 Enabling Round-tripping, CBN Vows Crack Down

Ozekhome: Emefiele, Bawa Victims of Executive Lawlessness ... Page 26 Story on page 26

I& E window: N744/$1; parallel market: N950/$1 Shonubi says Tinubu

concerned” about naira slide Reveals intervention measures ready in matter of days Report: Dollar supply remains major challenge in FX market

EXPANDING AIRTEL AFRICA’S COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION...

CBN SPEAKS ON FINANCIAL SITUATION OF COUNTRY...

Acting Central Bank Governor , Folashodun Shonubi ( L) with Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale addressing the state House correspondent shortly after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI.

Airtel Africa Group CEO, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Malawi H.E Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, during his working visit to Malawi. Ogunsanya pledged Airtel Africa’s strong commitment to fueling digital innovation and expansion in Malawi and the entire Africa which aligns with Malawi’s 2063 agenda aimed to enhance connectivity for business growth and increased job opportunities.

“very

INAUGURATION OF OBA FABORO AS NEW CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS...

MTN to Sell Minority Stake in $5.2bn Fintech Business to Mastercard

Emma Okonji

Following the need to identify and potentially introduce strategic minority investors into MTN Group Fintech, the telecoms company has executed commercial agreements with Mastercard.

MTN Group revealed the plan in its half year 2023 financial report, which THISDAY obtained from its official website yesterday. The deal is to support the acceleration and growth of MTN’s fintech business payments and remittance services.

According to the statement, MTN and Mastercard have signed a memorandum of understanding which provides for a minority investment by Mastercard into Group Fintech based on a total enterprise valuation of about $5.2 billion for the business on a cash and debt-free basis.

The signing of the definitive investment agreements was expected to occur in the very near term as both companies approach finalisation of customary due diligence.

The closing of the investment would be subject to customary closing conditions, according to

a financial statement released yesterday by MTN Group.

According to the statement, the MTN Group Fintech business delivered on its rapid expansion plans. The volume of transactions increased by 37 per cent to 8.3 billion in the first half of the year. These were executed by 61 million active MoMo customers.

“MTN Group’s service revenue grew 15 per cent to almost R108 billion in constant-currency terms. This was driven by increases in revenue from data services of 24 per cent and from fintech services of 22 per cent. Revenue from voice services increased six per cent in the period.

“At the end of June 2023, we had 292 million subscribers with whom we worked to create shared value. This subscriber base – four per cent higher than the same period last year – benefited from lower data rates and improved access to broadband services. To facilitate the digital economy, we increased the number of active data users by more than seven per cent to nearly 140 million; reported a 19 per cent increase in overall data traffic; and improved data affordability by

reducing the average effective rate per megabyte by more than 22 per cent,” the financial statement revealed.

It added: “We continued to invest in world-class networks and platforms for the people of Africa, committing R17.2 billion in capital expenditure in the first six months of 2023. The Group’s balance sheet remained strong, with all key metrics well within

the limits of our loan covenants.

“Driven by solid revenue growth and improved efficiencies, adjusted headline earnings per share (HEPS) increased by 25 per cent to 749 cents and adjusted return on equity (ROE) expanded by one percentage point to 24.4 per cent. These were in line with our medium-term guidance.”

Analysing the financial report, MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita, said: “We delivered

a resilient performance in H1 2023 and made good strategic progress against a tough macro backdrop.”

According to him, “In Nigeria we delivered a very strong operational result, having navigated the cash shortages in Q1 2023 and increased inflation. The policy changes implemented in Nigeria in Q2 2023 have short-term negative impacts, but we see these as being very constructive for the investment

climate in the medium to longer term.”

Mupita further said: “In South Africa, we were very encouraged by the improved network availability on the back of our power-resilience investment, resulting in a stronger Q2 23 performance than Q1 2023. By end-June, MTN South Africa’s network availability was more than 90 per cent despite severe electricity shortages across the country.”

WHO: Population of Elderly Persons to Hit Over 1.5 billion by 2050

The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday, said the number of older persons worldwide was projected to more than double, reaching more than 1.5 billion persons in 2050.

Speaking at the National Summit on Healthy Ageing, WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter

Kazadi Mulombo, said despite lack of adequate data on older persons, Nigeria was not spared from the alarming figures with about 14.8 million aged 60years and above in 2020.

"Globally, there were 703 million persons aged 65 or over in 2019. Over the next three decades, the number of older persons

worldwide is projected to more than double, reaching more than 1.5 billion persons in 2050.

"Apart from Northern Africa and Asia, the second fastest increase is projected for sub-Saharan Africa, where the population aged 65 or over could grow from 32 million in 2019 to 101 million in 2050," he said..

Mulombo said WHO alongside

CSR: Adeniyi Expresses Customs’ Readiness to Give Back to Orphans, Vulnerable

NCS is Nigeria's economic life-wire, says Olubadan

The Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, yesterday, expressed the readiness of the agency to bring succour to orphans and vulnerable persons across facilities in the country as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The Comptroller General who stated this while inspecting Dorian Home, an orphanage located in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said the inspection was necessary so that the formation would periodically be able to assist the facility and others in taking care of children resident in the homes.

The Customs boss disclosed that as part of responsibilities of NCS, materials and items for the upkeep of children in orphanage homes were supplied.

He declared that judging by the facilities put in place by the founder

and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dorian Home, Dr. Lola Bayode, the operator was passionate about the welfare of the children.

His words: "We are an agency of the government and our mandate is basically to work around and generate revenue for the country.

We do not generate this revenue in a ghost city, we operate within society, communities and border areas within state commands.

“When we do this, we also feel that we have a responsibility to the community that helps us generate that kind of revenue.

"So, we want to remain a very committed and patriotic agency of government. This is why we find it necessary for us to seek out organisations like this (Dorian Home) that are responsible for taking care of the community that we serve and forge partnership with such organisations.

In doing so, we also learn from the experiences we have had in the past.

"In the past, when we tried to extend hands of fellowship to places like this, we either had situations where some of those things might be diverted and end up in the wrong hands, or some of them might also end up in the markets and then be sold.

“So, this time in our review strategy, we want to identify these organisations. We want to be sure they have the proper structure to drive what they are doing. Then we also want to see passion and their commitment towards it,"he stressed.

According to Adeniyi, "My assessment visit has shown that all those three elements are present in Dorian Home. In all such other organisations where we see those elements present, we would be extending our hands of assistance and partnership with them.

“We have seen that this place has capacity for almost a thousand kids, so they need to feed them, clothe them, provide them with medicines

and things like that.

"So, in any of these areas, periodically, we would be looking at our stores and sending off those kinds of items that could assist them in achieving the objectives for which these kinds of homes are set up," he added.

Reacting, the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dorian Home, Dr. Lola Bayode, explained that the facility does not only focus on shelter, feeding and clothing of children, but also takes care of the education of children in order for them to achieve their dreams despite their challenges.

Bayode, represented by the General Manager of Dorian Home, Mr. Niyi Ogunleye, said the Home has been focusing on its mission statement of "providing decent shelter and cater for the welfare of the vulnerable, including children, widows, elderly and youths and those ravaged by wars and communal clashes."

Meanwhile, the NCS has been

described as the life wire of the country's economy and an agency to be proud of in terms of acknowledged efficiency globally.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, made the remark, yesterday, while playing host to Adeniyi and top management staff of the NCS at his Alarere, Ibadan residence.

The monarch in a statement by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, noted that the contributions of the agency to the economic well-being of the country could not be overemphasised and charged the Customs boss to not only maintain the standard but to improve on it.

Balogun, who spoke through the Ajiroba of Ibadanland, Chief Soji Adejumo, disclosed that aside the contributions of the agency to the economy, "the NCS is also a source of pride to us in the country as it ranks among the best globally in terms of efficiency and professionalism."

other UN experts, civil society and the health professions have continued to support government of Nigeria’s efforts to discuss the five strategic objectives of the Global Strategy and Action plan on Ageing and Health.

He said the strategy was at the center of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as ageing issues cut across the 17 goals, especially Goal 3 which aims to, “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being of all at all ages.”

The WHO director said several studies assessing Nigeria’s health system including the current global COVID-19 pandemic further revealed a need for strengthened health systems at all levels to be responsive to older people.

In addition, he said the role of governance and coordination through partnerships as a major building block of the health system cannot be overemphasised.

"The desired goal of ‘Leaving no one behind’ is achievable and can become a reality when and only when all stakeholders – Government from various sectors, development partners, and indeed the people represented in the various communities including older citizens join hands together for strengthened partnerships.

"To this end, this implementation of the strategic objectives of the ‘decade of heathy age become critical and will set the right stage for accelerated results towards improving the health and socioeconomic outcomes for older persons in Nigeria,” he added.

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan and Fidelis

David in Akure

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

L-R Immediate Past Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Oba Ayodele Adejuwon; newly inaugurated Chairman of the council, HRM Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro; Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; and Ajero of Ijero- Ekiti, HRM Oba Adebayo Adewole; during the inauguration of Oba Faboro as new Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers, at the Council Chamber, Ado-Ekiti…yesterday

CAN BRIEFS THE MEDIA...

OPSN Establishes Sector Skill Council for Textiles, Apparel, Garment Industries

NASSI says council will empower Nigerians to take charge of country’s N10tn TAG market

Dike Onwuamaeze

Members of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) in collaboration with the German Cooperation, GIZ and SKYPE, have inaugurated the board of Sector Skill Council (SSC) for the Textile, Apparel and Garment (TAG) industry in Nigeria.

The membership of the recently inaugurated board is made up of the Deputy Director General of National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Ms. Omowunmi Olumide Obidiran and The Director General of Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association, Mr. Hamma Ali Kwajafa, as interim board head and interim vice chair-

man (textile) respectively.

Other members of the board are the President of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Olayebi, interim vice chair (Apparel); and Mr. Akanni Oyefusi, interim vice Chair (Garment).

The members of the OPSN that fostered the establishment of the SSC were the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Employers Consultative Assembly, National Chambers of Commerece, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), NASSI and the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

The OPSN said the SSC would be responsible for defining the skills, knowledge and behaviours that

would underpin human resource development for TAG industries.

The promoters of the SSC also affirmed that it was clear that the, “textile, clothing, leather and footwear industry in Nigeria faces a range of skill gaps and shortages,” which the SSC, “will need to work with the full range of partners to deliver solutions that will respond to these issues.”

They also defined the SSC as an employer-led organisation whose aim was to engender human capital development of highly skilled workforce that is productive and competitive.

The SSC would also champion the development of nationally acceptable standard curriculum for

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria to ensure that the Nigerian educational institutions would produce the skills needed by the TAG industries.

Speaking during the formal inauguration of the SSC for the TAG industries, the Director General of NACCIMA, Mr. Sola Obadimu, said, “the OPSN is in this journey to empower our workforce to cater for Nigeria’s domestic needs and export to foreign markets.”

He said: “This is very significant concerning the type of responsibilities that we owe to our youths to develop them to be self-sufficient and able to earn foreign exchange. We congratulate the organisers of this programme: the GIZ and trade

FG Begins Evaluation of Nigeria's Health Security Capability

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government said it has commenced a second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) for the International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities.

The JEE is a voluntary multisectoral process and one of the four components of the IHR monitoring and evaluation framework.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) which disclosed this in a statement yesterday, explained that the process involves a diverse team of experts, collectively evaluating a nation's preparedness and response capacities across 19 technical areas, under the guidance of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies

According to the NCDC, the second the joint evaluation of Nigeria’s health security capacity commenced yesterday, through the assessment of the country’s IHR prescribed core capacities and would be concluded on 18th August 2023.

"Following on its first JEE, Nigeria is one of a handful of countries to undertake a second round of the JEE, utilising the JEE 3.0 tools.

"The JEE, a voluntary multisectoral process is one of the four components of the IHR monitoring and evaluation framework. This

process involves a diverse team of experts, collectively evaluating a nation's preparedness and response capacities across 19 technical areas, under the guidance of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

"This underscores the holistic, multi-sectoral and all-of-government approach that is critical for national health security. The NCDC, as stipulated in the NCDC Act 2018, coordinates IHR implementation for the country."

The Centre said that as a follow-up to the 2018-2023 NAPHS implementation, the 2023 JEE would enable Nigeria to critically appraise the current situation by chronicling the progress so far and by identifying new/persisting gaps and opportunities.

According to the NCDC, the insights gained from the evaluation would guide the development of the 2023-2028 NAPHS and ensure prioritised actions were included for interventions over the next five years.

It said the external evaluators are a team of experts and partners who would validate the score from the recently completed internal assessment.

"This external validation phase of the JEE involves a comprehensive

review of presentations, documents, policies, and systems for each technical area.

"In addition, site visits will be conducted to national public health centres and institutes across the 19 technical areas. Following the reviews of the technical areas, validated scores will be aggregated to determine Nigeria's 2023 JEE score which will signal our progress in detecting, assessing, reporting, and responding to public health events.

"The Government of Nigeria remains resolute in safeguarding the health and well-being of all its citizens," the NCDC added.

In 2017, Nigeria conducted her first JEE using the JEE 1.0 tool which gave a readiness score of 39 per cent. Consequently, the 2018-2023 National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) was developed to address identified gaps and recommendations from the 2017 evaluation.

associations that are here.”

Speaking in the same vein, the director general of NTMA, said the council would enable the industry to engage with the government to develop new educational curriculum that would end the era of shunning out graduates who do not have prerequisite skills that are required by industries. Kwajafa added: “Workshops should be in our educational institutions for our youths to develop something with their hands.”

The Director General of NASSI, Mr. Chris Oputa, said he was excited by the efforts the GIZ is making in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa.

Oputa said the benefits of the SSC would enable Nigerian firms to increase their market share of the N10 trillion Nigerian textile industry, which is currently being dominated by imports from China and India.

The Director of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mr. Joseph Ani, who was represented by Ms. Olayinka Shodunke, expressed hope that the SSC would mark the beginning of the revival of the textile industry in Nigeria.

Ani lamented that even Adire is being taken away from Nigerian producers.

“Now we are having Chinese and Indian Adire. They are even exporting it to Nigerians in diaspora. Let us revive our textile industry.”

Obadiran, who is also the first chair of the TAG’s SSC board, said that poor skill development would hinder Nigeria’s effective participa-

tion in the African Continental Free Trade Area. She said: “What matters is the skill. If we do not have this holistic movement (TAG’s SSC) now, we are not going to succeed in anything else we do. The SSC is not new. There had been previous attempts. But it is not one unless it is private sector lead.”

The Team Leader, Cooperative Vocational Training Component of Sequa, Mr. Johann-Peter Porten, who also represents SKYE and GIZ, explained that the SSC was about giving young Nigerians the opportunity to find their place in the TAG market as professionals by being trained in the right competences.

Porten said: “We are now starting with the TAG sector, a vibrant sector with a lot of possibilities. Even if we have excellent designers, they will be missing competent people who can work to international standard. We have to look not only at the designs; we also have to look at the finishing. This is very much important. So, the SSC will determine the competence of people working in this sector; it will define it, access it and produce the right competence for the sector.

The TVET Partnership Coordinator for Cooperative Vocational Training Component, Sequa, Mr. Jonathan Osadalor, said that for “the first time we are actually having a skill sector council in Nigeria that is a link between the private sector, public sector and the education sector. This is what we want it to be going forward.”

Residents Stranded as Flood Washes Away Bauchi-Gombe Road

Mohammed calls for urgent FG’s action

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Flood caused by a heavy downpour has washed away part of the major road between Bauchi and Gombe State in Kirfi local government area, thereby cutting off the north-East sub region from other parts of the country.

THISDAY checks revealed that the heavy downpour on Sunday morning, caused flooding on a portion of the Bauchi-Gombe road and washed away the bridge at Kaljanga village in Kirfi local government

area of Bauchi State, thereby cutting the zone from other parts of the country.

THISDAY also learnt that the development has left many travellers stranded on both sides of the highway as some of them had to make a detour to alternate and longer routes to access their destinations.

Inspecting the level of damage, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed expressed worry that the situation would affect commercial activities in region.

Mohammed, therefore called on the federal government to look into the problem by providing immediate solution for commuters passing through Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States. He also called on the federal government to review the rehabilitation of the Bauchi road project that was awarded in 2018.

The governor lamented that the present situation was worrisome considering the hardship motorists and residents of the area were battling with and stressed the need

for immediate intervention by the federal government.

Mohammed, who also charged the company handling the rehabilitation project to expedite action in ensuring timely completion, urged the federal government to reconstruct the entire Bauchi-Gombe road.

He noted that the busiest corridor was neglected by the previous administration.

On his part the representative of the contracting firm, Haidar Ibrahim, assured that the work would be done in three days’ time.

L-R: Secretary, CAN Lagos State, Rev. Fr. Matthew Ogunyase; Chairman, CAN Lagos State, Bishop Stephen Adegbite; Assistant Secretary, Rev. Dr Dickson Asaju and Treasurer, CAN Lagos State, Apostle Julius Opasola during a media briefing held by CAN in Lagos ... yesterday

DG

CELEBRATION OF 70TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY...

NEITI: $20bn Required Annually to Bridge Nigeria’s Gas Infrastructure Deficit

$1tn needed for energy transition in-country, says expert

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) yesterday said that the country would require about $20 billion annually to bridge the country’s gas infrastructure gap.

Nigeria has over 200 TCF of proven gas reserves and about 600 TCF potential molecules, but has been unable to take them off the ground due to low investment in the sector.

Speaking at a policy dialogue on Nigeria’s ‘Decade of Gas’ plan organised by the African Initiative for Transparency, Accountability and Responsible Leadership (AfriTal) and Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) in Abuja, Executive Secretary, NEITI, Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, stated that Nigeria has the largest gas reserves in Africa and the ninth-largest globally, but has been unable to take full advantage.

However, Orji noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has provided the most significant progress for the gas sector in strengthening governance and providing fiscal frameworks for the sector’s growth.

“Nigeria has the largest gas reserves in Africa and the ninth largest globally. NEITI reports put the country's gas reserves at over 200 trillion cubic feet. NEITI's position is consistent with the provisions of the PIA passed in 2021. The PIA provided the most significant progress for the gas sector in strengthening governance and providing fiscal frameworks for the sector's growth.

“We call on the government to urgently put a national gas utilisation policy in place. Such policy needs to be clear on the specific roles of the industry, government, and investors in implementing the plan.

“Similarly, the gas utilisation plan should show the market-driven op-

Adebiyi

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

portunities that would successfully translate the gas plans into sustainable economic development,” Orji said.

For the gas utilisation policy to work, the NEITI helmsman noted that there was a compelling need for deliberate ambitious investment in its infrastructure. This, he said, includes specific connectivity across upstream facilities to processing, power plants, and other end uses.

“ The network code provides a framework through third-party access to resolve some of the connectivity issues, but to a large extent, achieving the desired gas expansion will require an estimated $20 billion annually to bridge Nigeria's gas infrastructure.

"Given the shrinking fossil fuel investment landscape, clarity is required of the infrastructure to be prioritised,” Orji added. According to him, the right policy and politics will send strong positive signals to investors to move into the gas sector.

He stressed that the work of the experts would include mapping of infrastructure gaps, prioritised gas demand and supply projects, gas demand and supply projections, and private, public sector financing required.

In addition, he said that the deregulation policy on gas pricing must align with the fiscal adjustments within the PIA 2021 which should be encouraged .

Orji noted that experts have argued that a market-based pricing regime, where producers and consumers are free to engage in transactions without government interference, would generate more government revenues and free up capital for government to spend in other weaker sectors of the economy.

He stated that NEITI strongly aligned with the federal government’s commitment to global emission reduction and methane abatement.

“This policy remains critical to achieving Net Zero emissions and arresting adverse impacts on the global environment,” he said.

In his remarks, AfriTal’s Dr Louis Ogbeifun, noted that over the years, Nigeria had behaved like the prodigal son by exporting mineral resources to earn dollars for consumption without savings, reinvestment in revenue, and employment generation ventures.

He argued that this model has buried many industries in the economic graveyards, created employment overseas, and worsened

unemployment and poverty in Nigeria. These analogies, he said, reflect the contradiction of being a rich, but poor nation.

“It is in a bid to reverse the highlighted negative narrations, achieve energy accessibility, affordability, and sustainability as a country that the 2021-2030 government legislation tagged the ‘Decade of Gas Action Plan (DofG)’ was enunciated.

“If the government’s intentions were effectively implemented, Nigeria is expected to witness a vast gas infrastructural development during

the period,” he said.

He noted that with the dwindling international funding support and the expulsion of foreign interests from some parts of the continent, which is spreading to other countries in the sub-region, citizens must be worried about how to fund and birth the gas projects in a manner that would be cost-efficient, cost-effective, and less hazardous to women, youths and the rest of our citizens.

Also speaking, Lead, Domestic Energy Transition, NGRI, Aaron Sayne, said Nigeria would need

about $1 trillion to execute its energy transition programme.

He noted that foreign investment had continued to dry up in the oil and gas sector, noting that the funding available 10 years had recently halved.

He said that although local oil companies should ordinarily step up , the problem was that big time funding for the sector was no longer available. He urged the government to therefore approach public lending institutions which may still be available.

Court Orders CBN to Pay Reinstated Federal

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Urban Mass Transit Staff N2.8bn

The National Industrial Court in Abuja, has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to pay the sum of N2.8 billion to the 313 reinstated staff of the Federal Urban Mass Transit Agency, over the illegal and unlawful termination of their appointments.

The order which was contained in a judgment delivered by Justice E. N Agbakoba, in a garnishee proceedings marked NICN/ABJ/228M/2022, finally brought an end to the over 16 years legal battle at the industrial court.

The suit was brought by the judgment creditors whose appointments were unlawfully terminated by the judgment debtors listed as the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Head of Service of the Federation; Minister, Federal Ministry of Transportation and Federal Urban Mass Transit Agency.

The judgment creditors/applicants were all staff of the defunct Federal

Urban Mass Transit Agency, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Transport, whose employment was in accordance with the Federal Civil Service Rules.

The litigation was as a result of the winding up of the agency, following which the government sometimes on November 13, 2004, issued letters of retirement from service to the applicants, although the letters were backdated to August 31, 2004.

In the suit marked NICN/ ABJ/324/2013, filed by Julius Komgbenda and 313 others, the complaints had challenged the purported retirement describing it as illegal and unlawful as it did not comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution or the Public Service Rules 2008.

They claimed that under the Civil Service Rules under which they were employed, they had not attained the statutory age of 60 years and as such, they were entitled to be transferred and or

Resumes as State House Permanent Secretary

The newly appointed Permanent Secretary at the State House, Olusesan Adebiyi, yesterday, formally assumed duty in Abuja, pledging his unwavering commitment to the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

At a handover ceremony, Adebiyi, who was redeployed from the Federal Ministry of Health, said, "I sincerely pledge my commitment

to my fatherland. I will put forth my best effort for the success of the administration.”

"I pledge my faithfulness, hard work, honesty, and sincerity of purpose in ensuring that every assignment given to me is carried out to the letter," he affirmed.

The Permanent Secretary urged State House staff to work as a cohesive team, with renewed vigour and dedication to succeed.

He expressed gratitude to his

predecessor, Tijjani Umar and acknowledged his dedicated service to the nation and congratulated him on his successful retirement on August 10, 2023.

In his remarks, Umar said it was an honour to have served two Presidents - Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, during his three years as Permanent Secretary, State House, from April 5, 2020 to August 10, 2023.

According to him: ''Driving round

the State House today gives me great pleasure because I have seen how much we have impacted the community.

''When you look to the left, right and centre, there’s something somewhere that people will continue to use and benefit from that we initiated, completed and delivered.” Umar disclosed that a memoir, chronicling his career in public service, was slated for publication soon.

be seconded to other government ministries, agencies or parastatals, adding that they were not given formal notice or paid any allowances in lieu of notice as at the time of retirement.

In her judgment delivered on December 16, 2020, Justice Agbakoba, had held that evidence presented before the court proved that the claimants were statutory employees of the federal government.

Accordingly, she had made an order declaring their purported retirement as untimely, unlawful, null and void and of no effect as it did not comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution or the Public Service Rules 2008.

In addition, the court granted an order reinstating the claimants to their offices and positions.

"An order of this court to the effect that all salaries/wages due to the claimants before and during the commencement of this suit should be paid to them accordingly until their employment are properly and legally determined or by retirement," the court had held.

However, three years after the above judgment, the listed judgment debtors refused to comply with the judgment necessitating the judgment creditors to commenced a garnishee proceedings against them in suit No NICN/ABJ/228M/2022.

But on June 14, 2023, the court entered judgment in favour of the judgment creditors as follows: " The order of garnishee nisi made on October 18, 2022 against the 2nd garnishee (CBN) is herein and hereby made absolute, the garnishee is hereby ordered to pay the judgment

sum of N2, 800, 000, 000.00 being the judgment debt from the 2nd garnishee to the judgment creditor or so much thereof that will satisfy the judgment of this court delivered on 16th December 2020 in favour of the judgment creditor which sum has not been satisfied.”

Justice Agabakoba held that: "In this suit the judgment debtors, in fact all four judgment debtor filed frivolous processes arguing law and raising spurious academic submissions on issues that had long been settled in the law.

“I do not consider that the position taken by the judgment debtors in this suit can be described to be of a limited circumstance as recommended by the apex court. I find that the motions of the 1st -4th judgment debtors lack merit and are hereby dismissed with a cost of N500, 000.00 each.

"It is not the business of a Garnishee to undertake to play the role of an advocate for a judgment debtor by trying to shield and protect the money of the judgment debtor. Of course, by playing games of hide and seek with the court, by failing or refusing to depose to affidavit to show cause, disclosing the true account status of the judgment debtor, the garnishee only exposes itself to trouble, daring the court to do its worst.

“It can therefore be made to pay the debt of the judgment debtor, if the court has cause to believe that the failure or refusal to show cause is a deliberate attempt to evade a legal duty under the law, to disclose the true state of account of the judgment debtor in its custody.

L-R: Mrs. Stella Esinojomi Agbonwanegbe; Edo former Commissioner for Agriculture, Chris Agbowanegbe, and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during the celebration of the 70th birthday anniversary of Agbonwanegbe, in Benin City. ... yesterday

POLLS AND PROTESTS

Peter Mbah, a lawyer, is currently sitting as Governor of Enugu State. Thanks to the electoral magic conjured by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This sort of magic is only fit for the stone age. The age when the human mind could not stretch beyond the mundane. INEC brought that age back in what is a brazen electoral robbery. INEC robbed the good people of Enugu, a people famed for civility, hard work, integrity, scholarship and voluble hospitality that has made the state the hub of Nollywood production, political capital of the south east and home to all Nigerians.

This explains the riveting attention on the state’s Electoral Tribunal in a matter between Chijioke Edeoga, himself also a lawyer and the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Mbah, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). On this matter, INEC openly robbed

what other evidence is weightier than the alleged issuer of a document openly disclaiming the said document as forged and not its property by way of issuance. Keep that aside.

Let’s examine the simple arithmetic inherent in voter registration, accreditation, casting of ballot and tallying same. That’s the simple election value chain. A clear bolt and nut matter which ought not to be difficult to perform and to understand. But INEC is making such uncomplicated matter more difficult than algebraic equation. This is the basis of Edeoga’s petition; that INEC erred in the manner it computed the final result of the governorship election. In what would pass for a disingenuous electoral punt, INEC swung victory in the direction of Mbah when the ball was visibly right before Edeoga. But it is a primitive, even devious, punt that should never be allowed to stand because it negates all the grains of the Electoral Act, the only valid manual for the election.

Here’s why. At the point of collation of results, the record from INEC showed that voting in 16 of Enugu State’s 17 local government areas produced result as follows for the two leading candidates: Edeoga (LP): 155,697 votes; Peter Mbah (PDP): 143,938 votes. At this point, the difference was 11,759 votes, advantage Edeoga. The outstanding votes were those from Nkanu East, where Mbah hails from. And you wonder why Nkanu East votes would take long in coming. It’s not a riverine LGA. Access to Enugu from Nkanu East is easy to any other LGA, even easier than it is for some other LGAs whose results had been tallied. No big deal. Such delays are not novel in Nigeria election history.

the Enugu electorate. By all reasonable statistics, mathematical computations and electoral morality, Edeoga, the LP candidate won the March 18 governorship election; but INEC by a stroke of electoral magic, gave victory to Mbah. And you just wonder: Why do we as a people delight in making simple matters complex? Why do we prefer the strenuous walk up the cliff to an easy waltz on a straight path?

Here is the portrait of the story: Edeoga and his party, LP, are seeking the following reliefs: An order invalidating the return and declaration of Mbah as the winner of the Enugu State governorship election held on March 18, 2023; an order withdrawing the Certificate of Return issued by INEC to Mbah allegedly as the winner of the election in dispute; and an order directing INEC to issue forthwith to Edeoga the Certificate of Return as the winner of the election.

Edeoga and LP’s petition stands on the props that Mbah was, at the time of the election, not qualified to be a contestant on account of alleged forgery of his NYSC discharge certificate; a certificate already disowned by the alleged issuer, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The matter has since been challenged by Mbah in a court of law. Curiously, a court has issued an ‘order’ restraining NYSC from disclaiming Mbah’s certificate. Let’s get this right. A statutory body of the stature of NYSC says it did not issue the certificate being flaunted by Mbah which he swore under oath and submitted to INEC as validly issued by NYSC. The same NYSC came out boldly to say that the certificate in question does not bear its seal and imprimatur hence was not and could not have been issued by it. Circumstantial evidences surrounding the time of issuance of the certificate, the period Mbah claimed he performed his NYSC duty and his age during the said ‘service’ point to only one thing: Perjury! Somebody lied under oath as well as forged a certificate. But

From INEC’s official dashboard, the number of registered voters in Nkanu East was 36,976. The number of voters that collected their PVCs was 27,594. The number of voters accredited to vote on election day was 7,453. Please follow and observe the sequence. Edeoga was already leading by 11,759 votes, far more than the 7,453 accredited voters. Meaning that if per chance Mbah cleared all the votes from his Nkanu East LGA, which is impossible electorally, he would still have lost the election to Edeoga by 4,306 votes. By the rule of simple majority, Edeoga should have been declared winner of the election.

This meant that, even if Mbah amassed all the votes from his local government and the other candidates each scored zero, he still would have lost to Edeoga by 4,306 votes.

But here’s the twist, the real magic. INEC, obviously on a mission to commit electoral suicide, awarded Edeoga 1,855 votes for Nkanu East and handed Mbah a hefty 30,560 votes in an LGA that recorded only 7,453 accredited voters. The question is, from whence came the differential 24,962 votes? From ghosts and spooks? This is pure electoral phantom phantasm and only INEC is capable of such. If INEC were a human being, by all standards of logic, he should be under the care of an experienced shrink; in the intensive care unit of a psychiatric hospital.

The initial result declared by INEC for Nkanu East drew umbrage, expectedly. This ought to have compelled INEC to undo the damage it did to itself. Never. The electoral umpire merely relapsed into a review mode after it had announced suspension of further collation of results. By the time, INEC emerged from its conclave of ballot review three days later, it treated Enugu people to another thrill of magic. This time, it allocated, yes allocated, 16,956 votes to Mbah and still retained the ‘fixed’ 1,855 votes for Edeoga. Remember that the same INEC had already told the world that only 7,453 voters were accredited to vote in that LGA on that day.

Ugbechie is a Journalist

Ethnic diversity should be exploited for the development of the nation, writes

VICTOR C. ARIOLE

NAL AND ETHNIC WAVES

Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) in its deliberations resolves that ethnic diversity in Nigeria needed to serve as “neutrons” for quantum development of Nigeria as against how it is currently used as “weapons” against socioeconomic development, and expects political elite to rethink their wrong use of such positive values of Nigeria.

NAL pondered over how not to use ethnic diversity in Nigeria as weapon against socio-economic development in its 25th convocation and investiture of new fellows held at University of Lagos with an advice by the representative of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayo Atsenuwa, the DVC, that NAL makes its position on national issues to matter for better humanistic development of Nigeria and Africa in the current prevailing uncertainties, especially as they concern good governance and social justice.

“Histori Tends in the management of inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic relations in Nigeria”, was the theme of the

for the wellbeing of humans, whether in the food chain or biodiversity or human ecology of complementing talents and endowments.

Professor Olademo using the reaction of some Nigerians in relation to how Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala posted pictures during the recent gathering of world leaders in France as quite negative of how to relate to diversity and Okonjo-Iweala quickly reacted also to disabuse the minds of such negative reaction by proving that it was not deliberate as she posed in a photo with Nigeria’s president to debunk the insinuation that she, as Director General of WTO, was ignoring Nigeria’s president. Prof. Olademo also referred to the saga of insomnia and JAMB to expatiate what negative ethnic divide sentiment could do to genuine and positive development of a people in the process of developing to nationhood.

minded ones who always see the negative side of ethnic diversity and always clamour for loyalty to ethnic elite as against national progress.

For Professor Yuka, India must serve as a better way of exploiting ethnic diversity for the development of a nation as most of the over 1.4 billion Indians use Hindi as a national language while not ignoring the development of over 270 mother tongues as well as separately is state’s regions allow what to add of the 29 states of India. English of course, still serves as the language that leads them to the outer world.

deliberation. Professor Isaac Olawale Albert led the debate with his lecture that dwelled in the dialectics of “forget

to work out what our strength is” as processes of development propounded by two of the foremost leaders of Nigeria’s fathers of independence. It was also seen as the analogy of the tree’s branches and the roots that enable either the beauty or the frail outlook of the branches and leaves.

as peripherals could remain stronger

determinant one runs deep to keep the tree stable. So, it is high time Nigerians the taproot to keep the Nigerian state stable. So, also the contributions of Professors Florence Orabueze, Oyeronke Olademo and Lendzemo Yuka. Professor Orabueze sees Nigeria’s authors like Achebe, Isidore and Agary as worthy exploring on how not to use the divide and rule tactics bequeathed by the British colonial masters as further means of administering Nigeria if indeed Nigeria’s ethnic diversity is to be developed into a positive developmental tool and it is to be learnt in how nature exploits the diversity of the planet earth

Professor Yuka in his study of that the profuse borrowing of words by the languages among themselves gives the clue for a centripetal cultural observance which Nigerians ought to capitalize on to project a national culture or outline national values that give strength to their diversity as against approaching their diversity in instrumentalist way leading to sentiments of xenophobia, apartheid and racism.

So, intercultural studies among centered on Nigeria’s languages and subcultures have to be encouraged by Nigeria’s policymakers and political elite if indeed studying Nigerians’ waves that could lead to quantum development is to be realized as it takes great velocity to move the multiple cultural waves for the production of massive energy required to give happiness and wellbeing to the over 200 million people whose individual mass outlooks are craving for that binding force available in language construction as well as in political will of the leaders.

Ariole is a Professor of French and Francophone Studies, University of Lagos

INEC erred in the manner it computed the final result of the governorship election in Enugu State, argues KEN UGBECHIE

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

SELLING BABIES AT ORPHANAGES

The highly revealing report by investigative journalist, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, on a most egregious form relevant authorities. The report details popular Lagos orphanage home. Unfortunately, this is an old problem that has refused to go away, US$33 billion annually.

illegal orphanages in

The culprits should be brought to justice

enablers on their payroll. That perhaps explains why away from them. These adoption fad has assumed a new level of popularity in of these orphanages. The approving authorities

However, we are mindful that there are operators

NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, 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

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LETTERS

NAVIGATING THE PATH TO ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

government to a series of transformative reforms, ranging where it may hinder growth, and instead, provide a plat

perity and sustainability.

Sunday Benjamin, from Delta State

The approving authorities should raise the standard of establishing orphanages in Nigeria with a view to ensuring that every prospective operator meets some minimal conditions before they are licensed

Mbah Tightens Grip on Enugu’s Security

Security measures put in place in the last two months by the Enugu State government are beginning to yield good results, Deji Elumoye reports

Amassive deployment of security agents is one striking feature as you come into Enugu State these days. As you enter the state capital, you are sure to see armoured personnel carriers and battle-ready security agents dotting every nook and cranny of the Coal City, while the military and police security teams patrol the streets.

But if you spend a day or two, you are likely to see the Nigerian Air Force jets and surveillance helicopters hover overhead from time to time.

Last week, the government mobilised earthmoving machines to the notorious Agu Udene forest at Akpawfu community in Nkanu East Local Government (LGA) of the state, which until now housed the training and operational camps of the supposed ‘unknown gunmen’ and criminals carrying out nefarious crimes in and around the state. Although the thick forest has been previously raided by the military with some success, the criminals still subsisted, necessitating the bulldozing of the forest.

According to the Council Chairman, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, the area will now serve agricultural purposes with future potentials for tourism.

Recently also, the administration cleared the New Artisan shanties, which many had complained harboured criminal elements in the Enugu capital city. Past efforts to clear it were met with stiff opposition. An attempt to execute a court order to clear the shanties in April 2021 resulted in a violent clash between the security agents and the hoodlums.

But not anymore, for as they now say in Enugu, “Mbah no dey laugh”, meaning that the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, brooks no nonsense, as he is taking the battle to the criminal elements.

Only a few weeks ago, the state police command published pictures of four recovered bodies of sit-at-home enforcers, who met their waterloo in the hands of the security operatives. Likewise, a few days ago, security operatives stormed the hideout of gunmen at Imufu community in Igbo-Eze North LGA where they neutralised three gunmen, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

The grim past

Before now, it was common to read about serial attacks on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices, police stations, and security checkpoints in Enugu State.

Around 3:45pm on Saturday, February 12, 2022, gunmen suspected to be operating from the infamous Agu Udene Akpawfu forest attacked a combined security checkpoint at Obeagu Uno along the Amechi Awkunanaw – Agbani road in Enugu South Local Government Area, leaving an unspecified number dead. Likewise, gunmen operating in two Lexus SUVs and Toyota Sienna stormed the same checkpoint on Tuesday, September 28, in an attack that reportedly left two security personnel dead.

On Sunday, October 9, 2022, gunmen stormed the Inyi Police Divisional Headquarters in Oji River LGA of the state in two vehicles, opening fire on the facility, and killing an officer and a resident. These are but a few instances.

The city centre was not also spared, as gunmen also attacked and killed civilians and burnt vehicles at motor parks like the Old Park and New Market in the heart of the capital city.

But, perhaps the incident that shook Enugu to its marrows the most was the February 22, 2023 separate attacks on the campaign trails of the Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Awkunanaw area of the state capital. LP senatorial candidate, the late Oyibo Chukwu, his personal assistant, and a bus driver in the campaign organisation of PDP’s candidate for Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo, were not only fatally shot, but also roasted in their vehicles. The security concerns were also such that the streets around the Government House, Enugu, were cordoned off. Meanwhile, although kidnapping subsided

Mbah

during the 2023 general elections due to the cash crunch occasioned by the new naira note policy, gunmen soon mobilised into the bushes as things began to normalise and people could raise ransoms. There was a reported spike in kidnapping incidents, especially along the Opi-Nsukka road and the Ozalla Four Corners – Udi road.

Battling a hydra headed monster

Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) singles out security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government. It was therefore not surprising that Governor Mbah declared war on insecurity and targeted the illegal sit-at-home orders, which he identified as the big elephant in the room.

Rising from the inaugural State Security Council meeting on June 1, the governor announced the state’s ban on Monday sit-at-home, describing it as an evil and a reproach that should be deleted from the consciousness of Enugu and South East people.

Although the sit-at-home started as a civil disobedience ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to protest the continued detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, barefaced criminals soon hijacked it, unleashing terror on the people and atrophying the economy and social life. The International Centre for Investigative Report (ICIR) estimated the region’s losses to sit-at-home at $12.215 billion or N5.375 trillion, while Enugu State

alone, lost N10 billion every Monday.

Consequently, Mbah declared: “A time comes in the lives of a people when they must decide whether they genuinely want to move forward or remain stuck with the conditions of their underdevelopment.

“The creativity and sense of industry of Ndi Igbo are remarkable. Our DNA is wired with commercial and entrepreneurial prowess. Our restless spirit of industry abhors laxity and indolence. The idea behind sitting at home on Monday, the first working and business day of the week, is abominable and antithetical to greatness and the spirit of industry we profess to have inherited from our forebears. This cannot be us. Tufiakwa (God forbid). It does colossal damage to us.

“For us to build a $30 billion economy from the present $4.4 billion; if we must transit from a public service economy to a private sectordriven one; if indeed we aspire and anticipate an influx of private sector practitioners and investors in Enugu State, we must know that this will not happen where the perception of us is that of unproductive people.

“We know that our land is a fertile ground for commerce. However, businesses, entrepreneurship and commerce require a vibrant workforce and big markets where they can flourish and make money.

“To this end, therefore, from Monday June 5, 2023, there will be no observance of any sit-at-home in all nooks and crannies of Enugu State”.

While expressing the government’s readiness “to engage in dialogue with people, who have genuine grievances towards bringing lasting peace and security to Enugu State”, the governor vowed that government would enforce the ban

Mbah was among the first two governors cited at the State House, Abuja, to hold private meetings with President Bola Tinubu. Briefing newsmen after meeting with the president recently in Abuja, the Enugu State governor said: “We have expressed a humongous vision to our people. But, of course, the growth level we have proposed is one that is going to be driven by the private sector and the private sector wants the ease of doing business, and one of the core indicators is security and infrastructure. So, we also had that conversation with Mr. President. And finally, we also talked about the release of Nnamdi Kanu”.

“with all the powers at its disposal”.

Rallying the forces

The administration’s relative success at tackling sit-at-home and insecurity has been attributed to its ability to rally civilian populations, security agencies, and governments across party lines behind his security and economic agenda.

Mbah was among the first two governors cited at the State House, Abuja, to hold private meetings with President Bola Tinubu.

Briefing newsmen after meeting with the president recently in Abuja, the Enugu State governor said: “We have expressed a humongous vision to our people. But, of course, the growth level we have proposed is one that is going to be driven by the private sector and the private sector wants the ease of doing business, and one of the core indicators is security and infrastructure. So, we also had that conversation with Mr. President. And finally, we also talked about the release of Nnamdi Kanu”.

Furthermore, Mbah has either visited or hosted the security high commands to seek support and partnership, among them the former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; the incumbent Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Hassan Abubakar; and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

At the weekend, Mbah played host to the Chief of the Naval Staff where they discussed partnership for the takeoff of a naval base at Ogurugu, a coastal community that served as port for transportation of produce by the likes of John Holt in the colonial days.

To underline the urgency, the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai and Rear Admiral Ogalla undertook an inspection tour of the Ogurugu jetty facilities and waterways same weekend. This, according to Ogalla, would boost the security, economy, and transport in not just Enugu and the South East, but also the North Central.

Again, besides back channel consultations with critical stakeholders and groups before the ban on sit-at-home, the governor has been able to mobilise the civilian populations behind his security measures.

Rising from a town hall meeting with the governor on June 10 in Enugu, representatives of professional bodies, financial institutions, labour unions, traditional institutions, student bodies, the Church, civil society organisations (CSOs), market associations, youth and women organisations, town unions, among others, endorsed the ban and government’s security measures.

With the buy-in, a coalition of CSOs, Enugu youths, and Ohanaeze youths have separately marched the streets of Enugu on various occasions to express support for the government’s security measures and ban on sit-at-home. Likewise, pro-Biafra organisations such as IPOB, Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, among others, have also thrown their weight behind the ban on sit-at-home.

It is also remarkable that no successful attack has been launched at Enugu a Monday since the ban on sit-at-home. With the improved security, Enugu is coming back to life. Major markets, malls, offices, and government offices now open on Mondays. More importantly, the two-week sit-at-home declared by the Finlandbased Simon Ekpa failed woefully in the State.

Nevertheless, it is not yet Uhuru, a fact Governor Mbah underscored recently when he received the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General Hassan Dada.

He said: “I want to immediately put on record our profound appreciation and our immense gratitude for the support, dedication, and commitment we have continued to receive from the military, particularly the Army, in our quest to have a peaceful and secure Enugu State. But we cannot at this point rest on our oars. We must remain at our highest alert level”.

However, while they hope for things to get better as promised by the Governor, what matters to the state’s residents now is that they can now sleep with their two eyes closed.

Chinwe Aguma, SAN: Forever in Our Hearts

Chinwe Aguma Memorial Lecture: Notes on Prison Decongestion

It was the 5th year anniversary of the death of late Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Rivers State, Sir Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, KSC, who passed on to eternal glory on August 10, 2018. May his soul continue to rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord. Amen. We attended the 6th Annual Memorial Lecture/ Public Discussion themed “The Decongestion of the Correctional Centres: The Role of the Various Stakeholders”, which held at the NBA House, Port Harcourt last Thursday. As usual, the carefully chosen topic of discussion was apt, because the problem of prison congestion in Nigeria continues to escalate, and since Abubakar Malami, SAN, the immediate past AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) was obviously totally unconcerned about it, it is our hope that the incoming AGF, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, the Police, Judiciary and State Governors, amongst other actors, will give this issue the necessary urgent attention that it demands. Our culture of keeping Correctional Centre Inmates in inhumane conditions, as if they have no fundamental rights, must not be allowed to continue. In 2017, I wrote a piece called, “Imprisonment in Nigeria: A Fate Worse than Death”, in which I likened the conditions in Nigerian Prisons to that of Antanimora Prison, Madagascar, one of the worst prisons in the world.

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simeon Amadi delivered the Lecture, while the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Her Lordship, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC (Rtd), also gave a brief address, before the Panel, which comprised of the Rivers AG, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, former AIG Hilda Ibifuro Harrison, the NBA Rivers State Chairman, Viktor Benibo, with Mr Tonye Krukrubo, SAN as Moderator, sunk their teeth into the topic for discussion.

Professor Adangor, SAN: Causes of Prison Congestion and Solutions for Decongestion

Prof Adangor opened up the discussion, by giving us the statistics of those who are incarcerated in various Correctional Centres across Nigeria as of August 8, 2023 - a total of 68,747 when our Prisons have a total maximum capacity of 57,278, that is, 16.68% overcrowding. A total of 50,992 inmates are awaiting trial, while only 17,775 of them are convicts.

Prof identified some of the major causes of prison congestion, as follows:

1) Increase in crime rate;

“From my side, there are other measures that must be taken to decongest the prisons. For one, I believe that the oversight of the prison is a legal affair, and should be removed from the purview of the Ministry of Interior to that of the Justice Ministry….establishing a Correctional Service Commission to administer the prisons and conditions of service of Correctional Service Officers… Chief Judges of the various High Courts (Federal and State) and Chief Magistrates, to inspect all Police Stations and Detention Facilities…..”

offences and those which attract imprisonment which exceeds three years, are excluded from this kind of arrangement - see Section 470(4) of the Rivers State Administration of Justice Law No. 7 of 2015 (ACJL).

Chairman, NBA, Port Harcourt, Viktor Benibo

lack of proper integration and acceptance of ex-convicts back into society, caused them to roam around, end up committing more crimes which land them back in prison (Recidivism, also mentioned by Chief Amiesimaka).

The last contributor to the Discussion, Honourable Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike, talked about the importance of the Three Rs, Reorientation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration, especially for young offenders. See the case of Yakubu v FRN (Supra) on the objectives of sentencing, including the principles of reformation and deterrence.

Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma Educational Foundation

Mr Chima Aguma, introduced the Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma Educational Foundation, established because his father, Chinwe Aguma was so passionate about law and the legal profession, to honour his memory. Immediately, a cheque of N7.5 million was presented to the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Professor Okogbule, for the benefit of 25 Law Students at who were awarded scholarships to fund their education.

Conclusion

From my side, there are other measures that must be taken to decongest the prisons. For one, I believe that the oversight of the prison is a legal affair, and should be removed from the purview of the Ministry of Interior to that of the Justice Ministry. The duties of the Correctional Service, is quite different from that of the other agencies supervised by the Interior Ministry, like Fire and Immigration Services. The treatment of all of these different agencies by one administrative body in the same way, will constantly militate against the efficiency and effectiveness of our Correctional Centres, because their needs are not the same.

2) Delay in administration of criminal justice;

3) Poor Investigation by Police;

4) Police penchant for detention and charging every suspect to court;

5) Delay in DPP rendering advice;

6) Stringent bail conditions that Defendants cannot perfect; 7) Povertyinability to pay fines imposed by the courts upon conviction; 8) Lack of resources to build new prisons; 9) Reluctance of Governors to sign death warrants for Defendants who have been sentenced to death, and have exhausted their appeals.

In expatiating on the Police’s poor investigative skills and their penchant for charging suspects to court, Prof had the room in fits of laughter, when he gave the example of a suspect arrested for armed robbery in Port Harcourt, who immediately provides a defence of alibi, claiming that he was in Aba at the time the crime was committed. Instead of investigating that defence of alibi, the Police will go ahead to arrest the suspect and charge him to the Magistrate Court for armed robbery (which doesn’t have the jurisdiction to hear the matter), in order to obtain a remand order! Prof also said there was a backlog of up to 20 years, waiting for the DPP’s Advice on whether to prosecute. He set up a Committee, and in six months, the backlog was disposed of. During the Discussion, we even discovered that there is NYSC in prison! That even though most offences are State Offences, people are posted from other States to out-of-State prisons.

Some of the solutions Professor Adangor proffered, were for States to build more Correctional Facilities, since by virtue of the 2023 amendment to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (the Constitution), Correctional Centres are now on the Concurrent Legislative List; for the Police to improve their investigative skills and processes; courts must be in full control of remand proceedings; the use of plea bargain, suspended sentences, community service and non-custodial sentences, though he did admit that the power to hand down non-custodial sentences was not at large, as offences involving the use of firearms or offensive weapons, sexual

Interestingly, Prof called on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, to help pay the fines of Convicts in their States who were unable to, and their inability to pay fines, responsible for keeping them incarcerated, and thereby congesting the Correctional Centres even more. See the case of Yakubu v FRN (2022) LPELR-57749(SC) per Tijjani Abubakar, JSC on the four factors for consideration when a court is performing its sentencing function, as set out by Section 311(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA) including the appropriateness of non-custodial sentence treatment in lieu of imprisonment.

AIG Hilda Ibifuro Harrison (Rtd)

On her part, AIG Harrison, from the Police viewpoint, identified four reasons for prison congestion: 1) Delay in Police Investigationdelay in murder cases, due to a delay in the performance of autopsy which is required for investigation. She said that Government hospitals didn’t provide the funds for the chemicals required to perform autopsies; 2) Need for a parallel communication network between agencies; 3) Prevalence of Holding Charges; 4) Irregular visits of Magistrates to the Correctional Centres.

The third Panelist, Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt, emphasised on Section 480 of the ACJL, and the function of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council inter alia, to reduce prison congestion to a bare minimum. Section 480(f) of the ACJL provides for Parole, while 480(g) enjoins the Council to ensure that persons awaiting trial are not detained in prison custody. Ironically, Prof Adangor mentioned that though Port Harcourt Correctional Centre has the capacity to hold 1800 inmates, it had a population of 3042, of which 2781 were awaiting trial and 473 were convicts.

The Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka, MON, identified yet another cause for prison congestion - that when Investigating Police Officers are transferred to other jurisdictions in the course of a case, funds for bringing them back to testify are not readily available, sometimes the Complainants have to bear the cost, if not the case doesn’t progress. A past Attorney-General of Rivers State, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam also commented that the conditions in our Correctional Centres make them a breeding ground for more crime, and they end up correcting nothing. She also noted that the

In fact, establishing a Correctional Service Commission to administer the prisons and conditions of service of Correctional Service Officers, in replacement of the Immigration, Prison Service and Civil Defence Board, would be better. Section 34 of ACJA requires the Chief Judges of the various High Courts (Federal and State) and Chief Magistrates, to inspect all Police Stations and Detention Facilities in their territories on a monthly basis, a duty that is reiterated by Section 70 of the Police Act 2020, with powers for them to release detainees, grant them bail or direct their arraignment in court. Surely, if these provisions are strictly enforced, those who have no business being detained would be released, thereby aiding the decongestion of the Correctional Centres. As Hon. Justice Elsie Thompson, who sat next to me noted, Prison Congestion should not be a blame game between the various agencies, but the decongestion, a collaborative effort by the various stakeholders. I concur.

P.S. Still on Coup d’Etat I must note that, the “ill-wind” of coup d’états blowing through West Africa should be food for thought for the various leaders. I remember some years ago, when Madam Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright visited Nigeria, in her address, she stated that it is not enough to have a democratic system of governance, that also of great importance, is that there must be dividends of democracy for the people. The truth is that, if there are no dividends, then the people will be dissatisfied, and may be happy to take a chance and seek greener pastures elsewhere, by supporting military takeovers.

Of what benefit is democracy, if the living conditions of the people worsen under it?

Of what benefit is it, that the people are indeed, free to abuse Government to their hearts’ content for their failings because they enjoy freedom of expression (see Section 39(1) of the Constitution), but Government does nothing to respond to their criticisms and abuse by correcting the anomalies and delivering good governance? None. What then, is in it for the people? For example, a system where Politicians who are already paid over-bloated salaries and allowances, and are then given ‘secret’ holiday allowance, at the same time that the average Nigerian on the street is grappling with intense hunger and suffering, is not Democracy, because even if it is a government by the people, with such an insensitive action by the Legislature, it is definitely not a government for the people! It is Government of the Politicians, by the Politicians, for the Politicians.

Whether Retraction of Confessional Statement Necessitates Trial-Within-Trial

Facts

On 4th September, 2010 at about 02:00 hours in Kadarko town, the Appellant (in company of members of his gang) broke into the house of a certain Mrs Cecilia Egbo (“the victim/PW2”) at Lafia Garage, while being armed with sticks and other offensive weapons. The Appellant and his gang robbed PW2 of the sum of N55,000.00 and two mobile phones (a Nokia and Sagem). They proceeded to rob tenants in PW2’s compound, and only fled when a tenant raised alarm that alerted the vigilante team.

By a combined endeavour of the vigilante team and the Police, the Appellant was arrested, with the sum of N27,850.00 and the two stolen mobile phones were recovered from the Appellant. The Appellant was taken to the Police station, where he made statements. Further to this, the Appellant was arraigned before the High Court of Nassarawa State, Lafia Judicial Division (the “trial court”) on 18th March, 2013, where he entered a plea of “not guilty” to the offences of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery, punishable under Sections 6(b) 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004 respectively.

In establishing the guilt of the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt, the Respondent (Prosecution) called three witnesses and tendered two confessional statements (“Exhibit AA1” and “D”) alleged to have been made by the Appellant, wherein he admitted his involvement in the armed robbery. Counsel for the Appellant objected to the admissibility of the first statement (Exhibit AA1) on grounds that (1) proper foundation was not laid by the witness to enable the court admit the statement in evidence; and (2) that the accused person (Appellant) has denied making the statement. When counsel for the Respondent also sought to tender the second statement (Exhibit D) in evidence, counsel for the Appellant objected to its admissibility on ground that the statement, being a government property, it ought to be certified for it to be admissible. The trial court, however, overruled both objections after due considerationje and admitted the statements in evidence.

Meanwhile, the Appellant testified for himself and called no other witness(es). At the close of trial, the court relied on Exhibits AA1 and D in arriving at its decision. Relying on the evidence before it, the trial court convicted the Appellant for a lesser offence of robbery and sentenced him to 21 years imprisonment, in line with Section 1(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. In respect of the offence of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, the Appellant was acquitted and discharged of same.

Dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal. The appellate court affirmed the decision of the trial court, and dismissed the appeal. The Appellant has further appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination

The Supreme Court adopted the sole issue raised by the Respondent, in determining the appeal: Whether the Court of Appeal was right to have affirmed the conviction and sentence of the Appellant to 21 years imprisonment for the offence of robbery? (Distilled from Grounds i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi and vii of the Notice of Appeal)

Arguments

Arguing the appeal, counsel for the Appellant contended that the Court of Appeal and the trial court were in error to have held that the Appellant committed the offence of robbery. Counsel argued on three front: (i) the trial should have conducted a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the Appellant’s extra-judicial statements, which the Appellant denied making; (ii) the Respondent did not prove the guilt of the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt; and (iii) the Respondent failed to resolve the issue of the Appellant’s identity, as a member of the robbery gang that robbed PW2. Regarding the admissibility of the extra-judicial statements, counsel for the Appellant submitted that it is only when a confessional statement is voluntary, free, positive and direct, that a court can rely on same to convict an accused person. He argued that since the extra-judicial statements were retracted at the point of being tendered in evidence, the trial court

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 24th day of March, 2023

Before Their Lordships

Olukayode Ariwoola

John Inyang Okoro

Amina Adamu Augie

Mohammed Lawal Garba

Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Justices, Supreme Court SC.320c/2019

Between Nelson Omoha Appellant And The State Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable John Inyang Okoro, JSC)

could not have relied on them. Counsel for the Appellant argued further that the Respondent did not discharge the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt, having failed to identify the Appellant as a participant in the robbery incident through an identification parade. He posited that the manner PW2 identified the Appellant was mere guess work that a court should be wary of relying upon, since PW2 stated to the Police that she could not identify any of the robbers who robbed her that night of 4th September, 2010, amongst other things. Counsel relied on the case of BOZIN v THE STATE (1985) 16 NSCC (Pt. 11) 1087, to argue that the conviction was based on a suspicion. He urged the Supreme Court to interfere with the concurrent findings of the two lower courts, and set aside the conviction and sentence passed against the Appellant. Responding to the submissions, counsel for the Respondent argued that the Appellant misconceived the position of law in respect of a retracted confessional statement, and submitted

that where an accused person merely denies making a confessional statement then an issue of admissibility does not arise to warrant a trial-within-trial. In this regard, he relied on IKPASA v A.G. BENDEL STATE (1981) 12 NSIC 300. Furthermore, counsel for the Respondent reacted to the arguments on “identification parade”, to the effect that an identification parade was irrelevant since PW2 could vividly recognise the Appellant as one of her assailants. He referred to the decision in ESANGBEDO V STATE (1989) LPELR-1163(SC), in support of his position. Counsel concluded that there was no basis for the Supreme Court, to interfere with the concurrent findings of the lower courts.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale

Deciding the issue, the Apex Court addressed the Appellant’s three-pronged attack on the concurrent findings of the trial court and the Court of Appeal, as identified above. The Supreme Court quickly disregarded the argument of counsel for the Appellant, that a defence of alibi was raised during trial. The Supreme Court held that the defence of alibi must be raised at the earliest opportunity, for it to be investigated. The accused person also has a duty to furnish the prosecution with sufficient information, from which his whereabout at the particular time can be checked. The Appellant in this case, raised the defence of alibi for the first time in court during trial, when he told the court he was in Enugu on the day of the event, and nothing more. If there are pieces of evidence adduced by the prosecution witnesses fixing the accused person at the scene of the crime at the material time or which positively links

him to the commission of the crime, the defence of alibi would collapse – OPEYEMI v STATE (2019) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1702) 403. The Supreme Court agreed with the two lower courts that there was evidence positively linking the Appellant to the crime scene; thus, the defence of alibi failed.

In determining the argument on the need for identification parade, the Apex Court held that the trial court had no difficulty believing the version of the evidence given by PW2 in court, and that the Appellant did not confront PW2 with a contradictory piece of evidence. The Apex Court also pointed out that, the extra-judicial statements show that the Appellant admitted committing the said offence.

On the third attack relating to admission of the Appellant’s retracted confessional statements, the Apex Court agreed with counsel for the Respondent, and held that where the accused raises the question of voluntariness, the trial court must conduct a trial-within-trial to ascertain the voluntariness thereof - OSENI v STATE (2012) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1293) 351. The Apex Court however, drew a distinction between “denial of making a confessional statement” and “objection to confessional statement not made voluntarily”. It was the holding of the court that where there is a denial/retraction, the court would admit the statement and consider the weight to be attached to it. The court can then rely on the confessional statement, where it is satisfied that the statement is the truthful account of what transpired - BATURE v STATE (1994) 1 NWLR (Pt. 320) 267. The court in the circumstance is expected to test the truthfulness, by examining the statement in the light of other credible evidence adduced. A retraction of confessional statement does not in any way affect its admissibility, as long as the court is satisfied of its truthfulness. In this instance, the Apex Court, in determining whether the retracted confessional statement can be used to establish the guilt of the Appellant, subjected the said Exhibits AA1 and D to six tests i.e., (i) whether there is anything outside the statement to show that it is true, (ii) whether it is corroborated, (iii) whether the accused had the opportunity of committing the offence, (iv) whether the facts stated in the statement are true, as far as can be tested, (v) whether the accused person’s confession is possible, and (vi) whether the confession is consistent with the other facts ascertained and proved at trial. Here, the Supreme Court relied on IKEMSON v STATE (1989) 3 NWLR (Pt. 110) 455 and found that Exhibits AA1 and D were missing dots in the evidence of the Respondent’s witnesses. The Apex Court also found that detailed account of the robbery which was contained in Exhibits AA1 and D, matched the recovered mobile phones in possession of the Appellant. The evidence of the prosecution witnesses, especially PW2, provided sufficient corroboration to the Appellant’s confessional statements, the statement alone having been found to be the truthful account of how the robbery was executed. Their Lordships concluded that with the foregoing, it was impossible not to have relied on the extra-judicial statements to convict the Appellant.

Regarding the argument of counsel for the Respondent on conviction of the Appellant on a lesser offence of robbery instead of armed robbery, the Supreme Court held that a Respondent who did not Cross-appeal can only formulate issues for determination and make argument from the grounds of appeal formulated by the Appellant. The Respondent herein, who failed to file a Crossappeal, cannot make an argument against the decision of the lower courts. The arguments, which were at variance with the grounds of appeal, were discountenanced.

Having resolved the sole issue in the appeal against the Appellant, their Lordships unanimously dismissed the appeal of the Appellant, and affirmed the conviction and sentence of the Appellant.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation

B.O. Akinseye-George, Esq. with J.R. Olusola, Esq. for the Appellant.

Dr. Abdulkarim A. Kana, HAG, Nasarawa State with E.U. Aliyu Esq., CSC, M.J. Abokee Esq., CSC and R.A. Umaru Esq., PSC, for the Respondent.

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

“…. where the accused raises the question of voluntariness, the trial court must conduct a trialwithin-trial to ascertain the voluntariness thereof… .A retraction of confessional statement does not in any way affect its admissibility, as long as the court is satisfied of its truthfulness”

Honourable John Inyang Okoro, JSC

On the Cusp of an International Justice Revolution: Transforming a Vision into Reality

At the heart of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development lies a vision of a just, equitable, tolerant, open and socially inclusive world, in which the needs of the most vulnerable are met. Despite the adoption of the 2030 Agenda by all UN member States in 2015, this vision, though desirable, remains a distant aspiration for many countries. This is not a mere conjecture, but a factual statement based on several surveys, including a 2019 Justice for All Report written by the Task Force on Justice, an initiative of the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies – a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together UN member States, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for peace, justice and inclusion. The report noted that, at least 253 million people live in extreme conditions of injustice, 1.5 billion people have justice problems they cannot resolve, and 4.5 billion people are excluded from the opportunities the law provides. It also concluded that about 5.1 billion people, lack meaningful access to justice.

Prevalence of Injustice

While the above estimate is new, it should not come as a surprise to many observers, as they sadly reinforce what most of us see or experience every day. Injustice is observable on the news, in our homes and neighbourhoods, in schools, at the workplace, in public offices, and during periods of conflict or crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. We see it in the way society treats economic and political migrants and vulnerable populations, including women and children, in the actions or inaction of law enforcement and public officials, and in countries where untamed corruption has foisted abject poverty on the majority of the population. As the 2019 Justice for All Report has shown, the justice gap is both a reflection of structural inequalities and a contributor to these inequalities. It is no wonder then that injustice is often seen, in the lead up to conflict and war. The problem of injustice affects every country, whether in the global north or global south. A few illustrations will suffice to show its global dimension. The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013 with the acquittal of George Zimmerman following the fatal shooting of AfricanAmerican teen, Trayvon Martin. Similarly, the Me Too movement gained prominence in 2017, after reports of numerous episodes of sexual abuse by American film producer, Harvey Weinstein, began to surface. The Arab Spring movement started in Tunisia in late 2010, after a street vendor publicly

burned himself to death in protest against his treatment by local officials. Nigeria’s End SARS movement was re-ignited in 2020, after a video of a police officer shooting a young Nigerian in Lagos trended. The common thread through these movements, is that they were all borne out of widespread or systemic injustice.

In The Man Died, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka posited that, “justice is the first condition for humanity.” He is not alone in holding this view. More recently, the UN’s Common Agenda reaffirmed that, justice is an essential dimension of the social contract. One wonders then, why many countries continue to struggle to provide meaningful access to justice for the vast majority of their populations. According to a new movement for people-centred justice, one of the reasons for this stagnation is an unjustified one-sided approach to rule of law programming and support. The tendency to focus on a top-down approach through near exclusive reliance on traditional justice institutions like the courts, law enforcement agencies and ministries of justice as change agents is unsupported by the evidence, and has largely been ineffective. So, where do we go from here? How does one turn the justice vision in the 2030 Agenda into reality?

Turning the Justice Agenda into Reality

There is a growing realisation that without people-centred justice, the promise of the 2030 Agenda to eradicate poverty in all its forms, tackle inequality, promote shared prosperity, and protect the planet from degradation will remain illusory. People-centred justice, means putting people at the centre of justice systems to deliver fair, inclusive, relevant and timely solutions to their justice problems, which leads to fair outcomes and respect for human rights. In a nutshell, people-centred justice initiatives will often involve partnerships with individuals and entities beyond government and the justice sector, rely on bottom-up and top-down change management methods, involve a broad view of stakeholders at the design and implementation phases of a justice initiative, include strategies to prevent justice problems, proactively protect human rights, and rely on data as an empirical basis for action.

The Justice Action Coalition

Recognising that the people-centred justice approach is the most effective way of ensuring equal access to justice for all, in 2021, a group of countries and organisational partners founded the Justice Action Coalition, a multistakeholder, high ambition coalition, to champion the cause. The Coalition is a network of countries and partners working at the international level to close the global justice gap, ensure equal access to justice for all, and demonstrate ambitious leadership on national priorities for people-centred justice. In late 2022, the Coalition constituted a task team, comprising the authors of this article, to develop proposals or recommendations on its operationalisation. With these efforts to operationalise the Coalition reaching an advanced phase, there is a palpable

feeling that the justice agenda is finally being given a new lease on life.

The expectations are high among practitioners in the field, and rightly so. The Coalition will soon begin to promote learning and exchange among countries, facilitate the coordination of justice data and evidence, promote coherence of international assistance, and facilitate the catalytic funding of people-centred justice initiatives. This is the first time a high ambition coalition will assume such a role at the international level, in the justice sector. It is expected to champion countries that make the pivot to people-centred justice to deepen impact and accelerate the attainment of SDG16. For a more detailed discussion on the Justice Action Coalition, including an elucidation of the ingredients it is expected to deploy as a high ambition coalition to achieve its mandate, and recommendations on how it can deepen engagement on each ingredient, please see our recently published co-authored paper titled, “From Justice for the Few to Justice for All – A model for high ambition action to deliver the SDGs.” A copy can be obtained from the UN Foundation website.

Maaike de Langen works for peoplecentred justice, hopeful multilateralism, and everything ombuds. She co-drafted the 2019 Justice for All report, directed the Pathfinders for Justice Program, and now leads the Justice Action Coalition Task Team. She is a Senior Fellow at NYU-CIC and worked for the Dutch National Ombudsman, UNDP, and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Akingbolahan Adeniran, a Partner in Awodi & Co. (Legal Consultants), is a former State Attorney -General and national rule of law advisor in Nigeria. He previously worked in several capacities with the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and the International Criminal Court. He is the other half of the Justice Action Coalition Task Team.

“….at least 253 million people live in extreme conditions of injustice, 1.5 billion people have justice problems they cannot resolve, and 4.5 billion people are excluded from the opportunities the law provides. It also concluded that about 5.1 billion people, lack meaningful access to justice”

This article by Maaike de Langen and Akingbolahan Adeniran introduces the Justice Action Coalition, a network of countries and partners working at the international level to close the global justice gap, ensure equal access to justice for all, and demonstrate ambitious leadership on national priorities for people-centred justice, in line with the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Introduction

In a very disturbing development that has further eroded the democratic gains recorded in Africa since the advent of democracy on the continent, soldiers in the Republic of Niger recently announced the removal from office of President Mohammed Bazoum, the democratically elected President of Niger. This event took place on the 26th of July, 2023. Prior to the coup in Niger, there had been similar attacks on democracy in Burkina Faso (2022), Mali (2021), and Guinea (2021). It goes without saying that, unless the increasing wave of coup d’etats in West Africa is quickly arrested, it may ultimately destabilise the sub-region and undermine its peace and security.

As expected, ECOWAS, a West African economic and political union consisting of 15 member States (including Niger), has risen to the challenge posed by the coup in Niger. It has issued several statements and announced several measures, aimed at reversing the illegal seizure of power in that country. Of the planned measures announced so far by ECOWAS however, the most controversial, and the one that has raised important international law questions, is the plan for a potential military intervention in Niger, in order to restore democracy in that country. The prospect of an ECOWAS-led military intervention in Niger, raises questions about the extent to which regional organisations can employ force to restore democracy in their member-States?

In essence, the Niger imbroglio throws up issues about whether regional organisations can carry out military actions in any of their member States in order to quash an overthrow of constitutional order in that member-State, and reinstate democratic governance therein? The questions outlined above, are crucial to a determination of the legality of the proposed military action by ECOWAS in Niger.

1. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter

Any consideration of the international law implication of a potential military action in Niger must commence with a discussion on Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which is widely regarded as an embodiment of customary international law on the use of force. This provision of the Charter urges all member States of the UN, to “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.” The only exception to this rule is enshrined in Article 51 of the Charter which allows States, subject to certain conditions, to use force in self-defence.

Some Scholars have argued that, Article 2(4) only prohibits the use of force against the “territorial integrity and political independence of States.” As such, a use of force which does not have violation of the territorial integrity and/or political independence of a State as its primary aim, is supposedly permitted under the UN charter. The implication of this argument, it is said, is that a unilateral use of force for benign purposes - like restoration of democracy, for instance- is not prohibited by the Charter. With respect, nothing can be further from the truth. Indeed, it can be argued that a unilateral enforcement action aimed at restoring democracy in another country, is in fact an interference with the political independence of that country, since such a use of force would be aimed at altering the political character of the State in question.

To understand the implication of Article 2(4), it is important to examine what the true intention of its framers was. It must be remembered that the UN Charter itself was put together, following the failure of the League of Nations Covenant to prevent the Second World War. As evident in the preamble to the Charter, a fundamental purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security, in order to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” In achieving this objective however, the framers were careful not to leave any room for doubts, as to who should superintend the maintenance of international peace and security on behalf of the international community. They thus, saddled the Security Council with primary responsibility for this task (see Article 24 of the Charter).

By specifically saddling the Security Council with this responsibility, the framers avoided creating a loophole that could have led to the chaotic emergence of several centres of power, if responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security had not been specifically assigned to the Security Council. The assignment of the responsibility for international peace and security to the Security Council was thus deliberate. As a body consisting of the world’s principal civilisations, the Security Council is ordinarily considered to be better equipped to make informed and responsible decisions, regarding peace and security enforcement throughout the world.

ECOWAS and the Use of Force in Niger

This article by Dr Wole Kunuji tells us that regional organisations

employ force on other member-States

the United

Under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council is the only organ of the UN empowered to use all means available to it, to pursue enforcement actions in furtherance of its primary responsibility under the Charter. All of the above point to the fact that the intendment of Article 2(4) of the Charter, is to prohibit the use of force by any other entity without the approval and superintendence of the UN Security Council. In essence, to be considered legal, any use of force by a State or a group of States in another State for whatever purpose, must be authorised and/or superintended by the Security Council of the UN. Not only is Article 2(4) of the Charter regarded as a cornerstone of the UN system, it has, over the years acquired a jus cogens character. In other words, it has become a peremptory norm of international law from which there can be no derogation. This much, has been emphasised by the International Court of Justice in a string of cases, including its seminal decision in the 1986 Nicaragua case. (Case Concerning the Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v United States of America 1986 I.C.J Reports 14).

2. Regional Organisations and the Use of Force in International Law

It is true that Chapter 8 of the UN Charter encourages the use of regional arrangements, to facilitate international peace and security. But, the Charter is very emphatic in its insistence that enforcement actions undertaken by regional organisations must carry Security Council authorisation (see Article 53 UN Charter). Even after securing Security Council authorisation, a regional body undertaking enforcement action must keep the Council abreast of every facet of the enforcement operation. The Charter does not in any way contemplate autonomous or unilateral

enforcement actions by regional organisations, without Security Council endorsement. In effect, as far as enforcement actions are concerned, the intendment of the Charter is to keep the Security Council always seized of such matters, with the aim of ensuring that the permission to use force is not abused. It is therefore, very clear that the architecture of the UN Charter is designed in such a way that, enforcement actions are meant to be undertaken only under the command of the Security Council. States and Regional Organisations may only undertake enforcement actions, with the authorisation of the Security Council.

Where then does this leave us? Are regional organisations completely barred from taking proactive measures, such as the restoration of democracy in their member-States during periods of crisis? Certainly not. The point of this article is that, there is no such right to unilaterally use force to restore democracy without the requisite Security Council authorisation. International law does not recognise the unilateral use of force across national lines, except in lawful self-defence as specified in Article 51 of the Charter. The restoration of democracy does not constitute an acceptable legal ground, for waging unauthorised war in International Law (See O. Schacter, International Law in Theory and Practice (M.Nijhoff Publishers, 1991) p. 128. See also Antonio Cassesse, Self Determination of Peoples- A Legal Reappraisal (Cambridge University Press, 1995) pp 199-200.). Unauthorised enforcement actions for whatever reason, are illegal under the Charter.

3. The ECOWAS/Niger Imbroglio ECOWAS is a regional organisation made up of States, and its military wing is made up of troops provided by its member States. By providing and authorising troops to undertake a clearly illegal assignment, each of these States and ECOWAS is deliberately violating a cardinal provision of the UN Charter. The Charter obliges ECOWAS as a regional organisation, to ensure that its activities are consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Article 53 of the Charter specifically states that “no enforcement action shall be taken under regional arrangements or by regional agencies, without the authorisation of the Security Council.” Thus, ECOWAS cannot embark on an activity or a course of action that clearly breaches the Charter.

From the discussion above, the only body that is authorised to make a definitive assessment as to the existence or otherwise of a “threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression” in any State, is the Security Council of the

Council,

United Nations. It is also the only body that can use or authorise force, in situations such as the one currently playing out in Niger. While it is true that there have been instances of unauthorised use of force in the past, such instances are few and far between, and they do not in any way render indeterminate, the position of international law on this matter. Contemporary jurisprudence of international courts and tribunals, supports this assertion. The example of the 1998 ECOWAS intervention in Sierra Leone is highly unfortunate, and cannot be a precedent for unauthorised interventions. Indeed, it has been widely criticised and condemned in the literature. And, to underscore the illegal nature of the Sierra Leone example, the same ECOWAS sought Security Council authorisation for its subsequent use of force in Cote d’ivoire during the struggle to remove Laurent Gbagbo from office.

4. The Way Forward in Niger

There is no doubt that, we have an abnormal and illegal situation in Niger. Indeed, the military putsch in that country, is completely against the spirit and letter of the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. According to that Protocol, which was signed by Niger and other West African States, the Armed Forces in all ECOWAS States “must be apolitical and must be under the command of a legally constituted political authority” (Article 1(e) of the Supplementary Protocol). And, to underscore the seriousness with which the issue is regarded, the Protocol emphasises that there shall be ”zero tolerance for power obtained or maintained by unconstitutional means” (Article 1(c), Supplementary Protocol). The zeal with which ECOWAS leaders are pursuing efforts to reverse the illegality in Niger is therefore, understood, and indeed, commendable. However, such efforts must be in alignment with the extant international law on this subject, otherwise we run the risk of creating a precedent that may be wrongly exploited in future.

A better course of action, is for ECOWAS to initiate and sustain a regime of comprehensive economic and political sanctions on the illegal government in Niger until the needful is done, and democracy is restored. This should be combined with ongoing diplomatic measures, aimed at an amicable settlement.

Force, by way of military intervention, should be a last resort. following wide ranging consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the African Union and the UN Security Council. Any resort to force, must be clearly and unequivocally supported by the Security Council.

Dr Wole Kunuji, Executive Director of the Lex Lata Centre for International Law and Comparative Constitutionalism in Africa

ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

“International law does not recognise the unilateral use of force across national lines, except in lawful self-defence as specified in Article 51 of the Charter. The restoration of democracy does not constitute an acceptable legal ground, for waging unauthorised war in International Law”

are only empowered to

with the approval of

Nations Security

and it should be in self-defence where there is a threat, and not for the restoration of democracy in another State; and that, this has become a norm of international law

Chinwe Aguma, SAN: Forever in Our Hearts

Like a star, he shone brightly in the legal firmament. Sir Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, KSC acquired a good education, arming himself with degrees from two British Institutions. He bagged a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Politics and International Studies from Warwick University, and subsequently, a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Sheffield. This, amongst other things, prepared him for a successful career in law, culminating in his being elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and appointed as the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in 2015, a position he held until he passed away on August 10, 2018 at the age of 57. Sir Aguma also served as both the Secretary and Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch. In recognition of his unalloyed service, the Rivers State Government under the erstwhile Governor, Nyesom Wike, instituted an Annual Lecture in his honour. Last Thursday, the 6th Annual Memorial Lecture/Public Discussion themed “The Decongestion of the Correctional Centres: The Role of the Various Stakeholders” held at the NBA Bar Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, details of which are discussed by the Advocate in Today’s publication, as the event was attended by Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, who also report on what Lawyers had to say about Sir Aguma, five years on

The event which was chaired by past Director of Public Prosecutions and Attorney-General of Rivers State, Adokiye Amiesimaka (Chief Justice of Football), also had in attendance, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Mary Peter-Odili; the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, represented by the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu; immediate past First Lady of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike; Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Professor Nlerum Okogbule; Hon. Justice Adolfus Enebeli (Rtd) and many distinguished members of the Bar.

The theme of the year’s lecture, the 6th in its series, was ‘The Decongestion of the Correctional Centres: The Role of the Various Stakeholders’. The Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Simeon Amadi presented the lead paper. Discussants included the Hon. Attorney-General of the State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, NBA Port Harcourt Branch Chairman and retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mrs Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison.

In his presentation, Justice Enebeli said of Aguma ‘he dignified the office of A-G, and pursued everything with determination and result. He left indelible marks in our hearts’.

Odili JSC (Rtd) said: ‘Aguma was great man and wonderful A-G. he appeared before me, when I was a Magistrate and High Court Judge’.

Speaking to the theme of the lecture, Chairman of the occasion said that, many go into Nigerian prisons and never come out the same. The often come out more hardened, and with incurable diseases, like tuberculosis and HIV-AIDS.

What Lawyers had to say about Chinwe Aguma, SAN

Chima Emmanuel Aguma - He Placed Premium on Legal Education

The man being remembered, happens to be my Father. I feel fortunate to be his son. A legal colossus he was, in his lifetime. As a child, I became very endeared to the legal profession because of how neat

he appeared in his suits or his wig and gown.

I fondly remember him as a very technical and intelligent Lawyer, as I was opportune to practice law with him for two years before his demise. My father believed that no matter the case you had, your originating process must be proper before the court.

He strongly believed in Legal Education, hence, the decision of my mother, my siblings and I to launch a foundation in his honour, strictly to fund legal education. As a start we have awarded scholarships to 25 indigent students of the Rivers State University Law Faculty. The scholarship is for the duration of their stay in the institution, and encompasses their welfare.

We hope that the Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma Educational Foundation can do more in the next few years, in promoting continuing legal education, aside from sponsoring undergraduate scholarships.

OCJ Okocha, SAN – Former NBA President

- He served with dedication and zeal

I remember with very fond, even if painful, memories, my late Learned Brother-Silk, the Honourable E.C. Aguma, SAN, KSC.

Our parents were family friends, and I took him as a younger brother, while he took me as an elder brother.

He served with dedication and zeal, when he was honoured to be appointed as Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Rivers State.

I pray that his soul may continue to rest in peace. AMEN! AND AMEN!

Chief Agums, as many of us called E.C. Aguma, was a very active member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch. He was in fact a Past Secretary and a Past Chairman of the Branch. On the two occasions when I ran for election as NBA President, that is, in 1998 and 2000, he was a member of the main Campaign Committee.

And, he strongly supported me throughout my tenure as the 19th/ Millennium President of our great Association.

He took his several engagements in the Legal Profession very seriously, and was never found wanting in any respect whatsoever. He was always impeccably dressed, and he exemplified the best traditions of our Learned and Honourable Profession.

Happily, he married a Lawyer, and their union has already produced another Lawyer, Emmanuel Chima Aguma, who is carrying on in the footsteps of his illustrious parents. To God be the Glory!

Professor Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, Honourable Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State – He could not be easily intimidated

E. C. Aguma, SAN, KSC, of blessed memory, was a brilliant, focused, and admirable Legal Practitioner. I recall that it was during his tenure as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt Branch, that I got my first appointment as the Chairman of the Continuing Legal Education, Seminar and Legal Series Committee of the NBA, Port Harcourt Branch. We had very wonderful working relationship, marked by mutual respect for each other.

When he became the Honourable AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State, I, again had the privilege of being retained by the Rivers State Government as one of the External Solicitors to the Rivers State House of Assembly, and in that capacity, we appeared together on the same side in several political matters.

Aguma was a fine court-room Lawyer, with deep knowledge of the law and impressive command of the English Language. He was one Lawyer who could not be easily intimidated by the Judex, to abandon his line of argument. He was always neatly and impeccably dressed. By irony of fate, following the translation of

E. C. Aguma, SAN, KSC, I was appointed by His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, Life Bencher, the former Governor of Rivers State, to succeed him as the Honourable Attorney- General of Rivers State.

E. C. Aguma, SAN, KSC, is greatly missed. May his gentle soul continue to find eternal and peaceful rest, Amen.

Judge Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN – He used his office to shift the frontiers of the Law Humility personified. A man of integrity. Industrious, with an engaging personality.

Attorney-General of highest distinction and a quintessential gentleman.

I delivered his maiden memorial lecture, and for me it was an honour and a great privilege to pay him public tribute. A great man indeed. Will always be remembered.

It is difficult to believe that it is now five years since the demise of late Aguma SAN. Understandably so. Here was a man who was not only larger than life, but loomed larger than life. He was intellectually gifted, and filled with wisdom. A painstaking researcher, he exuded scholarship and confidence. He was easily the best Attorney-General, ever produced by Rivers State. He carried his office as a badge of honour, and was undoubtedly a role model to budding Lawyers and all who aspired to make the best of their tenure of office as AGs.

History certainly will be kind to him. May his memory be a blessing to his family, loved ones and to all who, like him, believe in using the office of Attorney-General for shifting the frontiers of Law.

Tonye Krukrubo, SAN: He was a dogged and formidable litigator

Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, KSC, SAN of blessed memory, was a Lawyer worthy of emulation. I had the privilege of knowing him as a professional colleague, and had cause to engage with him in court on a number of occasions. He was a dogged and formidable litigator and, above all, a decent human being. He pursued his matters with utmost professionalism. He was very passionate about law, and the practice of law. He was Bar man as evinced by his activities at the Bar, which culminated in his being elected Chairman of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, appointment as Attorney-General of Rivers State and the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee. No doubt his legacy in the legal profession will live on. May he continue to rest in peace. Amen.

Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma Educational Foundation

The highlight of the event, was the introduction of the Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma Educational Foundation by the son of late Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, Chima Aguma. The idea of the Foundation and endowment, is the brainchild of the widow of E.C. Aguma, SAN, Mrs Inime Aguma and their children, to assist brilliant students who may be in need financial assistance, to fulfil their dreams. The Foundation was inaugurated by Deputy Governor, Professor Odu, and this was followed by the presentation of a cheque in the sum of N7.5 million to the Law Faculty of the Rivers State University, for 25 pioneer beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme.

“He was intellectually gifted, and filled with wisdom. A painstaking researcher, he exuded scholarship and confidence. He was easily the best AttorneyGeneral, ever produced by Rivers State”

Late Sir Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, KSC

L-R: Chairman of Occasion, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka; Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC (Rtd), CFR, DSSRS; Deputy Governor, Rivers State, H.E Prof. Ngozi Odu and Mrs Inime Chinwenwo Aguma

Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike

Mrs Florence Amiesimaka

Mrs Miebi Aguma

Mrs Inime Chinwenwo Aguma

Members of the Panel L-R: AIG Hilda Harrison (Rtd); Chairman, NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Viktor Benibo; Moderator, Tonye Krukrubo, SAN and Prof Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN

Hon. Justice Elsie Thompson

Son of Chinwe Aguma, SAN, Chima Aguma

L-R: Hon. Justice M. O Chukwu; Hon. Justice Omonigho Nwibani; Hon. Justice Chinelo Odili; Hon. Justice Uche Chukwu and Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd)

L-R: Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo; Rivers State, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN and Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University. Prof Nlerum Okogbule

Prof Ngozi Odu (left) and Rivers State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Simeon Amadi

Some of the beneficiaries of the Scholarship

L-R: Mr Chima Aguma (right) presenting the Scholarship Cheque to Prof Okogbule (left) with the assistance of Hon. Igo Aguma

Dr Orowhuo Okocha and a cross-section of Guests

Mrs Inime Aguma and Prof Ngozi Odu

Former Member, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Bari Badom (left); Hon Igo Aguma; Mrs Jessica Aguma and her husband, Chima Aguma (behind)

Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili (Rtd)

Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike and Others congratulating the beneficiaries of the Scholarship

Mr Chima Aguma (left) and his Mother, Mrs Inime Aguma

Mr Tonye Krukrubo, SAN (left) and Editor of This Day Lawyer, Onikepo Braithwaite

Son of Chinwe Aguma, SAN, Mr Eze Aguma (left) and Mr Chizi Aguma

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo: Changing the Narrative of Governance for Akoko Constituency

Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister designate, is the lawmaker representing Akoko North East and Akoko North West at the Federal House of Representatives. His people-oriented projects are a reflection of his compassion and milk of his human kindness, Precious Ugwuzor reports

Leaders that pay premium to the welfare and interests of their people are often adored and praised because their actions in form of projects and infrastructure have lasting impressions on their well-being. Such is the case of Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who has changed the narrative of governance in his constituencies despite not occupying a chief executive position.

The constituents seem not to have ever enjoyed the sort of luxuries and attention they have gotten from their representative at the lower house like they are experiencing and they are blushing over the opportunities that have been provided by Tunji-Ojo.

In the words of the Akoko Women Association Chairman, the lawmaker has changed their lives and given them hope.

According to her, the ministerial nominee has given them reasons to live, adding that no one, had ever done what he has done for them in Akoko.

His sincere commitments have changed the plight of the people and they now see the 41 year old politician as their political enigma and a beacon of hope for the good people of Ondo State.

Just recently, the lawmaker empowered over 1,000 market women in Ondo State with N50,000 each to boost their trade, and this has made a huge impact in ameliorating the sufferings of the people in the face of the fuel subsidy removal.

A sacrifice Nigerians are making in other to secure their future and contribute to national development. As a member of the 9th Assembly, he facilitated employment and jobs for over

230 verified names both within and outside Ondo state contributing to the reduction of unemployment among youths in the country, thereby reducing social tension in the region.

For the people of Akoko, in Ondo state, it has been a liberation and an eye opener to the capacities of lawmakers who are keen to impact positively on the well-being of the people.

Reeling out some of the positive projects of the lawmaker, this paper gathered that Honourable Tunji-ojo constructed several quality roads linking the constituency to the state and across other bounding states for easy access and transportation of their commodities from one place to another.

This makes for ease of travels and selling of their farm Products. It also reduced the number of lives lost on these roads. The roads always come with solar panelled light to illuminate

them at night. The roads included 13km Arigidi to Okeagbe Road, also linking Oyin Road, The Sabo Ugbe Road, Alhaja Shehifotu Road, to mention but a few under his constituency project.

In education, Tunji-Ojo has carved a niche for himself with the construction of several classroom blocks in different schools in his constituency to boost education, which made learning more convenient for school children.

Schools such as Eyo oke Comprehensive High School Oyin Akoko, Okeagbe High School, Okeagbe, Akoko, amongst others, benefited. Several skill Acquisation centers have been built as part of his constituency projects with youths and women trained and empowered financially to start up their business.

Remarkable was the provision of some transformers to his constituency including the 500KVA transformer, over 36 solar powered boreholes in different communities, supply of over 10 ambulances and 50 motorbikes donated to health care facilities in the region to aid their responses to emergencies while

the bikes will help health workers move into difficult remote terrains to offer quality health care to his people.

Contributing to the state security architecture, Honourable Olubumi Tunji-Ojo fondly called "BTO" donated over 100 motor bikes and some vehicles to Amotekun Corps to support their surveillance and security activities in remote areas of the state. Farmers were not left out as he has, on several occasions, supported them with fertilisers, seedlings, and funds to help at the start of farming seasons.

Over 1,000 students in Ondo State presently enjoy educational scholarships at different levels to boost their education. Some have been supported at the Tertiary Education level, others at the secondary level, and most in their primary level. Education for him is key, and as such, he is contributing to the making of the next generation expected to contribute to nation building.

His empowerment program four times a year has become the reference point for political mentees in southwest Nigeria. Other humanitarian kind gestures too numerous to mention is what Dr Tunji-ojo is known for. He has raised several families from poverty and is indeed a man of the people.

Our country Nigeria today need leaders who are not just committed to their core assignments but are also sensitive to the yearnings of the people and have the compassionate heart to reach out and touch lives one at a time. For Honourable Tunji-ojo, it's a blend of professionalism and sincere love for the less privileged in society. Indeed the man of the people.

Leaders that pay premium to the welfare and interests of their people are often adored and praised because their actions in form of projects and infrastructure have lasting impressions on their well-being. Such is the case of Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who has changed the narrative of governance in his constituencies despite not occupying a chief executive position

Hon Tunji-Ojo with his constituency

ECOWAS Versus Niger: Who is Fooling Who?

Femi Fani-Kayode

We worked hard, took many bullets and took great risks to put this government in place and we not only have a big stake in it but we must also ensure that it succeeds.

Apart from our unalloyed loyalty and unflinching support and our commitment to assist him in weathering every storm and stabilising the country there is only one thing we owe the President and that is to always tell him the plain truth.

Today that truth is that the pending attack on Niger Republic is unpopular at home and, if unleashed, would be a monumental error.

If ECOWAS must go into Niger in the name of wanting to restore constitutional order so be it but let them do so without any Nigerian troops.

Let the French and their Franco-phone allies in our sub-region, with American intelligence and logistical support, do the job on their own and leave us out of it.

It is only if our nation is attacked or our sovereignty violated that we should get into the fray.

Outside of that and until then we should use only diplomatic means to setttle the issue and not allow ourselves to be drawn into an unecessary and bloody regional war the end of which no-one knows.

To the Ivory Coast’s President Alhassan Outarra, who has said that this is not a Nigeria versus Niger conflict but rather an ECOWAS versus Niger one, I respectfully ask the following questions: who will contribute 90% of the troops and foot almost all the bills of this force? Is it not Nigeria?

Whose military hardware and assets will be deployed, mobilised and utilised more than any other? Is it not Nigeria?

Who shares her Northern border with Niger and whose northern civilian population are bound to suffer the most hardship, the greatest degree of collateral damage, the highest number of casualties and accommodate the highest number of displaced people and refugees? Is it not Nigeria?

We have trod this path before and we know where it ended. We cannot be fooled again.

If any force is deployed and Nigeria opts to participate we will pay more than all the other ECOWAS nations put together in terms of the loss of civilian and military lives and in blood and treasure.

Apart from that the ECOWAS force and their military capability is nothing without Nigeria and our troops.

To say that this would be an ECOWAS versus Niger war as opposed to a de facto Nigeria versus Niger one is misleading and disingenuous.

Such a war would be fought, prosecuted and won by primarily Nigerian forces even though there may be a sprinkling of a few others just for show and for the record.

All the French and Cote D’ivorien sophistry, propaganda and delusion in the world cannot change that.

If and when the whole thing goes down and we get involved militarily, you can bet your bottom dollar that it won’t just be a Nigeria versus Niger war but it would also end up being a Nigeria versus Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Wagner one.

Worse still involvement in such a military conflict may tear our country apart along ethnic, regional and religious lines. This must be avoided at all costs.

To add to this complex mix the wife of

General Abdourahman Tiani, the head of the military junta in Niger, is actually a Nigerian from Kangiwa in Kebbi state whilst his Emir, the Emir of Dosso in Niger, owes allegience and pays homage to the Emir of Argungu in Nigeria.

That is how connected our two countries are.

The truth is that there is hardly any family in the core north that does not have relatives from and in Niger.

Can they be expected to sit by idly and applaud us whilst we kill their brothers and sisters across the border for no just cause even when our nation has not been attacked and our territorial integrity has not been violated? Methinks not!

As I wrote elsewhere, outside of any diplomatic initiatives, let the French clean up their own self-inflicted mess and fight for their hegemonist and parasitic neo-colonial interests and uranium supplies in Niger and let us stay out of our poor and beleaguered neighbour’s internal affairs.

On a final note permit me to share the following exchange.

On hearing of my stiff opposition to deploying our troops into Niger my dear friend Umaru Farouk offered the following rationalisation to me.

He wrote, “the decision to place the troops on standby force is to force the junta to comply with the charter of demands from the regional and other international institutions via diplomatic channels. Also to actionably deploy the troops in case of any future coup attempt anywhere in the territory of ECOWAS”.

My response to him was as follows.

“You and I know that this threat of the use of force will not work and that it will not result in their stepping down.

It will rather harden their hearts and

eventually lead to a military conflict.

You do not place your armed forces on alert unless you intend to deploy. It is only a question of time.

Methinks that it is a very bad step, it is ill-timed and it is ill-advised.

It is bad for our country, bad for our people and bad for our Government.

Finally as regards your suggestion that the force can be used and deployed in case of any future coup anywhere in ECOWAS I ask, why should Nigeria be the policeman of the West African sub-region?

Why should we be used to protect oftentimes corrupt, dictatorial and illegitimate civilian sit-tight rulers and puppet regimes in other parts of West Africa?

Out of all the leaders in the15 countries that make up the ECOWAS sub-region I can only vouch for the legitimacy, integrity and democratic credentials of the Presidents of Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Sierra Leonne and Liberia.

I cannot vouch for ANY of the others and I have little respect for them.

In any case don’t we have enough problems of our own?

Let others deal with their internal issues and let us deal with ours.

Nigerian blood must never be spilt or shed for the sake of some of these Frano-phone rulers who have sold their souls to the devil and their people to France and who have been turned into errand boys abd grovelling slaves by their former colonial masters.

For example is it President Paul Biya of the Cameroons, who has been in power in that country for the last 41 years, that our soldiers should protect and die for?

Is it President Faure Eyadema of Togo who, in classic North Korean-style, is operating and nurturing a system of dynastic rule in

his nation and who, between him and his late father Gnassibe Eyadema, have ruled their country for the past 61 years?

Is it President Alhassan Outarra of La Cote D’Ivoure who is prepared to do ANYTHING for the French, who suppresses and persecutes his opponents and who had his predecessor in office President Laurant Gbabo bundled off to the International Court at the Hague at the behest of their former colonial masters simply because he dared to question the legitimacy and sought to break the yoke of French domination and bondage and restore the self-respect and dignity of his people by coming up with the noble and patriotic concept of “Ivoritie” (meaning “Ivorians first”).

If anyone really wants to know what the French do to their Franco-phone subjects through the auspices of their pliant and servile local “democratically-elected” African leaders they should listen to the explosive and utterly outstanding speech, delivered just over a year ago, by the beautiful, passionate and fiery Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who lambasted President Emmanuel Macron of France and the French people for enslaving, persecuting and cruelly exploiting the people of Africa.

Are these the sort of leaders we should protect and vouch for and are we supposed to send our soldiers to die in order to perpetuate French hegemony in these nation’s? Surely not!

Unless our country is attacked I do not see any sense in using our military for anything outside our shores other than for peace-keeping”.

May God open our eyes and guide our leaders before it is too late.

President Bola TinubuNiger

coup leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani

Peter Odili’s Towering Legacy at 75

Christopher Unuigbe

Today, August 15, the sun will set on Peter Odili’s 75 years on earth. As one of the remarkable leaders Nigeria has produced, the pages of his life’s narratives are inked with the stories of countless lives he has impacted, as well as his indelible imprints in politics and health sectors. His outstanding leadership, accomplishments and values are honoured as he celebrates a new year

In the tapestry of time, 75 years have woven a legacy that mirrors the remarkable journey of Peter Odili’s life — the former Governor of Rivers State and founder of PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS). The elder statesman is renowned for his resilience and transformational leadership that continues to resonate in the country, particularly Rivers State where he was a deputy governor and later governor for eight years. This was glimpsed at his 74th birthday celebration last year when the former governor Nyesom Wike threw a party for him at the government house and gifted him a mansion for his contribution to the state.

In some quarters, Odili is seen as the godfather of Rivers, having taken over the reins just as the country birthed a new democratic rule. Irrespective of the obstacles thrown his way, Odili emerged from his tenure in glowing terms, owing largely to the principles and values he lives by.

Beloved by many, Odili was born into modest beginnings in 1948 in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers. His parents, Chief Philip Celestine and Princess Janet Okwei Odili, despite their limited resources, ensured he lived a comfortable life under colonial rule. This prepared him for life’s challenges and he tackled them with a spirit of resilience that foreshadowed his future endeavours. From the halls of academia to the corridors of power, his unwavering commitment to excellence and service became the bedrock of his character.

Setting out on a path of scholarly pursuits, young Odili embarked on a journey that began at St. Michael’s School, Oguta II, and Sacred Heart School, Onitsha. His academic journey continued at the renowned Christ the King College in Onitsha and proceeded to the University of Nigeria where he studied medicine and embarked on a medical career that would later become a platform for his remarkable impact. The institution was more than a learning ground for the academician, as he encountered a pivotal connection - the love of his life, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili.

On completing the mandatory internship under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Odili was hired as a Resident Staff Physician at Medical Consultation Centre, Port Harcourt, between 1979 and 1980. Though it was a short stint, Odili’s passion for service was excellently displayed. Therefore when he set up his private medical practice, PAMO Clinics, where he served as the Resident Clinician-in-Charge for two years, it was seen as an act of Providence, inching him closer to his true calling.

It was only a matter of time before his illustrious medical career began to unfold like a meticulously crafted masterpiece, each chapter revealing the depth of his expertise and the profound impact he would leave on countless lives.

He pursued a specialist program at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom,

while keeping an unwavering focus on his community, returning to Port Harcourt after his studies to serve the people. His expertise eventually led him to a prominent role as a nominee of former US President Bill Clinton, to a 10-member roundtable committee charged with the responsibility of shaping Africa’s response to the HIV/ AIDS crisis in the workplace. However, Odili’s impact was felt most at home, from politics to academia. In 1988, he was elected member and leader of Rivers State Delegates to the Constituent Assembly and was elected to the National Constitutional Conference, where he served as the Chairman of

storm and became a reference point in the nation’s political calculations. He was at various times the National Chairman, PDP Fund Raising Committee (2000); and Chairman, Presidential Committee on Housing and Urban Renewal (2001).

Odili played a pioneering role in the inception of the National Independent Power Project (NIPP), which eventually gained nationwide prominence. As the governor of Rivers State, he was at the forefront of this initiative. Prior to his leadership, significant portions of Rivers State lacked essential infrastructure such as roads and electricity, with the state capital, Port Harcourt, isolated from the national grid. All of these changed under his administration.

Moreover, the Government House, once a modest abode at best, underwent a remarkable metamorphosis. Odili’s visionary approach resulted in the creation of a grand and distinguished edifice that stands today as an architectural masterpiece, leaving an indelible mark on the cityscape.

Owing to his remarkable contributions to the state, Wike in celebrating the former governor last year, acknowledged that Odili stands as one of the preeminent political figures in Rivers, responsible for elevating every member of the current ruling echelon in the state.

In his eyes, Odili is an embodiment of authentic leadership, a mentor to many, and a catalyst for propelling numerous individuals into the political spotlight, both in Rivers and across the nation.

“There was a time when every political class abandoned Dr. Odili. This is a man who gave us everything. Some people called him Mr. Donatus. There was no abuse he did not get. Everybody he tried to help their families, at the end of the day, all betrayed him,” Wike said.

In academia, Odili’s imprint is equally bold. He founded the first wholly private medical university in Nigeria, PAMO University of Medical Sciences. Last May, he unveiled the 250-bed integrated PAMO University Hospital. The purpose-built multispecialty, tertiary care private hospital offers patient care services across a range of medical and surgical specialties.

Beyond his political and academic endeavours, Odili’s benevolence radiates through his philanthropic efforts. From donating vital medical resources during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to empowering countless families through various initiatives, his heartwarming contributions have touched lives far and wide.

the Conference Committee on State Creation. In 1992, he was elected as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State. At the peak of the struggle for the laying of the foundation for the Fourth Republic, Odili first served as National Vice Chairman (South-south) Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), and later as National Secretary.

He was the Founder and Leader of Rivers Platform, in 1998; Founder and Leader, of the Restoration Team as well as the State Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); elected Executive Governor of Rivers State in 1999 and served two terms. It was in that capacity that he took the country by

One of Odili’s commendable qualities lies in the serene haven he has artfully crafted for his family. While being married to a prominent woman in the nation naturally invites its share of media scrutiny, the duo has adeptly sidestepped such commotion. Remarkably, their tranquil way of life, coupled with the fact that their union has blossomed into a family of four cherished children, stands as a remarkable accomplishment amid the spotlight’s gaze.

Indeed, his 75 years of life reflect the harmonious blend of wisdom and transformation that has marked his journey on earth. This milestone serves as a testament to the profound impact Odili has made, both on an individual level and within the larger community. His relentless pursuit of personal growth and self-awareness, coupled with his willingness to embrace change, has set the stage for a legacy that continues to flourish.

Odili

RATES AS AT AUGUST 14,2023

Nigeria’s Crude Oil Underproduction Losses Hit N6.8tn in Seven Months

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria’s inability to ramp up production to meet the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) output quota cost the country a gross loss of about N6.8 trillion in the first seven months of 2023, THISDAY analysis of available industry data has revealed.

While total oil production shortfall was approximately 113.52 million barrels between January and July, the data showed that the country failed to rake in an estimated $9

billion, at an average oil price of $80 per barrel during the period.

As at the time filing this report, the naira closed to the dollar at N747 at the official window. OPEC’s production allocated to Nigeria during the period was 1.742 million barrels per day.

The latest data on Nigeria’s total production volume from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), showed that Nigeria’s output fell to a three-month low in July.

On Sunday, THISDAY exclusively

reported that the country’s crude production shrank to 1.081 million barrels per day in July, from 1.25 million barrels per day in June, on the back of persisting crude oil theft and a leak at the Forcados terminal in the Niger Delta during the month. It indicated that if the month of April, which hitherto had the lowest output for 2023 is discounted, the production for July would emerge the lowest for this year so far.

With the low volume of oil drilled in July, it meant that Nigeria failed to produce as much as 661,000 barrels

per day and a whopping 19.8 million barrels during the entire month. Whereas the situation was already bad, the suspension of production by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Nigeria’s Forcados crude oil terminal mid-July, due to a leak at the export terminal, dashed the hope of the country’s expected gradual production recovery.

The significant output shrinkage below the target set for the country by OPEC in the first seven months of 2023, showed that Nigeria has only struggled to do a production

of just about 63.3 per cent of total projected output during the period.

The review indicated that whereas the country was expected to drill an estimated 365.82 million barrels during the period, given the 1.742 million daily OPEC production quotas, it only managed to produce 252.3 million barrels. This left the country with an estimated 113.52 million barrels deficit.

It also meant that the nation was unable to produce about 36.7 per cent of OPEC’s output forecast for the period, a continuation of the

production shortfall which became pronounced since mid 2020 in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nigeria is at the moment, desperately in need of foreign exchange as currently reflected in the weakening value of the naira to the dollar and inability of a number of foreign investors to repatriate funds to their countries of origin. The naira currently sells for over N900/$ in the parallel FX market.

NOTE: The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

ECOWAS Engages Firms to Assist Off-grid Solar Coys in 19 Countries

As part of the implementation of the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), the TSC Global/Intech-GOPA/AFC/BB consortium has signed a contract for the implementation in Abuja.

ROGEAP was first initiated in 2017 under Regional Off-grid Electrification Project (ROGEP), but then restructured and relaunched in November 2020 by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its technical and financial partners under ROGEAP.

It aims to increase access to

sustainable electricity services in the 15 ECOWAS member countries and four other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, namely: Mauritania, Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad.

Worth $338.7 million, the project is financed by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Dutch Cooperation (DGIS), according to a statement from ECOWAS.

The statement noted that the service contract signing ceremony took place in the presence of the Chief Executive/ President of TSC Global, Mr. Amara Sackor, representing the group and

Commissioner Sédiko Douka, in charge of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation of ECOWAS, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the ROGEAP Project.

Also present at the signing ceremony of the contract were Mr. EL hadji Sylla, Principal Advisor and Coordinator of ROGEAP and Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Infrastructure.

“Following a procurement process in accordance with the donor’s procedures, the TSC Global/Intech-GOPA/AFC/BB Consortium was retained by the ECOWAS Commission as ROGEAP

fund manager to provide technical and financial support, not only to the private sector but also to commercial banks and microfinance institutions in the countries covered by the project in support of the Project Management Unit (PMU) based in Abuja and within BOAD in Lomé.

“Comprised of several companies specialising in financial support and management of environmental and social risks to autonomous companies in the solar energy sector, the ROGEAP project fund manager is primarily responsible for supporting ECOWAS to implement at the project level, ”it added.

It will offer support to regional ecosystem development for sustainable off-grid industry growth, enhance information sharing on the market and trade facilitation between stakeholders and increase regional demand through consumer awareness and promotion campaigns, the statement noted.

It is also expected to remove supply-side constraints through building the capacity of commercial financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders.

The ROGEAP PFM will also intervene in the implementation of technical support for

FOOD COMMODITIES PRICE TODAY

capacity building of enterprises characterised by differentiated support throughout the life cycle of enterprise development from start-up, early stage, growth and maturity.

It also offers financial support to enterprises which will result in a catalytic grant intended to support a critical mass of entrepreneurs in the development of solar products and business models.

In addition, it will remove barriers for difficult markets through two types of subsidies namely: the market entry subsidy and the performance-based subsidy.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Querying The Seplat $19.4M Professional Legal Fees

Law Mefor

The backlash over the $19.4 million reported as professional legal fee in Seplat Energy’s half-year result presents us as a people in the cast of the French Bourbons of whom the French statesman and foremost diplomat, Charles-Maurice de Telleyrand-Périgord, 1st Prince of Benevento, said they learnt nothing and forgot nothing. We not only repeat the same mistake, but also fail to heed warnings.

At page 42 of the document, Seplat reports: “General and Administrative (G&A) expenses amounted to $65.8 million, 42.0 per cent higher than $46.4 million incurred in 6M (H1) of 2022. This increase in G & A cost was mainly due to professional fees associated with the litigation costs in response to the unprecedented and intense period of minority shareholder actions through the courts....”

In fact, by Seplat’s own admission, professional and consulting fees stood at N14.13 billion at the end of June 2023 compared to N2.42 billion, same period of 2022, marking a 484.24 per cent hike.

However, some Nigerians, including this writer, spoke out a few months ago over the alleged impunity, corporate misgovernance, and racism at Seplat Energy Plc. In one of the articles, this writer stated that, “the company has paid unprecedented legal fees, mostly on avoidable lawsuits”. But such Nigerians were harassed and even threatened with legal action by vested interests at Seplat. Instructively, this is no longer about someone alleging, but the company stating in black and white by itself that it was so wasteful of shareholders’ investments to the tune of $19.4 million.

Unfortunately, before proceeding Seplat did not tell Nigerians and its shareholders how those litigations, which were even clearly avoidable, came about. For instance, the lawsuit by some shareholders against the company’s CEO, Mr. Roger Brown, the Board Chairman, Mr. Basil Omiyi and the Independent Non-Executive Directors (INEDs) in the Federal High Court Lagos. This began as unattended serious complaints by the Nigerian employees of Seplat, who accused Mr. Roger Brown of intimidation, bullying, and sacking of Nigerian staff of Seplat; intimidation of senior staff and members of senior management team; abuse of corporate governance, relegation of host communities, relocation of Seplat technology office to Aberdeen; bullying of Nigerian staff by foreign nationals; and refusal to fully relocate to Nigeria despite collecting huge amounts for that purpose, among others. But the Omiyi-led Board turned a blind eye. It didn’t matter that a survey by the company in the last quarter of 2022 showed acute staff dissatisfaction. It also showed acute staff dissatisfaction with company leadership. The aggrieved staff then petitioned the Ministry of Interior, which investigated the matter and eventually descended on Seplat Rogers and Seplat with sanctions and lawsuits. Among the sanctions was the revocation of Mr. Brown’s visa, work and resident permit.

Indicting Mr. Brown and declaring him a persona non grata, the Ministry of Interior’s letter to Seplat dated March 3, 2023, equally underscored the fact that Mr. Brown and Seplat breached the Nigerian Immigration Act 2015 and equally snubbed investigative hearing. It said that Brown claimed to “be unavailable even though we learnt he was in Abuja for other purposes at the time”. “As a result of these”, the letter continued, “the Honourable Minister has determined that Mr. Brown’s continued stay in Nigeria is contrary to national interest. Consequently, the Ministry has withdrawn the Work Permit CERPAC, Visa, Residence Permit and all relevant documents that authorised

Mr. Roger Thomson Brown’s entry or stay in Nigeria”.

LITIGATION GALORE

So, the second litigation, this time, an April 6 2023 four-count criminal charge marked at the Federal High Court, Abuja, marked FHC/AB/CR/149/2023 Brown, Omiyi, and other INEDsDr. Charles Okeahalam, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, Basirat Odunewu, Fabian Ajogwu, Mr. Rabiu Bello, Ms Emma Fitzgerald, and Company Secretary/Legal Counsel, Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa of breach of specified sections of the Immigration Act 2015.

Also, when you take a deep dive, you will find out that the bogus legal fees also includes the cost of the lawsuit instituted by the Omiyi-led Board to stop the statutory Chief Anthony Idigbe-led Audit Committee of Seplat from investigating these controversies and profligacies, which the Internal Auditor reported were negatively affecting the company’s shares. When the Committee would not adhere to Omiyi’s written directive to steer clear, they went to court to stop them, then proceeded to remove them through a kangaroo Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 10th May, and reverted to court to withdraw the lawsuits. Yet the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) empowers the Audit Committee to, among others, authorise the internal auditor to carry out investigations into any activity of the company, which may be of interest or concern to the Committee.

So, it could be seen that all these boil down to flagrant corporate misgovernance. Imagine the Omiyi-led Board was alive to its duty. Imagine it took the employees’ concerns seriously as an Independent and addressed them. There would not have been a lawsuit by shareholders over the mistreatment of Nigerian employees at Seplat. The Nigerian staff would not have petitioned the FG and there would have been no litigation.

Again, imagine that Omiyi and Dr. Charles Okeahalam had not continued to sit-tight as INEDs on Seplat’s Board.

Section 12.10 of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance (NCCG) clearly provides that “the tenure for Independent Non-Executive Directors

period is added to the $19.4 million professional fees, it comes to about $24.1 million, representing 29 per cent of the company’s net profit in H1. Yet, Seplat has been beating its chest for declaring a total dividend $17.6 million for its shareholders for Q2 (second quarter). This is the height of profligacy and we condemn it in its entirety.

“It is quite baffling for Seplat to claim to have spent a whooping $19.4 million in such a short period (of less than four months) defending a foreign national accused of breaching the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance, flouting our laws, indicted of racism against Nigerians on our own soil.” Meanwhile, one cannot but join the shareholders and MADI in wondering if Mr. Brown is worth all the money and trouble.

STILL ON THE CALL FOR INVESTIGATION

should not exceed three terms of three years each”, both are almost 11 years on the Board and have refused to give way. Perhaps if they were not encumbered by their overstay and other patronages by Management they would have been real watchdogs of shareholders investments and not Mr. Brown’s lapdog. And to think that a Professor of Corporate Governance is on the Board and in league with them seems to justify those who wonder if there is still hope for Nigeria.

THE HUMONGOUS “LEGAL FEE”

Back to the $19.4 (over N16billionn) legal fee, I am happy that patriotic Nigerians are still speaking up and media houses with conscience have refused to be bought over. Recently, some shareholders of Seplat and civil society organisations led by Make a Difference Initiative (MADI) queried the legal fee and broke down the figures for the world to see the bleeding of Seplat before it is too late.

Breaking down the figures in their statement read by the National Coordinator Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Comrade Moses Igbrude said: “This (the $19.4million spent in defending Brown) is in addition to about $4.7 million (N4.8billion) in share bonus accrued to Mr Roger Brown during the same period over and above his salaries and other allowances during this period.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the H1 results reads in part: “General and Administrative (G&A) expenses amounted to $65.8million, 42.0 per cent higher than $46.4million incurred in 6M (H1) of 2022. This increase in G & A cost was mainly due to professional fees associated with the litigation costs in response to the unprecedented and intense period of minority shareholder actions through the courts....”

“Very sadly, this $19.4 million represents 23 per cent of the company’s closing profit of $82.6 million declared at page 10 of the H1 report. When Mr, Roger Brown’s Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), which is 2,779,181 shares, an equivalent of £3.6 million or $4.7 million (N4.8 billion) in the same

Furthermore, one cannot also but join the shareholders and MADI in earnestly calling on the President to direct the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) and Security and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to do their jobs by taking disciplinary actions and carrying out a thorough investigation into the perpetual breach of corporate governance codes to save Seplat and the investments of Nigerians and international investors from going down the drains. Imagine a situation where the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) does not recognise the resolutions passed during the controversial May 10, 2023 AGM in deference to a court order, yet they are operating normally.

Also, there is a need for a probe panel composed of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) etc. to investigate questioning issues around the N16bn legal fees. How much of the $19.4 million (N16billion) was paid to lawyers and how much was paid to each lawyer or law firms? It will be good to know if any of the lawyers serves as an instrument or conduits for compromising the judiciary in any way, especially given the questionable court injunctions and vacation of court orders in favour of Seplat.

Importantly also, Nigerians deserve to know why the criminal charges (FHC/ AB/CR/149/2023) instituted against Seplat CEO, Roger Brown, and Seplat Board were suddenly withdrawn and Brown’s visa, work, and resident permit restored without any explanation to Nigerians. Ironically, it was even the embattled company that triumphantly announced that actions of Immigration and Ministry of Interior to Nigerians.

We need to know why the FRC and SEC have relapsed into a silent mode despite apparent breaches of good governance code by the Mr Basil Omiyiled Seplat Board. Why have Omiyi and Okeahalam continued to sit tight in clear breach of Section 12.10 of the NCCG while the FRC look away? Why is SEC silent on the flagrant infringements on statutory Audit Committee of Seplat, including Omiyi’s written order directing the Committee not to investigate breaches and the forcing out of the Committee Chairman and a member for insisting on dong the right thing? Are they observing table manners at the expense of the investing public? Of course, if a meaningful probe will be carried out, Brown, Omiyi, and the INEDs will have to step down Independent Non-Executive Directors for an unhindered exercise to save Seplat. By the way, these are the minimal any reasonable nation can ask for in the present circumstance.

Omiyi

Osun Osogbo Festival 2023: Goldberg Shows Unwavering Support for Yoruba Culture

Gilbert Ekwugbe

In line with its commitment to embracing the rich heritage and timeless traditions of the Yoruba community, Goldberg Lager has once again reinforced its support for the just-concluded Osun Osogbo Festival.

With a commitment to upholding and preserving the values and traditions of the Yoruba people, the brand was at the forefront of the annual festival, which was held on August 11, 2023, ensuring that participants were treated to a great time in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.

During the festival, Osun devotees, masquerades, traditionalists, and royal fathers paid homage to the festival’s host, Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, at the groove.

Starting from the revered

Osun Grove and extending to the lively after-party, the attendees who gathered at the event were treated to a distinct representation of Yoruba culture. This cultural experience was seamlessly blended with entertainment, resulting in a delightful fusion of enjoyment and tradition.

The festival brings to the fore the values of excellence, teamwork, and reward for hard work, among others, which are all the tenets of Goldberg.

No doubt, the multitude of guests who thronged the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Osun Osogbo Festival will not forget in a hurry the unique experience Goldberg Premium Lager Beer delivered.

Goldberg, an Omoluabi brand, extends its

unwavering support to the Osun Osogbo Festival, underscoring its allegiance to preserving and cherishing cultural legacies.

Through its initiatives like Isedowo, which supports local artisans, and Ariya Omoluabi, a platform celebrating Yoruba musical talents, Goldberg actively nurtures and empowers the living legacy of Yoruba culture.

Commenting on Goldberg’s continued support for the Osun Osogbo festival, the Senior Brand Manager, Goldberg, Kunle Aroyehun, said, “Goldberg has enjoyed tremendous patronage by consumers in the Southwest region of Nigeria and indeed Osun. Hence, it was not out of place for the brand to identify with the people on such an auspicious occasion.”

“We have consistently demonstrated that we are

NGO Laments over Insecurity, Inadequate Funding for Agric Devt in Kwara

Gilbert Ekugbe

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has lamented over the level of insecurity and inadequate funding for agricultural development in Kwara State.

In a communiqué issued after a town hall meeting with agro industry experts, the Executive Chairman, Kwara Agriculture Network, Mr. Al-Mustapha Ibrahim, said that other challenges hindering agricultural development in the state also included limited capacity to implement programmes and agricultural initiatives, lack of maintenance for agricultural machinery, high prices of poultry feed resulting in nonprofitable ventures, outdated technology and processes leading to inefficiencies and delays in decision-making and political interferences for several agricultural interventions and schemes.

Ibrahim, stated that the

current state of the agro industry in the state is disheartening, despite the numerous efforts of the state government under the leadership of the Governor of Kwara State, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to promote inclusive agric sector development.

In particular, Ibrahim maintained that stakeholders are not experiencing the growth and development that are needed to sustain the state’s economy and its plans to feed the Kwara State citizens.

According to him, key areas identified by the industry experts and stakeholders in the communiqué, included issues associated with government bureaucracy, lack of innovations, poor funding of the sector, poor mechanisation, poor access to farm inputs, especially quality seeds, fertilizer, low access to processing and value addition facilities are key issues that should be addressed urgently.

In addition, he noted that

food security in the state is further threatened by soil degradation and ongoing flooding and climate change in some parts of the state.

He, however, stated that the current state of agriculture has proven to be ineffective in addressing the needs of farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

“As a result, we are calling for a repositioning of the sector to better serve the agricultural community and ensure the longterm success of the industry,” he urged.

While touching on the solutions in the communiqué, the agricultural expert observed that there is need to increase funding, especially through provision of resources for irrigation for all-year round farming, create, update and utilise an up-to-date farmer data base, which would be used as the sole basis for government agricultural interventions.

an Omoluabi brand, and more than ever before, we are committed to upholding and preserving the values and traditions of the Yoruba people while serving as a custodian of the Omoluabi spirit,” Aroyehun added.

Throughout its history, Goldberg has consistently stood out as a prominent sponsor, renowned for its steadfast backing and promotion of the festival’s core principles. Through sponsoring festivals, Goldberg remains committed to promoting the Omoluabi values of hard work and enjoyment while also taking it a notch higher by calling on consumers to take pride in their various professions and layer the same with excellence.

Across the different cities of the Southwest where festivals hold, Goldberg has been a major pillar of support,

promoting Yoruba cultural values while also creating a strong and engaging message that reflects the ‘Omoluabi’ values that the Goldberg brand embodies.

The brand plays an active role in key Yorubaland festivities, including the Ojude Oba festival and the Olojo festival. These gatherings serve as platforms that amplify the eminence of Yoruba culture, a status that the brand further amplifies through its Eku Ise 2.0 campaign.

Goldberg remains committed to celebrating the Yoruba culture, upholding the ‘Omoluabi’ values of hard work and excellence, and will continue to fuel enjoyment among consumers.

Positioned as an advocate for responsible consumption, Goldberg Lager ensures that its participation in

the Osun Osogbo festival harmonizes with its deep-seated commitment to social responsibility. The brand’s unwavering dedication to nurturing a secure and delightful festival experience is evident through its initiatives promoting responsible drinking.

Goldberg Lager Beer is a brand of Nigerian Breweries, known for its strong connection to Yoruba culture and traditions. With a commitment to celebrating and preserving cultural heritage, Goldberg Lager Beer actively supports and promotes various cultural events, festivals, and initiatives across Yorubaland. Through its engagements, the brand brings people together, encourages responsible drinking, and creates memorable experiences that resonate with the rich history of the Yoruba community.

OPEC: How Robust Demand, US Hurricane Season Could Tighten Oil Market

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Potential fuel production outages during the upcoming United States hurricane season could tighten the Atlantic Basin market in the coming weeks, OPEC said in its Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR).

The cartel is upbeat on the “stability of the global oil market” amid lowerthan average gasoline and middle distillate inventories in the United States and Europe and expectations of healthy fundamentals in the second half of 2023.

“Despite the current elevated level of global refinery runs, gasoline and middle distillate stocks remain well below the latest five-year averages in the US and Europe,” OPEC

said in its feature article in the report.

“Looking forward, refinery maintenance and potential production outages during the US hurricane season could potentially tighten the Atlantic Basin market, hence prompting stronger economic incentives for Eastto-West product flows,” the cartel’s economists wrote in the report, cited by oilprice. com.

At the same time, expectations of robust oil demand in the second half of the year, plus the OPEC+ readiness to intervene on the market at any time and as needed, “will ensure stability of the global oil market,” OPEC said.

Moreover, OPEC noted that the outlook for oil market fundamentals improved in July, which

was reflected in the strengthening of the market structure as all major oil futures prices turned to a firm backwardation structure.

OPEC left its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2023 unchanged from last month’s report, and expects demand growth at 2.4 million barrels per day . This year’s total global demand is expected to average 102.0 million bpd.

For next year, the cartel sees world oil demand rising by another 2.2 million bpd compared to 2023, thanks to solid global economic growth and continued improvements in China which are expected to boost consumption. In 2024, OPEC expects total world oil demand to average 104.3 million bpd.

L-R: Area Sales Manager – Osogbo, Olatunde Ojo; Trade Marketing Execution Manager - West Zone, Josiah Akinola; Corporate Affairs Advisor, Babatunde Gbadebo; Regional Trade Marketing Manager – Ibadan, Seyi Oyedeji; and Osun Osogbo Festival Consultant, Semiu Adenekan, with the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji and his wives during the official announcement of Goldberg as sponsors of this year’s edition of the Festival in Osogbo, Osun State

‘Africa Needs Structured Investment Vehicle to Benefits from $50bn Creative Industry’

Oluchi Chibuzor

Chairman of Platinum Capital, Dr. Akintoye Akindele, has said that for Africans to benefit from its $50 billion creative industry, the continent needs structured investment vehicles to enhance the rapid growth of the sector.

This is as he explained that Africa has the comparative advantage in the creative sector globally considering its population.

He disclosed this in Lagos at the 2023 Walk Africa Conference held in Dakar, Senegal.

He said the creative industries could play a critical role in building more resilient, sustainable and inclusive economies in the world’s most developing countries.

According to him, the influx of foreign digital platform companies into the continent

market clearly “shows that the continent is losing revenues and jobs which can be retained by the continent.”

He said Film, Cuisine, Music, Fashion and Art would continue to witness growth on the continent and has the comparative advantage with its population.

“Given the large size of these segments and their high growth rates, we are convinced that highlighting the opportunities and working with global partners will be highly beneficial in terms of developmental and financial goals for both the continent and its partners.

“In Africa alone, these five segments of the creative industry represent over $50 billion of opportunities on the continent that are not being harnessed due to their largely informal, untapped, unstructured nature. has a growth rate that outpaces other sectors on the continent,

“he said. Commenting on the conference, with the theme, “Unleashing the Value and Potential of the African Creative Industry,” he said the event aimed at building a bridge between Africa and the world as the previous event has attracted over $200 million investment.

According to him, “The future of Africa and the future of the world are linked, and to create the Africa that we want, collaboration and partnership must be our focus. Through Africa Walk, we are creating the platform that enables international companies and investors to engage local companies, investors, policy makers & academia towards building the Africa of the future, in which global best practices are fused with local inputs.”

Usoro: UBA at Forefront of Supporting SMEs, Agriculture

Kayode Tokede

Executive Director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Emem Usoro has said the pan-African financial institution is at the forefront of supporting Small and Midsize Enterprises (SMEs) and Agriculture sectors, as both have proven to be the bedrock of any economy.

She said the two sectors in Nigeria are receiving adequate support from banks, demanding from stakeholders’ improvement in some areas.

Usoro in an interview extract said the bank recently signed an agreement with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat to invest

$6billion as funding for African Small and Medium Enterprises within the next three years.

According to her, the breakdown of the $6billion investment shows that a total of $1.2billion has been budgeted for the year 2023, $1.9billion for 2024 and $2.88billion for 2025.

“By this agreement, UBA with the aim of boosting intra-Africa trade, will provide financial services in four main areas which are agro-processing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and transport and logistics, to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in all the 20 African countries where UBA operates.

“These countries are Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone,

Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Congo DRC, Chad and Cameroon.

“One of the key initiatives of the AfCFTA Agreement focuses on improving access to finance and markets for SMEs to encourage their growth and contribution to the socio-economic development of Africa,” Usoro explained.

She expressed that UBA Nigeria’s strategic goal remains to lead in Nigeria by having more than 15per cent of the total deposit market share and being among the top three most profitable bank.

Wema Bank, COREN Partner to Achieve SDG 9, Enhance Technology

Kayode Tokede

Wema Bank Plc has partnered the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to promote technology and sustainable industrial growth, thereby achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Speaking at the 31st Engineering Assembly in Abuja sponsored by WEMA Bank, the financial institution’s Managing Director, Moruf Oseni, who was represented by his deputy, Wole Akinleye, said Wema Bank’s sponsorship of the event speaks to the resilience, integrity, and

innovation that are at the heart of its actions.

He said: “We have learnt that the secret to longevity is to constantly reinvent oneself; as when, against all odds, we launched ALAT, Africa’s first fully digital bank in 2017 — an achievement that forever changed the face and practice of financial services in Nigeria.

“We acknowledge that no nation can drive and sustain economic development without Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and practice — this is why we happily accepted the invitation to participate in this event as the mandate of COREN resonates deeply with

our ethos at Wema Bank.”

Akinleye urged the participants to continue to play their role in the transformation of the society, saying, “Let us carry with us the profound realisation that as engineers, we are not just creators of structures, but architects of hope and guardians of our nation’s welfare. “Wema Bank will continue to breach n w grounds, exceed expectations, and set industry standards, and its pact with COREN is one more on a growing list of meaningful partnerships and revolutionary solutions that impact lives, businesses, and nations; steadily solidifying its position as the bank that works and supports lifestyles.”

ARCON, Woobs, Disowns Fake Architect over Alleged Forgery

Sunday Ehigiator

The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and Woobs Resources Limited have disowned one James Onyemenam over the allegation of forging the building plan of the Nigerian Army ultra-modern shopping complex, popularly known as Arena, located in the BoladeShodi area of Lagos, and submitting same as ARCON while seeking to be licensed by the body

In a statement signed by Woobs Secretary and Legal Adviser, Victor Ukutt, he said sometime in 2006, “Woobs Re-

sources Limited approached the Nigerian Army to rebuild its Mammy Market at Ikeja Military Cantonment into an ultra-modern shopping complex under a ‘Private Partnership Participation’ (PPP) arrangement. The said proposal was approved in 2006 and construction works started in January 2007, and the project was commissioned by the Nigerian Army in 2009.”

He said consequent upon approval in 2006, the company while in need of a registered architect, had first contact with Mr James Onyemenam through

a recommendation from one Col. Kingsley Umoh, and engaged the service his company, Bridgeways Global Project Limited’, to “design and supervise the construction of the Arena market in 2006.

“Consequent upon the engagement of Mr James Uchechukwu Onyemenam and _ his Architectural Firm, Bridgeways Global Projects Limited, he produced architectural designs/ drawings for the project in 2006 and construction works started in January 2007. He was paid his professional fee up to the tune of N58.5 million.”

Money

Indicators (in Percentage)

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $82.06 a barrel on Friday, compared with $81.53 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).

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 17 JULY, 2023

L-R: Lawyer and Entrepreneur, Seyi Banigbe; ,Founder/GMD, Custodian Investment Plc, Wole Oshin; Award Winning Singer and Photographer, TY Bello and Radio Personality, Director,and Author, Chukwuma “Chico” Aligweke, at the Custodian Mentors Conference 2023 in Lagos...recently

MOFI Partners NGX to Drive FG’s Assets to N100trn in 10 Years

Kayode Tokede

The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), yesterday disclosed that it is partnering with The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) to drive the federal government assets base to N100 trillion from N18 trillion in the next 10 years.

The Managing Director, MOFI, Mr. Amstrong Takang who disclosed this in Lagos during an

engagement meeting with capital market stakeholders said the federal government’s investment vehicle company currently has about 40 corporate assets valued at N18trillion.

He said that the mandate given to MOFI management is to grow its assets base to N100trillion in the next 10 years, stressing that the set target cannot be achieved without collaborating with key capital

market stakeholders.

Part of MOFI strategies pillar, according to him is to focus on professionalising state ownership aimed at ensuring that all state-owned entities are effectively and efficiently managed to achieve greater economic impact.

Others strategies pillar he highlighted are: a significant financial driver of the Nigerian economy, capacity to source and

acquire funding for the growth and development of all the companies under its portfolio and committed to pursuing initiatives that generate profit and impact across all key

According to him, “So, anything that we’re doing here at the Exchange, the proceeds of that will contribute towards economic development.

“We are also expected to source funding for investments

of government-owned entities as well as others which is why the capital market is important.

“We need to begin to use the capital market to mobilize capital for projects that either our portfolio companies or government wants to do. It’s not everything that we have to go and borrow money. The capital market is there for us to be able to tap into it. Other countries have done it. There’s

really no reason why we can’t.

“A lot of infrastructure projects in the US were developed using money from the capital market why can’t we do the same thing. Why can’t some capital projects from our budget be funded through the capital markets? We need to be deliberate, intentional about it and that’s one of the reasons why we think we should be here to do that.”

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF AUGUST/14/23

Maryam Babangida As The Epitome of Nigerian Beauty

The article from last week’s The Economic magazine, titled ‘Nigeria’s demand for fancy wigs fuels a global trade’, reveals our shallowness in Nigeria. If you have not read it, I urge you to read it. It may shock you to know the extent to which the world is acutely aware of the growing cultural rejection of our Nigerian heritage by contemporary Nigerian society.

It starts with this line ‘Hair from EVERYWHERE adorns Nigerian heads’. The writer describes how Nigerians “grovel” (their exact words) over “long, straight hair”.

We spend more money on human hair than we spend on books. Looks matter to us more than knowledge. According to Reuters, in 2014, Africa spent $6 billion on human hair. And they say we are poor.

Sadly, as The Economist investigative report shows, what we import as ‘human hair’ in Africa is not always human hair. It is often a synthesis of human and animal hair. A lot of it is untreated and unhealthy and is causing various types of hair and scalp issues.

Obviously, African women need role models that demonstrate to them that there is nothing wrong with looking African from head to toe.

No matter what you want to say about Maryam Babangida, she was the epitome of Nigerian beauty. Always in her natural hair. Always in local fabrics (spectacularly tailored to achieve breathtaking results). Black, unbleached and beautiful! With poise, panache and confidence. No First Lady before or after her was her equal!

And it is not just that Maryam was beautiful and had poise; she was also intelligent. The Better Life for Rural Women was the first and best of all the First Lady intervention projects in Nigeria, again, bar none!

It was futuristic. It was meaningful. It was grassroots focused. It made sense. It was not vain. Maryam Babangida understood the impact of empowering women. When you empower a woman, you empower the community.

And even in my own family, I have personally seen the impact of empowering women.

When my father was ill, my oldest sister left her job to stay with him. My next oldest sister left her business to work shifts with her. My next oldest sister simply moved in with my parents as a live-in carer.

None of us boys left our business or work. Yet African men foolishly complain when they have only girls? Rather than complain, such men should realise that they have hit the jackpot! Each of their daughters is worth three sons!

Having a daughter prolongs your life. She will not get into as much trouble as your sons. She is less likely to be disobedient. When she leaves your house, she will remember you. If you are too old to live alone, she will move you into her home, marital or not. African men should thank God when they have daughters!

And if that daughter is anything like Maryam, then you have not only hit the jackpot, you have won the lottery itself.

Almost all the so-called pet projects that came after her (but not all), were vain attempts to replicate what Maryam Babangida started. And for all the media exaggerations of the faults of Nigeria’s first family from August 1985 to August 1993, in hindsight, the team of Maryam and Ibrahim Babangida were not as bad as the media portrayed them to be. Together, they were charming. The exuded more warmth than strength. They were both personable personalities and, but for the annulment of June 12, 1993, they had set Nigeria on a course of steady progress.

But, the thing I most celebrate about them is that they were unapologetically Nigerian. Much like his wife, no other Nigerian leader made it a point of duty to wear Nigerian outfits from all over Nigeria.

I remember that when out of uniform, General Babangida, as President would sometimes were a Yoruba style agbada, sewn in aso-oke like material, which, along with his middle name, Badamasi, gave rise to the urban legend that he is a Yoruba man passing himself off as a Northerner (he is not).

I recall watching General Babangida as military President, attending the Nigerian Music Awards, and even presenting one of the awards.

It matters what leaders do because followers tend to copy their leaders. Africa needs leaders who believe in themselves and their people. We do not need leaders who feel inferior to Western and increasingly Chinese leaders. We need leaders who epitomise the African idyll, in their appearance, demeanour and outlook.

Too much money leaves Africa to Europe and Asia to buy bleaching creams, human hair, champagne, and other products that

are a complete waste of our scarce resources.

I remember once watching a comedy in the late 90s with a scene where the main character walked into a room and asked the occupants if they had seen a Black woman with blonde hair. Those in the room looked at him as though he were bonkers.

Alas, today, if that man asked the same question, those in the room would answer ‘we have seen many Black women with blonde hairs today. Can you be more specific’?

We have to stop aping White Europeans. Being Black and African is more than adequate. You do not need to adopt Western standards of beauty. We also do not have to adopt their culture. Adapt, maybe. Adopt, definitely not.

For example, when you do a white wedding and then do a traditional African wedding, you have not done a Christian wedding and a traditional one. You have actually wasted your money by doing two traditional weddings. Read Scripture from cover to cover, and you will never find a church wedding. In fact, the word 'church' does not even appear in Scripture. Church is a word that appeared in The Bible, which is a translation of Scripture. The original

Scriptural word translated church is actually Ekklesia, which means gathering.

Nobody in Scripture married in an Ekklesia, Synagogue, or temple. ALL Scriptural marriages were done in the home (Genesis 24:67), and marriage was considered solely a family matter. Yeshua Hamashiach, our Lord and Saviour, attended the wedding at Cana as a Guest in a home. John 2:2 is very clear. It says, "Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding." He was not there as the Officiating Minister. Stop allowing church, priests and pastors fool you. Church marriage is unnecessary and unscriptural and is purely a scheme for financial exploitation.

The power a priest or pastor has to say, ‘I now pronounce you man and wife’, comes from man, not God. There is no Scriptural authority for that. God Himself pronounces you married once your parents consent to your union. It is a family affair! This is how God defines marriage-“a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one”-Genesis 2:24.

I have read Scripture from cover to cover in multiple languages and the original languages. Scripture has no instance of a wedding in a church, temple, or synagogue. Isaac married at home (Gen 24:67). Christ attended a wedding at a HOME as a Guest (John 2:2-10). He played no role during the wedding. The changing of water to wine was for the party. Isaiah was a prophet. When he wanted to marry a fellow prophetess, all he did was invite two witnesses. And immediately, the woman moved into his home (Isaiah 8:2-3). No ceremony at all. Are you holier than Isaiah? Hosea’s marriage was captured in only one verse-Hosea 1:3. God made marriage EASY. It is humans who made it complicated. Church has no business with weddings. The idea of a church wedding is a creation of the Roman Catholic Church to raise money. It has nothing to do with godliness. It is just like a bank introducing a new financial product to boost revenue. ALL churches doing it copied it from the Catholic Church and not from Scripture. Your parents bless your marriage, not any priest, pastor or church.

A government marriage registry is only meant to REGISTER a marriage that has already occurred when you accepted a woman as your wife. That is why it is called a marriage registry. You don't marry there. You record marriage there!

The ONLY people involved are

The groom

The bride

Their parents

No pastor or church is involved! It’s a family affair.

Reno’s Nuggets

I see many young men chasing women and asking for their numbers. Sadly, they are going about it the wrong way. If they chase success and get the right numbers in their account, it is them that women will chase. Nothing is as attractive as success! Let me break it down for you: Women are not interested in men that chase them. Materialistic women are interested in men that chase wealth. Vain women are interested in men that chase power. Godly women are interested in men that pursue God. No woman is interested in men that chase women!

#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets

Reno

You have the power to summon a stronger positive thought into your mind whenever a negative thought attempts to break into your mind

Maryam Babangida

Ozekhome: Emefiele, Bawa Victims of Executive Lawlessness

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Constitutional lawyer and rights activists, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, has described the ongoing travails of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa and the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele as the height of executive lawlessness and rascality.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) lamented that after all the ills perpetrated by the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, only Bawa and Emefiele have been singled

out to become "Executive Victims".

President Bola Tinubu shortly on assumption of office had suspended both Emefiele and Bawa from office over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, threat to national security amongst others.

While Emefiele, who was arrested on June 10, was arraigned a month after following an order of court, Bawa was yet to be charged with any offence.

However, despite the court granting Emefiele bail, the Department of State Services (DSS) forcefully took him into their custody after battling with personnel of the Nigeria Correctional Service on the grounds that Emefiele

was wanted over fresh allegations.

Ozekhome, in a statement issued to journalists, however condemned the action of the DSS in their continued incarceration of the duo against constitutional provisions and lawful order of court.

He lamented that while Bawa was being kept in "captivity" nearly two months after he was invited for interrogation by the DSS, Emefiele was not allowed to go despite being admitted to bail by a court of competent jurisdiction.

"The DSS, through its Director of Information, Willie Bassey, cited “weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him”, as the reason

for Bawa’s continued captivity.

"This continued detention without trial is barbaric, atrocious and unconscionable, to say the least," the senior lawyer stated.

Adding that: "Till date, the DSS has not told Nigerians what Bawa’s specific offences are (if any), or the level of “investigation.”

Furthermore, Ozekhome remarked that Emefiele’s sad tale has further amplified the saying that, "...he who sups with devil, should have a very long spoon", because the plight of the suspended CBN boss was as a result of the unpalatable “feast” he had with the Buhari government. He pointed out that while Emefiele

had been serially accused of plunging the nation's currency to a zero level amongst other alleged crimes, he was yet to hear anyone accuse Emefiele of stealing trillions of naira like many of Buhari’s acolytes.

"I did not hear that he was involved in any coup attempt, or in kidnapping, armed banditry, or armed robbery. I am yet to hear that Emefiele committed murder. Even in these capital offences, a Judge can still grant bail to an accused person under certain circumstances as provided for in section 161 of the ACJA.

"So, the questions still remain unanswered: were all these acts complained about in Emefiele’s own

PETROL: AS MARKETERS MULL N720/LITRE, NLC WARNS OF WORKERS’ STRIKE WITHOUT NOTICE

NOGASA also urged the federal government to act urgently to halt the consistent slide in the value of the naira to curb the rising petrol price. Oil marketers had at the weekend disclosed that the price of petrol would rise to between N680/litre and N720/litre in the coming weeks should the dollar continue to trade around N950 to a dollar at the parallel market. The oil marketers had also revealed that scarcity of forex was frustrating the importation of petrol, adding that the official Investors and Exporters’ official forex window wasn’t meeting their demand for the greenback.

Reacting to the development, Ajaero said it was incumbent on the federal government to change “those bad economic policies that make workers’ wages next to nothing.”

The NLC president stated, “As we're here now, they're contemplating on increasing the pump price of petroleum products. But the Minister of Labour for some time now, will only go to Ministry of Justice to come up with injunction to hold the hands of labour not to respond. They have started floating ideas of a likely increase in the price of petroleum products.

“But let me say this. Nigerian workers will not give any strike notice if we have not addressed the consequences of the last two increases of fuel pump price, and we wake up from asleep to hear that they have tampered with the fuel pump price again.”

Ajaero further said, “I want to plead with government that those bad economic policies that makes our wages next to nothing should be checked.

“If you check those policies that lead to inflation and devaluation of the currency, we will be comfortable even where we are. If the naira is at par with dollar today, we will ask you to leave minimum wage at 30,000; if inflation is checked to zero, we will ask you to leave things the way they are.

“But inflation is flying and by the admittance of the National Bureau of Statistics, we have over 133 million Nigerians that are multi-dimensionally poor. I think these are the issues government should address. If we go for wage increase tomorrow, the inflation that will follow suit will destroy it.”

On the issue of undue harassment of labour unions by the Police, Ajaero said, “The Nigeria Police, the Inspector General is now performing the duties of the Ministry of Labour. The duty of Ministry of Labour includes addressing the issue both inter and intra union disputes.

“It is not within the purview of the Inspector General of Police to go into that area. And I think there is need for the Ministry of Labour to educate the police to tell them that they don't have the right to usurp its functions. If they do that, the Ministry of Labour will go into extinction and there'll be no basis for Minister of Labour to remain there.

“We say it is legal and we demand an apology from the IG of police for arresting or even contemplating to arrest the president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, for whatever reason, at the eve of the election.

"It is unheard of in the history of this country. And never again should that be entertained. Nigeria Police against Nigerian workers, we will not waste time too much to their offices. Let them use the same gun that was bought with the workers’ tax to engage us?"

National Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, had said the price of petrol was now driven by the fluctuations in forex, hence, Nigerians should expect a hike in petrol price in the coming days.

Ukadike said, “So now that the dollar is hitting N910 to N940, and approaching N1, 000, you should expect to buy PMS at the rate of N750/litre.

“Nigerians should brace for a price regime of between N680 to N720 if the exchange rate stays around N910 to N950/$, but the price is going to hit N750 once the dollar rises to N1, 000.”

Oil, Gas Suppliers Decry High Diesel Price, Want 7.5% Tax Withdrawn

Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA),

yesterday, called for the removal of the 7.5 per cent tax on diesel, stressing that the tax is contributing to the overall price of petrol in the country.

Speaking during a briefing in Abuja, National President of NOGASA, Mr. Benneth Korie, urged the federal government to act urgently to halt the steady slide in the value of the naira to curb the rising fuel price.

Korie maintained that the pump price would likely rise in the coming days due to the significant fall in the value of the naira to the dollar.

He stated, “Today as we speak, diesel is going for N920 to N950 per litre. Before now, it was N600 plus, and then the government introduced tax on the product. We will suggest that the government should take action on the dollar issue, otherwise, diesel and petrol and other petroleum products will go up more than what you are seeing today.

“The only way out is for the government to take serious action by calling the bureau de change operators and the bank managing directors to sit down with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and come out with one uniform price for the naira against the dollar.

“Leaving it freely to be determined by the market will spell doom for the country. The way it is going, it will destroy a lot of things for us.”

Calling for the immediate repair of Nigeria’s refineries, Korie argued that getting the refineries back on stream will help reduce petrol pump prices. He maintained that Nigerian

engineers could fix the country’s refining facilities if given the chance.

The NOGASA chief executive said the state of the road infrastructure in the country was adversely affecting the lifespan of trucks of members, stressing that they are importing trucks that wouldn’t last.

According to him, there is a limit to what the mechanics can fix when the roads are very bad and trucks break down very frequently.

Korie expressed optimism that once the road infrastructure was improved, the rate of trucks importation would drastically reduce, and the dollars used for the importation would be saved for other things. He urged the authorities to immediately fix the refineries.

Korie said, “We have Nigerian engineers and they should be saddled with fixing the refineries. I believe Nigerian engineers can fix the problems and with the right machinery.

“Every time, billions of naira is spent on repairing the refineries by foreigners, now see where it has gotten us. One of the factors responsible for the problem we are facing today is that the government removed subsidies before fixing the refineries.”

Korie explained that many NOGASA members were dying through accidents and kidnapping, due to bad roads. He urged the authorities to repair major trunks in the country. He stated, “The route from Warri to Abuja is a no-go area. Our trucks are at a standstill, and our drivers are being kidnapped and killed. Our trucks are vandalised and the products

accord alone? Could Emefiele have taken these decisions alone without former President Buhari’s backing? Can someone clap with one palm? Why punish the messenger and save the principal sender? Is this not selective justice? Is it because of where he comes from? Could this have happened to a northerner given the same extenuating circumstances," the senior lawyer asked.

While condemning the DSS' for its penchant for disobeying orders of court by continuing to keep both Emefiele and Bawa in custody over frivolous allegations, he urged the security agency to immediately release them in line with the Rule of Law.

are taken out from them and this is a waste of money. We had this same problem last year in the same place, yet nothing has been done.”

He lamented that the business environment had become very inclement, with several filling stations shutting down due to high cost of operation.

Korie said the cost of repairing vehicles and losses in the course of delivering petrol was becoming unbearable.

He explained, “If you go round, you’ll see a lot of filling stations are closing. If you were trading with N10 million before, forget about it. Someone who was trading with N100 million, you could buy 1 million litre of petrol in a month to sell but now, with N100 million you can only buy 150,000 litres in a month. You’ll also incur the same expenses as when selling one million litres in a month.”

He said before the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) started talking about tax on diesel, the price was about N600 per litre. But, suddenly, it jumped to between N920 and N950 due to the introduction of the new tax regime for the product.

The NOGASA boss also called for urgent intervention on the dollar rate issue, which, he said, would destroy a lot of things if government did not intervene.

“There is a need for Nigeria to deploy local content. We have qualified, good engineers, get them together, let them go to these refineries,” he suggested.

FX ARBITRAGE WIDENS TO N206/$1 ENABLING ROUND-TRIPPING, CBN VOWS CRACK DOWN

Deji Elumoye, James Emejo in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos

The naira yesterday depreciated at both the official Investors and Exporters’ (I&E) window and the parallel market, with the arbitrage gap now at N206/$1, thereby enabling round tripping, one of the reasons President Bola Ahmed Tinubu told Nigerians in Paris, that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele was arrested.

This effective dual exchange rate emerged just as the acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, yesterday, warned that the government would come down hard on currency speculators and others involved

in underhand undertakings in the foreign exchange market, including the parallel market.

The wide gap between the I&E Window and the parallel market enables round-tripping as dealers buy the greenback at the official window at N744 to a dollar and then sell at the black market at N206 spread, thus encouraging rentseeking. A dealer who declined to be named told THISDAY yesterday that the growing gulf between official and parallel market makes it attractive to round trip. "As things stand now, it is very attractive to buy dollar from the official window and then go straight to the parallel market and sell at a higher price, making N206 or more in profit on each dollar. You can't make that

kind of profit from manufacturing. Inflation will erode your profit," the dealer declared.

The President had during an interactive session with Nigerians residing in France and neighbouring countries, said the financial system was rotten under Emefiele.

He said “Then the financial system was rotten. Few people made bags of money and then you yourself, you stopped sending money home to our poor parents. Several windows. But that is gone now. It’s gone.

“The man is in the hands of the authorities. Something is being done about that. They will sort themselves out.”

THISDAY checks at some parallel market points in Lagos State showed

NIGER JUNTA: WE’LL PROSECUTE BAZOUM FOR HIGH TREASON

President, Bola Tinubu, over its refusal to receive diplomatic delegations from the regional bloc.

It, however, agreed to dialogue with ECOWAS after talks on Sunday with Islamic clerics.

Junta spokesperson, Col. Amadou Abdramane, said, in a statement read out on state TV late on Sunday, that the military authorities had "gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the ousted president for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger".

Abdramane also said there was a misinformation campaign against the junta to try to "derail any negotiated solution to the crisis in order to justify military intervention in the name of ECOWAS".

African Union (AU), European Union (EU), United States, and the United Nations (UN) had all expressed worry about the conditions under which Bazoum was kept.

Bazoum's political party said his family had no access to running water, fresh food or doctors, and Bazoum told Human Rights Watch that his son needed to see a doctor because of a serious heart condition.

But the military administration said on Sunday that Bazoum was regularly seeing his doctor and that the last visit was on August 12.

However, in a statement, ECOWAS warned that the pronouncement by the junta contradicted the reported willingness of the military authorities to

restore constitutional order.

The statement said, "ECOWAS has learnt with stupefaction attempts to bring charges of high treason against H.E. Mohamed BAZOUM, President of the Republic of Niger.

"ECOWAS condemns this move, as it represents yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in the Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means."

The statement said Basoum remained the democratically elected President of the Republic of Niger recognised by ECOWAS and the international community.

"ECOWAS condemns his illegal detention and calls for his immediate release," the statement added.

that the naira weakened by N20 to N950/$1 yesterday, lower than the N930/$1 it closed last Friday.

The official I&E window, which had opened trading yesterday at N740/$1, marginally depreciated by N4 at the close of the day to N744/$1. With this, the gap between the parallel market and the official I&E window has now gotten to a historic high since the FX reforms, to N206/$1.

However, Shonubi gave the warning to crackdown on speculators when he addressed newsmen, after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at State House, Abuja.

The meeting followed the downward slide in the naira exchange rate to the dollar, which Shonubi said the president was worried about. The acting CBN governor expressed the apex bank’s readiness to reverse the glide, saying it has lined up intervention measures that would be unveiled in the next few days.

Shonubi said Tinubu was concerned about the development in the FX market and its effect on the people, saying he discussed with the president what can be done to stabilise the naira.

Shonubi noted that the changes going on in the parallel market were not dictated by real demand, but the speculative attitude of some dealers. He warned that the speculators would suffer huge losses when government activates its strategies.

Shonubi stated, "Mr. President is very concerned about some of the goings on in the foreign exchange market.

"One of the things we discussed is what could be done to stabilise and what could be done to improve

the liquidity in the market and also the goings on in the various other markets, including the parallel market.

"He (Tinubu) is concerned about its impact on the average person, since, unfortunately, a lot of activities that we do, which are purely local, are still referenced to exchange rates in the parallel market.

"We’ve discussed and I’ve shared with him what we're doing to improve supply.”

The acting CBN governor explained further, "If you look at the official market, you'll find that market has been fairly stable and the spread of the difference has not fluctuated as much.

"We do not believe that the changes going on in the parallel market are driven by pure economic demand and supply, but by speculative demand from people.

"Some of the plans and strategies, which I'm not at liberty to share with you, means sooner rather than later, the speculators should be careful because we believe the things we're doing, when they come to fruition, may result in significant losses to them.

"But my presence here is more about the concerns the president has and he needs to know that we are doing something about it, assurances of which I have given him totally.”

He added, "So I hope this helps. We are looking at it and we're doing things, which will significantly impact the market in a few days’ time and we will all see it.

"The intention is to ensure the environment operates at a level that's more efficient, but also that is very

reasonable and does not have a negative impact, to the best that we can, on the life of the average person.”

Report: Dollar Supply Remains Major Challenge in FX Market

Meanwhile, a report identified inadequate dollar supply as the key challenge in the country's foreign exchange market, following recent floating of the naira.

It noted the widening gap between the official exchange rate and the parallel market.

The report authored by the Standard Bank Research (SBR), a subsidiary of Standard Bank Group, further stated that while the recent monetary policy actions of the CBN reinforced a continued progression towards a monetary policy stance that better aligned with the challenges of excess naira liquidity and demand for the US Dollar, more needed to be done by the monetary authority.

The report, however, maintained its forecast for the USD/NGN at N750 by year-end.

The SBR further maintained that despite persistent increases in policy rate, monetary policy transmission had remained weak.

It urged the CBN to use more potent tools, such as shorter-dated, high-yielding OMOs, and increase commercial banks' capacity to invest in the Standing Deposit Facility.

The report added, "These measures have the potential to increase yields at the front end

Continued on page 27

SOCIAL IMPACT SUMMIT...

Appeal Court Affirms Abure as Labour Party’s National Chairman

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, Edo State capital has affirmed Mr. Julius Abure, as the National Chairman of Labour Party. In the case of Mr. Lucky Shaibu versus Julius Abure and five others,

(Appeal No: CA/B/93/2023), His Lordships Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua JCA, Fatima Omoro Akinbami JCA and Hon. Justice Sybil O. Nwaka-Gbagi JCA in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal of the appellant.

One Lucky Shauibu who claimed

to be a member of Labour Party in Ward 3 Executive in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, had suspended the chairman of Labour Party. In his lead judgment Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua JCA, affirmed the decision of the High

Court of Edo State and held that one man cannot suspend the national chairman of Labour Party in line with Article 13 and 17 of the constitution of the party and the extant Electoral Act of 2022, particularly when the appellant had been described by the party as unknown.

MRA Accuses Police of Shielding Public Officials from Scrutiny, Unlawful Arrest of Journalists

Wale Igbintade

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to put an end to the growing trend of public officials and other powerful individuals using the Police to silence and punish journalists who publish negative reports about them, saying the law enforcement agency has become a tool in the hands of such people to shield themselves from scrutiny.

In a statement issued in Lagos, the MRA’s Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, noted that, “Section 22 of the Constitution imposes a duty on the media and also gives it the freedom to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people and it is certainly not the function of the Police to prevent the media from performing this duty or exercising this freedom.

“The recurrent pattern of the Police being used to impede the media’s performance of a constitutionally mandated function constitutes an egregious abuse of Police powers.”

According to Longe, “It is even more obscene that this abuse of the powers of the Police is sometimes done in the name of the IGP’s Monitoring Unit of the Nigeria Police, thereby bringing the highest office in the Nigerian Police into disrepute.”

He said in the latest manifestation of the abuse of police powers, the IG’s Monitoring Unit in Abuja, in a letter signed by DCP A. A. Elleman, Head of the Unit, invited three journalists: Mr. Petrus Obi of Everyday NewsNgr, Mr. Ignatius Okpara of the African Examiner, and Mr. Clinton Umeh of Journalists 101, who are all based in Enugu, to report in Abuja, yesterday, to answer to allegations of, “criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, injurious falsehood, conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and criminal defamation with intent to incite,” leveled against them by Dr. Monday Nwite Igwe, the Medical Director of the Federal

Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Enugu.

Longe, noted that the invitation followed news stories and articles published by the journalists about happenings at the Federal NeuroPsychiatric Hospital in Enugu, including the closure of the hospital’s School of Post Basic Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing in Enugu, both of which Igwe exercises supervision over.

He argued that it was hard to understand how reports published by journalists in Enugu about a public institution based in Enugu, had become a matter over which the journalists were being summoned to Abuja and a priority for the IG’s Monitoring Unit, in a country plagued by thousands of violent and other serious crimes.

He added that by devoting their energies and resources to chasing after journalists carrying out their constitutional functions, the Police was misusing resources that ought to be used to fight the real criminals, including terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, hired assassins, armed robbers, murderers, human traffickers, rapists, and other violent criminal and diverting such resources to aid personal vendettas.

Longe said: “Clearly, rather than give a public explanation of his actions in response to the reports published by the journalists, in the best tradition of accountability as a public officer who should be accountable to the people, or initiate civil action for defamation against the journalists to vindicate his reputation, if he believes that he has been unjustifiably maligned, Dr. Igwe has chosen to enlist the services of the Police in silencing and punishing these journalists for seeking to hold him accountable and thereby avoid having to account for his actions.”

He explained that MRA’s experience from tracking and documenting such abuses of police powers indicated that no investigation was ever conducted to verify the truth or otherwise of the stories or articles

published by journalists who had been victims of this practice and that upon honouring the invitation from the Police, they are detained for days and forced to apologise to the instigators of their arrest and where they refuse to apologise, spurious charges are filed against them as part of their punishment until the instigators of their arrest are satisfied, whereupon the charges are withdrawn and they are allowed to go.

Longe, also recalled that on July 27, 2023, Mr. Chinonso Uba, popularly known as NonsoNkwa, a broadcast journalist with Ozisa FM, in Owerri, Imo State, was arrested by hooded armed men believed to be operatives of the Nigeria Police allegedly acting on the orders of the State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, adding that Uba has remained in detention till date without being charged before any court in clear breach of the law which requires that suspects be charged to court within 24 hours of arrest.

The MRA called on the IG, the Police Service Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, and the National Assembly, in the exercise of their oversight functions, to launch an investigation into the pattern of the Police abuse of their powers to silence and punish journalists and media organisations carrying out their constitutionally assigned duties and urged the entire media community in Nigeria as well as the human rights community to join efforts to put an end to this ugly development. It offered to provide a list of journalists from different parts of the country who had been invited by the Police, including those by the IGP’s Monitoring Unit in Abuja, on unfounded allegations of various crimes simply because they published stories and reports about public officials and other powerful individuals revealing different acts of wrongdoing or misconduct to back up is claim of a clear pattern of abuse of Police powers to silence and punish journalists.

The court unanimously nullified the earlier suspension and all actions taken against Abure and the party arising from the purported suspension.

In swift reaction to the judgment, Abure eulogised the judgment and team of justices who refused to close their eyes to the justice of the case. He also thanked the team of selfless lawyers led by G.C Igbokwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Abure added: “I thank the Obidient movement who tarry with me and Mr. Peter Obi while the impostor Mr. Lamidi Apapa and his adherents who tried to trade off the mandate freely given to the Labour Party with billions of Naira expended by his paymasters in the

opposition parties.”

Igbokwe, applauded the judgment describing it as sound, courageous and unimpeachable, noted that Abure remains the national chairman of Labour Party until the party convention holds.

President Aigbokhan, the lead counsel to Labour Party said the decision of the Court of Appeal had given a rest to the battle for the soul of the party.

According to him, “It is a landmark judgement that will stand the test of time. Anybody still associating with impostors parading themselves as factional leaders of the party does so at their own peril. Political parties must remain watchdog of national conscience.”

Dormant Resources Have Potential of Reinvigorating Economy, Says Deputy Speaker

Juliet

Akoje in Abuja

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has underscored the need for the country to plough back dormant resources in the form of recovered public funds to boost the economy and create employment.

According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu said this yesterday, while declaring open the inaugural session of the House adhoc committee on, "Identification and Recovery of

FX ARBITRAGE WIDENS TO N206/$1 ENABLING ROUND- TRIPPING, CBN VOWS CRACK DOWN

of the treasury curve enough to attract USD inflows from foreign portfolio investors, thus, bringing the FX market closer to equilibrium."

It also pointed out that post2020, the frequency of Open Market Operations (OMO) auctions has been relatively limited, partly resulting in sustained lower levels of short-term interest rates.

The report added that a higher frequency and magnitude of the auctions should further tighten naira liquidity in the system.

On monetary policy normalisation, the report described the CBN's issuance of OMO bills for the first time in the year as another step in the right direction. It however, noted that the OMO issuance notwithstanding, “Interest rates are probably still too low to incentivise an increase

in USD supply from locals or foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).

"For the former, negative real interest rates are around 12 per cent for 1-y T-Bills and 9 per cent for 1-y OMOs. For the latter, our informal surveys suggest 1-y T-Bill or OMO yields of between 15 per cent and 20 per cent would be required to make the NGN carry trade attractive again.

“Policy normalisation is often used to respond to rising inflation through tightening of financing conditions by raising key interest rates, among other things.

“Central banks are shifting from unconventional monetary policy measures towards conventional interest rate policy - to tighten monetary policy are therefore visible as an increase in the general level of interest rates.”

On his part, Senior Market Analyst at FXTM, Lukman Otunuga, lamented that the naira took another beating on the black-market exchange.

Otunuga stated, “Should the current themes negatively impacting the naira remain present, prices may hit N1000 in a matter of time. Such a development that will most likely increase the cost of living and squeeze households further in the short to medium term.

“Outside of Nigeria, we have witnessed how higher interest rates have somewhat capped and controlled inflation, albeit at a price.

“Dollar weakness could become a major theme in the second half of 2023 as the Fed concludes its hiking cycle.”

Public Funds Seized, Forfeited and Abandoned in Financial Institutions and Government Agencies to Improve the Current Economic Challenges in Nigeria," chaired by Hon. Munachim Alozie on behalf of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

He said: "Our mission is unequivocal: to craft a comprehensive strategy that identifies, recovers, and channels idle funds into productive endeavors.

“These dormant resources possess the potential to reinvigorate our struggling economy, creating avenues for growth, development, and prosperity that resonate with every Nigerian. Our economic landscape is multi-dimensional, replete with challenges ranging from dwindling revenues and infrastructure gaps to unemployment and inflation.

“As we embark on our mandate, let us bear in mind that our decisions will echo across the lives of fellow citizens, especially those most affected by these adversities.

“Our unwavering dedication to transparency, accountability, and diligence is non-negotiable as we navigate through intricate financial systems, legal intricacies, and bureaucratic entanglements."

He further stated that collaboration among financial institutions, government bodies, legal entities and the private sector was a necessary compass towards realising the objectives, stressing that the committee had the task of optimising the real-time value of recovered public funds to reinvigorate our economy.

AFRICA

L-R: CEO, Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, US Consul General in Nigeria, Will Stevens, and CEO, Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe at the Africa Social Impact Summit which held in Lagos... last Friday

INAUGURATION OF COMMISSIONERS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE...

Lukman: With Ganduje as APC Chair, Tinubu Weakly Committed to Anti-graft War

Describes choice of ministerial nominees as disappointment Ex-Kano governor urges lawmakers to work with successor

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Former National Vice Chairman, North-west, of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has said the emergence of the immediate past governor Kano State, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, as the party’s national chairman sent a disturbing signal that President Bola Tinubu was only faintly committed to fighting corruption.

In a statement yesterday, titled, “Disturbing Signals: Open Letter to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Lukman said he was compelled to point out the disturbing signals, which, if not averted, could produce bigger problems and irreversibly destroy the electoral viability of APC.

He also described the choice of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees as a disappointment.

The letter came as Ganduje charged APC members in the state House of Assembly to work with his successor, Governor Abba Yusuf, for the development of the state.

Lukman noted in the letter that without attempting to question Tinubu's authority, there were decisions the president took that were disturbing to many loyal party members.

Lukman stated, in the letter to Tinubu, "To be honest, making Dr. Ganduje National Chairman of APC is the first disturbing signal. Many party members are yet to recover from that shock.

"With all the uncleared corruption allegation against Dr. Ganduje, you opted to nominate him to become the

national chairman of the party even, when Article 31.5(i) of the constitution of APC clearly gave Nasarawa State Executive Committee the power to nominate who should replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.

"Given that Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is from Nasarawa State, and he has been very loyal to you, it was scandalous that you will opt for Dr. Ganduje with all the baggage of corruption allegations against him."

Lukman recalled that before the March 2022 APC national convention, Al-Makura aspired to become APC National Chairman, but then President Muhammadu Buhari was influenced to nominate Adamu over Al-Makura, partly because he was alleged to be loyal to Tinubu.

He said it defied every logical reasoning that Tinubu would ignore the provisions of Article 31.5(i) to nominate Ganduje, even when the same provision of the constitution was used to nominate Senator Basiru Ajibola from Osun State as replacement for Senator Iyiola Omisore.

"The emergence of Dr. Ganduje as National Chairman of APC sent the disturbing signal of being weakly committed to fighting corruption,” Lukman stated.

He said, that APC leaders accepted the emergence of Ganduje without much resistance produced the second disturbing signal. He alleged that the absence of resistance was more a reflection of fear, which was the new reality in APC.

Lukman stated, "Once leaders and members of APC continue to feel threatened that when they express opposition against your decision, we

may end up with the bigger danger of creating a police state.

"Largely because of the atmosphere of fear surrounding the emergence of Dr. Ganduje as National Chairman, the wider debate of using the vacancies created to respond to the challenge of inclusivity given that we won the 2023 election with a Muslim-Muslim ticket was lost.

"Rather than even attempting to respond to that challenge and demonstrate that truly we only invoke the Muslim-Muslim ticket as an electoral strategy, in a very insensitive manner we imposed another Muslim-Muslim scenario in the party with National Chairman and National Secretary both Muslims."

Lukman, who described the ministerial nominees of Tinubu as a complete disappointment, said it was another noteworthy warning

signal. He said in the letter to the president, "The third disturbing signal is the quality of your appointees. Sincerely, Your Excellency, throughout the 2023 electoral campaigns, one of the strong campaign points was that you know how to find talents. When it took you more than eight weeks to nominate your ministers, the belief was that you are taking your time to identify indisputably proficient people.

"With due respect to all those you nominated, many party members and, by extension, Nigerians were disappointed. It is clear to any discerning mind that political consideration eclipsed any other factor, definitely no argument about talent can be sustained. As it is, both as party members and as Nigerians, our expectation from your government

has crashed."

The party chieftain noted that while the removal of subsidy was commendable, the fact that Nigerians were still waiting to know what the agenda of government was with respect to managing the downstream oil sector beyond saving the amount of money that used to be expended on subsidy payments, was beyond comprehension

He said, "The second issue related to management of policy initiatives is the exchange rate of the Naira. Some of us expect that decisions around exchange rate will be integral part of broader economic policy of government. Now, it would appear that isolated decision has been taken to float the naira without any clear economic policy.

“The consequence is that the naira is on a downward swing. Combined

with rising cost of transport as a result of withdrawal of subsidy, the inflationary pressure on the economy is very high. As a result, living conditions are getting worse. At this rate, poverty incidence will be terribly high, beyond any rational expectations."

Ganduje Urges Kano APC Lawmakers to Work with Governor National Chairman of APC, Abdulahi Ganduje, urged APC members of the Kano State House of Assembly to work with Governor Abba Yusuf for the development of the state. Ganduje gave the charge yesterday in Abuja, when 14 Kano Assembly APC members paid him a courtesy visit at the national secretariat of the party.

NAF Helicopter Crashes in Niger

The Nigerian Air Force, yesterday, announced that an MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed in Niger State.

A statement issued by the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the aircraft crashed in Chukuba Village, Niger.

It said preliminary investigation

had commenced to ascertain the cause of the air mishap.

"A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, 14 August 2023 at about 1.00pm near Chukuba Village in Niger State.

"The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School enroute Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

"Efforts are currently ongoing to

Residents, Motorists Lament Deplorable State of Ugbighoko-Ekehuan Barracks Road in Edo

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Residents and motorists plying the popular Ugbighoko- Ekenhuan Barracks road in Benin City, the Edo State Capital, have called for urgent intervention from the state government following the deplorable portion between Ago-Ivbigie and Oghede of the road.

The road, which is almost becoming a nightmare for the people as they are now forced to take alternative but farther routes, is almost cutting off people of Oghede community from its neighbouring Ugbighoko.

This was even as Leaders’ College junction to Catholic road junction,

another failed portion of the road that has no side drainage is usually abandoned by motorists whenever it rains.

The failed portion it was learnt could no longer carry the volume of water away from the area each time it's rains, hence, the people's appeal for the state governor to revisit the place.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, had in 2019, awarded the reconstruction of the first phase of the Ekenhuan road dual carriage way from Siluko Road junction to Ekenhuan Barracks, measuring about 8.3km to Heartland Construction Company.

About 5 km of the road have been

reconstructed since it was awarded in 2019, this is even as some portion of the road are failing already.

Some of the residents and motorists who commented on the bad state of the road, said the road had become a nightmare for them to reach the City centre.

One of the residents Mr. Isaac Philip, said the transportation fare has increased from between N300, N400, to N500 and N700 par trip.

"We are unable to go out on a daily basis as we use to do because of the high cost of transportation. Most people do go out now when they have an important assignment to execute in town.

"The worst hit stretch of the road

is the Oghede and Ago-Ivbigie section of the road leading to the Gelegele port. This section has become impassible save for high calibre vehicles like heavy duty trucks, a situation which has been made worse by current excessive rainfall. Motorists are finding it difficult to plying the road," he added.

He lamented that he was spending over N1,200 a day on transportation fare and called on the government to come to their aid.

A motorist, Osahon Osasu, who spoke on the development, said they have to visit mechanic workshop on a daily basis to repair one or two parts in their vehicle.

rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter while preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash," it said.

On July 14, the Nigeria Air Force had also confirmed the crash of its trainer aircraft in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. The incident occurred while the aircraft was on a routine training exercise.

A NAF statement said two pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft, and that there was no loss of lives or damage to any property around the area of impact

Meanwhile, reports from Chikuba in the Shiroro Local Government area of Niger State, had it that the Dogo Giede terrorists group, might have shot down the helicopter, contrary to official position

The Dogogidie terrorist group, according to reports, operated in the forests in Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna States.

It was, however, learnt that immediately the terrorists shot down the helicopter the military started to bombard the terrorists, killing many of the bandits in the process.

Consequently, the reaction of the military, had immediately caused panic around Chikuba town, leading to hundreds of villagers flocking to Erena for safety.

Co-Convener of the Concerned Shiroro Youth, Comrade Abubakar Yussuf Kokki told THISDAY that there was panic and fear among the people as a result, adding that,

"The people are moving in large numbers to Erena for safety. Aside from shooting down the fighter helicopter and killing the pilot, the bandits, he said, also ambushed and killed 13 soldiers along the Zungeru-Tegina road in Madaka Ward of Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

Already, heavily armed soldiers in several trucks were noticed in Minna yesterday’s evening moving towards Kundu town in Wushishi Local Government Area, where 13 soldiers and some men of the local vigilante group were killed Sunday afternoon.

It was also gathered that the soldiers succeeded in killing not less than 50 of the terrorists.

When contacted, the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Sani Musa, lamented the situation, and described it as “highly unfortunate”.

He, therefore, called on the federal government to dispatch all its military and security arsenals to the troubled areas in order to save innocent lives and their property.

"This is a very serious situation happening at a time we are happy that the issue of banditry is subsiding in our various communities in Niger State. The federal government should, as a matter of urgency, deploy all its arsenal in order to curtail further spread.”

Meanwhile, no fewer than 12 Security operatives were on Sunday killed by bandits in Niger State.

Kingsley Nwezeh, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah (left), congratulates the new Commissioner for lands and Urban Development, Engr. Lawrence Ezeh (middle), while wife of the Commissioner, Barr. Lina Ezeh, looks on in admiration, during the inauguration of commissioners at Government House, Enugu

CELEBRATING 50TH BIRTHDAY IN STYLE...

First Lady: By Their Performance at World Cup, Super Falcons Are Role Models

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has celebrated the Nigerian female football team, the Super Falcons, with a reception at the State House, Abuja, saying their performance at the ongoing FIFA Women World Cup, has made them role models to young girls in the country.

Mrs Tinubu, who received some of the players, their technical team and officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in her office, said the girls displayed dedication, resilience, team spirit with the zeal and strength that defines Nigeria.

In a release yesterday by her spokesperson, Mrs Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady paid glowing tributes to all the players whom she said had represented Nigeria on the global

stage, noting that the world took notice of the dexterity of the players.

“Although the final result did not go our way, I am here to remind you that victory is not solely determined by the score on the field. The unbreakable spirit and unity that you demonstrated are true markers of success.

“You have not only represented Nigeria on the global stage, but have also become role models for our youth, especially young girls who now see their aspirations mirrored in you.

“I salute you today and welcome you back home and our goodwill and best wishes go to other players, who have gone back to their base. You gave your all, and we stand with you. We are so proud of you,” she said.

Earlier, President of the Nigeria

Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, thanked the First Lady for the warm reception and assured her that the players would continue to

give good and qualitative representation to the country. Also, speaking, the team captain, Onome Ebi, said the team worked

very hard and tirelessly to bring home the coveted FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy. She promised that the team

would continue to press on relentlessly to ensure they make the country very proud on the football field.

Two Nigerians Extradited to US for Sexual Exploitation

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), yesterday, said it had extradited two Nigerians to the United States for their alleged involvement in sexual exploitation.

A statement issued by the spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujiaren, said the commission on Sunday, August 13, 2023, facilitated the extradition of Samuel Ogoshi and

his brother, Samson, to the United States of America, to face prosecution for sexually extorting numerous young men and teenage boys in the Western District of Michigan and across the U.S.

The commission had, sometime in May, 2023, initiated the extradition proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, against the Ogoshis alongside one Ezekiel Ejemeh Robert over exploitation of minors and production of pornography, following

Obaseki Has Transformed Edo, Says Ex-Commissioner, Agbonwanegbe

A former Edo Commissioner for Agriculture, Chris Agbonwanegbe, has declared Governor Godwin Obaseki as the best performing governor in the history of the state.

He noted that the governor had discharged himself creditably in almost all areas of developments, but lamented that most of his achievements were not being acknowledged in the public space.

According to a statement, Agbonwanegbe, who served under the former Governor of the State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, made the disclosure in a remark during the celebration of his 70th birthday anniversary in Benin City.

Wondering why the governor refused to blow his trumpet as others do, he said: "The governor must be commended for his achievements and commitment to transforming the state.

"Do you know that a child trained in Edo State School of Nursing, Benin City, gets a job in America without going through secondary examination? That is courtesy of the governor but not many people are aware of this fact.

“Each time I lie on the bed and I reflect on him, I wonder why people are not talking of him and all the things that he has done. I came to discover that he himself is the cause because he doesn’t believe in publicising what he has done. This is because he believes that he is doing what he was elected to do.

“He has done more roads in terms of kilometers than previous governors. Incidentally, he is not publicising his achievements. I know there was a governor in this state, who was trekking along Sapele Road, even when he knew he was powering electricity behind ACB Building in Sakponba Road and people were hailing him, children were going after him.

“I was with a renowned chief in Benin City a couple of days ago, he said to me that he has 24-hours power supply; 18 hours from Ossiomo Power plant and six hours from PHCN.”

Taken aback by this development, which most people don’t know about, Agbonwanegbe said he then asked the chief, ‘‘Sir, why don't you let the public know some of these things?” His reply, he said, was, ‘‘since the man (Obaseki) who did the job doesn't want people to know, is it me that will be shouting about it? That was the kind of reaction that came from him.”

Continuing, the celebrant said, “Your Excellency, I was at Iguoriakhi a couple of days ago, we recalled that I superintended the Ministry of Agriculture while Iguoriakhi was under the Ministry of Agriculture. When I got there, I saw a different Iguoriakhi, better than a university, people should please go and see for yourselves, I’ m not just saying it.

“When we finish here, anybody that has good analytical mind, go and

see the Palm House, the Secretariat Building today, don't just look at the building from outside, but take a step in, for those of you that have travelled out of this country, you will see that the offices of the workers are furnished as you see in overseas, with each of them having computer and air conditioner.

“It's the best of its kind in SubSaharan Africa. Where the governor is taking us to, it will appear as if we are not determined to get there yet. We should also know that people say follow who knows the road. This man knows the road, so, we should follow him and get this state better than we saw it.”

Organisation Launches Digital Prosperity Awards

The Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) has announced the launch of the Digital Prosperity Awards to honor and celebrate remarkable digital contributions that enable prosperity for all, particularly in advancing the digital economy.

A statement yesterday, explained that the Digital Prosperity Awards was structured around three core pillars and each pillar bestowed in individual award categories, each representing a crucial aspect of digital advancement. They include Digital Innovation; Digital Transformation, and Empowering Society.

“The launch of the Digital Prosperity Awards is a significant milestone in recognising outstanding digital contributions of the organisations that enable prosperity for all,” Secretary-General of the DCO, Ms. Deemah AlYahya said.

“We are looking forward to

identifying the best digital innovators from the DCO’s Member States and worldwide that benefit humankind.

“The awards aim to acknowledge exceptional initiatives in adopting best practices, policies, and strategies to accelerate digital transformation in their respective countries.

“The objective is to accelerate digital economic advancement and lay the groundwork for constructive cooperation, cultivating shared vision and aspirations among all stakeholders.

“The awards reinforce the role of the DCO as an information provide, advocator, facilitator, and advisor, speeding up the sustainable growth of the digital economy and digital transformation of Member States, further strengthening the welfare, social stability, and cooperation to achieve digital prosperity for all,” AlYahya added.

a request by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.

It said the Ogoshis and Ezekiel were indicted in a United States Federal Court on December 1, 2022 on charges of exploitation of minors, resulting in death, conspiracy to sexually exploit minors by causing the minors to produce child pornographic images that the defendants now use to blackmail them.

They are further charged with conspiracy to distribute child pornography, which borders on sending images to minors, their families and friends, as well as conspiracy to commit stalking through the Internet. The offences carry a minimum of five years and maximum 20 years imprisonment.

Specifically, Samuel was charged with causing the death of 17-yearold Jordan DeMay of Marquette,

Michigan, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2022.

According to investigations, the suspects conspired to conduct a sex-based extortion of minors and adults in the United States of America.

"The trio allegedly hacked some social media accounts, posing to be young attractive women to entice unsuspecting victims to send their sexually explicit photographs.

"These pictures were then used to blackmail the victims, thereby forcing them into making huge financial payments," it said.

While the Ogoshis were arrested sometime in February, 2023 around the Ojo axis of Lagos, Ezekiel was picked up in Nasarawa by operatives of the EFCC.

The extradition of the third defendant, Robert, is, however, still pending.

UBA Ghana, UNDP Sign MoU to Support Female SMEs, Green Entrepreneurship in Ghana

The UBA Ghana and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support youth and women-led micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana.

The partnership was expected to scale up youth and women-led MSMEs, increase jobs, drive revenue and contribute significantly towards the reduction of environmental footprint.

It would also help to access climate financing schemes and increase financial inflows from climate funding channels in order to support Ghana’s efforts to turn climate commitments into actions.

By this partnership, the UNDP and UBA Ghana would co-develop and implement a suite of innovative programmes and mechanisms to strengthen the institutional capacity of UBA Ghana to access climate financing schemes including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), a statement disclosed.

The Managing Director of UBA Ghana and Regional Chief Execu-

tive Officer of UBA West Africa, Chris Ofikulu, who highlighted the significance of the partnership, pointed out that the partnership was a welcome development as UBA Ghana specialises in providing innovative financing to businesses including SMEs.

He added: “Collaborating with UNDP demonstrates UBA Ghana’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on providing custom financial solutions and growth opportunities for businesses of all sizes to facilitate inter–and-intra-African trade”.

He explained that the businesses would also receive a tailored programme of service support and capacity development in areas including corporate governance, branding, marketing, financial support, and product design/ development to enable easier access to markets for their products and services. They will also be supported with energy efficiency audits and remedial actions to minimise their carbon footprints.

L-R: National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka; Monye Lucky Ehiwuogwu, celebrant, his wife, Mrs. Monye Godgift Ogbonne and Mr. Donatus Iyinbor, during Ehiwuogwu’s 50th birthday celebration … recently.

PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST E-COMMERCE PAYMENT …

L-R: Divisional Head, Payment Business, Wema Bank Plc , Damola Bolodeoku; Chief Executive Officer, Enza, Hany Fekry, and Executive Director, Retail and Digital Business, Wema Bank

Police Explain Bayelsa Community Invasion as Bayelsa Assembly Condemns Attack

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Police Command yesterday claimed the alleged invasion of Opu-Nembe community in Nembe local government area of the state, was a sting operation by police operatives.

thugs dressed in Police uniforms invaded the community, the command explained that a detachment of Mobile Policemen (PMF) and SWAT operatives from Force Headquarters, Abuja carried out a sting operation in the community.

on the standard operating procedure of the Nigeria Police Force.

While saying that no life was lost, the command urged

members of the community to go about their lawful and legitimate businesses as the Police would not harass or intimidate any law abiding citizen.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, yesterday passed a resolution under matters of urgent importance condemning last Saturday’s

invasion of Opu-Nembe community .

The legislators said the invasion led to destruction of property and alleged loss of lives.

A statement by the Command’s spokesman, Asinim Butswats, said contrary to information being that armed

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a secessionist group agitating for Biafra Republic from Nigeria has dared the federal government, saying that it would not disband its militant arm, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The group stated this in a press release by its Spokesperson, Mr. Emma Powerful, which was made available to journalists yesterday.

Powerful was reacting to claims by security forces that it recently destroyed the camp of IPOB and ESN in forests located in parts of Anambra and other South-eastern states.

IPOB insisted it had no camps any forest in the states mentioned, insisting that it was

He revealed that some arms and ammunition were recovered and suspects arrested, adding that the sting operation was conducted professionally, based

all government propaganda to link any alleged criminal hideouts to IPOB, which would be resisted.

He said that the existence of ESN has saved the Southeast from being annexed by rampaging Fulani herdsmen, who have overtaken Benue and Plateau States.

Powerful said: “ESN exists to keep the south-east safe from the ravages of killer herdsmen now plaguing the entire middle belt and people like them.

“Since the launch of ESN by our Supreme Leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, the main objective of ensuring the safety of farmlands in the east has been accomplished. Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen have had no locus to operate in our farmlands and territory.

Magnus Onyibe Loses Father-in-law

The death has been announced of Mr John ltodo, a community leader in Benue state. He passed away on Sunday, 6th August 2023, in Makurdi after a brief illness.

He is survived by six children amongst whom are Mrs Helen Onyibe (nee ltodo), the wife of Mr. Magnus Onyibe, who is a former Commissioner in Delta State Government, Hon. Anna ltodo lkese,a current Commissioner-designate in Benue State and Anejo Itodo, a Ph.D. candidate in physics at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland,United Kingdom, UK amongst other children.

According to a statement signed by Mrs Hele Onyibe yesterday, Pa John Itodo was born in EkehOlengbecho, in Edumoga land, Benue State on 29th September 1943 into the family of late Chief Pa Itodo Eba.

Pa Itodo started his primary education at St Patrick Catholic School, Aokpe, in 1950. His

successes started with him passing the First School Leaving Certificate with distinction in 1956.

The statement read:”When primary education was the highest educational qualification for many people at his time in his immediate community, his love and passion for education pushed him to further his education. He gained admission into St Michael’s Secondary School, Alaide, for his secondary education in 1957 and bagged the West African School Certificate in 1962.

George Okoh in Makurdi

Two warring communities of Bonta and Okpute in Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas of Benue State have signed a natural resource peace agreement after several years of clashes.

The peace agreement, which was organised and coordinated by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and supported by the Federal Republic of Germany, was held yesterday in Makurdi, with the representative of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and two royal fathers: Tor Tiv,

HRMs, James Ayatse and Ochidoma, and John Odogbo, in attendance.

According to the pact, all parties involved in the communal clashes in both local government areas had agreed to shun conflicts and embrace peace in order to live in

harmony and promote peaceful coexistence in the state.

Benue Communities Sign Peace Pact to End Bloody Clashes We’ll not Disband ESN, IPOB Tells FG

Governor Alia, who was represented by Benue State Deputy Governor, Mr. Sam Ode, said that only peace could engender development and economic growth in any society.

Ondo Group Tasks Minister-designate Tunji-Ojo on Performance

The Akoko Development Group (ADG) has asked ministerdesignate, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to surpass his past achievements in office.

The ADG said that the legislative performances of Tunji-Ojo in the 10th House of Representatives was “unprecedented.”

Police

Arrest

The group said that it has confidence in the ability of the minister-designate to add value to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet.

Tunji-Ojo was among the over 40 ministerial nominees that were confirmed by the National Assembly.

In a statement by the President of ADG, Mr. Akin Adaramola, who is a former Head of Service and two-time Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Ondo State, the group said that the people of Akoko have been celebrating Tunji-Ojo’s appointment because of his service-oriented disposition.

The group also called on the minister-designate to bring to bear his immense capacity, experience and innovative ideas, which he demonstrated as a private sector player and the representative of Akoko Northeast/Akoko Northwest Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

Murder Suspect, Dismiss Officer over Robbery

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police command has arrested Alexander Johnbull over the murder of a man simply identified as Abubakar in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi disclosed this yesterday, while parading

Johnbull and other suspects at the command headquarters, on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

Speaking on the offences allegedly committed by the paraded suspects, Nwonyi said Johnbull killed his victim, a wristwatch seller and stole his gold jewelry.

in Rivers

He revealed that the incident occurred in December 2021, the suspect fled from the area of incident but was recently arrested this month in his hometown, at Buguma in Asari-Toru Local government area of the state.

According to the CP, “Operatives of Rivers State Police Command

attached to Buguma Division on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at about 1700hrs received a credible intelligence that one Alexander Johnbull who killed one Abubakar, a wristwatch seller and stole his gold jewelry in December 2021 and ran away, but base on pressure later came back to Buguma.

Makinde Inaugurates Amotekun Governing Board with the Charge to Sustain Oyo’s Economic Growth

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday inaugurated the 12-man Governing Board of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, charging the corps to work

more so that the economic growth being experienced in the state can continue.

The governor, who commended the officers and men of the Corps for contributing to the security

and order experienced in the state under Omituntun 1.0, said the body had collaborated well with the federal security agencies to maintain peace and security in the state.

Makinde said the new board

has “the right set of people that will continue to lead Oyo Amotekun on the path of sustainable development and on the path of cooperation with other security agencies within the state.”

Tribunal Reserves Judgement in Petitions Seeking to Sack Deputy House Speaker, Kalu

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

A cloud of uncertainty has descended on Bende federal constituency of Abia State, as the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Umuahia

reserved judgement yesterday following the adoption of final written addresses by the petitioners.

The second term mandate of Hon Benjamin Kalu, who is fighting on two fronts to retain his seat and by extension his

position as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, is at stake.

The Labour Party (LP) and the Action Alliance (AA) and their candidates in the February 25, 2023, National Assembly poll went to the tribunal to ask for

Kalu to be sacked from the House. The petitioners tightened the noose on Kalu yesterday while adopting and expatiating their respective final written addresses, insisting that Kalu’s mandate is illegitimate, flawed and should therefore be nullified.

STEAM Fun Fest Empowers Children with Skills for Economic Growth

Rebecca Ejifoma

STEAM Fun Fest, a premier event promoting education among young children, has underscored the need for Nigeria to encourage children under 18 to acquire technological skills to

enhance the economy further.

This message resonated in Lagos at the third edition of the STEAM Fun Fest Conference and Exhibition, tagged: “Empowering the Next Generation for the Future of Work”.

One of the Conveners of

STEAM Fun Fest, Titi Adewusi, said experts were invited to teach the children the necessary skills

“To aid national development, noting that building a better future for Nigeria should be a joint goal”.

The event, she added, was

to spark interest in children in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. “It is about letting them experience these skills hands-on. Some of these include robotics, mathematics, animation and coding. We have a steam lab for them to learn these things.

Plc, Tunde Mabawonku, at the unveiling of a partnership on e-commerce payment in Lagos… recently

Neymar Finally Lands in Saudi with Al-Hilal

Paris St-Germain have agreed a deal to transfer Brazil forward Neymar to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for about 90m euros (£77.6m) plus add-ons.

The transfer is subject to the 31-year-old completing a medical and all necessary paperwork.

Neymar, who joined PSG for a world-record fee of £200m in 2017, was left out of their squad for the Ligue 1 draw against Lorient on Saturday.

He was not part of Coach Luis Enrique's plans for the new season. His exit also fits PSG's strategy of moving away from the 'Galacticos' era of signing high-profile players for big fees and significant wages, with Lionel Messi also leaving the club earlier this summer.

Neymar was understood to be earning in the region of 25m euros (£21.6m) annually at the French side.

He will reportedly be paid 150m euros (£129.2m) a year in Saudi Arabia - six times the amount he earned at PSG.

The Brazilian made 173 appearances for PSG, helping the club win 13 trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles, as well as reaching the 2020 Champions League final.

However, his time in the French capital has also been hampered by a number of ankle injuries. The former Barcelona player had surgery in March that caused him to miss the rest of the season and he only resumed training in July.

He missed two of Brazil's

matches at the 2022 World Cup after being injured in their opening group match.

News of the Neymar deal comes just 24 hours after PSG's Kylian Mbappe was reintegrated back into firstteam training after positive talks with the club.

The France forward, 24, had been in a contract stand-off amid a desire to join Real Madrid but could now extend his contract at PSG, with his

current deal due to expire next summer.

Mbappe was also left out of the squad for the Lorient game and watched the match from the stands.

Last month, PSG gave Al-Hilal permission to talk to Mbappe after the Saudi side made a world-record £259m bid.

If completed, the Neymar deal will continue a remarkable summer spending spree

Tennis: Fusion Academy Set to Give Scholarship to Outstanding

Femi Solaja

The fourthedition of the Fusion Tennis Academy Coaching Clinic began at the at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club yesterday and will run until August 20.

Founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tennis Academy, Mr Fuad Quadre, who made this known in Lagos said 300 children would participate in this year's edition, stressing that the aim is to catch them young and teach them modern techniques in tennis.

Mr Quadre who is a former Nigerian number One ranked player in the junior category for many years and also represented the country in junior Davis Cup, hinted that the clinic is to bring out the best in the children at early stage of their tennis career.

"This is the 4th edition of the Fusion Tennis Academy; everything is set and it will be better than the first three editions we had and more than 300 pupils will take part in this year's clinic. We hope to be able to spot out the talented ones amongst them and see how far we can follow them up".

He emphasised that the Academy wants to help the non-privileged players to take

part in the game of tennis, stating that there would be no avenue for them to be used as instruments of social vices in the future.

Quadre an International Tennis Federation (ITF) certified coach, stressed that Sports without education was incomplete even if one wants to be a professional tennis player, the person must be educated.

"Sports without education is incomplete, even though you want to be a professional tennis player, you have to be educated and that is why we are making sure they go to school and the good ones could be helped to get scholarships into universities in the U.S".

Quadre, who plies his coaching career in Dubai, UAE came back home to give back to the society through the game that made him and impact his wealth of experience on the children and upcoming players who want to take tennis as a career.”

Quadre an elder brother of former Africa number One Junior ranked player, Oyinlomo Quadre, disclosed that ITF certified coaches in Nigeria, America and Europe are on ground for the clinic to mentor the children and the junior players.

by Saudi clubs, underlining the league's ambition to be one of the top competitions in the world in the next few years. The likes of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Ruben Neves, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have all moved to Saudi Arabia.

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr from Manchester United in January.

Spain’s Top Scorer Dreams Looks Beyond Sweden, Eyes Final

Spain's record scorer Jenni Hermoso says the thought of being within one win of the Women's World Cup final is giving her "shivers".

Spain face Sweden in Auck- land this morning with the winner to play either England or Australia in Sunday's final in "ISydney.always said that I wish I could win something with the national team and now I feel close," said Hermoso.

"We are one victory away from the World Cup final."

Spain are appearing in their first Women's World Cup semi-final and former Barcelona forward Hermoso admitted there were nerves in the camp.

She added: "If we're not nervous then something is not going right. To be in the final, to reach the final, just thinking about it gives me shivers. We are close to achieving this."

Spain headed into their third World Cup with a cloud of doubt hanging over the squad after a feud between Vilda, who has been in charge since 2015, and many senior players. Fifteen players threatened to quit if Vilda was not fired.

Interestingly, England mid- fielder Keira Walsh believes

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

the "pressure is on Australia" in front of a home crowd in their Women's World Cup semi-final tomorrow in Sydney.

The Lionesses, who won Euro 2022 on home soil last summer, are playing in their

third successive World Cup semi. Co-hosts Australia are in the last four for the first time but will have strong backing in Sydney's 81,500-capacity Sta- dium Australia on Wednesday.

"That is a different thing

to cope with. But they are a great team, whether they feel the pressure or not. The way they play, they don't look like they feel it.

"They are very physical and we have to be ready for that. It's just about going in confident and playing on the front foot,” stressed Walsh.

...Oramah Pleads for More Support for Falcons, Female Football

The Chairman of Oramah Football Academy, Dr. Pat Ifeanyi Oramah, has urged the Federal Government to give more encouragements to sports academies in Nigeria and channel more resources towards nurturing young talents and creating a robust pipeline for future athletes.

Speaking with news- men on the state of sports development in Nigeria at the weekend in Abuja, the seasoned sports enthusiast and administrator commended the amazing performance of the Super Falcons, in the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and emphasized the importance of sustained

investment in grassroots

While emphasizing the need for the provision of better training infrastructure for sports in Nigeria, Oramah said that the team and other sporting teams in Nigeria would perform better if they are regularly exposed to modern training equipment and tactics in all aspects of their games.

Analyzing the Super Falcons’ ouster match against England, the Oramah Sports Academy boss said : “evidently, the English team has better training facilities and exposure as manifested by their self-possession and resilience when they were

one player down. Again they were well composed during the penalty shootout.”

The Oramah Academy Chairman disclosed that the superlative performance of the Super Falcons has further spurred him to commit more resources to the development of female soccer saying that his institution would henceforth play more emphasis on female soccer in all its activities.

Drawing from his extensive experience in sports and football development, Dr. Oramah reiterated the need for gender equality in sports and advocated for equal op- portunities and recognition for female athletes.

L-R (front row): Super Falcons’ players Tochukwu Oluehi; Onome Ebi; Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Wife of the Senate President, Mrs Ekaette Akpabio and Christy Ucheibe and Nigeria Football Federation officials at the reception for the team at State House, Abuja...yesterday

Neymar...has joined the ‘star trek’ to the Saudi Arabia’s Pro League

Pastor Enoch Adeboye to FG

“We are still fighting wars against hunger, we are fighting some serious wars and sure we don’t want more wars...whether within or without our borders. Nigeria still needs a lot of prayers. We are fighting wars against terrorists. There are still places in Nigeria today where when people go to bed, they are not sure they would not be killed before tomorrow morning. We are still fighting wars against some people who feel that what a farmer planted is food for their cows and if you complain, they kill you.” --GO,RedeemedChristianChurchof God,PastorEnochAdeboye,cautioningagainstmilitaryactioninNigerRepublicbyECOWAS.

TUESDAY WITH REUBEN ABATI

abati1990@gmail.com

Of Niger, Breathing Problems and Other Matters

“Bros, you dey town?”

“Yes. Where you think say I for dey. I no tell you say I dey travel”

“I thought maybe you would have gone to Niger.”

“Go Niger go do wetin?”

“I hear some civil society groups are compiling names of persons who will go to Niger to talk to the coup leaders to give peace a chance, forget about the coup and reinstate President Muhammad Bazoum in power.”

“Of all the pressing problems that I have in Nigeria: fuel price has gone up, diesel is expensive, landlord has announced rent increase, school fees have been raised, Tinubu’s economic policy is not working, how on earth do you think that my main priority should be what goes on in Niger? People are fighting their former colonial masters, they have removed a President that is a lackey of the West, the people of Niger themselves are on the streets jubilating and hailing the coup leaders and you say, I should go there to talk to them. Please, in my capacity as what?”

“As a notable noise maker in the Nigerian society, and a champion of democracy. This is about democracy, and the need to preserve it in the West African region, from the Sahel to the rest of Africa. ECOWAS has already taken up the responsibility. The Heads of States and Governments have imposed sanctions. They have dispatched a standby force.”

“Yes, yes, I know. They have the support of the African Union, the European Union Commission, and the United Nations. Americans, the French, the Germans have military bases in Niger. They did nothing until shege happened, and now it has become our collective responsibility. Please my main responsibility now is how to pay school fees next month, and how to buy diesel for the generator at home and fuel the cars. Whatever they do in Niger is not my personal problem right now. Have you not heard that here in Nigeria, we too are trying to breathe?”

“Many Nigerians are concerned because Niger is our sister country. We have strong religious, cultural and historic affinities. Are you aware that the head of the military junta in Niger is married to a Nigerian woman from Kangiwa in Kebbi State, while the Emir of Dosso in Niger pays homage to the Emir of Argungu in Nigeria? Seven states in the North share a border of about 999 miles with Niger, including Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina. Some people sleep in Nigeria and eat breakfast in Niger. That is how close we are. And even if you are not aware of anything, are you not aware that when President Buhari was leaving office one thing he said is that if anybody disturbs him too much in Nigeria, he will relocate and join his kith and kin in Niger? Now the old man has nowhere to go. He is stuck here. You people complain too much in Nigeria. The people in Niger are in a revolutionary mood.”

“I sympathize with President Buhari. His plight must be a lesson to all persons who assume dual citizenship as allowed by the laws of Nigeria. You could find yourself in a situation where there could be issues in your two countries and you are caught betwixt and between. If gbege come gbege now, where President Buhari go run to? Father country no well, mother country dey boil. This is why I always say what we need in Africa is good governance and responsible leadership.”

“But I think that there is now some light at the end of the tunnel, though. Nigeria’s Council of Ulamaas, the Jamma’tu Izalatu Bidiah wa Ikamatu Sunnah (JIBWIS) led by the Chairman, visited Niger on Sunday. They were granted audience by the coup leaders. They met with President Abdourahamane Tchiani himself and the newly appointed Prime Minister. The coup leaders in fact sent their apologies to President Tinubu for having refused previously to grant audience to the delegations that he sent before now: President Patrice Talon of Republic of Benin, a Nigerian delegation comprising former Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, Head of Nigeria’s

National Intelligence Agency and Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, subsequently, President Mahamat Idris Deby of Chad also went to Niger, and thereafter too, General Abdusalami Abubakar and the Sultan of Sokoto. Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi went to Niger in his capacity as the head of the Tijanniya sect. They granted him audience. The Council of Ulammas from Nigeria also went there. They met with them. I am afraid Niger may have been taken over by Jihadists and terrorists, right on our doorstep. Afterall, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire pointedly accused them of terrorism. The good news is that they now say they want to dialogue with ECOWAS.”

“It is because the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, the EU Commission, France and those who donate money to keep Niger going are beginning to bite hard. Yes, Niger is rich in Uranium, the seventh largest deposits in the world, but it is also a poor country that depends on about $20 billion worth of international aid per annum. The sanctions are actually not enough. I assume that the coup leaders are now panicking. The thing to do is to add more sanctions. Nigeria should take the lead by telling our daughter from Kebbi state who is married to the coup leader to pack her bags and come back home. That is one sanction that will hit home. I don’t trust Tchiani. ECOWAS must resolve to hit him hard below the belt.”

“You know sometimes, I don’t understand you. We are discussing peace, diplomacy and international relations, you are reducing everything to marital issues. What if your sister says it is in fact the coup leader of Niger that she wants and ECOWAS can go to hell, will you go and force her to leave her husband because Nigeria wants to show it has power even in the bedrooms of Niger?”

“I don’t trust General Tchiani and his men. Look at how they snubbed Nigeria, the giant of Africa”.

“Leave that giant thing. Nobody considers Nigeria a giant anymore. In fact, it is so bad, if President Tinubu himself dares to go near Niger, they will arrest him and lock him up with Bazoum and serve him agbado which they must have heard he likes a lot. And nothing will happen. In fact, some Nigerian will say it serves him right. Please leave that matter about being a giant. Nobody sees Nigeria as a giant anymore please.”

“Those boys in Niger will detain Nigeria’s President? That will be an assault on the sovereignty of Nigeria. Then, the war that nobody wants will begin immediately”

“My friend, go and calm down. You think all the Nigerians who have been saying Nigeria should not commit to any act of aggression don’t know what they are saying? ACF, Katsina Forum, Afenifere, Council of Ulamaas, HURIWA, Senator Shehu Sani, NLC, PDP, LP, you think they don’t know what they are saying? Nigeria is broke. It cannot finance any major military operation that is likely to end up as proxy war between the East and the West. It also cannot afford a full-scale war in its backyard. And what does Nigeria stand to gain from committing troops to an operation in Niger?”

“Peace and stability at home. That is Nigeria’s national interest, particularly to prevent the coup virus from spreading from the Sahel region into the West African heartland. It is not in Nigeria’s interest to have a coup anywhere around its vicinity. Nigerian citizens at the moment cannot breathe at the moment. If they get suffocated further, you don’t know what they can do. We may have to use Niger to send a strong lesson to anybody that werey is disturbing his or her head.”

“Have you thought of the implications of joining ECOWAS to send troops to Niger? Nobody knows the reaction we will get. Terrorism in the Northern borders, more refugees trooping into Nigeria, the possibility of aggrieved Nigerians supporting Niger, and sabotaging their own country. If I were President Tinubu, I will borrow myself small sense, and tread cautiously. Niger is a Banana peel for President Tinubu. He should not step on it.”

“I see we are a country of cowards. ECOWAS is a community of shadow-boxers. They don’t even have a standby force anyway. Just making mouth. In the next few days, I imagine that Tinubu and ECOWAS will try to do damage control and save face.”

“I think the former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, former Minister of Foreign Affairs put his fingers on it when he said Tinubu has no experience in international diplomacy, and he should seek the help of former Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria. And he is right. This is not the Kabiyesi rulership of Lagos State. This is something far more complex, because of the international dimensions. Nigeria is bigger than the swashbuckling, triumphal, “awalokan” boys from Lagos.”

“Please can we talk about something else?”

“Did I not hear that one Nigerian aircraft on its way to Niger has crashed somewhere in the North? Those are the people you say are sending apologies to Tinubu? If they want dialogue, then on what terms? Will they listen to ECOWAS?”

“Can we change subject? It looks like Pastor Tunde Bakare has joined the ranks of those criticizing Tinubu? Did you listen to his state of the nation address on Sunday? Vice, Virtue, Time: three Things That Cannot stand Still.”

“What prophecies did he make? Did he predict that the Naira will be N2,000 to the dollar by October and that the pump price of petrol will be about N900 per litre?”

“He said more than that. He spoke truth to power. He said Nigeria is on a downward slope under Tinubu, and that what we have is an imperial presidency and leadership by impulse”

“Pastor Bakare is one of the original founders of the ruling APC, Nigeria’s ruling party.”

“He said APC could never have won the 2023 general election if there was no split in the PDP, and that President Tinubu is showing a tendency to act before thinking.”

“He said that? Isn’t that anti-party?”

“I think the man was speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit. I heard him saying with 48 Ministers, Tinubu is running a bloated government and abusing the tenets of neoliberalism, and that there cannot be any economic reform without economic justice, and

the poor must be allowed to breathe.”

“Yes, yes, yes, on that one, he is right. The poor in Nigeria are suffocating. That is why they are now protesting in Yola, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Kano due to the high cost of living. We, the people, just want to breathe. The people are saying let government remove its knees from our necks and not choke us to death like George Floyd was choked to death in the US.”

“You know Pastor Bakare even said Godwin Emefiele, the embattled and suspended CBN Governor is a victim of vendetta, and political impunity, who is being made a scapegoat.”

“I won’t be surprised if Pastor Bakare is accused of anti-party activities and he is expelled from the APC. Has Mr. Dele Alake responded to him yet?”

“I have not seen anything. No, not yet.”

“You can be sure the President’s spokespersons are still loading their bazooka. When they fire, you will hear the boom, boom of attacks on Pastor Bakare.”

“And you think the Pastor will be bothered? Na dem dem. If they fire bazooka, he will respond with an inter-continental ballistic missile!”

“At home and abroad, just creepy stories all over within 75 days of Tinubu in office. Punitive economic policies that impoverish the people. A Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that publishes a balance sheet for the first time after seven years that is fit only for the dustbin. An uninspiring cabinet list. Mediocre performance in international relations Oh, what a curious set!.”

“Oh, come on. I can think of one or two sweet stories. The Super Falcons did well in the Women’s World Cup. They may have lost out in the Round of 16, but they were good, and they deserve to be celebrated truly. Also under Tinubu, our girls won the AfroBasket Championship for the fourth time in a row, beating their arch-rivals, Senegal 84 -74. That’s something to cheer about. And our boy, Anthony Joshua knocked out Helenius in the seventh round, his first knock-out in three years… let’s be fair.”

“Yeah, I also saw the Governor of Osun State, Jackson Ademola Adeleke hosting Rasheedat Ajibade and Rofiat Imuran, two Super Falcons from Osun State and celebrating them with Jacksonian dance steps. Quite refreshing.”

“The Governor of Osun is a naturally happy man. He is always giving us good content. He should consider opening a Tik Tok page on social media, and that can be a good source of non-oil revenue for Osun state! He will beat all social media influencers at their game. He is just a natural entertainer. Nice one.”

“So which two teams do you think will make the Women’s World Cup final? Four teams are already in the semi-finals. Spain vs Sweden today. Australia vs England tomorrow.”

“I must confess this year’s Women’s World Cup has been top-notch. Record attendance. Impressive quality of play. In fact, some of those female teams are so technically proficient, if they play against the current Super Eagles of Nigeria, our male national team, they will serve them woto woto. But do I want England to win? No. For defeating Nigeria without putting up a convincing performance, No, please. Australia should beat them and Spain or Sweden should win.

“This is exactly what Pastor Bakare calls the politics of vendetta oh. Can you see that there are no saints anywhere?”

“Not exactly the same thing. I have a right to protect my country’s interest. I still don’t understand the overriding national interest that Nigeria wants to protect in Niger. I keep saying that the time may have come when we have to review this mantra about Africa being the centre-piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy process. Nigeria must be Nigeria’s number one interest, not the ego of ambitious politicians – call it Nigerian exceptionalism.”

“I hear you. Na here we dey, everything go soon clear for everybody eye. Make all of una dey talk your talk. Na here we dey as Dede dey.”

Niger coup leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani