TUESDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2024

President Resumes After Two-week Working Leave, Cabinet Reshuffle May Happen Soon

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Tinubu Launches Bid to Raise Oil

IOCs, indigenous producers, banks back FG's plan

NUPRC approves Seplat-Mobil, Total-Telema divestment deals

Confirms rejection of ShellRenaissance $1.3bn transaction

Elumelu calls for improved security, infrastructure renewal Lokpobiri, Ekperikpe assure oil producers of FG’s willingness to resolve knotty issues

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Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, resumed work at State

Abuja, after a

working vacation in the United Kingdom. Tinubu, who returned to the

Continued on page 5

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, replied the national

Chairman, Standard Bank Group, Nonkululeko Nyembezi (right), bids farewell to Atedo Peterside (CON) after his remarkable 10 years of service as a member of the Standard Bank Group Board at a dinner in Johannesburg...recently

L-R: Flight Lieutenant Timothy Ilufoye; Navy Lieutenant VI Effiong; new Chief of Defense Space Administration, Air Vice Marshal Lanre Oluwatoyin; Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (CON); Air Vice Marshal GA Mbaka; and Group Captain EN Abu; during a courtesy visit to Government House Ilorin, Kwara State, … yesterday

yesterday launched the ‘1MMBOPD’ Initiative meant to raise production by 1 million barrels per day, by

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

In a renewed bid to grow Nigeria’s crude oil output significantly in the next 12 months, President Bola Tinubu

Rockefeller Foundation, Bezos-backed Group Eyes

10,000mw Fix

Addeh

A global climate organisation backed by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund is piloting a solar mini-grid programme in Nigeria that could provide the answer to the erratic power supplies that sap productivity in Africa’s most populous nation, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet — formed in 2021 by the two groups along with the Ikea Foundation - helped build the

for Nigeria’s Fragile Power Sector

first so-called interconnected mini-grid in December. Two more are under construction and there is funding for a fourth, it said.

The facilities, operated by private developers, supplement the few hours of supply consumers get from the national grid to keep their businesses and homes powered around the clock.

Initially, GEAPP wants to build a pilot in each of the regions covered by Nigeria’s 11 power distribution companies and ultimately facilitate 10 gigawatts of mini-grids. The

programme is adding to earlier efforts to build mini-grids in areas with no access to national power supply.

“We need hundreds or thousands of these kind of projects across Nigeria to end energy poverty” said Muhammad Wakil, country delivery lead for New York-based GEAPP, in an interview at the site of one of the projects in Ogun State in southwest Nigeria. “We have shown it’s a viable business model,” Bloomberg quoted him as saying.

Nigeria has the world’s largest number of people without access

to any electricity, about 86 million, and there’s little power for the rest of its population of about 230 million.

The national grid supplies just about 4,000 megawatts, about a sixth of the amount generated in South Africa where the population is a quarter of the size, and there are regular outages and occasional national collapses in supply.

“You have those kind of underserved communities that do require reliable power to power their homes and their businesses,” Fauzia Okediji, a

TINUBU LAUNCHES BID TO RAISE OIL OUTPUT BY 1M BPD IN 12 MONTHS

harnessing dormant oil assets and optimising existing ones.

At the event in Abuja, which coincided with the 3rd anniversary of the establishment of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), International Oil Companies (IOCs), indigenous oil producers, banks and oil and gas service providers pledged to support the federal government in the new efforts.

The programme organised by the NUPRC was themed: “Transformation, Innovation & Excellence“ and featured the ‘who is who’ in the country’s oil, gas and banking sectors.

Tinubu stressed that his policy interventions in the oil industry were beginning to bear fruits, expressing confidence in the long-term benefits of the industry's policy reforms for the good of the country’s over 200 million people.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, the president noted that even though the oil and gas industry had long been the lifeblood of Nigeria’s national economy, the current administration was working tirelessly to change this and diversify the economy from over-reliance on the production of fossil fuels.

However, Tinubu noted that his administration was also determined to maximise its revenue potential from the country’s nature-endowed hydrocarbon resources while focusing on decarbonisation approaches to oil and gas production.

“A renewed drive to economic

diversification using the oil and gas industry has evolved, and remains on track to expand government revenue and deploy it to generate employment, eliminate poverty, and grow our gross domestic product in the spirit of shared prosperity.

“We have set a clear roadmap for the oil and gas sector to deepen value from the nation's substantial resource potential and create opportunities for investors, both local and foreign. Since I declared that Nigeria is indeed open for business, I am delighted that we have witnessed the major financial and investment decisions in the sector across the value chain since then.

“To this end, we must work concertedly to create vibrancy across the sector of oil and gas production to meet domestic and international needs and shore up our foreign exchange. The two-pronged target is necessary to deliver the dividends of good government for our people and justify the trust reposed in us by the citizens during these trying times.

“Early on, we took decisive steps to vacate the encumbrances of investment in the oil and gas sector and entrench the ease of real business. We have issued five executive orders to provide fiscal incentives for investment in Nigeria's oil and gas sector. We are working with the legislative arm of government to fully implement some of these reforms, as statutory changes will be required in some areas,” he stated.

The president congratulated all active oil and gas industry players for the modest gains in oil production,

which he said has now risen to 1.6 million barrels per day.

According to him, ‘Project 1 million bpd’ is a giant step forward for the oil and gas industry, designed to grow sustainably in direct response to his charge to increase production. He explained that by enhancing domestic energy security and supporting economic vibrancy, the initiative will ensure that Nigeria remains a crucial player in the global energy landscape amid the worldwide energy transition.

“ Increased oil production will lead to more job opportunities, increased revenue for the government, and a more stable energy supply for our dear citizens. The project is not just a government one, but a collaborative undertaking involving major producers, service providers, financiers, and other key stakeholders.

“These commitments will be critical in ensuring that we achieve our incremental targets in the next 12 months, growing not just the production levels but also increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of our industry.

“ There will be challenges along the way, such as technical issues, market fluctuations, and regulatory burdens, but with our collective efforts, we are confident that we can overcome these challenges and achieve our goal,” Tinubu emphasised.

In his presentation, the Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, said that in the last three years, the commission had made significant strides towards attaining critical goals despite the persistent

challenges of the global push for energy transition and the call for defunding of fossil fuel.

He listed them as development of regulations, growth in oil and gas reserves, rise in level of upstream activities, conclusion of the 2020 marginal bid round and issuance of awards with an anticipated 60,000 bpd and 90MMscfd of incremental oil and gas production, among others.

To enhance investment attractiveness and improve global competitiveness, the licensing framework for the ongoing bid rounds, Komolafe said, was optimised to vacate entry barriers and eliminate huge asset acquisition fees.

On energy sustainability, decarbonisation and environment stewardship, he stated that the NUPRC has retooled its regulatory instruments to incorporate emissions reductions.

At the event, the NUPRC also announced the approval of the much awaited $1.28 billion Seplat-Mobil divestment transaction as well as TotalEnergies EP Nigeria deal with Telema Energies.

“Divestment is an acknowledged practice and within the right of investors in business decisions globally. In recognition of this, as a nation, Nigeria is fully committed to the philosophy of free entry and free exit as further reiterated by our dear President Tinubu on October 1, 2024, speech.

“A total of four (representing 80 per cent) passed regulatory test and secured ministerial consent. The transactions are: Mobil Producing

PDP REPLIES GANDUJE: TO CAPTURE ONDO GUBER POLL IS TO REPEAT EVENTS OF 1983, 1962

chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Ganduje, and told him that any attempt to capture the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State would be to invite whirlwind and its attendant consequences.

Also, in an effort to decide on the proposed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, governors of the PDP are to meet today to take a final decision

This is as the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives have equally been scheduled to meet with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Ganduje, had boasted that the party would “capture” the SouthWest by winning the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

Ganduje stated this when he led members of the NWC of the APC to a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the state capital, on Sunday.

The former Kano State governor said the ruling party was working very hard to have all six states under the progressive fold.

He therefore, vowed to ensure the APC takes over PDP-led Oyo and Osun States, in order to boost President Bola Tinubu’s support ahead of the 2027 general election.

While calling on the stakeholders to rally the APC candidate and the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ganduje said he would not reveal APC’s winning strategy.

But in a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, at a press conference told Ganduje that Ondo State was not Edo State and

therefore should not be taken for granted.

“We are all students of history. We know what in 1963 and in 1983. The story of operation wetie is still fresh in our minds. It was the attempt to capture and impose unpopular candidates on the people.

''We know the consequences of trying to impose Akin Omoboriowo on the people. To use federal might to capture the November 16 governorship election is a great threat to our democracy.

''Those who know that Ondo State is not Edo State, You cannot capture Ondo State. We are not orphans. Any attempt to capture Ondo will be resisted,'' Ologunagba said.

He called on the security agencies to caution Ganduje over his reckless utterances before he plunge the country into crisis.

Ologunagba expressed worries that the collapse of democracy in Nigeria since 1983 was because of unguarded utterances and actions of reckless political actors who wanted to grab powers at by force.

He contended that one of the problems of Nigerians was that they have refused to learn from history, urging the APC national chairman to be a good student of history.

PDP Governors Meets Today over NEC

Governors of the PDP are to meet today to take a final decision on the proposed NEC meeting of the party.

Chairman of the PDP governors’ forum and Governor of Bauchi State,

Bala Mohammed, said last week that the party's governors would meet with other stakeholders to decide the fate of the NEC meeting.

It was reliably gathered that the governors would either meet virtually or physically in Abuja to take a decision.

THISDAY was told that the main point of the meeting would be to reach a consensus and create a soft landing for the embattled acting national chairman, Amb Iliya Damagum.

A source informed THISDAY that the governors would be looking for an unaligned chairmanship candidate from the north central zone.

According to the source, ''If the governors agree on a compromise candidate, then it will be followed by other meetings of the organs of the party.

''This will be followed by the meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Caucus of the party where the adopted candidate would be presented before the NEC meeting.''

In another development, the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives would meet with the NWC. The meeting with lawmakers is part of mounting pressure on the party to hold the NEC meeting as planned on Thursday.

The out come of the meeting between the NWC and House of Representatives would be forwarded to the party's governors’ meeting today

A possible and favourable outcome would see the NEC meeting holding and a replacement

utility innovation manager at GEAPP, told Bloomberg TV’s Wall Street Week.

GEAPP’S Demand Aggregation for Renewable Technology, or Dart, programme pools the needs of several developers to cut the cost of solar equipment. It also operates a $25 million financing facility that developers borrow dollars from to import equipment and then repay in Nigeria’s naira currency when revenue starts to come in.

“That activity has observed

Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) to Seplat Energy Offshore Limited; Equinor Nigeria Energy Company Limited to Project Odinmin Investments Limited; Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited to Oando Petroleum and Natural Gas Company Limited and TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited to Telema Energies Nigeria Limited.

“However, the divestment of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited’s assets to Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited could not scale regulatory test,” Komolafe said, confirming THISDAY’s story earlier on the rejection of the $1.3 billion bid.

Also speaking, Chairman Heirs Holdings, UBA and Transcorp Groups, Tony Elumelu, said that Nigeria is currently faced with the threat of declining production and investment.

“We must acknowledge the elephant in the room. Nigeria's oil production has been on a downward trajectory, falling from peaks of over 2 million barrels per day to recent lows, below 1.5 million. This decline translates to lost revenues, reduced global market share, and missed opportunities for national

savings of up to 30 per cent for the developers,” Wakil said of the pooling arrangement.

development.

“The root causes are multifaceted: Aging infrastructure, security challenges in the Niger Delta, stalled investments, regulatory uncertainties, and a global shift towards renewable energy that has compounded the investment challenge.

“These factors, combined, threaten the very foundation of our economy, as we are heavily dependent on oil. As a nation, we cannot permit this to continue, and squander our inheritance and betray our next generation,” Elumelu stated.

He highlighted that this is where

‘Project 1MMBOPD’ is so critical, a crucial part of the solution to unlocking the next phase of Nigeria’s development.

“By targeting to grow production by 1 million barrels of oil per day from current levels, we are setting a clear and challenging goal. To be sustainable, this initiative should go beyond just increasing production; it should catalyse a comprehensive strategy to revitalise our entire

PRESIDENT RESUMES AFTER TWOWEEK WORKING LEAVE, CABINET RESHUFFLE MAY HAPPEN SOON

Adviser on Policy Coordination and Head of Central Delivery Coordination Unit, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman.

Bala-Usman is the aide charged with the responsibility of evaluating the performances of all the president's appointees, especially the ministers.

for Damagum announced at the NEC meeting

The PDP governors are however divided into camps. While the Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde and his Adamawa State counter part, Ahmadu Fintiri and the Taraba State colleague, Agbo Kefas belong to the same camp of pro-Damagum to stay in office.

In the same manner, Mohammed of Bauchi state and other governors are anti-Damagum, who believed he should go and allow the North Central zone occupy its rightful position

As at press time, the Olagunsoye Oyinlola reconciliation committee was still meeting at the national secretariat. The committee is expected to present its preliminary report to NEC.

After over three hours meeting with the PDP National Assembly caucus, the Oyinlola committee resolved to brief the NWC on the outcome of their meeting.

Briefing news men, Oyinlola said, ''We will brief the National Working Committee Tuesday,'' but insisted that for the PDP to make progress, there must be unity within the party.

He refused to disclose the outcome of their meeting with the National Assembly caucus, but noted that unity was fundamental to the progress of the PDP.

''From our interactions with the Senators and members of the House of Representatives, we discovered that unity is essential for the party to make progress and we will brief the NWC tomorrow,'' he said.

Others, who equally met with Tinubu, were Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, who doubles as Special Adviser to the President on Revenue; and Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, were among those who stayed late in the office with Tinubu before he closed for the day and retired to his official residence, a stone throw from his office.

There were hints from reliable Villa sources that most of those the president met were either people who had roles to play in shoring up the economy or those with political and output evaluation tasks.

Tinubu had from the beginning of his administration hinted of plan to drop appointees considered unproductive or evaluated to have fallen short of expected delivery.

The suspicion that the anticipated cabinet reshuffle might happen very soon, probably in a matter of days, was further strengthened when Bala-Usman was sighted at the president's office.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, O'tega Ogra, had told newsmen at State House on September 25 that the president had plans to rejig his cabinet soon.

Onanuga said there was no timeline to when Tinubu would reshuffle his cabinet, but disclosed that he had

indicated his plan to reshuffle his cabinet.

He said, “I don't have any timeline. The president has expressed his desire to reshuffle his cabinet and he will do it. I don't know whether he's going to do it before October 1, but he will surely do it.

“So that's what I will say. He has not given us any timeline, but he will do it. He has expressed his plan he wants to do it.”

Shedding more light on the planned cabinet reshuffle, Ogra explained that the president would be guided by an empirical process, making reference to the performance indicator coordinated by Bala-Usman. Ogra stated, “We also need to realise that the president's decision to reshuffle is also based on empirical evidence. He has said it during the retreat for the ministers that they were going to have periodic reviews, and the decisions that are extracted from these reviews will be used to make that final decision.

“I know he's gotten a couple of reports, and as Mr. Onanuga said, when he's ready to do that, I believe he will.”

Ogra further disclosed that the president had instructed his ministers to actively promote the accomplishments of his administration. He said, “The president has given an order to all his ministers at the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to go out there and speak about the activities of his administration.

“Some of them have been media shy, television shy, radio shy, and he wants them to overcome all that and go out there and speak about what they have been doing.

“Because the feeling out there is that government is not doing enough, and the government has been doing a lot. It is up to them to go out there and blow their own trumpet. They should go out there and talk about what their ministries have been doing.”

Emmanuel

in Abuja

AT THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE NIGERIAN UPSTREAM REGULATORY COMMISSION....

Q3 2024: UBA Crosses N30trn in Total Assets, PBT Up By 20% to N603bn

Kayode Tokede

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, yesterday, announced its unaudited results for the third quarter (Q3) ended September 30, 2024, where it recorded strong and impressive growth across all its key indicators.

The Q3 2024 strong performance is a follow-up to the Group’s impressive audited half year ended June 30, 2024 result and accounts.

As in the preceding two quarters of 2024, UBA continues to maintain a very strong balance sheet, with total assets rising to N31.801 trillion as of September 2024, representing a 54 per cent increase over the N20.653 trillion recorded at the end of December 2023, just as the bank benefitted largely from its technology-led initiatives targeted at improving customer experience over the past few years, with total

deposits rising to N26.50 trillion, representing a 52.7 per cent rise, up from N17.355 trillion at the end of the last financial year.

UBA shareholders’ funds remained very strong at N3.585 trillion up from N2.030 trillion recorded in December 2023, again reflecting a strong capacity for internal capital generation and growth.

The Group’s gross earnings grew significantly by 83.2 per cent to N2.398 trillion up from N1.308 trillion recorded in September last year, while its net interest income which stood at N443.0 billion at the end of the third quarter in 2023, rose impressively by 149 per cent to N1.103 trillion in the period under consideration.

The bank’s financial report filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), also indicated a 20.2 per cent increase in Profit before Tax (PBT) to close at

N603.48 billion compared to N502.09billion recorded at the end of the third quarter of 2023, while profit after tax also rose remarkably by 16.9 per cent from N449.26 billion recorded a year earlier to N525.31 billion in the period under review.

Commenting on the result, UBA’s Group Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, in a statement, expressed pleasure that the Group continues to record strong and sustainable growth in its various revenue streams, building on its strong performance earlier in the year.

“The UBA Group achieved a profit before tax of N603.5 billion and our intermediation business continues to show strong growth with net interest income expanding by 149 per cent YoY to N1.10trillion and NIM closing at 8.03 per cent, which is 17.60 per cent above the 2023 position,

despite persisting macroeconomic headwinds, geopolitical tensions, insecurity, inflationary pressure and exchange rate volatilities across our markets,” Alawuba stated.

According to the GMD, the Bank’s performance has been underpinned by consistent strong growth on all core and sustainable banking income lines, as he added that “Our substantial investments in technology are yielding tangible business value. This commitment is instrumental in delivering enhanced customer experiences and optimizing operational efficiency.”

The Bank’s Executive Director, Finance & Risk, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said, “I am delighted at the milestone reached in driving operational efficiency, reflected in cost-toincome ratio normalizing around the 50 per cent range. Shareholders’

Despite Passing of PIA, NAEE Says Harnessing Country’s Energy Potential Remains Elusive

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Despite the landmark passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) yesterday argued that the country had not realised its full potential in the oil and gas sector.

NAEE President, Dr Hassan Mahmud, said this while speaking in Abuja at the 17th Annual International Conference of the NAEE, in collaboration with the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), USA.

Mahmud argued that there was evidence that weak institutions and poor governance had led to the inability of countries to transform their abundant human capital and natural resources endowment to positive economic and social outcome.

The NAEE is the Nigerian affiliate of the IAEE which has presence in over 120 countries around the world. It’s a non-profit organisation of corporate, private and public institutions, academics, policy analysts and policy makers, professionals, researchers and students.

These areas include: theory, technology, engineering, legal framework, regulation, risks, geo-

politics, energy mix and transition, environment and climate issues, as well as the governance of the energy solution ecosystem.

This year’s conference is, themed:

“The Energy, Economy, and Environment Nexus: Imperative for Good Governance and Sustainable Development,” centering on exploring the effective linkage through three key corridors.

Mahmud argued that particularly for developing and emerging economies, a key that determines the ability to transform abundant energy potential, both fossil fuel and economic growth and development, and improved standard of living citizens, is governance structure and institutional arrangements.

“Abundant evidences in the literature have established that weak institutions and poor governance have led to the inability of some countries to transform their abundant human capital and natural resources endowment, to positive economic and social outcomes, including industrialization and political stability – the Resource- Curse Syndrome.

“In the of the direction of evolving good governance in energy development and uses in Nigeria, a major achievement was recorded in the

establishment of a robust and countryspecific legal instrument to facilitate the transition and transformation.

“The PIA marks a significant milestone in addressing some major structural, institutional and bureaucratic deficiencies in the energy sector. It prioritised the reforms to Nigeria’s energy sector, streamlining the regulatory framework, encouraging investment, and improving transparency.

“These reforms come at a critical time, as Nigeria seeks to diversify its energy mix, moving away from the heavy reliance on oil and gas to incorporate renewables energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric.

“ The PIA is meant to foster a more competitive and dynamic energy market, positioning Nigeria as a regional leader in energy development with particular emphasis on creating more local content and boosting indigenous capacity within the energy sector.

“Recognising the need to harness the capabilities of indigenous professionals and firms towards ensuring that our energy sector remains globally competitive while fostering economic emancipation and poverty-reducing growth.

“However, regardless of the innovative and comprehensive pillars of the PIA, evolving a matching institutional and political arrangement to facilitate the implementation of the legal instrument to fast-track the transition from Nigeria energy sector potential to inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development has remained, rather elusive,” the NAEE president stated.

At the two-day conference, he said the discussants would delve into some of these teething governance issues and institutional structures, as well as other relevant and related technical issues on the energy, economy and environment nexus.

In his keynote speech, Chairman/ CEO, Green Energy International Limited Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, said that many countries, especially in Africa and Asia, struggle to grow their economies, provide hope for their people, and break energy and economic poverty limitations.

Nevertheless, all around them, he said, the consequences of the advanced economies' choices in energy use continue to be evident in global warming and the effects of climate change that have defied geographical locations.

funds recorded a 77 per cent growth from N2 trillion at FYE2023 to N3.59 trillion demonstrating the Group’s significant capacity for future growth.

On plans to consolidate its performance for the rest of the 2024 financial year and beyond, Nwaghodoh said, “We remain on track with various strategies to optimize our cost of funds and operating expenses.

Furthermore, the Group has

finalized plans to shore up its share capital to support its medium to long term aspirations, whilst aligning with the recent regulatory requirement in Nigeria and other jurisdictions.” He explained that UBA remains committed to sustainable growth in its core banking revenue lines and maintaining its strong compliance and risk management culture, even as the Group identifies further opportunities to expand.

Abuja to Host Inaugural Interior, Furniture Expo in December

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian furniture and interior design industry in collaboration with the ministry of industry, trade and investment and ministry of innovation, science and technology are set to host the first-ever Abuja Interior and Furniture Expo (AIFE) in December 2024.

Scheduled to take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, the event, which was officially launched at a media gathering in Abuja, will bring together manufacturers, designers, investors, and consumers from across the country and beyond.

The organisers said it will celebrate the best of Nigerian craftsmanship, featuring exhibitions, business networking sessions, and the latest industry trends.

Director of Special Duties, Dr Mansur Liman speaking at the media launch expressed excitement about AIFE’s role in promoting local manufacturing and talent.

“With Nigeria's wealth of raw materials such as timber, metals, and fabrics, the expo aims to spotlight made-in-Nigeria furniture, while bridging the gap between manufacturers, designers, investors, and consumers.

“By doing so, the event will help the country capitalise on the growing global demand for high-quality, sustainably produced furniture.

“This industry holds the promise of providing badly needed jobs for our teeming youths thereby generating

much-needed foreign exchange earnings. Therefore, we seek more collaboration from stakeholders, government agencies and the media to support the expo,” he said.

Also speaking, former Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, commended the organisers and highlighted the potential of AIFE to empower Nigerian youths, addressing unemployment by providing opportunities for skill development and entrepreneurship in a thriving, creative industry.

“This is indeed a commendable initiative, one that began on a modest scale during my tenure as governor of Katsina State. Recognising the immense potential of this project to contribute to Nigeria's economic growth and to create jobs for our burgeoning youth population, I lent my support to see it expand into an annual national event. And today, I am proud to see this vision coming to life in a grander form.

“This expo is not just an exhibition but a powerful tool to drive the growth of our local furniture industry. By encouraging investment and offering a platform for showcasing local talent, we aim to establish Nigeria as a global player in the furniture market,” he remarked

The launch concluded with the unveiling of the official AIFE logo, marking a new chapter in Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a competitive player in the global furniture industry and with support from key sponsors.

L-R: Managing Director, Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited (OERNL), Dr. Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune; Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater, TotalEnergies, Victor Bandele; Chairman AA Holdings Limited (AAH), Austin Avuru; Group Chief Executive Officer, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; Country Chair, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Osagie Okunbor; and Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria, Jim Swartz, at the 3rd Anniversary Celebration of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in Abuja...yesterday

COURTESY VISIT BY UNICEF TO IHS NIGERIA...

UK Authorities Agree Negotiations on Nigeria’s Heathrow Slot Request

The UK aviation authorities have agreed to discuss slot allocation for Nigeria's flagship carrier, Air Peace, at its tier-A Airport in Heathrow, London.

In early September the Nigerian Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, wrote a diplomatic letter to the United Kingdom aviation officials, requesting landing slots for Air Peace at the UK’s busiest airport in Heathrow.

Keyamo's letter was a move to push for reciprocity in line with the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) which states that if UK-based airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, get tier A airports in Nigeria, UK should also do likewise for the Nigerian carrier.

However, THISDAY learnt yesterday that the UK's Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, responded positively, expressing

willingness to discuss the matter further at the International Civil Aviation Negotiations event this October, 2024.

Responding in a letter dated September 5 to the earlier one written by Keyamo on August 1, 2024, Haigh said that the UK Government welcomes increased connectivity between Nigeria and the UK, including the start of Air Peace operations to London, from Lagos, earlier this year.

The UK Government, the UK top official said, is always keen to see increased competition in international air transport, which delivers more choice for British and Nigerian citizens and businesses.

“If your ministry would like to further discuss this matter, officials from my department will be at the upcoming International Civil Aviation Negotiations event in October 2024.

“We consider the social, economic and political links between our two

NAFDAC DG Begs Striking Workers to Resume Work

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

As the industrial action embarked on by the staff unions in National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC entered its second week, the Director General of the NAFDAC has pleaded with the striking workers to suspend the action and resume work.

The strike action that commenced on 7th October 2024 was precipitated by some grievances to which the management said it was paying due attention.

In a statement signed by NAFDAC's Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said it has shown enough commitment towards addressing issues raised by the workers' union.

Concerning the demand of the union that the 2022 agreement with management be gazetted, Adeyeye said that the issues relating to the hazard, productivity and regulatory allowances have been partially addressed by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF).

She said that SGF has written to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy to approve the allowances for NAFDAC Staff using the user fee.

On the revival of the training school

in Kaduna, the DG said the Union was informed that training school in its physical form was considered as not feasible by the Council in 2022 because of the political and security situation in Kaduna.

According to Adeyeye the Online training school is already up and running in the agency since October 2023.

On the review of laboratory allowances, she said that NAFDAC appreciates the work being done by the staff, adding that financial constraint is affecting its ability to meet the demands.

Also, the DG said that when she came on board in 2016, there were only 13 Directorates and 13 Directors in NAFDAC, but that today we have over 28 Directors in the system due to the expansion her drive.

NAFDAC's DG said that there has been 50 percent deduction on the Agency’s Internally Generated Revenue by the Federal government.

"Starting from January, 2024, 50 percent of the agency's IGR was deducted from source by the government and this has impacted our finances. However, the management is open to an upward review of the Laboratory Allowances and will ensure that the payment is at flat rate across board,” she said.

countries to be vital. They rely on a vibrant air services market, which I hope we can continue to protect by working together.

“International connectivity is critical for the continued prosperity of our citizens and businesses, and I therefore very much appreciate your representations on behalf of Nigerian carriers,” excerpts from the official communication obtained by THISDAY stated.

However, Haigh explained that all foreign and domestic airlines seeking slots at coordinated airports in the UK are required to apply to the independent slot coordinator, Airports Coordination Limited (ACL), which allocates slots independently of the UK Government, using globally recognised guidelines and processes including the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines.

“ACL is legally required to act in a neutral, transparent and nondiscriminatory way that supports a competitive, independent market. The UK Government does not have any power to intervene in the slot

allocation process of this body or to direct the coordinator on the allocation of specific slots.

“We will continue to welcome all carriers to the UK and to support a competitive independent market – the allocation of slots, however, remains a matter for airlines to discuss with ACL.

“I am aware that your officials received a detailed briefing from the UK Department for Transport in January 2024 – the UK’s system for the allocation of slots has not altered substantially since then. London’s airports, especially Heathrow, continue to be capacity-constrained with very few new slots available to be allocated to carriers,” the UK's Secretary of State for Transport added.

Haigh added that the Heathrow Airport is constrained by runway capacity and an Air Traffic Movement limit which places downward pressure on the number of slots available in any operating season.

“For example, for the Summer 2024 season, there were a total of

290,580 slots available; given the capacity constraints, historic rights, and the growth ambitions of all carriers, the number of slots requested reached 319,721. This means that carriers had unfulfilled requests for 29,141 slots, which were placed on to a waitlist to potentially receive slots returned to the pool,” the UK official explained.

According to Haigh, ACL advises that carriers have three options in this scenario: join the waitlist; choose to operate to another airport, as Air Peace have done; or acquire slots through slot trading and commercial arrangements with other carriers.

“We encourage Air Peace to continue to liaise with ACL on the process for acquiring ad-hoc and historic slots at the UK’s coordinated airports. ACL report Air Peace sent late requests for slots for the Summer 2024 season and the Winter 2024/2025 season; their requests were received after the slot coordination process had concluded for each season.

“ Carriers can ensure they are in the best position to receive any

available slots by following the correct processes,” the letter added. Recall that Air Peace has been pushing for Heathrow slots since securing its UK Third Country Operator authorisation, but since it secured operations to Gatwick, the airline has maintained efficient flight service between Lagos and London. There have been issues surrounding slot allocation between Nigerian carriers and British airport authorities over operation to Heathrow. In 2011, Nigeria threatened to withdraw permission for British airlines after Arik Air was unable to secure Heathrow slots from Abuja when it started flight to London from Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The issue was eventually resolved when Arik Air was forced to buy slot allocation through a third party. The upcoming negotiations are expected to resolve pending issues. Air Peace is currently the only Nigerian airline certified to operate in the UK and it had longed to operate from Heathrow.

Abbas: Strong Legislature Central to Driving Necessary Reforms for Nigeria's Development

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said that a strong and capable legislature is central to driving the reforms needed for Nigeria’s development.

He added that many of the critical reforms needed in Nigeria today could only be implemented through the legislature’s lawmaking and oversight roles Abbas made this known at the presentation of the Parliamentary Development Programme of the House to the diplomatic corps, development partners, and donor agencies held at the House in Abuja on Monday.

At the ceremony were the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, several principal officers and members of the House.

Also in attendance were domestic and international donors and technical partners, as well as members of diplomatic corps.

The Parliamentary Development Programme is an initiative to

strengthen legislative capacity and promote sustainable development across Nigeria.

The Speaker therefore expressed his appreciation to the UNDP and all the partners of the House for their unwavering dedication.

Speaker Abbas said: “This initiative, which began after the inauguration of the 10th House, has received crucial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), whose commitment has been central to its success.

“As we present this programme today, let us cast our minds to the critical role of the legislature in advancing the democratic and developmental aspirations of Nigeria.

“A vibrant democracy rests on the strength of its legislature. As such, the Parliamentary Development Programme is not merely about capacity building – it is an investment in the heart of our democracy.

“A strong legislature is essential for implementing reforms, providing oversight, and ensuring accountability.

The law-making and oversight functions of the legislature are

fundamental to governance, and without a capable legislative institution, the development we aspire to cannot be fully realised.”

While noting that the initiative was coming at a crucial time, Abbas said the 10th House has set “an ambitious Legislative Agenda, which is closely aligned with the reform-driven vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”

He added that the National Assembly and the Executive are “committed to transformative reforms in sectors such as the economy, security, infrastructure, and social welfare.”

He stressed: “We expect the Parliamentary Development Programme to bolster further the institutional capacity necessary to deliver on these reforms, ensuring that the legislature can effectively support the administration’s Agenda for national development.”

Historically, the Speaker said, the legislature has been under-resourced and underdeveloped, especially compared to the executive and judiciary. “Therefore, strengthening

the legislature is not only imperative but also an investment in the stability and progress of our democracy."

Speaker Abbas stressed: “One of the challenges we face is the high turnover rate in the legislature at both national and sub-national levels. In the 10th Assembly, 281 new members were elected out of 360. This disrupts continuity and erodes institutional memory, which are essential for effective governance.

"Continuous capacity building is crucial to mitigate this challenge, ensuring new legislators have the skills and knowledge needed to contribute effectively from day one.

“By investing in the institutional strengthening of the National Assembly, we are laying the foundation for a resilient legislature that can better contribute to the overall good governance of the country.

“A strong and capable legislature is central to driving the reforms needed for Nigeria’s development. Many of the critical reforms needed in Nigeria today can only be implemented through the legislature’s lawmaking and oversight roles.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos

L-R: Director, Government & External Relations, IHS Nigeria, Gimba Mohammed; Deputy Representative, UNICEF Nigeria, Rownak Khan; UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Kitty van der Heijden; Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Services Officer, IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla; Director, Sustainability, IHS Nigeria, Titilope Oguntuga, and Chief of Field Office and Chief Generation Unlimited (GenU 9JA), UNICEF Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere during a courtesy visit by UNICEF to IHS Nigeria’s corporate headquarters in Lagos .. recently

PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

Impeachment Hoax and Confidence Vote in Senate

The Red Chamber last Thursday laid to rest the rising tension occasioned by an alleged plot to remove Senator Godswill akpabio as Senate President by unanimously passing a confidence vote in him but keen watchers of the development at the upper chamber insist something was actually amiss, reports Sunday Aborisade.

Watching the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, presiding over plenary last Tuesday was not unusual because his principal, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had gone for an International Parliamentary event in Geneva, Switzerland.

What actually came as a surprise to newsmen covering the red chamber was the unusual late commencement of plenary on Wednesday.

Senators were seen in groups within the chamber, discussing among themselves amid speculation that the day’s plenary would be presided over by Akpabio, who was said to have returned from Switzerland, a earlier.

As the movements and actions of the federal lawmakers within the chamber was causing confusion and creating tension, an online platform, Order Paper, went to town with a story that the National Assembly premises had been invaded by operatives of the Department of State Service, to provide security amid alleged plot by some senators to impeach Akpabio.

Many reporters rushed outside the gallery from where they were monitoring the day’s proceedings only to discover that there was no unusual security beef up apart from the regular DSS operatives who had been drafted to the nation’s parliament to support the Sergeant-atarms, the police and other paramilitary officers, to provide security.

Back in the chamber, Akpabio presided over the plenary and the day’s proceedings commenced.

However, midway into the session, the Senate President, drew the attention of his colleagues to the online publication, describing it as fake and insisted that the news items must be probed.

He subsequently, directed the Committee on Special Duties, chaired by Senator Shehu Kaka, to investigate the alleged moves by some disgruntled senators to impeach him.

Akpabio dismissed the story as fake and insisted that the red chamber was stable and that his position was not being threatened.

According to him“We are here sitting down doing your work very peacefully, oblivious of the report that is going on behind us.”

After a brief consultation, the Senate President said the red chamber had resolved to probe the news and he referred it to the Committee on Special Duties.

His words: “The fake news is hereby refered to the committee on special duty to report back

in 24 hours. That is part of those things we pass through on a daily basis. They use AI to drag traffic or get paid on YouTube. I hope the public realise that this is fake. Senator Kaka, please investigate and get back to us as soon as possible.”

Immediately after the plenary, the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Abdulaziz Yar’adua and the spokesperson for the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, addressed journalists and maintained that the news on the impeachment was actually fake.

A principal officer also told THISDAY on condition of anonymity that the return of Akpabio from the international parliamentary forum in Geneva, Switzerland, had nothing to do with the alleged impeachment move.

The ranking Senator said, “The Senate President told us last week that he would only travel to the IPU event to attend the opening session. It is not true that the Senate President hurriedly rushed back home from Geneva. No, far from it.”

The matter nevertheless, resurfaced the following day when senators at plenary on Thursday passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the Senate led by Akpabio.

The resolution followed a motion by a former Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, who raised a point of order to draw the attention of his colleagues to a news report which indicated that northern

senators were plotting to impeach Akpabio. Abdullahi, who is representing Kebbi North Senatorial District, denied his involvement, or that of any member of the Northern Senators Forum in the alleged plot.

He said, “I am a senior member of the Northern Senators’ Forum and I can assure you that there is no attempt by any caucus among the northern senators to bring discord or any attempt to challenge the unity of what you are doing in the Senate.

“My privilege has been breached. Anybody trying to bring division across any regional line is undermining the progress of our democracy and undermining the capacity of this institution to deliver the dividend of democracy in this country.

“Therefore, we must rise and get united under the leadership to ensure that this kind of discourse is completely negated, so that the kind of unity that we have forged in the last 18 months can be sustained and fully accomplished.

“I’m sure all my colleagues also feel the same for us to be characterized as either promoting or supporting or allowing anybody to bring the leadership of this institution down.

“I have never in my life associate with anybody in order to bring or to divide any institution along ethnic or traditional lines.

“I think this is the work of some enemies which should be resisted and all of us should stand united behind the Senate leadership to make sure that this institution is preserved.”

In his contribution, Senator Abdul Ningi, who is representing Bauchi Central, said accusing

A principal officer also told THISDAY on condition of anonymity that the return of Akpabio from the international parliamentary forum in Geneva, Switzerland, had nothing to do with the alleged impeachment move. The ranking Senator said, The Senate President told us last week that he would only travel to the IPU event to attend the opening session. It is not true that the Senate President hurriedly rushed back home from Geneva. No, far from it.

fingers were being pointed at some of them wheares there was nothing like that.

He said, “I think it is important for some of us that are probably being seen as the front liners, to come out and pass a vote of confidence in the Senate President and the entire leadership. I’m very positive that this is the way to go about it. Anybody who wants to create a problem, should go out and create by themselves and not on behalf of the northern senators.

“So I move that on behalf of the northern senators, that we pass vote of confidence in the leadership of the President and the entire Senate leadership, as we resolve to move as one group, as shown here.”

The leader of the minority caucus in the chamber, after a few arguments among his colleagues, decided to amend the prayers to incorporate all the senators in the chambers.

The Senate President who presided over the plenary, put the prayer to a voice vote and majority of the members supported the motion that all the senators pass a vote of confidence in the Senate President.

Akpabio after the confidence vote, commended his colleagues for the confidence they reposed in him.

He said, “On behalf of my brother, the Deputy Senate President, and the entire leadership, I assure you that the cooperation and the bond existing between us and the Senate will continue. No amount of people, no social media will come here to break that bond. I thank you for this, and we are very humbled.

We are confident in this place, in the coming months, and in the coming years, we will justify the confidence that you have placed in us”.

There has been no sign of any possible impeachment plot in the red chamber since the 10th National Assembly amended its rules to bar non ranking members from contesting as presiding officers.

A former governor of Zamfara State, who is representing Zamfara West Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, who contested the Senate presidency with Akpabio, is not a ranking senator, hence pushing him forward to replace Akpabio would be going against the rule of the federal lawmakers.

All eyes are now on the Senator Kaka’s panel to commence sitting on the matter and probably submit the report of its findings for the Senate to consider.

Akpabio

Barau

Bamidele

LAWYER

Tackling Nigeria’s Electoral Challenges Utilising

LAWYER

TacklingNigeria’sElectoral ChallengesUtilisingAI

Quotable

‘Over the past few months, the Force has significantly enhanced the safety and security of the country. Our tactical operations, intelligence-led policing and community engagement strategies, have yielded impressive results…..From July to October this year, the NPF successfully rescued 369 kidnap victims, recovered 416 firearms…retrieved 178 vehicles and seized 3,672 rounds of ammunition…..10,852 suspects were arrested across the country’ - Kayode Egbetokun PhD, Inspector General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria

columnist

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

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

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

Award of Damages: When an Appellate Court Will Interfere

Page IV

Bamise Ayanwole’s Murder Trial: Defence Opens Case

Page V

Group Calls for Abolition of Death Penalty in Nigeria

Page V

onikepo braithwaite: editor, jude igbanoi: deputy editor, peter taiwo, steve aya: reporters

Of Nigeria’s Democracy and the Rule of

Hallmark of Military Regimes: Breach of Fundamental Rights

Should Government make it their institutional policy and culture, to breach the fundamental rights of the people, citizens and non-citizens alike? This was the trademark/hallmark of past authoritarian military regimes, but it seems as if a healthy part of this negative culture has been carried over to our so-called democratic dispensation. Of course, this isn’t particularly surprising, for various reasons, not limited to the lack of accountability in Nigerian governance, and the fact that many military men simply replaced their military uniform with a civilian toga to join politics and continue with their dictatorship tendencies, to the extent that Nigeria has been ruled by two former military dictators for a total of 16 years out of this 25 year Fourth Republic!

The various fundamental rights subsequently provided for in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2023) (the Constitution) were previously vehemently and vigorously breached by the military - Sections 33(1), 34, 35, 36(1) & (5), 37, 38 (1), 39(1), 40, 41 & 42 - the right to life; dignity of a human person; personal liberty; fair hearing and presumption of innocence until proven guilty; right to freedom of thought; right to freedom of expression and the press; right to peaceful assembly and association; freedom of movement and freedom from discrimination, were all trampled upon with gusto, aplomb and relish during the military days.

In the old military days, extremely violent breaches of these rights occurred, such as unlawful arrests; assaulting of Journalists and Activists (people like late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, SAM and Femi Falana, SAN may have lost count of how many times they were arrested and detained without trial); inhumane treatment and torture of detainees; drowning voices of dissent; seizing of passports to prevent so-called enemies of the State from travelling abroad to go and complain internationally about the Nigerian governments - I recall when my Mother, Dame Priscilla Kuye was stopped at the airport and prevented from travelling to the Beijing World Conference on Women in 1995, during General Abacha’s regime.

There was also murder, be it outright violent attacks like the parcel bomb that was sent to kill Newswatch Publisher, late Dele Giwa in October 1986 during the General Ibrahim Babangida regime (his murder remains unsolved to date), to executions contrived by the State, such as the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and his eight Co-Defendants (the Ogoni 9), hanged in 1995 by the General Sani Abacha military dictatorship after facing a Special Military Tribunal, for allegedly plotting the killing of some Ogoni Chiefs. Saro Wiwa had been a Niger Delta Activist, fighting against the degradation of Ogoniland as a result of oil exploration and production activities, and was seeking compensation for Ogoniland in that regard. They were given nothing close to a fair trial.

During the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, in February 1977, the ‘Kalakuta Republic’ home of late Musician and Government critic, Fela AnikulapoKuti was invaded by soldiers. Fela’s Mother, Human Rights Activist, Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti was assaulted by the soldiers and violently thrown down from the balcony upstairs. She never fully recovered from the injuries she sustained during that unfortunate encounter, and she died about fourteen months after the incident (I recommend Bolanle Austen-Peters Production’s movie, ‘Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti’ which features a vivid account of the event that took place at Kalakuta Republic on February 18, 1977).

Ironically, General Sani Abacha was assassinated on June 8, 1998, while Chief M.K.O. Abiola, GCFR, died mysteriously of an alleged ‘cardiac arrest’ a month later on July 7, 1998, while he was in the custody of the Government, having been detained in solitary confinement for about four years. Chief Abiola was detained without trial by General Abacha, for trying to claim the mandate of the Presidential election which he won on June 12, 1993. Military Government Executioner, Sergeant Barnabas Jabila aka Sergeant Rogers confessed to murdering Chief Abiola’s wife, Kudirat Abiola and the failed murder attempt on the Publisher of the Guardian Newspaper, Mr Alex Ibru, on the orders of Major Hamza Al Mustapha, the Chief Security Officer to General Abacha. Due to the fact that there’s no accountability in governance in Nigeria, Major Al Mustapha recently sought to run for the Presidency of Nigeria in the last general election; imagine Joseph Goebbels running for the Presidency of Germany, 20 years after the atrocities they perpetrated during the Nazi era?!

Continuous Fundamental Rights Breaches by the Authorities in a So-Called Democratic Dispensation, Particularly Law Enforcement Agencies

The question is whether there has been a change in this negative culture of the authorities breaching rights, since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999. The answer is, not quite! While I’m not saying that the murders I mention below are State-sponsored, because no one (except their killers) appears to know who killed the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Bola Ige, SAN, or PDP Lagos State Gubernatorial Candidate, Funsho Williams, what should we also call what occurred at the Lekki Tollgate during the #EndSARS Protest in October 2021 when soldiers opened fire on unarmed Youths, if not a breach of the rights of those Youths on several levels? For one,

onIkepo BraIThwaITe

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

“Due to the fact that there’s no accountability in governance in Nigeria, Major Al Mustapha recently sought to run for the Presidency of Nigeria in the last general election; imagine Joseph Goebbels running for the Presidency of Germany, 20 years after the atrocities they perpetrated during the Nazi era?!”

innocent people were said to have lost their lives, as a result of that unfortunate incident. Meanwhile, other types of constitutional breaches by the authorities have continued subtly and not so subtly, democracy or not, and the security agencies like the Police and DSS are two of the biggest culprits in this regard. In fact, the AntiTorture Act 2017 (ATA) was enacted to stop agencies like the Police from torturing suspects in their custody.

1) Police In Kure v COP (2020) LPELR-49378(SC) per Uwani Musa Abba Aji, JSC, the Supreme Court held that “The primary duty of the Police by Section 4 of the Police Act is the prevention of crime, investigation and detection of crime and the prosecution of offenders”. In this particular case, Her Lordship wondered “how a purely civil case could easily metamorphose and trans-substantiate into a purely criminal case”. Good question. But, we see it happen with the Police and EFCC regularly.

The other day, a Foreigner was referred to me by a friend. He reported a case of breach of contract to me - breach on the part of the Nigerian party, who then made use of the Police to not only extort money from him, but to also introduce a criminal element that didn’t exist into the matter, in an attempt to justify their unlawful activity of extortion of money, hanging documents he was forced to sign to regain his freedom over his head, as a form of blackmail! See the case of Diamond Bank v Opara & Ors (2018) LPELR-43907(SC) per Sidi Dauda Bage, JSC on illegal detention by Police and coercion to pay money to be released on bail. The Foreigner was not given any opportunity to contact his Embassy, nor have legal representation. I felt so ashamed of our Police, when he recounted his ordeal to me. And, Nigeria is looking for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)! Also see the case of EFCC v Diamond Bank Plc & Ors (2018) LPELR-44217(SC).

In Kure v COP (Supra), the Apex Court further held that “The Police is not a debt

recovery agency and has no business to dabble into contractual disputes between parties arising from purely civil transactions”

But, in reality, civil matters like Debt Collection, Landlord & Tenant Matters are popular with the Police! In fact, the Court also held that involving the Police in civil matters is ‘Mala fide’, “using the coercive powers of the State to punish a contracting party”, and those who do so, should be held liable in damages. I concur. A few months ago, as I was exiting a court room, some elderly men approached me to please call their Lawyer as he was no longer answering their calls after taking their money! They then told me that their son had been arrested for Wandering, and subsequently, the Police had beefed up the Wandering charge with what they alleged was a trumped up charge of Cultism! For the avoidance of doubt, Wandering is no longer an offence under Nigerian law, so why do the Police continue to arrest people for an offence unknown to law contrary to Section 36(8) of the Constitution? Section 1 of the Minor Offences (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 (MOA), abolished the offence of Wandering under the Criminal Code and Penal Code. But, do the Police care about the MOA? I don’t think so. In spite of a plethora of authorities, agencies like the Police, EFCC and SSS are still deeply involved in matters that do not fall within their statutory duties.

2) DSS/SSS

While I will never subscribe to the dissemination of fake news about anybody or organisation, in recent times we have read news reports about Journalists being treated in a similar manner as the military days by law enforcement agencies. Raids have been conducted on Media Houses by the DSS, as a tactic of intimidation to drown the voices of dissension. Nigerians will never forget the unprecedented and shameful DSS raids on Judges and Justices in October 2016 in the dead of night, during the Buhari administration. The National Security Agencies Act 2006 (NSA Act) which was cited to support DSS’s

unlawful actions then, couldn’t by the stretch of any vivid imagination have been applied to that situation - see Section 2(3) of the NSA Act on the duties of the SSS. They say DSS may be another name for SSS, or it’s alter-ego, but DSS isn’t mentioned in the NSA Act; I wonder who is then sued, in a matter involving the DSS? Does it have a juristic personality, like the Police and EFCC?

There is a proper process to follow, when there’s reasonable suspicion that an individual or an organisation has broken the law. Gestapo tactics do not align with, or augur well in a democratic dispensation. Yet, this is the hallmark of the DSS.

However, the same security agencies that go around bullying people, have failed to arrest former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello who was declared wanted for money laundering to the tune of N100 billion, while Senator Orji Kalu is allowed to manipulate the law to escape justice. The equality and equity for all referred to in the Preamble of the Constitution, remains nothing more than an illusion, as our laws appear to be applied differently to different people - another breach of the rights of those who are treated unfairly - see Section 42 of the Constitution. In President of the FRN & Anor v National Assembly & Ors (2022) LPELR-58516(SC) per Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JSC, the Supreme Court reiterated the fact that there must be equality before the law.

3) Government Policies

I watched a programme last week on Channels TV’s Morning Brief discussing 2024 World Food Day themed ‘Good food for all, for Today and Tomorrow’. The most important point I picked from the discussion, is that the right to food is categorised as a fundamental right, based upon the fact that Section 33(1) of the Constitution guarantees our right to life, and food is key to keeping a human being alive. It’s unlikely that a starving individual can stay alive, beyond about two months, give or take some days, without food. Yet, Nigerians are hungry. Not only is there not enough food for all as a result of people being unable to access their farms due to insecurity, what food stuff is available, is costly. Millions of people are finding it difficult to feed; Government is not fulfilling its constitutional obligation to keep Nigerians happy, ensure that they are treated humanely and harness and maximise the resources that Nigeria is so richly blessed with, in order to give the people a better life - these are rights guaranteed by the Constitution, being breached by the State.

When you also have a Government that sees taxing people to death as not just a low hanging fruit, but good economic policy, it is obvious that such administration is observing the Constitution in the breach and may be bereft of ideas. Is it true that Lagos State wants to introduce a new tax to home owners who are owner-occupiers?! What nonsense is that? When Lagosians are already paying Land Use Charge, which is an occupation and ownership tax? The Land Use Charge is a combination of the tenement rate which is paid by the occupier or tenant in a property, and the ground rent which is the tax paid by the grantee to the government grantor of the lease on the land. Any new owner-occupier tax, no matter how small, will amount to double taxation. Is it good Government policy to pauperise Nigerians, by over-taxation? The other day, someone was telling me that a foreign company wanted to invest in West Africa; despite the fact that Nigeria has the largest market for their product, they decided to go to one of the smaller countries, because the atmosphere for FDI is becoming less conducive in Nigeria - it’s more about difficulty, and not ease of doing business, coupled with corruption and inconsistent government policy.

Conclusion

Section 1(1) of the Constitution provides that it is supreme and binding on all persons and authorities in Nigeria, which includes all Government agencies, be them law enforcement or other. A situation where the Constitution, laws and rights of citizens are flagrantly and regularly breached by them, particularly in a democratic dispensation, is unacceptable. See Saraki v FRN (2016) LPELR-40013(SC) per Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC (now CJN) on the supremacy of the Constitution. In Governor of Lagos State v Ojukwu 1986 1 N.W.L.R. Part 18 Page 647-648 per Chukwudifu Oputa, JSC, the Supreme Court held inter alia that the State is subject to the law, and should respect the rights of individuals under the rule of law. If such a judgement was delivered during the military era, today, more than ever, should the contents of its decision not be what obtains in a so-called democratic dispensation? The answer is, Yes. But, for many in Government, obedience to the rule of law and respecting the rights of the people may not be important, but, these are some of the issues that a Foreigner takes into consideration, when determining whether to invest in Nigeria or not. Already, many foreign companies have folded up and left Nigeria. This isn’t to say that some of them weren’t on a mission to plunder Nigeria, and so it may be good riddance to them; but, I’m referring to attracting FDI that will be of benefit to Nigeria. It is imperative that Government and its agencies, particularly those in law enforcement appreciate the importance of upholding the people’s fundamental rights and the rule of law. It is off-putting to all, citizens and foreigners alike, when the opposite appears to be the case.

Award of Damages: When an Appellate Court Will Interfere

Facts

Sometime in 2007, the 2nd Appellant approached the Respondent, for a bank guarantee in the form of bond for the benefit of SOCACIC (W.A) Ltd. The 1st Appellant’s Certificate of Occupancy Number — BI/G/2962, was deposited with the Respondent as security for the bond. However, owing to change in government policy, the purpose for the bond could not materialise; thus, at the expiration of the tenure of the bond, the Appellants wrote to the Respondent demanding a return of the Certificate of Occupancy, but, the Respondent refused. The continued retention of the document caused the Appellants a lot of hardship and economic loss; thus, the Appellants instituted an action against the Respondent by Writ of Summons, challenging the Respondent’s continued retention of the original title document of the property used in securing a performance bond facility granted to the 1st Appellant. They sought the following reliefs, inter alia - An Order of the Honourable Court directing the Respondent to return the document to them; and an Order commanding the Defendant to pay the sum of N100 million as exemplary damages for unlawful detention of the Certificate of Occupancy Number - BI/G/2962 property of the Claimants from 2008 to date.

At the trial, the Appellants averred and led evidence to show that the Certificate of Occupancy is the title deed of a property they intend to construct an international hotel on, and also the only means for them to raise funds to build the hotel. In response, the Respondent claimed it did not release the title document, because the Appellants did not return the original bond for cancellation. The 2nd Appellant testified as the sole witness, and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibits A- A7. They established that the original bond, had been returned to the Bank. The Respondent equally called a sole witness who testified on its behalf. At the end of the proceeding, the trial court entered judgement against the Respondent, holding it liable for damages in the sum of N30 million for retaining the Certificate of Occupancy since 2007 for no reason, and N100,000 daily if the Respondent failed to release the Certificate of Occupancy within seven days of the judgement.

Aggrieved by that decision, the Respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal, which court resolved the main issue (issue 2) against the Appellants. The award of damages in the sum of N30 million in favour of the Appellants was set aside by the lower court, and reduced to the sum of N100,000.

The Appellants were aggrieved by this decision; hence, they appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination

The Apex Court adopted two issues for determination of the appeal:

1. Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were not in error when they held that the court, having compelled the return of the certificate of occupancy, can only award reasonable damages for the retention of the chattel and found the N30 million awarded by trial court as excessive”.

2. Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were not in error when they reduced the N30 million damages in favour of the Appellant to N100,000.00, for the retention of the Appellants’ Certificate of Occupancy”.

Arguments

Counsel for the Appellants submitted that the primary object of an award of damages is to compensate the Plaintiff for the harm done to him, or a secondary object is to punish the Defendant for his conduct in inflicting that harm. That damages come into play whenever the Defendant’s conduct is sufficiently outrageous to merit punishment, as where it discloses malice, fraud, cruelty, insolence, flagrant disregard of the law and the like. Counsel relied on the case of ODIBA v AZEGE (1998) LPELR - 2215 (SC), amongst others. He contended further that the illegal detention of the title deed of the Appellants by the Respondent caused hardship and losses to the Appellants, because the title

In the Supreme court of Nigeria Holden at abuja

On Friday, the 21st day of June, 2024

Before their lordships uwani Musa abba aji Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju chidiebere Nwaoma uwa Stephen Jonah adah abubakar Sadiq umar Justices, Supreme court Sc.789/2017

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ReSPONdeNT (Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Stephen Jonah Adah, JSC)

deed was to be used to raise funds for building an International Hotel, and this unchallenged evidence can be the very basis upon which an award of damages can be made. He posited that the title deed belonging to the 2nd Claimant had been detained since 2008m for no just cause. Counsel then urged the court to resolve issue one in favour of the Appellants, and hold that the award of N30 million damages was not excessive.

The Respondent countered the submissions, stating that the lower court was right in holding that the damages awarded were ridiculously excessive. He supported the judgement of the lower court that the damages suffered, if any, could have been mitigated if the Appellants had wanted to do that. He contended that the finding of the lower court in that direction was not challenged by the Appellant in the appeal, and that the Appellants, in consequence, should be deemed to have conceded to the findings of lower

“An award of damages can only be upset or interfered with by an appellate court, if it is shown by the Appellant, either that: (a) the trial court acted or proceeded upon wrong principles of law, or (b) the amount awarded by the trial court, is manifestly and extremely high or low, or (c) the amount, was on an entirely erroneous estimate which no reasonable tribunal, will make”

Occupancy back to the Appellants. The court defined detinue as “a retention of a Plaintiffs chattle or goods by the Defendant, which is significantly evidenced by the refusal of the Defendant or his agent to release or return the goods to the Plaintiff on demand. A successful Plaintiff is entitled to an Order of specific restitution of the chattel or goods, or in default, its value, and of paramount importance, damages for its detention up to the date of judgement”.

The Apex Court noted that in the case before it, the Respondent could not defend the retention of the title document of the Appellants, and there was a concurrence of findings of fact by the trial court and the lower court that the refusal to release the Certificate of Occupancy since 2008 caused the Appellants great hardship and economic loss, to the extent that they would have completed the hotel they were to build and start business on the land covered by the said Certificate, if the Certificate was released to them. Their Lordships then proceeded to hold that “It is therefore, strange and wrong, with all due respect, for the lower court to place any blame on the Plaintiffs by saying they did not try to mitigate losses. A look at the property in question, will indicate that no circumstances existed for the Claimants to mitigate their losses, since the property is the original title deed to their land. The facts on the record showed that the Appellants made several demands in vain, for the return of their title deed”.

The court noted that even after the Appellants had obtained judgement for the release of the Certificate of Occupancy at the trial court, the Respondents refused to release same to the Appellants, and that this attitude was not only inexplicable, but an extremely callous and barbarous act that could never find any line of tolerance in the society.

Their Lordships then held that “An award of damages can only be upset or interfered with by an appellate court, if it is shown by the Appellant, either that: (a) the trial court acted or proceeded upon wrong principles of law, or (b) the amount awarded by the trial court, is manifestly and extremely high or low, or (c) the amount, was on an entirely erroneous estimate which no reasonable tribunal, will make”.

court in that respect. That failure of the Appellants to take reasonable steps to mitigate their alleged loss, barred them from claiming damages. Relying on the case of ONWUKA v OMOGUI (1992) 3 NWLR (PT. 230) 392, 401, he urged the court to resolve the issue in favour of the Respondent.

On issue two, Counsel for the Appellants argued that an Appellate court cannot alter or set aside an award of damages, merely because it might have awarded a different figure, if it had heard the case itself. He pointed out that the Appellate court could only interfere where it is shown that the award was made on a wrong principle, or that the damages awarded are manifestly too high. He therefore, urged the Supreme Court to invoke its general powers under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to interfere with the findings of the lower court which reduced the judgement sum of N30 million to N100,000. Responding to the submission, the Respondent contended that the lower court considered the evidence and the submissions made by the Appellants before arriving at the decision, and urged the Supreme Court not to interfere with it.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale At the onset of its judgement, the Supreme Court clarified that the issue before it was not rooted in any contract, but in the tort of detinue, as there was nothing contractual about the failure of the Respondent to release the Certificate of

The Supreme Court found that the lower court evidently supported the findings of fact of the trial court and the conclusion on those findings by the trial court, but, the lower court was misdirected when it suo motu introduced the issue of mitigation of loss without calling on the parties to address it, as this issue was neither raised by the parties in their pleadings, nor raised in their arguments in their briefs before the lower court. The issue raised by the court suo motu was not a jurisdictional issue; therefore, the failure to call the parties to address it infringed on their rights to fair hearing. Their Lordships held further that an award of damages is usually an exercise of discretion, and a valid exercise of discretion is one which is exercised judicially and judiciously, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case. The exercise of the lower court’s discretion to reduce or interfere with the award of damages was arbitrary, without due reference to the facts and circumstances of the case before the court.

Consequently, the Apex Court noted that there was sufficient justification for the trial court to award punitive damages, but altered the award to a sum of N20 million. The court also ordered the release of the Appellants’ documents to them within seven days, and made a further order that if the Respondent refuses to release the documents to the Appellants within seven days after the judgement, the Respondent would be liable in the sum of N100,000 daily for the unlawful retention of the title document. The Supreme Court adjudged the appeal as meritorious, and resolved the issues in favour of the Appellants.

Appeal Allowed.

Representation

S.A. Oshodi for the Appellants. Nick O. Omeye with C.O. Ezugwu for the Respondent.

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

Honourable Stephen Jonah Adah, JSC

Bamise Ayanwole’s Murder Trial: Defence Opens Case

Stories by Steve Aya

Andrew Nice Ominikoron, a driver of the Lagos State Bus Rapid Transport, standing trial over the alleged murder of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, on Thursday, 18th October, 2024, finally opened his defence at the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square Annexe.

The Defendant who was led in his testimony by his Counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, told Justice Sherifat Shonaike that he didn't rape or kill Miss Ayanwola, as accused. He said it was three male passengers who boarded his bus after official hours, who raped her and threw her from the vehicle.

Andrew Nice was arraigned in March 2022 on four counts bordering on the rape, conspiracy, and murder of the 22 year old on February 26, 2022, on the LekkiAjah Conservation expressway. He is said to have conspired with others now at large, and forcefully had sexual intercourse with the Fashion Designer after which he

Alleged

murdered her.

But, while giving his testimony, he told the court that he illegally picked up Bamise at the Chevron bus stop on a return trip to Oshodi, after he had offloaded passengers on the Oshodi-Ajah route at around 8 pm that day.

"I resumed at our Oshodi office that day, on the afternoon shift. I loaded my bus with passengers going to Ajah. On getting to Ajah, I offloaded the passengers and took a return trip with another set of passengers to Oshodi, offloaded them, and then loaded another round to Ajah. It was around 8 pm by then, and by this time, I was not permitted to load any more passengers to Oshodi. But, we normally pick up passengers after 8 pm and tell them the cowry machine is not working, so that they can pay the bus fare in cash and we will keep the money for ourselves. Our salary is not enough, they promised us N120,000 monthly, but, we are paid N71,000. Whenever we load passengers after official hours, we usually have them sit at the

$4.4m Debt: Logistics Firm Loses Bid to Vacate Ex-Parte Order

All efforts by GPC Energy and Logistics Limited, to discharge a restriction order placed on it’s accounts in 36 banks in Nigeria, by a Lagos Federal High Court, seem to have failed to yield desired results as the application to discharge the order wasstruck out.

GPS Logistics is alleged to be indebted to Ecobank Nigeria Limited, in the sum of $4,454,348.28 million. Upon the failure of the firm to pay the alleged debt, Ecobank, through it’s Lawyers, Dr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, leading Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN and three others, had approached the court presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko on August 6, with an Ex-Parte motion for orders against the company and it’s alter ego, Chukwudi Elvis Okonji, for an order of the court pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion on Notice filed, restraining the named Banks whether by themselves, directors, managers, officers or howsoever from accepting, honouring or giving effect in any manner howsoever to any mandate, cheque or instructions presented by the Respondents, whether by themselves or through their servants, agents or privies and/or any other

director(s), shareholder(s), officer(s), employee(s), official, private or other security personnel and/ or privies, assigns, nominees, attorneys, or any other person(s) acting in their stead, on their behalf and instruction or any person (natural or artificial), howsoever designated for the withdrawal of any sum of money and or funds standing to the credit of the Defendants maintained at any of the named Banks and/ or their branches without first ring-fencing/ preserving the sum of $4,454,348.28, its equivalent in Naira, or any other currency howsoever described, which sum ought to be available for satisfaction of the Plaintiff’s claim in this suit, among other prayers. The Banks ordered to comply with the order are: Guaranty Trust Bank Plc: Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc; Zenith Bank Plc; First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Polaris Bank Limited; Standard Chartered Bank Limited; First City Monument Bank Limited; Access Bank Plc; Keystone Bank Limited; Fidelity Bank Plc; Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; United Bank for Africa Plc; Citi Bank Limited; Ecobank Nigeria Plc; Heritage Bank Company Limited and Stanbic-IBTC Bank Plc.

back and dim the bright lights in the bus, so that the surveillance cameras on our routes cannot spot them."

He added that, shortly after Bamise boarded his bus, he picked up three more passengers at Agungi bus stop, all male. On getting to Osborne under the bridge, Andrew Nice said one of the men walked up to him in the driver's seat and pointed a gun at him, ordering him to cooperate with them. He said he had never seen them before, and could only recognise the one who pointed a gun at him.

"The driver's seat usually has a glass around the driver, like a room to one's self, but, the bus I drove that day had no door. I was heading towards the third mainland bridge, but, they ordered me to drive to Carter Bridge. The three men dragged her down, she was shouting for help and they

raped her. They pushed her off the bus and alighted afterward, while I continued on my trip. On getting to Oshodi, I parked the bus and went home. That day was a Saturday, I was off duty the next day. On Monday, I was going to work when my MD called me to report to see my Depot Manager (Mr Ola) at Oshodi. When I got there, I was told not to drive any bus, but to wait. While waiting, a colleague asked me why I picked up a passenger illegally, as she had now gone missing. When I heard that, I was afraid and fled, because I knew my employers would not take it easy with me. My MD used to say that he would spend N1 million to deal with anyone who stole N100 from him. Picking passengers illegally, amounts to stealing from the company."

The Defendant told the court further, that he fled to Ososa in Ogun State to stay with his friend

(Hope), and that was where DSS officials arrested them.

When he was asked if he was aware the deceased was sending voice notes to her friend that night expressing her misgivings about the other passengers on the bus, he said he didn't know.

During Police interrogation at SCID Panti, Andrew Nice said he was tortured by the Officers, and that they refused to give him water when he told them he was thirsty. He added that, he couldn't write his statement because he was weak from the beatings he received.

The Defendant also denied sexually assaulting two other women (names withheld) on his bus at different intervals before the alleged incident with Bamise, and that he wasn't questioned about the women, never were they presented to him, while in Police custody. He said he

dated one of them, but broke up with her because she was always asking him for money. Before adjourning the trial to Monday, October 21, at the request of the Defendant’s Counsel, for further examinationin-chief of the Defendant, Justice Sonaike strongly expressed displeasure at the slow pace of the case. The court said that the frequent adjourn ments in the trial have been at the instance of the defence Counsel, and that the last hearing was on February 15, 2024.

The Director of Public Prosecutions at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Dr Babajide Martins, in his response to Mr Omotubora's request for adjournment, said he had received a query from the Attorney-General of the State over the case, as the Prosecution had closed its case since November 2023.

Head Teacher Sentenced to Double Life Imprisonment for Defiling Underaged Girls

A former Head Teacher of Shalom Private School, Oke-Ira Road, Ebutte Metta in Lagos, Benjamin Ogba, was sentenced to double life imprisonment for defiling two underaged girls, both seven years old, by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.

Justice Abiola Soladoye, in her judgement, held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt, the ingredients of defilement to the court's satisfaction.The trial Judge, however, expressed her disappointment and held that the evidence of the defence witnesses was tainted with lies, which did not hold water. According to her, the convict is a serial paedophile,

and his testimonies are a pack of lies. She said: “The Defendant and his fellow defence witnesses, were not truthful and credible in their testimonies.“Their testimonies were a pack of lies, and fell asunder like cards.“This serial paedophile, a head teacher, who is expected to teach his students morals, stooped so low and defiled the underaged girls, what a shame! “This irresponsible and randy teacher who teaches his students nonsense, should be locked away”, she ruled.

The trial Judge also praised the two survivors for their courage to speak up in court against their assailant. She said that sexual abuse of any

sort must be reported, and not swept under the carpet. Soladoye further urged parents, not to relent in reporting sexual abuse cases to the appropriate authorities.“Continuous education and awareness of this issue of sexual menace, must be at the forefront of all stakeholders in the administration of justice to advocate for the rights of young children.

“The Defendant, having been found guilty of the two counts bordering on defilement, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the counts.“The sentencing, will however, run concurrently, and his name be registered in the Sex Offenders Reguater as maintained by Lagos State”, she said. The State Counsel, led by Mr Olusola Soneye, called three witnesses while the defence Counsel called four witnesses during the trial. The prosecution submitted that the convict, sometime in April and May 10, 2019, at Shalom Private School, Oke-Ira Road, Ebutte Metta in Lagos, defiled the two survivors by having unlawful sexual intercourse with them. The prosecutor told the court that one of the girls, however, informed her mother, and the case was reported at the Police Station. According to the prosecution, the offence violates Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Group Calls for Abolition of Death Penalty in Nigeria

Enock Reuben inabuja

Advocates Sans Frontières (ASF) France, formerly known as Lawyers Without Borders, has called on the Federal Government to abolish the death penalty in Nigeria. It said Nigeria has the highest number of people awaiting the death penalty in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 3,600 on death row.

ASF Country Director, Angela Uzoma- Iwuchukwu made the call at 2024 World Day Against Death Penalty in Abuja. She expressed concern, over the growing number of inmates on death row in Nigeria.

She said: “The death penalty doesn’t serve as a deterrent, as it’s widely misconceived. It does not deter crime, it is obsolete, and it is used disproportionately against the poor, because the rich pay their way out of the justice system, because we really have a flaw in the justice system in Nigeria. And, that means you don’t find the rich being held accountable for their crimes”.

Also, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Ojukwu, SAN condemned the death penalty in totality. Ojukwu who was represented by Director, Legal, Hajia Rabi Anwar,

described death penalty “as a form of State-sanctioned violence, which is not only irreversible, but fraught with the potential for irreparable harm”.

“We cannot ignore the growing body of evidence, that shows capital punishment does not serve as a deterrent to crime. It perpetuates a cycle of violence, and undermines our collective effort to build a society based on justice, fairness and respect for human life.

“The National Human Rights Commission, is steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria. This commitment is not

only a reflection of our mandate to uphold the right to life as enshrined in both the Constitution and International Human Rights Treaties, but also of our belief in the capacity of our justice system to adopt more humane, just and effective alternatives to the death penalty”.

On his part, the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin Juda also advocated for the full abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria. He noted that there was no empirical evidence, to suggest that the death penalty deters crime or makes communities any safer.

Late Bamise Ayanwole

Country Director, Advocates Sans Frontières, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu

Introduction

In a nation where justice is compromised, every aspect of society is affected. Judicial corruption, particularly in Nigeria, which is striving to attract foreign investment and foster growth, not only tarnishes the image of the Judiciary, but also destabilises trust in the rule of law, governance and economic development. Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, GCON, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, once remarked: “A corrupt Judge is more harmful to society, than a man who runs amok with a dagger in a crowded street. The latter can be restrained physically, but a corrupt Judge deliberately destroys the moral foundation of society and causes incalculable distress to individuals, through abusing his office while still being referred to as honourable”. This stark comparison reveals how pervasive the effects of judicial corruption are, extending far beyond individual cases to undermine the entire societal structure.

Erosion of Trust in Governance and the Rule of Law

One of the Judiciary’s core functions is to uphold justice impartially, ensuring that citizens can rely on the courts to deliver fair and equitable decisions. When the Judiciary becomes tainted by corruption, trust in the entire governance system weakens. Citizens lose faith in the idea that justice can be attained through legal means, encouraging lawlessness, vigilantism, and the breakdown of civil society. The Judiciary is supposed to act as a check on executive and legislative powers, but when Judges themselves are corrupt, they cease to be independent arbiters, allowing for the abuse of power at all levels of government.

Judicial corruption allows criminals, corrupt politicians, and fraudsters to escape justice, perpetuating a culture of impunity. This perception of inequality before the law, contributes to a cynical and disillusioned citizenry. As the late Lord Denning, a renowned British Jurist, noted: “Justice must be rooted in confidence, and confidence is destroyed when right-minded people go away thinking: ‘The judge was biased’”.The Nigerian public is all too familiar with instances where justice appears to be for sale, with wealthy individuals or those with political influence escaping punishment while the poor are disproportionately punished.

Impact on Foreign Investment

and Economic Growth

Foreign investors are wary of environments, where the Judiciary cannot be trusted to enforce contracts and protect investments. Corruption in the Judiciary can delay or distort the outcomes of commercial disputes, making it risky for companies to do business in Nigeria. Investors need assurance that if legal disputes arise, they will be resolved fairly, promptly, and impartially. When such guarantees are absent, investment capital flows elsewhere, depriving Nigeria of much-needed economic growth and development.

According to Transparency International, judicial corruption also impacts the broader business environment, where businesses may feel pressured to engage in corrupt practices to secure favourable rulings. This leads to an uneven playing field where only those willing to bribe or engage in illicit activities thrive, further disincentivising ethical investments. The cost of doing business rises due to the uncertainty of legal protections, as articulated by Lord Acton: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. When Judges, who hold immense power over the fate of citizens and businesses, become corrupt, it creates an environment where ethical companies find it difficult to operate.

Consequences for Citizens and Human Rights

At the heart of judicial corruption, is the suffering it inflicts on ordinary citizens. When a person seeks justice, but is met with a system that requires bribes or favours for a fair hearing, they are denied their basic rights. Innocent people may languish in prison, while the guilty walk free. Vulnerable groups, such as women, minorities, and the poor, are particularly affected, as they often lack the

Impact of Judicial Corruption on Nigeria's Society, Governance, and Global Standing

This article by Johnson Babalola discusses the dangers of judicial corruption and how it is able to destroy the very fabric of society, eroding citizens’ trust in the Judiciary, governance and the rule of law; repelling foreign direct investment, companies that prefer to operate in an ethical environment, thereby impacting negatively on economic growth, among other gloomy outcomes. He suggests ways to tackle judicial corruption, from the Nigerian Bar association (NBa) playing a more active role in the recruitment of judicial officers, to transparency in judicial appointments and the National Judicial Council (NJC) playing a more effective role in the discipline of erring judicial officers

resources to navigate or challenge a corrupt judicial system. Human rights abuses are often perpetuated when the Judiciary fails to protect the vulnerable, or when it collaborates with corrupt government officials to suppress dissent. In these situations, judicial corruption becomes an enabler of State-sponsored violence, unlawful detentions, and the suppression of freedom of speech and assembly. As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor once observed: “The courts of this country should not be merely representative organs of popular opinion, nor merely instruments for carrying out the will of the government, but rather, instruments of justice”.

The Role of the Nigerian Bar Association in Addressing Judicial Corruption

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), as the umbrella body for legal practitioners, has a crucial role to play in tackling judicial corruption. Lawyers are integral to the judicial process, and unfortunately, some have been implicated in encouraging corrupt practices by bribing Judges or exploiting their relationships with judicial officers to influence case outcomes. For Nigeria to address corruption within its Judiciary, the NBA must take proactive steps to reform both the legal profession and its relationship with the courts. Firstly, the NBA must intensify efforts to

“A corrupt Judge is more harmful to society, than a man who runs amok with a dagger in a crowded street. The latter can be restrained physically, but a corrupt Judge deliberately destroys the moral foundation of society and causes incalculable distress to individuals, through abusing his office while still being referred to as honourable”

uphold ethical standards among Lawyers. It should be an uncompromising advocate for the integrity of the legal profession, by strictly enforcing its Code of Conduct. Lawyers who engage in unethical practices, such as offering bribes or facilitating judicial corruption, should face severe disciplinary actions, including suspension or disbarment. An independent disciplinary committee, free from internal influences, can ensure that these measures are carried out effectively.

Secondly, the NBA should collaborate with the Judiciary, to improve transparency in judicial appointments and the promotion of Judges. Merit-based appointments that consider competence, integrity, and professionalism, would reduce the chances of corrupt individuals gaining judicial office. As Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. once said: “Judges are like umpires. Umpires don’t make the rules; they apply them. The role of an umpire and a Judge is critical to ensuring fairness, integrity, and public trust”. The NBA can advocate for the institutionalisation of such a standard in Nigeria, ensuring that only those with impeccable records and moral standing ascend to the Bench.

Furthermore, the NBA can lead public advocacy campaigns aimed at educating the public on the dangers of judicial corruption, and encouraging them to speak out against it. Many citizens may feel powerless or unaware of their rights, when faced with corrupt practices in the Judiciary. By creating platforms for citizens to report judicial misconduct and by supporting whistleblowers, the NBA can empower the public to demand a fairer and more transparent legal system.

The NBA can also foster stronger relationships with international anti-corruption organisations, seeking technical assistance and adopting best practices from countries with more transparent judicial systems. Engaging in cross-border collaborations and learning from other jurisdictions, will allow the NBA to

innovate in its fight against corruption within the Nigerian Judiciary.

The Way Forward: Rebuilding the Judiciary For Nigeria to realise its full potential, it must reform its Judiciary and restore the integrity of the courts. Judges need to be held to the highest ethical standards, and corruption must be addressed through strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws, transparent judicial appointments, and mechanisms that allow for the investigation and removal of corrupt Judges. This includes empowering the National Judicial Council (NJC) to carry out its oversight role more effectively, and ensuring that Judges who engage in corrupt practices face severe consequences.

Additionally, citizens must be encouraged to report instances of judicial misconduct, and legal professionals should be trained to uphold ethical practices in the courtroom. The NBA’s collaboration with the NJC and international bodies can significantly strengthen efforts to build a corruption-free Judiciary in Nigeria.

Conclusion

Judicial corruption in Nigeria is not just a problem for the Judiciary; it affects every facet of the nation’s life. From eroding trust in governance and deterring foreign investment, to perpetuating human rights abuses, the consequences of a corrupt Judiciary are profound and far-reaching. As Justice Uwais powerfully stated, a corrupt Judge is not merely a criminal in a courtroom robe, but a destroyer of society’s moral fabric. The Nigerian Bar Association, as a gatekeeper of the legal profession, has a pivotal role to play in eradicating corruption from the legal and judicial systems. Through decisive reforms, public advocacy, and collaboration with judicial bodies, the NBA can help restore public trust and ensure that justice in Nigeria is no longer compromised by corruption. Only then, can the nation begin to rebuild itself on the foundations of integrity and fairness.

Johnson Babalola, Lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Canada

TalkIng ConsTITuTIonal demoCraCy

PROF mike O zekh O me, san

Artificial Intelligence and the Law: The Future of Legal Practice (Part 1)

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging rapidly as a transformative force across various industries, and the legal profession is no exception to this wave of change, as AI has started to play a significant role in various aspects of legal practice. It has become crucial for legal professionals and aspiring Lawyers to either adapt to the changing dynamics of a technology-driven world, or risk stagnation. This article explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and the law, examining the current state of AI in the legal field, and its potential impact on the future of legal practice.

Meaning of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines, enabling them to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as: Learning; Reasoning; Problem-solving; Perception and Natural Language Processing (NLP). It is a machine, computer system or software, designed to think like the human mind. It is created to mimic the cognitive capabilities of the human brain, to complete tasks which would rather require human intelligence. AI algorithms can tackle learning, perception, problem-solving, language understanding and logical reasoning. It encompasses various subfields, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics, all of which aim to create systems that can exhibit human-like intelligence and behaviour.

John McCarthy first defined the term “Artificial Intelligence”, in 1956, as the development and use of machines to execute tasks which usually required human intelligence. Similarly, Ziyad Saleh of the British University in Egypt sees it as, the ‘intelligence demonstrated by machine in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals’. Data Robot CEO, Jeremy Achin's, speech at the 2017 Japan AI Experience, summed up the modern definition of AI. According to Jeremy, “AI is a computer system, able to perform tasks that ordinarily require human intelligence ... many of these artificial intelligence systems are powered by machine learning; some of them are powered by deep learning, and very boring things like rules power some of them”.

How Artificial Intelligence Works

But, how do machines learn? Simply put, a subtle illustration can be drawn from how a baby learns to do certain things, by merely observing and learning from how the parents behave. So too, these AI learns from experience, and act accordingly. In the legal context, AI systems have been employed for a variety of applications. AI systems use algorithms and data to learn from experience, adapt to new information, and improve their performance over time.

In order to achieve an AI, scientists draw inspiration from the sensory organs of humans. In AI research, there is the subfield of ‘Natural Language Processing (NLP)’, which makes it possible for computers to read text, hear speech, interpret it, measure thoughts and emotions, and determine which parts are important. There is also ‘Machine Learning (ML)’, an algorithm which is capable of receiving input data and using statistical analysis to glean insight and predict an output. Another subfield is ‘Deep Learning’, which aims to replicate the learning development pathways of humans, with a focus on visual or abstract work and

self-improving without human intervention. Therefore, some common examples of AI today include virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa; fraud detection systems in banking; self-driving cars and more.

Types of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Three types of AI have been classified based on capabilities, to wit:

1. Artificial Narrow Intelligence.

2. Artificial General Intelligence.

3. Artificial Super Intelligence.

A. Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)

This type of AI is also referred to as Narrow AI or Weak AI, and it is a form of artificial intelligence we encounter in our daily lives. Unlike its counterparts, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), ANI is already a reality that has made significant contributions to the economic development of nations in recent decades.

In the last decade, Narrow AI has experienced many breakthroughs that have contributed to the economic vitality of nations around the world. ANI can be categorised into two main types: limited memory or reactive AI. The limited memory ANI is more advanced, as it can access historical data, enabling it to make decisions based on past information, much like how humans rely on their memories to make decisions. In contrast, reactive ANI lacks data storage or memory capability, but it can respond to various stimuli without any prior experience, similar to the way the human mind reacts to new situations.

In the contemporary landscape, most AI systems fall under the category of limited memory ANI. These AI systems use stored data for deep learning and excel in performing specific tasks. Examples of Narrow AI encompass a wide range of applications, including drone robots, virtual assistants

“It has become crucial for legal professionals and aspiring Lawyers to either adapt to the changing dynamics of a technology-driven world, or risk stagnation”

like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana, Google's Rankbrain, social media monitoring tools, facial and image recognition software, personalised Netflix recommendations, self-driving cars, and disease mapping tools. For clarification and reference, it is important to note that much of the AI mentioned in this discussion, falls under the category of "Narrow AI." This means that these AI systems are designed for specific purposes, and do not possess the broad cognitive capabilities that are associated with higher-level artificial intelligences like AGI and ASI.

B. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

This type of AI is also known as Deep AI or Strong AI, and it represents a level of machine intelligence that possesses the capability to tackle a wide array of tasks with human-like intelligence. Unlike its narrow counterparts (ANI), AGI goes beyond mere task-specific learning, and has the ability to think and understand in a manner similar to humans. This advanced cognitive capacity is underpinned by a framework known as, the "theory of mind AI."

The "theory of mind AI" framework, is an essential aspect of AGI. It refers to the AI's ability to not only mimic human actions, but also to discern and comprehend human emotions, needs, thought processes, and beliefs. In essence, it allows AGI to engage with humans on a deeper level, approaching human-level understanding and empathy.

To successfully develop AGI, researchers and scientists face the formidable challenge of programming machines to possess a broad spectrum of cognitive abilities. This is no small task, as it goes beyond the limitations of mimicking human-like actions, and involves instilling machines with the capacity to truly understand humans, their emotions, and their intentions.

However, it's important to note that, achieving Deep AI is fraught with numerous difficulties. Unfortunately, several difficulties, such as the inability to replicate essential functions of movement and sight, mar the quest for Deep AI. Experts at the NSTC Committee on technology agreed that, Deep AI seems impossible to achieve for the next decades.

C. Artificial Super-intelligence (ASI). This is a hypothetical type of AI. At this stage, AI does not just understand or mimic human intelligence; it surpasses human intelligence. In the words of Nick Bostrom, the Swedish author of “Super intelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies”, defined ASI as “an intellect that is much smarter than the best human brains in practically every field, including scientific creativity, general wisdom, and social skills.” While the core concept of Artificial Intelligence revolves around computers replicating human thought processes, the notion of artificial super-intelligence transcends this, by envisioning a scenario where computers possess cognitive abilities that vastly surpass those of humans.

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) has long served as a central theme in dystopian fictional works where machines, often in the form of robots, pose existential threats to human civilisation. Prominent examples of such narratives can be found in movies like "Ex Machina", "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Metropolis", and "Interstellar." Despite these dystopian visions, it's crucial to recognise that the development of advanced AI, including ASI, remains in its nascent stages. Imagining a world dominated by highly intelligent AI systems may be challenging at present, because current AI technologies are still in their infancy.

For about a decade, there has been massive investment in the development of AI. Google has invested massively in Bard while OpenAI Global Incorporation is investing massively in AI, too. Sometime in July, 2023, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner of “X” (formerly Twitter), announced the debut of a new AI company, XAI, with the goal to “understand the true nature of the universe.” It is pertinent to note that, Musk was one of the co-founders of OpenAI.

The Introduction of Artificial Intelligence into Legal Practice

The introduction of AI into legal practice goes as far back as 1970, when the use of computers in law firms had not gained as much integration as in these days. In establishing the origin of AI and legal reasoning, it is imperative to reference the work of Bruce G. Buchanan and Thomas E. Headrick. In their article titled, “Some Speculation about Artificial Intelligence and Legal Reasoning”, it was stated thus:

“Interdisciplinary work between Lawyer and the computer scientist has floundered on the misconception that each has of the other’s discipline…A new legal retrieval system has been or is being developed” foot note a somewhat similar system is under development by the American Bar Foundation in cooperation with I.B.M… these processes aid a researcher in finding all the documents that might have some conceivable relationship to the problem under search.”

The Nigerian Legal Practice

In discussing the future of legal practice in Nigeria, it is important to first establish where we are now. The term “The Nigerian legal practice” refers to the legal system, profession, and the practice of law in Nigeria. Our legal practice reflects soberness. However, the development of ICT (AI), has put a strain on such an ideology.

Key Aspects of the Nigerian Legal Practice

Nigeria operates a Federal system of government, with both Federal and State laws. Our legal system is influenced by a combination of the English common law, principles of equity, customary law, Islamic law, and various statutes. The Constitution of Nigeria is the supreme law of the land. Any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, is a nullity. (To be continued)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Artificial Intelligence will not replace jobs, but it will change the face of jobs.” – Kai Fu Lee

Tackling Nigeria’s Electoral Challenges Utilising AI

as far back as independence, Nigeria’s electioneering process has been tumultuous, mostly fraudulent, rancorous and violent. The circle of elections which the new democratic dispensation ushered in from 1999 hasn’t fared much better. If anything, it’s gradually getting worse, with hundreds of election Petitions going to Tribunals after every election, many ending up at the apex court several months after the elections have been concluded and swearing in has taken place. Former National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, shares from his wealth of experience garnered during his service at the commission, and proffers the innovative panacea of using different versions of artificial Intelligence (aI) to tackle the seemingly humongous challenges that have plagued Nigeria’s electoral process

Introduction

Technology has been integrated into the electoral process in Nigeria. In 1999, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) started deploying technology into the electoral process. It has deployed technology into voter enrolment, management of nomination processes, tracking of election materials, voter accreditation, and result transmission. This is based on the conviction that, technology can make for a more efficient and transparent administration and management of elections. It can also minimise pernicious human interference, in the electoral process. However, technology comes with

challenges, especially in a society grappling with infrastructural deficits and other developmental problems. The human element in the application of technology has been at the core of the scepticism of the Nigerian people, regarding the use of technology in the electoral process. The place and application of artificial intelligence in the electoral process may be very contentious and controversial. Artificial intelligence (AI) AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines, designed to perform tasks that typically require human cognitive functions. These include reasoning, learning,

“The human element in the application of technology has been at the core of the scepticism of the Nigerian people, regarding the use of technology in the electoral process”

problem-solving, perception, and understanding language. AI relies on technologies like machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing to function, and it has applications in diverse fields such as healthcare, finance, transportation, education, etc. The Commission has piloted a gradual infusion of AI, into its operations. INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), improved the quality of data capture at the point of enrolment (facials and fingerprints migrating from the initial mono-biometric of fingerprints to bimodal biometrics of fingerprints and facials). This involves an entire hardware and software change, designed to capture more information on the voters including their emails, birth, and other personal particulars. Technological evolution, cost, and the Commission’s determination to deepen democracy through technology, are major considerations in choosing technology with multi-functional components.

The Automated Biometric Identification System, also utilises aspects of AI in its operations.

How can Nigeria harness and apply AI in its electoral processes and procedures? The gradual infusion of AI into Nigeria’s electoral process holds great promise for enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency. AI’s capacity to process data rapidly and detect threats in real-time, can help address several critical challenges in the electoral process. However, many applications available may require significant customisation to align with Nigeria’s specific needs, and local regulations, infrastructure limitations, and accessibility challenges. Nigeria may also grapple with the threats posed to the electoral process by hackers, and those who may deploy artificial intelligence to corrupt and confuse the electoral process. While the country makes gradual progress in the application of artificial intelligence, the human element in our electoral challenges may be more critical than the role of technology in the process.

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu

Tackling Nigeria’s electoral challenges Utilising AI

The Evolution of Technology in the Electoral Process

As an Election Management Body, INEC has made steady progress in deploying technology in the electoral process. This is based on the conviction that technology can make for a more efficient and transparent administration and management of elections, by obviating pernicious human interference in the electoral process.

Technology in Voter Enrolment

In 1999, the Commission introduced technology into its operations, and created a Computer Room in its research department. The Computer Room evolved and became known as Communication and Information Technology (C & IT). It became the Communication and Information Technology Unit, under the office and direct supervision of the Chairman. In 2002, the Communication and Information Technology (C & IT) Unit graduated and became the Department of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). In the same year, the Commission started compiling an electronic register of voters using the Optimal Mark Recognition (OMR) technology. In 2005/2006, the Commission introduced the Direct Data Capture (DDC) handheld device for voter enrolment for the 2007 election and in 2010 it introduced the Direct Data Capture Machine (DDCM). In 2021, the Commission upgraded and introduced the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED). The Commission introduced IVED to improve the quality of data capture at the point of enrolment (facials and fingerprints migrating from the initial mono-biometric of fingerprints to bimodal biometrics of fingerprints and facials). This involves an entire hardware and software change, designed to capture more information on the voters including their emails, birth, and other personal particulars.

The Voter Accreditation Process

The need to enhance the power, prestige, and sanctity of elections and the electoral process, led to steady improvement in the voter accreditation process. The concept of one person one vote, the secrecy of the vote, and the right to free choice devoid of encumbrance, is at the heart of the electoral process. In 2015m the Commission introduced technology for voter accreditation with the Smart Card Reader (SCR), to compare the fingerprints of a voter who appears at the Polling unit with the fingerprints captured from that same voter when he/she was registered. In 2020, the Commission decided to retire the SCR and introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). BVAS added facial capture to the existing fingerprint technology.

The Results Transmission Process

Given the trajectory of the electoral process in Nigeria, and the numerous complaints relating to the results man-

“The

agement process, the Commission decided to improve the openness and credibility of the process by uploading electronic copies of the Polling Unit Result Sheet (EC8A) for General Public view on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Form EC8A (Polling Unit level result sheet) filled and signed by each Presiding Officer (PO, is scanned and uploaded to the public domain.

The general public can view the results in real-time.

The Application of Artificial Intelligence It can be seen that, the Commission has gradually and systematically imputed and applied technology in its operations. The gradual application of technology has allowed the Commission to learn, pause, and impute technology in its processes, in a manner that accords with the technological development of the country and the available resources for electoral activities.

The Commission has also utilised aspects of Artificial Intelligence in voter registration, and improved data capturing during voter registration; facials and fingerprints, migrating from the initial mono-biometrics of fingerprints to bimodal biometrics of fingerprints and facials.

The Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to remove multiple and double registrants, assisted the Commission in weeding out double and multiple registrants.

The Commission also introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, (BVAS) for voter accreditation. With bimodal authentication, no person can vote more than once or vote

Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to remove multiple and double registrants, assisted the Commission in weeding out double and multiple registrants…BVAS for voter accreditation. With bimodal authentication, no person can vote more than once or vote without being accredited….”

without being accredited, as the face of the person would have been captured during authentication. So, the Commission utilised and continues to use artificial intelligence in its electoral operations. The question is, whether the Commission can use artificial intelligence to improve accountability and transparency in the electoral process. In other words, are there aspects of the electoral process that can benefit from the full application of artificial intelligence? Conversely, can the available resources and infrastructure support the scaling up of artificial intelligence in electoral operations? And, can the electoral management body cope with the downsize of artificial intelligence? More fundamentally, can the full application of artificial intelligence solve Nigeria’s electoral problems and challenges?

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is a field of science concerned with building computers and machines that can reason, learn, and act in a way that would normally require human intelligence or involve data whose scale exceeds what humans can analyse. AI is a broad field that encompasses many different disciplines, including computer science, data analytics and statistics, hardware engineering, linguistics, neuroscience, and even philosophy and psychology.

As pointed out, the Commission has been using aspects of AI in voter registration, voter accreditation, and result upload. Enhanced use of AI in Nigeria’s electoral process holds great promise for enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency. AI’s capacity to process data rapidly and detect threats in real time, can help address several critical challenges. However, some AI applications may require significant customisation to align with Nigeria’s specific needs, local regulations, infrastructure limitations, and accessibility challenges.

Voter Registration and Identity

Verification

The Independent National Electoral Commission is on the right track, in applying biometrics to voter registration. The INEC Voter Enrolment Device is based on fingerprint and facial recognition. The Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) was also introduced, to remove multiple and double registrants. This AI-powered facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and iris detection can help ensure that only eligible voters are registered and can vote. This reduces duplicate or fraudulent registrations.

AI can assist in automating responses to voter inquiries, helping citizens check their registration status, and providing information on voting processes through Natural Language Processing (NLP). Cognito and Clearview AI are digital identity verification systems that use AI to validate user identity in real-time, through facial recognition, document scanning, and other biometric data. It could help ensure that only eligible voters are registered. For the Commission to utilise this AI, facial recognition and biometric systems must comply with local data privacy laws (such as Nigeria’s Data Protection Act). Internet connectivity and access to reliable biometric hardware, would be necessary for smooth implementation.

Voter Accreditation

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation, is based on AI technology. The Commission added facial technology to the existing fingerprint technology. With bimodal authentication, no person can vote more than once or vote without being accredited, as the face of the person would have been captured during authentication. The Commission can add iris recognition, to the existing fingerprint and facial technology.

Combating Fake News and Misinformation

Fake and unprocessed information, is a clear and present danger in the electoral process. Fake news and misinformation are sometimes circulated, and on verification, it will be found that they have no foundation; yet, people are

Tackling Nigeria’s electoral challenges Utilising AI

ready to believe them. The advent of social media and the rise of citizen journalists, has created additional challenges for the electoral management body and the citizens. Because of the volume of information in circulation, voters find it difficult to decipher the truth from falsehood. Unfortunately, the electoral management body does not have the capacity, the resources, and the expertise to compete effectively on social media.

AI can be used to track and identify misinformation and fake news, that could influence voters or lead to postelection violence. AI algorithms can flag false narratives on social media and other platforms, helping electoral bodies and civil society to debunk them. Given cybersecurity challenges, especially during elections, the electoral management body can deploy Darktrace to protect its facilities. Darktrace is an AI-driven cybersecurity platform, that uses machine learning to detect and respond to cyber threats in real-time. It could be deployed, to protect election systems from hacking and cyber-attacks. Darktrace as a cybersecurity tool, can be deployed in Nigeria to protect the IT infrastructure of the Independent National Electoral Commission. It requires robust internet infrastructure and trained personnel, to manage and monitor the platform. The Commission can also deploy Logically, an AI-powered tool that detects misinformation and disinformation online. It can track and flag fake news, especially on social media, during election periods. This misinformation detection tool could be highly relevant in Nigeria, where social media plays a significant role in shaping election narratives.

Electoral Logistics

AI can optimise the distribution of election materials (for example, ballots, voting machines) to ensure every polling unit is well-equipped. The Commission has struggled with the storage and distribution of election materials, and deployment of personnel on election day. Presently, the Commission deploys INECPRESS to recruit ad-hoc staff for elections. The Commission also tracks the movement of vehicles carrying election materials to its Local Government Offices, Registration Area centres, and Polling units. AI can optimise the allocation, and deployment of election materials, personnel, and security forces based on real-time data and predictive analytics. This ensures that resources are allocated efficiently, preventing bottlenecks and reducing opportunities for corruption or mismanagement.

Crowd Management

AI can monitor voter turnout at polling stations, and suggest strategies to avoid overcrowding and reducing wait time. Sometimes, the number of voters registered to vote in some polling units exceeds the limit targeted by electoral authorities, and voting points and voting point settlements are created to mitigate overcrowding and crowd control

incidents. Some polling units are located in schools, public buildings, and open spaces. AI can be used to estimate crowd density in some polling locations, and the electoral management body may decide to relocate some polling units. By integrating AI with a surveillance system, officials can monitor crowd behaviour, detect security threats, and respond appropriately. Voters must feel safe in the electoral space, and overcrowding and crowd violence limit the possibility of a safer electoral environment.

The Voting Process

In Nigeria, the voting process remains essentially manual. The accreditation process is biometric, but voting entails a Presiding Officer issuing ballot papers to accredited voters, thump printing ballots, casting ballot papers, and counting ballots. Artificial intelligence can assist in analysing large datasets from elections (both past and present) in real time to detect irregularities, such as unusual voting patterns; anomalous vote counts, or time gaps in vote submissions. This real-time detection allows the electoral body to address potential issues, and increase trust in the electoral process. In other words, electoral management bodies can use AI to predict voter behaviour, analyse polling data, and forecast election outcomes. It can identify trends in voting patterns, helping electoral bodies plan better.

Election Security

Increasing the use of technology in the electoral process, exposes

“The Commission can also deploy Logically, an AI-powered tool that detects misinformation and disinformation online. It can track and flag fake news, especially on social media, during election periods. This misinformation detection tool could be highly relevant in Nigeria, where social media plays a significant role in shaping election narratives”

electoral management bodies to cyber-attacks. Protecting the critical infrastructure of the Commission is therefore, a high priority. AI can monitor and detect cyber-attacks on electoral systems in real time. It can identify threats such as hacking attempts or data breaches, ensuring the election data is secure.

Post-Election Monitoring

Result collation remains a critical issue, in the electoral process. The INEC Result viewing portal ensures and enhances transparency in the electoral process, but, it is not a result collation system. The collation of results in Nigeria is done manually. Collation Officers transfer results from Form EC8A (Polling Unit Level Results) to Form EC8B (Registration Area Collation), and the Collation of Results continues in that trajectory. The Commission introduced the Collation Support and Result Verification System, which helps collation officers accurately enter and collate results. AI can be used to compare results across polling units and flag any discrepancies, helping election authorities detect irregularities. AI can also assist with audits of election results, by processing large amounts of data and ensuring transparency in the review process.

Challenges and Considerations

Technology comes with challenges, especially in a society grappling with infrastructural deficits and other developmental challenges. Deploying technology in the electoral process requires resources, a solid internet infrastructure, and compliance with Nigeria’s data protection regulations. Trust is crucial, in the electoral process. The Commission must continue to build trust and confidence in the electoral process. Presently, some Nigerians hardly trust the paper ballot they see, and getting them to trust the technology they cannot see, requires confidence building and voter education. AI can eliminate manual errors in data processing,

analytics, assembly in manufacturing, and other tasks through automation and algorithms that follow the same processes every single time. AI can process more information quicker than humans, finding patterns and discovering relationships in data that a human may miss.

Conclusion

The Commission must continue to be open and transparent in its technological innovations, because election business is public business and the public has a right to know what the Commission is doing. The Commission must continue to infuse technology into the electoral process, to enhance transparency and verifiability in voter authentication and result management. While agreeing with Hon. Justice Uwani Abba Aji, JSC in the case of Atiku v I.N.E.C(2) (2023)19NWLR, Part 1919 at pages 876-877 that Modernity and technology stare us in the face, and we cannot turn back the hand of time. To go against the use of technology or electronic transmission or transfer of election results in this hi-tech time and period is to be an enemy of democracy, the electoral management body must make haste slowly, as accuracy in result management is more important than the speed at which technology is introduced. The Commissions BVAS and IReV will form an important pillar and component in the march towards an electoral process driven by technology, with careful human oversight, obviating malicious human interference. While AI presents many opportunities to improve Nigeria's electoral process, challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic biases, and access to AI technologies must be addressed. Ensuring that AI tools are implemented fairly and transparently, will be crucial to their success in fostering accountability. Incorporating AI into Nigeria’s electoral process could lead to more transparent, efficient, and fair elections, but, it must be done with careful planning and oversight.

Festus Okoye, Legal Practitioner, former National Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Former INec National commissioner, Festus okoye

How Sahara Group's GMT Program is Shaping Tomorrow’s Global Leaders

For young graduates desirous of excelling in the energy sector, it’s another season for the widely sought-after Sahara Group Graduate Management Trainee Program that transforms the energy conglomerate’s GMTs into global business leaders in the energy sector. In this interview, Emilomo Arorote, Group Head, HR at Sahara Group, outlines what makes the Sahara GMT Program unique among other HR issues. Precious Ugwuzor brings excerpts:

Describe what your first 100 days were as Head of Sahara Group’s Human Resources function.

Two words come to mind, insightful and exhilarating! Sahara has been my work home for almost 16 years, and I saw my appointment as an opportunity to work on strengthening the culture and attributes that have kept me at Sahara, with the aim of making the Sahara phenomenon truly transgenerational. Working with my team, we immediately rolled out several employee engagement and feedback sessions to ensure all flanks are covered, given the dynamic nature of the Sahara environment where we are constantly reinventing the old, taking on the new and even birthing the impossible every day, across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

We call ourselves Saharians, a term that evokes a unique sense of ownership of the Sahara dream, and a camaraderie that oils the machinery of our team dynamics – working together, winning together. In fact, our work mantra is, “the job is not done, until the job is done”. So, the past 100 days have given me the privilege of seeing our people in another light, helping me appreciate how privileged and blessed I am to be managing what I would confidently describe as the most uniquely diverse and gifted collection of professionals in the world. Ultimately, working with Saharians towards reimagining our HR function has been the high point of my first 100 days and I am loving the pressure, possibilities and projections ahead; actively pursuing how we can keep enhancing, positioning and giving our people all they need to be exceptional Saharians, nimble, agile and ambidextrous.

What would you say are the challenges and opportunities in talent management?

The continuing evolution in the global employment market has redefined the competition landscape for talent acquisition across the globe. The growing impact of remote work has also brought a new wave of talent migration, development, and optimisation. More than ever before, organisations now need to be intentional about how to attract and retain talent, and deploy robust diversity, equity and inclusion policies that gives all employees the opportunity to grow and express their unique abilities. In addition, trans-generational considerations also need to be in place as it is not unusual to find employees from different generations working together. Knowing how best to engage, create bespoke experiences and extract value optimally from the array of talent, and sometimes, dearth of talent available to organisations is a hurdle that I would say HR leaders are learning to navigate across the globe.

Speaking specifically about the energy sector, there is this widely acknowledged gap in knowledge transfer from the experienced to the younger hires, especially in the upstream sector. This presents an opportunity to develop middle managers to create a sustainable leadership pipeline and knowledge transfer from experienced professionals in the sector.

With a looming talent shortage arising from emigration to developing economies, change in preferences of the different generations, like Gen Zs penchant for less structured work, makes it imperative for organisations to rethink their talent acquisition strategy by building a deliberate talent pool and leveraging relationships with institutions of learning to harness the crop of talent which currently exists to drive business continuity.

In addition, an opportunity for creative retention strategies has birthed more employee-centric policies that continue to shape the way of work.

What does Sahara Group look out for in talent acquisition?

We are Sahara and we are inimitable; always searching for agile, brilliant, hungry, adaptable, vibrant, and innovative minds who are ready to be M.A.D, for us, this means, making a difference. We are always looking out for uniquely gifted

individuals that are ready to take on the world and do the seemingly impossible – because we grow our people to become global business leaders. Our flagship new hire platform, the Sahara Group GMT program has served over the years as a pipeline for molding young graduates into exceptional leaders. Our GMT program continues to produce individuals who have grown to into leadership roles across our businesses in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

So, whether you join Sahara through our prestigious GMT Program or you are employed as an experienced professional, Sahara offers you a unique career trajectory. In fact, being an energy conglomerate with vast operations, opportunities to join the M.A.D team keep springing up in our upstream, midstream, downstream, power, infrastructure and technology businesses. We always showcase these opportunities on our social media channels. Sahara Group is an equal opportunity employer. We love to say that Sahara does not offer you a job, but a canvas to give full expression to your gifts, with the backing of the organisation all the way. Ultimately, sustainability in terms of our people is critical for us at Sahara.

We understand Sahara is now receiving applications for the 2025 Sahara GMT Program. Tell us more about the process As I mentioned earlier, essentially, the Sahara Group Graduate Man -

agement Trainee Program identifies and develops future leaders to drive Sahara Group’s business growth aspirations. The program has been structured to give young professionals an experiential trajectory that covers the entire energy value chain. The 2025 edition has commenced, and we are now receiving applications from candidates who have excellent first degrees, with higher degrees as an added advantage. We have full information on the application process on www.saharagmt.com as well as Sahara Group’s social media channels. Application closes on November 1, 2025. Following several shortlisting exercises and robust training and learning activities, successful candidates will be onboarded into the 2025 Sahara GMT Set. This is the trigger young professionals need to kick-start their journey towards global competitiveness, as Saharians, making a difference.

Can you share some success stories from Sahara’s GMT program and how it shapes the emergence of leaders within the organisation?

Over the past 2 decades, we have received tens of thousands of applications from young candidates seeking to kick-start their careers via the Sahara GMT program. Shortlisting is usually a herculean task for us given the quality of applications as Sahara usually attracts the best. The program entails topnotch learning and development as well as stretch opportunities across the business. Sahara has onboarded over 196 GMTs since the program began and they have contributed immensely to the continuing growth of Sahara. Our GMT program is designed to mold beneficiaries into global business leaders who can take on key leadership positions within the organisations. We

Our flagship new hire platform, the Sahara Group GMT program has served over the years as a pipeline for molding young graduates into exceptional leaders. Our GMT program continues to produce individuals who have grown to into leadership roles across our businesses in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East

have produced many leaders through the program, Saharians doing great work in our locations across the globe. Today, Ejiro Gray (2007 set) is Director, Governance and Sustainability, and Nomnso Dike (2007 set), is CEO, Asharami Synergy, just to mention a few. Ultimately, the Sahara GMT program provides a pipeline for developing leaders who embody the Sahara DNA and can pass on the culture behind our irrepressible brand.

Given the size and spread of the organisation, how do you manage employee engagement, attraction and retention of talents?

Primarily, understanding the diversity of the Sahara Group workforce across different jurisdictions globally and ensuring continuous feedback loops are sustained, helps the HR team to churn out bespoke strategies and initiatives that address the peculiar needs of our talents in the various sectors and countries where we operate. This informs the kind of talent acquisition strategies, engagement initiatives and unique benefits that are geared towards retention of our talents across the business.

How does your personal Sahara story speak to the attributes of the brand?

Resilience, which is one of the greatest attributes of the brand, resonates with my personal Sahara journey. You will agree with me that to thrive consistently and continuously create, nurture and add value, one must be dogged in the face of the many challenges that abound. On the flip side of every threat is an opportunity that only the bold dare to take head on. So, every day, I put on my resilient cap, ready to surmount challenges, disrupt norms and chart new success paths.

How is Sahara Group optimising diversity, equity, and inclusion in advancing its employer brand?

As a progressive organisation, Sahara is one that embraces DEI and leverages the opportunity that this affords us a multinational conglomerate. Our Employee Value Proposition is enshrined in the endless possibilities Sahara gives to every employee. This makes Sahara an employer of choice as our policies and practices foster platforms for professional growth, opportunities to volunteer for social impact, and collaboration towards making a difference, responsibly.

What do you think HR professionals should look out for as the workplace continues to transition towards artificial intelligence led roles?

Proactive opportunities to upskill, reskill and cross skill employees to be able to appropriately leverage the benefits that AI presents. In the words of Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, ‘it’s not AI that will take your job, but a fellow worker who learns how to best use it. It’s our responsibility as employers and company leaders to prepare our employees to thrive amid this revolutionary wave of new technology’.

How does Sahara implement its employee volunteering policy?

Employee volunteering is deeply enshrined in Sahara’s DNA. For us, it is the “P” in “PCSR” which we call Personal Corporate Social Responsibility. The “personal” captures the place of getting our employees fully involved in our interventions as volunteers and all Saharians always look forward for an opportunity to serve and make a difference. Sahara’s volunteering activities are driven by the Sahara Group Foundation and the Sustainability arm of the Group. Over the years, we have recorded employee volunteering 125,600 man-hours across interventions with focus on environmental sustainability, education, capacity building and entrepreneurship, among others. The opportunity to volunteers is one of the top reasons people why people want to work in Sahara – that drive to promote social impact and see the smiles on the faces of beneficiaries and give wings to the aspirations of many makes volunteering a way of life for us in Sahara.

Emilomo Arorote

Like a Mustard, Wigwe University Begins Academic Activities

Wigwe University has commenced academic activities at its Isiokpo, Rivers State campus, eight months after the death of the founder and former Managing Director of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe.

The university commenced academic operations on October 17, 2024.

According to the acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Marwan AI-Akaidi, the institution

would also offer scholarships to 100 students.

Al-Akaidi said the scholarship initiative emphasises the institution’s commitment to providing quality education to all in line with the vision of its late founder, Herbert Wigwe.

“By investing in our students, we are not only shaping the future of our institution but also nurturing a generation of fearless leaders,” Al-Kaidi said.

“This initiative, a testament to the enduring vision of the late

Herbert Wigwe, aims to provide exceptional opportunities for students who aspire to become the next generation of fearless leaders,” he added.

Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, is the Pro-Chancellor of the university, while a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Fabian Ajogwu, is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

Herbert Wigwe died in a plane

crash in the United States of America along with his wife and son in February 2024.

The acting vice-chancellor said the merit-based scholarships have been designed to support students with exceptional academic achievements, leadership and entrepreneurship capabilities, and a passion for continuous learning.

By alleviating the financial burden of higher education, this scholarship will provide a conducive environment for

scholars to thrive, innovate, and make meaningful contributions to society.

To honour the legacy of Herbert Wigwe, Al-Kaidi disclosed that the university would remain committed to its vision of establishing a world-class institution in Nigeria that meets global standards.

He said Wigwe’s dream was to create a nurturing and innovative academic environment that fosters intellectual growth, critical thinking, and societal impact.

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Emmanuel Morand-Fehr; and Retail Development Manager, Innocent Aimiator, during the

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L-R: Past District 9112 Governor, Rotary International, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson; President, Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic, Rotarian Suresh Nayak; and President, Rotary Club of Garki, Abuja, Dr. Joachim Ibetiako Eteji, during the investiture ceremony of Nayak as the new president of Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic in Lagos... recently

L-R: Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Fayoade Adegoke, presenting a police plaque to the new Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, during commissioner’s visit to the AIG in Lagos Office...recently

L-R: Category Manager, Powder Milk, Arla Foods, Mr. Dominic Orimogunje; Category Manager, Liquid, Cheese and Butter, Arla Foods, Ms. Ndidi Okoye; Brand Ambassador, Dano, Ms. Funke Akindele; Managing Director, Arla Foods, Mr. Peder Pedersen; and Head of Marketing, Arla West Africa, Ms. Ifunanya Obiakor, during the unveiling of Nollywood actress and filmmaker (Funke Akindele) as the new Brand Ambassador for Dano, held in Lagos... recently

L-R: Executive Director, Business Development, AXA Mansard Health, Adeola Adebanjo; President, Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Tolu Medebem; and Head of Marketing, AXA Mansard, Olusesan Ogunyooye, during the presentation of Outstanding Health Insurance Company of the Decade and Inclusive Insurance Brand of the Year award to AXA Mansard at the Edge annual event in Lagos... recently

Emmanuel

The rising cost of energy has continued to take its toll on Nigerians, with petrol prices soaring by 64 per cent year-on-year, while the amount Nigerians buy Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas, rose by 60 per cent. Also, the average retail prices of diesel skyrocketed by 59.2 per cent y-o-y, while that of household kerosene increased by 50 per cent during the period under consideration.

Latest data released from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that for petrol, in the month of September, Katsina experienced the highest price, with residents buying at an average of N1,096/ litre, while Rivers topped in terms

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has called for more women inclusion in Nigeria mining sector, insisting that women must be given a seat at the table in Nigeria’s extractive industries.

The organisation, in a statement in Abuja urged collective efforts to break the barriers hindering women’s inclusion and create meaningful opportunities for their active participation across the sector.

According to the statement, NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, made the call during his keynote address at the 6th Nkechi Isigwe

of cooking gas pricing at N7,285.71 for a 5kg cylinder. Apart from the dynamics of the international oil market, which have seen crude oil rise above $80 per barrel, President Bola Tinubu‘s decision to remove subsidy on petrol and float the Naira have contributed immensely to the soaring energy prices.

While the official price by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) was N194 on May 29 when he took over the reins of power, the least amount the product is sold in any part of the country today is N1,030 per litre.

Besides, while the ‘managed’ FX window was about N460/$ and around N700/$ at the parallel market under President

Annual Lecture (NIAL), organised by the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) in Abuja.

Represented by the Director of Policy, Planning, and Strategy, Dr. Dieter Bassi, the NEITI boss underscored the urgent need for deliberate actions to foster gender equity in a sector long dominated by men.

“NEITI has placed special attention on gender equity and inclusion, particularly with a focus on women. Globally, the debate around women’s participation in the mining and steel sectors is gaining momentum. A maledominated industry characterised by

Muhammadu Buhari, under the current administration, the ‘floated’ naira is around N1,700/$, a massive devaluation of the local currency.

In the downstream, transportation of products is also a big challenge as tanker owners add a premium to their cost of operations due to bad roads and for replacement of spare parts.

“The average retail price paid by consumers for petrol for September 2024 was N1030.46, indicating a 64.55 per cent increase compared to the value recorded in September 2023, which was N626.21.

“Comparing the average price value with the previous month (August 2024), the average retail price increased by 24.08 per cent from N830.46. On state profile analysis, Katsina State had the highest average

limited access for women—whether in employment, training, investment, or decision-making—is unsustainable and counterproductive,” Orji asserted.

Highlighting key employment data from NEITI’s recently released 2022 and 2023 Oil and Gas Industry reports, Orji lamented the persistent gender imbalance in Nigeria’s extractive industries.

In 2023, women made up just 16 per cent of the 8,693 employed in the sector, a slight decrease from 17 per cent in 2022.

“Despite the overall increase in employment, the low percentage of women in the sector reflects a significant gap that we must close.

retail price for petrol, at N1096.15, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States were next, with N1090.94 and N1085.71, respectively,” the NBS document stressed.

Conversely, in a curious turn, Yobe, Sokoto, and Kebbi States, which are up north, had the lowest average retail prices petrol at N939.38, N961.67, and N986.67 respectively.

On a zonal profile, the Northwest zone had the highest average retail price of N1036.52, while the North-east Zone had the lowest price of N1,014.55.

For cooking gas, despite the federal government’s announcement of removal of Value Added Tax (VAT), the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder increased by 4.19 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N6,430.02 recorded

We need to create avenues for women to actively contribute across the entire value chain of the extractive industry,” Orji added.

He stressed that women could thrive in mining, but only if decisive, intentional steps are taken. “Companies must adopt policies that prioritize gender diversity and inclusion. We must elevate and celebrate women leaders in the sector to inspire the next generation,” he said.

In her remarks, Isigwe, a member of NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group and founder of the annual lecture series, highlighted the vast opportunities available for women in the oil, gas and mining sector

in August 2024 to N6,699.63 in September 2024.

On a year-on year basis, this increased by 59.90 per cent from N4,189.96 in September 2023.

However, on a state profile analysis, Rivers recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas, with N7,285.71, followed by Gombe with N7,271.88, and Borno with N7,089.72.

On the other hand, Kebbi recorded the lowest price with N5,950.00, followed by Kano and Benue with N6,133.33 and N6,143.52 respectively. In addition, analysis by zone showed that the North-east recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder with N6,929.02, followed by the South-east with N6,893.47 while the North-west recorded the lowest with N6,382.30.

and emphasised the need for youth empowerment, particularly given Nigeria’s youthful demographic.

Also, the current President, of APWEN, Dr. Adebisi Osim, called on the industry to challenge gender stereotypes and offer more pathways for women to thrive.

NNPC Sensitises over 1,000 Auto Mechanics on CNG Adoption

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

As part of its efforts to accelerate the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner and more affordable fuel alternative in Nigeria, NNPC Retail Limited (NRL), has sensitised over 1,000 auto mechanics through a an awareness initiative.

Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder increased by 4.89 per cent on a month-onmonth basis from N15,552.56 in August 2024 to N16,313.43 in September 2024. On a year-on-year basis, this rose by 76.41 per cent from N9,247.40 in September 2023. On state profile analysis, Rivers recorded the highest average retail price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder. The average retail price of diesel paid by consumers also increased by 59.28 per cent on a year-on-year basis from a lower cost of N890.80 per litre recorded in the corresponding month of last year to a higher cost of N1418.83 per litre in September 2024.

NNPC Retail is a subsidiary of the the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The sensitisation exercise which took place at the National Artisans and Technicians Conference in Lagos, brought together a large audience drawn from auto mechanics and technicians from across the country, a statement from the company said. The engagement aimed to demystify the process of converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG and encourage the adoption of sustainable energy solutions, it added.

Addeh in Abuja

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Services, Eterna Plc, Phoebean Ifeadi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Eterna Plc, Abiola Lukman Lawal; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN; Group Managing Director, Masters Energy Group, Mrs Patience Dappa and Chairman, Eterna Plc, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie at the commissioning of the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2 (JUHI-2), the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria… recently

Adeshina Advocates Bonds Issuance to Tackle Illiquidity in Power Sector

Stories by Peter Uzoho

The Group Managing Director of Sahara Power, Mr. Kola Adeshina, has called for adoption of innovative approaches to tackle the challenge of illiquidity in the power sector.

Among such solutions, he said, is the issuance of promissory notes or bonds by the federal government to restore financial stability of the sector.

Adeshina made the suggestion at the Energy and Infrastructure dialogue convened in Lagos by Udo Udoma & Bello-Osagie (UUBO) law firm.

He said the sector was heavily burdened by the substantial accumulation of unpaid debts owed various stakeholders as well as the non cost-reflective electricity tariff.

Adeshina said the sector was also troubled by limited access to

Greenplinth Africa

Signs

$1.5bn Carbon Credit for 80m ‘Cookstoves’ Project

Greenplinth Africa, a pan-African green solutions corporation, has signed a $1.5 billion agreement for carbon credit for the funding of the 80 million Cookstoves Project targeted at distributing free clean cookstoves to Nigerian women and households -a landmark carbon reduction strategy.

Chief Executive Officer of Greenplinth Africa, Olawale Akinkumi, disclosed this in Lagos at the flag-off of the project in collaboration with key local and international development partners.

With an estimated over 180 million Nigerians lacking access to clean-cooking fuels and technologies, the project aims to deployed clean cookstoves at no cost to the beneficiaries and will drastically reduce the use of traditional firewood during cooking to over 90 percent.

The project involves the procurement, pre-fabrication, assembling and commissioning of highly efficient fuel wood cookstoves as well as planting of 4 billion trees

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Emmanuel Addeh

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at 50 trees per one cookstove by 2030.

Akinkumi stated that actualising the project would entail robust sensitisation campaigns and training of users mainly in households across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“It is the most efficient cooking stove that makes use of waste wood, unlike the regular cooking methods that use large chunks of firewood. It is going to be distributed for free to beneficiaries because it is being financed through carbon credit. We have signed a $1.5 billion agreement for carbon credit,” he added.

National Coordinator of Africa Union Development Agency –New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Nigeria, Gloria Akobundu, said the project was important to the health of Nigerian women who bear the brunt of using harmful cooking practices.

“We need clean cookstoves to help our women live healthy lives; make the environment healthy, minimise the cost of cooking especially spending money on buying gas or kerosene and the money saved would be used for other household needs.

“The clean stove would eliminate the need to cut our forest and reduce the rate of erosion, desert encroachment and flooding and the nation would have more arable land for farming,” she explained.

Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titilayo Oshodi, described the project as a important step towards improving health, empowering women and protecting the environment.

Global President of the UNIPGC, Jonathan Ojadah, expressed his delight in partnering with Greenplinth Africa in the project targeted at women from disadvantaged homes in Nigeria, adding that the initiative tackles issues of greenhouse gas emission and also empowers families by providing them with sustainable cooking solutions.

foreign exchange at favourable rate and high inflation and interest rates.

“Issuing promissory notes or bonds is key and central in restoring financial stability, enabling

companies to continue to operate and rebuilding the balance sheet of various companies that operate within the power sector.

“It is essential that we begin

to redirect funding towards the development of electricity infrastructure. The proximate cost of darkness in Nigeria is under investment,” he said.

He decried the seeming lack of incentive or policy direction that show investors how to recover their investments after injecting funds in the sector.

Nigeria Customs Honoured with IPRA Award for Strategic Communication Campaign

The International Public Relations Association (IPRA), has awarded The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) the Golden World Award (GWA) for Crisis Communication.

The award, recognising NCS’s outstanding public relations efforts, was presented during a grand ceremony at the Metropol Palace Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia. Comptroller-General of NCS,

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi received the award on behalf of the NCS from IPRA President Nataša Pavlovi Bujas. The recognition came from the “100 Days of Impactful PR at Customs Service” campaign.

Speaking at the event, Adeniyi highlighted the campaign’s impact, noting how it addressed critical challenges during his

first 100 days in office. “The campaign was about crisis communication. The entry submitted during this period was recognised as the best, from the perspective of addressing the campaign’s challenges, its impact, and the positive outcomes we have seen,” he added.

Secretary-General of IPRA, Philip Sheppard, praised Adeniyi’s leadership, describing it as a critical factor in the campaign’s success. “Within just 100 days in office, the campaign led by Wale Adeniyi not only strengthened stakeholder collaboration and significantly improved border security but also resulted in a notable boost in revenue generation,” Sheppard said.

Eterna Aviation Business Soars with the Commencement of Into-plane Operations at MMA

Eterna Plc, has announced the achievement of a significant milestone with the commencement of into-plane Jet-A1 fuel operations at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos.

This, the company said, follows the successful commissioning of the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2 (JUHI-2) facility, which boasts a storage capacity of 15 million liters of Jet A1 fuel.

In a statement, the Managing Director/Chief Executive

Officer, Mr Abiola Lawal, expressed excitement about the company’s new operations in jet fuel operations and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering exceptional service to its customers.

Lawal stated, “Eterna Plc is thrilled to announce two remarkable milestones in our journey within the aviation fueling sector. Following the successful commissioning of JUHI-2, we have now received full regulatory approval to commence

into-plane operations. This approval reflects our dedication to upholding the highest industry standards, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable fueling services for airlines.”

Aviation Commercial Manager at Eterna Plc, Boyede Oyegbami, also remarked, “Eterna Aviation is officially open for business and is poised to give a boost to our airline partners with a safety and quality focused approach to excellent service delivery. We look forward to partnering

with airlines within and from around the globe. For inquiries, please contact us today—we look forward to partnering with you.”

The Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), recently commissioned the JUHI-2 facility, which is the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria. The facility has the capacity to deliver a minimum of 150 million liters of ATK monthly, amounting to 20% of the nation’s annual sales volume in just one month.

DYQUE Energy Moves to Tackle Power Instability, High Energy Costs

Banking on Nigeria’s open business environment and supportive policies, ADYQUE Energy, a forward-thinking clean energy solutions provider, has unveiled plans to tackle unstable power supply and rising cost of electricity among others challenges in Nigeria.

During a media launch of its products at the just-concluded Nigeria Energy Exhibition and Conference 2024, held in Lagos, Global Marketing Director of

DYQUE Energy, Ms Farrah Huang, revealed the firm’s plan to rapidly replace traditional energy with green energy in Nigeria.

According to her, the company is committed to offering premium, innovative, sustainable, and reliable energy solutions as well as comprehensive service for customers seeking long-term value.

She also said the company

aims to present cutting-edge technologies and a first-of-itskind after-sales service that caters to Nigeria’s unique energy challenges.

She said the company’s commitment to excellence went beyond providing top-notch products but extends to an exceptional comprehensive service designed to ensure long-term customer satisfaction.

DYQUE, she stated, offers a five-year replacement warranty

with an on-site service that ensures customers can request system inspections, cleaning, maintenance, and wire checking according to their specific needs.

“We’re excited to showcase our latest innovations and engage in meaningful conversations with key stakeholders in the energy sector. Our focus is on providing sustainable, scalable, and affordable energy solutions that can empower Nigeria’s energy transition journey,” Huang noted.

AG Mortgage Bank Partners HACEY, to Support Nigerian Women-owned Businesses

Sunday Ehigiator

The Chief Executive Officer of AG Mortgage Bank, Mr. Ngozi Anyogu has announced a groundbreaking partnership with HACEY, a not-for-profit organization, aimed at annually supporting the growth of 500 women-led businesses in Nigeria with N100 million, through the ES-TIW initiative.

The ES-TIW initiative, an acronym for Empowering

Societies Through Investment in Women, which was launched at the weekend, Anyogu said, is born from a personal commitment to see women led businesses thrive Anyogu explained that the project, which will be executed in partnership with HACEY will be distributed to women in single digit interest loans to support nano, micro and small scale businesses with a maximum duration period of 12 months. He said that the ES-TIW

project will take off across five states of the federation namely; Lagos, Abuja, Edo, Delta and Abia adding that 60 per cent or 300 women beneficiaries would be selected from the Assemblies of God Church.

According to him, to ensure sustainability, business owners would be given business educated, organised in small clusters of five each, and assigned mentors to ensure that they have access to guidance as they work towards

improving their businesses. He said, “With the ES-TIW project, we are empowering women and putting resources in their hands in such a way that they are able to contribute to building their families. With a strong Environmental, Social and Governance framework built by Deloitte, we have decided that in this first one year, we would reach out to 500 women with 300 women beneficiaries drawn from the Assemblies of God church.”

Management of Nigerian Economy: Staying the Course But Pausing to Reflect

The Nigerian Government has taken a number of policy decisions in the last 18 months, mainly fuel subsidy removal and floating/unification of the exchange rate, with subsequent dire consequences on the purchasing power and well being of the people.

Given the dependence on fuel importation due to eroded local refining capacity over many years, the effect of fuel subsidy removal (whether partly or fully) has led to significantly increased pump price of fuel with excruciating consequence on the populace more from the impact of currency devaluation than the removal of subsidy itself. Even with the coming on board of the Dangote Refinery, the expectation of reduced pump price and relief for citizens has dimmed given the recent increases in pump price heralding the commencement of operations by the refinery. This is still traceable to the high exchange rate despite the idea of selling crude oil to the refinery in Naira since the underlying commercial transactions even in Naira are essentially still benchmarked to the equivalent Dollar value of a barrel of crude oil in the international market where it is traded in Dollars.

There is a well established correlation between the exchange rate and domestic inflation particularly in Nigeria. So, as long as the exchange rate remains high, inflation will be high, and with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) focused on price stability and inflation management as core mandates, it would do what it considers necessary to curb inflation. For the current CBN regime, this has been through a resolute laser focus on inflation targeting mechanism utilizing the instrumentality of interest rate i.e the Monetary Policy Rate which it has increased significantly by 850 basis points since the first quarter of this year 2024. With this background, I had a chat with some

colleagues recently and the key thrust of my submission was that given the outcomes of recent decisions and the centrality of the exchange rate in our national life, it might be necessary to pause and reflect even as we “stay the course”. Some of the points are highlighted below:

1. The decision to float and unify the exchange rate may have achieved one of its objectives of (near) unification of official and parallel market rates to reduce arbitrage which was hitherto a major issue, and there has even been relative stability over the last couple of months.

However, at over N1,600, the exchange rate is still very high as the naira is undervalued compared to other African countries (at least in terms of the degree of devaluation against the Dollar over the last 18 months) and also the initial projections of equilibrium exchange rate around N600-N700 by Government officials and representatives (e.g Minister of Finance & Economic Planning, CBN Governor, Chairman of Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms) at different times in 2023.

The key issue remains inadequate FX supply or accretion into reserves. Therefore, it is imperative that we significantly increase supply of FX given low oil output (below budget and OPEC quota) arising from continued oil theft, pipeline vandalization, insecurity and weak infrastructure because we cannot give what we don’t have i.e FX.

Even the argument about devaluation being of benefit for exports due to the expected competitiveness of such exported products in the international market is challenged by the low oil output. This is exacerbated by our economy being essentially mono product, depending on crude oil.

NNPC Sensitises over 1,000 Auto Mechanics on CNG Adoption

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

As part of its efforts to accelerate the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner and more affordable fuel alternative in Nigeria, NNPC Retail Limited (NRL), has sensitized over 1,000 auto mechanics through a an awareness initiative.

NNPC Retail is a subsidiary of the the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

The sensitisation exercise which took place at the National Artisans and Technicians Conference in Lagos, brought together a large audience drawn from auto mechanics and technicians from across the country, a statement from the company said.

The engagement aimed to demystify the process of converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG and encourage the adoption of sustainable energy solutions, it added.

In addition to promoting the benefits of CNG conversion, NRL also raised awareness about its Oleum, its lubricant range, known for its performance in both gasoline and CNG-powered vehicles.

The initiative, the NNPC said, also underscores NRL’s commitment to driving the nation’s transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources while ensuring Nigerian artisans are well-informed about emerging trends in the automotive sector.

“The conference featured practical demonstrations on the technicalities of converting vehicles from gasoline to CNG, providing the mechanics with first-hand insights into the process,” it added.

Speaking at the engagement session, the Executive Director, Retail Operations and Mobility

at NRL, Shettima Kukawa, encouraged the mechanics to seek out the necessary skills for CNG conversion, emphasising that it is a growing trend that will shape the future of Nigeria’s automotive industry.

“We believe that sensitising mechanics on the importance of CNG adoption is critical to achieving Nigeria’s long-term energy goals.

While this engagement focused on raising awareness, we urge artisans to actively pursue the skills required to contribute to this transformative shift toward cleaner and more affordable fuel options.

“This initiative represents a crucial step in advancing the nation’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future,” Kukawa stated.

Responding, the Chairmen of the Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN) and the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) called for the expansion of the initiative to include even more mechanics and technicians nationwide.

Both associations highlighted the importance of sustained efforts to further support Nigeria's move toward cleaner energy solutions.

In support of the local automotive sector, the NRL, the statement said, also provided auto mechanics with coveralls, toolboxes, and generators during the event to enhance their business operations and promote sustainability.

It added that the NNPC Retail’s commitment to promoting CNG as an alternative fuel aligns with the broader strategic vision of NNPC Ltd to reduce the environmental impact of Nigeria’s energy consumption while making fuel more affordable for consumers.

2. Still on foreign exchange (FX) supply, the recent domestic Dollar-denominated bond issuance was said to be 180% oversubscribed but there has not been any material impact yet on the exchange rate.

When the idea of the bond was initially mooted, a key concern in some quarters was that while the bond would encourage locally based Nigerians to bring out their Dollars from domiciliary accounts and “under pillows”, it would equally encourage significant demand for FX by other locally resident Nigerians who would convert Naira to Dollar to partake in the bond, thereby creating distortions.

We cannot be justifiably discouraging dollarization of the economy in one breath and in another breath encouraging the same thing. This informed the suggestion about possibly restricting the bond only to Nigerians in diaspora and marketing it aggressively that way but it was eventually launched making it open to everyone including locally based Nigerians.

Given the limited impact of oversubscription on the exchange rate thus far, there might be a need for scope review as to whether another tranche should still focus on all Nigerians resident both home and abroad or it should focus only on diaspora Nigerians and other international investors. And also to generally review learning points on the bond in order to achieve the desired objectives of increasing fresh FX supply and lowering the exchange rate.

3. As earlier stated, there is a clear correlation between exchange rate and domestic inflation/ high prices. We’ve seen that play out in the last 18months. While we might say that the rate of increase of inflation has reduced, is reducing or stabilizing, the inflation rate itself

remains unprecedentedly high.

So, given CBN’s dogged resort to orthodoxy in managing inflation, we need to consider at what point to put a hold on Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) hikes or even consider reducing the MPR to facilitate lowering of interest rates which have remained unusually high (due to the high MPR) thereby stiffling access to credit for the real sector or granting very expensive access to credit leading to sustained high cost of products keeping inflation high and stunting economic growth. Without a threshold to put interest rate hikes in check, couldn’t we inadvertently defeat the original objective of inflation management?

In conclusion, the prognosis for exchange rate in the next six months to one year will be determined by decisive measures that must be taken to boost FX supply significantly on one hand and on the other hand by the expected considerable reduction in FX demand arising from local refining of petroleum products. If the latter does not happen, then what would be the point of having a local refinery with such capacity?

These, coupled with other fiscal measures/ tax policies just gazetted for implementation, the need to review the extent to which interest rate hikes can continue to be used for managing inflation as well as enhanced communication and engagement with citizens should be given serious attention.

The preceding issues underscore the fact that while Government needs to “stay the course” regarding overall objectives, it surely needs to pause and reflect at this point on the component steps to ensure that it is able to ultimately deliver intended value to the generality of Nigerians who are currently at the highest threshold of endurance!

• Hafiz Bakare, a Consultant and former bank chief executive, writes from Lagos.

Digital Encode Targets Unicorn Status, Showcases Cybersecurity Solutions

Digital Encode Limited, a leading Cybersecurity and Governance, Risk and Compliance company in Africa, has announced its sponsorship of Africa Tech Alliance Forum, tagged AfriTECH 4.0.

The event, which is set to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, is one of the most anticipated gatherings of technology enthusiasts, innovators, and industry leaders in Africa. The sponsorship highlights Digital Encode’s unwavering commitment to promoting digital innovation and transformation across the continent.

Meanwhile, Digital Encode, in order to strengthen its global

presence and enhance cybersecurity capabilities, recently commissioned a state-of-the-art facility at the Lekki area of Lagos. The expansion is part of the company’s efforts to fulfil its mission of safeguarding organisations worldwide against cyber threats.

Alongside the new office, Digital Encode has launched the Centre for Information Security Intelligence (CISI), a specialised centre aimed at heightening cyber situational awareness, providing tailored threat intelligence, and enabling collaboration with international cybersecurity organisations.

Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Digital Encode, Dr. Obadare Peter Adewale, said by proactively addressing emerging threats, the company would enhance the cyber resilience of its clients.

“CISI, Digital Encode’s proprietary solution, enables us to identify potential vulnerabilities in our clients’ environments and deploy targeted countermeasures before adversaries can exploit them.

“This approach minimises the likelihood and impact of cyber incidents, thereby strengthening the overall cyber resilience of Digital Encode’s clients,” Adewale said.

AfriTECH 4.0, scheduled for November 2024, will bring together stakeholders from various sectors to explore the theme: ‘Leapfrogging Digital Transformation for Future of Africa’s Economy’. The event will feature panel discussions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among businesses, governments, and tech startups. The conference will focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, blockchain, and financial technology (fintech), which are shaping the future of Africa’s digital landscape.

AVEVA Announces Two New Strategic Partnerships

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, has launched AVEVA World 2024 in Paris’ Palais des Congrès.

The annual flagship software conference brings together leading industrial companies from across the globe to explore how to generate impact with cutting-edge technology. Executives from key industrial verticals including Power, Chemicals, Minerals and Food and Beverage, will be present. All with the shared aim of better utilising advanced software to drive stronger business and sustainability outcomes.

During the AVEVA World 2024

press conference, AVEVA‘s CEO, Caspar Herzberg, announced new strategic partnerships with Vulcan Energy Resources (VER) and Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC). Vulcan Energy Resources (VER) is committed to become the world’s first lithium company with a carbon neutral footprint through a ground-breaking lithium technology. AVEVA’s new partnership with Vulcan will focus on Vulcan Energy Resources €1.5billion engineering project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley – with AVEVA providing the digital backbone for the project. This collaboration supports both companies’ commitment to

driving digital transformation and sustainability throughout the lifecycle of industrial assets. VER aims at decarbonising lithium production by developing the world’s first dual lithium chemicals and renewable energy business with net zero greenhouse gas emissions. CONNECT, will be used to enhance collaboration and foster digital agility across the different project phases and industrial assets. VER will gain access to a comprehensive suite of software solutions tailored to Phase One and future phases. Core components, such as AVEVA’s Contract Risk Management (CRM) and AVEVA Asset Information

Management (AIM), as well as AVEVA’s cutting-edge digital twin and Assai’s Document Control and Management system, will enable secure data sharing among multiple stakeholders including contractors. CEO at AVEVA, Caspar Herzberg, said: “This collaboration supports our commitment to driving digital transformation and sustainability throughout the lifecycle of industrial assets. By collaborating with AVEVA, Vulcan can harness the full power of CONNECT to ease collaboration and accelerate the software underpinning their ground-breaking lithium technology.”

Hafiz Bakare

L - R: Executive Secretary/CEO, Enugu State Security Trust Fund (ESSTF), Chinedu Ani; Enugu State SSG and representative of Gov. Peter Mbah, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; ESSTF BOT Chairman, Dr. Ike Chioke and other members of the ESSTF BOT at the media launch of ESSTF in Enugu…recently

FMN Plans $1bn Facility Expansion in the Next Four Years

Oluchi Chibuzor

Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc, has announced plans to invest up to $1 billion over the next four years to expand its operations.

The company’s Chairman, John Coumantaros, disclosed this recently, emphasizing that the move reflects a commitment to increasing investment in Nigeria.

According to Coumantaros, “Flour Mills’ plan to invest $1 billion in the Nigeria market will come as a confidence booster to President Tinubu whose last eighteen months has witnessed the exit of major multinationals in the Pharmaceutical and Consumer Goods sector.

However, his reforms seem to be paying off; last month, Coca-Cola announced plans to invest $1 billion in Nigeria to expand production and distribution facilities.

“Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc plans to invest a minimum of $500 million

TAJBank

into its sugar operations in Niger State, with the goal of increasing production from the current 100,000 tons to over 400,000 tons annually, Additionally, the company will allocate $100 million to establish a cassava-processing plant aimed at eliminating cassava starch imports. In the full year of 2023/2024 Flour Mills spent around N1.8 trillion on raw materials resulting in its profit declining by 91%.”

He also reveals the company’s plans to expand their breakfast cereal product line, noting that the most of the funding will be internally sourced.

“The requirement for capital is going to be very large. And of course we will be backing the majority of that, but when you grow, you can’t do everything yourself. You need to invite those experts of the best in the field to really support you and assist you and bring some of that technical expertise so we can grow more business, more jobs here in the country,”

he said.

However, the company also plans to restructure its operations after local partner Excelsior offered to buy out its minority stake and go private.

“Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc plans to restructure its over twenty-two business units into five separate companies. We aim to attract both technical and financial partners to support the growth of our sugar operations and food business. We have ambitious plans for investment and expansion.

“The company is looking at leveraging on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand across the continent starting from West Africa. “With the inception of the AfCFTA, we believe strongly that we shouldn’t be just looking at the Nigerian market. Our dream is to have a panAfrican food business that is headquartered in Nigeria. We’ll take advantage of the AfCFTA so that we can expand our footprint into those regions,” he said.

Sets Industry Record, Pays 2nd Dividend In Four Years

TAJBank Limited, Nigeria’s fastest growing non-interest bank, has set a new record in Nigeria’s banking sector history with the payment of dividends to its shareholders at the end of its half year ended June 2024, the second in its 4th year of operations.

The multiple awardwinning non-interest lender in the half year under review paid 10% cash as interim dividend to its shareholders, following the approval of the financial statements by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Another major highlight of the bank’s financial report showed that the bank blazed a major trail in financial management with the shareholders’ fund surging from N5 billion in 2019 to over N53 billion in June this year, representing 960% growth in the investors’ fund.

In the half year under review, the bank’s gross earnings rose to N32,846 billion from N17,022 billion recorded in 2023 financial year, representing a 93% increase over the preceding year’s earnings, amongst other impressive financial indices.

Speaking with journalists during a virtual chat at the weekend on the bank’s half year 2024 financial results, particularly on the payment of dividends to the shareholders despite the inclement operating environment, TAJBank’s Founder/CEO, Mr. Hamid Joda, said: “The payment of this second tranche of dividends to our shareholders barely four years of TAJBank’s operations is historic as this is the first time such a feat is recorded in the

over 100 years of banking services in Nigeria.”

Similarly, the bank’s CoFounder/Executive Director, Mr. Sherif Idi, enthused: “TAJBank’s impressive financial performance in the current half year 2024 further demonstrated its resilience and the management’s uncommon zeal for excellence in all areas of its operations.

“Let me emphasize here that we are very grateful to all the shareholders and urge them to always support the board and management in their sustained efforts to transform TAJBank to the foremost non-interest bank in Africa, having attained the number one ranking in Nigeria by all assessment standards in this few years of its operations,” the banker added.

All Set for Maiden Edition Of Gwandu Annual Racing Competition, Durbar

Great anticipation fills the air, as members of the Gwandu Emirate prepare for the maiden edition of the Gwandu Emirate Annual Horse Racing and Cultural Festival scheduled to take place from the 18th to the 23rd of November, 2024 in Birnin Kebbi,Kebbi State.

The much-awaited event will feature series of events like; Malam Abdullahi Fodio Annual Lecture, Agricultural Fair, Cultural Displays and Durbar as well as Horse Racing competition.

Addressing a press conference in Birnin Kebb, the Sarkin Bargun Ka’oje and Chief Coordinator of the event, Alhaji Mustapha Usman Adamu, disclosed that no fewer than 250 horses from seven (7) countries namely: Niger Republic, Benin Republic, Senegal, Bokinafaso, Cameroon and Ghana among others, are expected to participate in the maiden edition of Gwandu

Emirate Annual Horse Racing and Cultural Festival.

According to Adamu, the event was part of the emirate’s contribution to the government of His Excellency, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris (Kauran) to enable the governor leave behind lasting legacies in our dear state.

The Chief Coordinator said the objective of the festival was to showcase and preserve the Gwandu Emirate traditions, promote unity and understanding among it’s people, and provide opportunity for its teeming youths, other Nigerians and members of the international community to see and experience the emirate’s rich cultural heritage, specifically it’s trades, games and costumes.

He added that historically, Gwandu Emirate was known as home of horse racing and a hub for traditional reverence, saying that the event also sought to provide opportunities for businesses to thrive

“We seek to build on this tradition and open a new chapter in our efforts to promote Kebbi State, and also seek to provide opportunities for our businesses to thrive through increased commerce during the festival, as we anticipate a large influx of people.

“It is also our intention to promote unity and understanding within the emirate, while offering an opportunity for our youth, Nigerians, and indeed lovers of tourism and sportsmanship around the world to witness our rich cultural heritage. This festival will provide a world-class horse racing competition, attracting participants from across Nigeria and other African nations,” he said.

According to him, the Mallam Abdullahi Fodio Annual Lecture will be an occasion for thought-provoking lectures on engaging topics along with an exhibition of rare works by Mallam Abdullahi Fodio.

following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), 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).

Transcorp Hotels Reports 67% in Revenue Growth to N48.49bn

Kayode Tokede

Transcorp Hotels Plc, yesterday on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) announced its third quarter (Q3) ended September 2024 unaudited result and accounts with a strong performance from top to bottom.

The hospitality subsidiary of Transcorp Group announced N48.49 billion revenue in Q3 2024, about 67 per cent increase

from N28.97 billion in Q3 2023. The remarkable revenue growth is fueled by strategic pricing initiatives and robust sales efforts across all business segments, with a particular emphasis on the targeted Group and International Business segments.

From the profit & loss figures, Transcorp Hotels declared N16.44 billion profit before tax in Q3 2024, about 192 per cent increase from

N5.64billion reported in Q3 2024 as profit after tax stood at N10.24 billion in Q3 2024, about 146 per cent increase from N4.07 billion recorded in Q3 2023.

The company’s occupancy rate grew to 83per cent in Q3 2024 from 79per cent in Q3 2023.

The Group Company Secretary, Transcorp Hotel, Stanley Chikwendu in a statement stated that the company

has demonstrated prudence in resources management as its operating expenses margin improved year-on-year by four percentage points, a testament to the company’s dynamism in navigating market landscapes. He added that “The outstanding results posted by the Company not only highlight its resilience, it also demonstrates its unwavering commitment to delivering consistent value through strategic focus on

enhancing customer experience, driving operational efficiency, and fostering innovation in service delivery.”

Commenting on the Q3 2024 results, the Managing Director/CEO, Transcorp Hotels, Dupe Olusola in a statement said, “Transcorp Hotels Plc is proud to maintain a remarkable growth trajectory, reflecting our unwavering commitment to enhancing shareholder value. Our award-

winning customer service and exceptional properties position us as the premier gateway to Nigeria’s rich hospitality and cultural experiences.

“In the coming weeks, we will unveil another landmark addition to our flagship brand, further expanding our offerings. This is line with our mission to redefine hospitality in Africa. We remain steadfast in our dedication to delivering value to our stakeholders.”

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF OCTOBER 21/24

ACCESS BANK'S CUSTOMERS' ENGAGEMENT FORUM...

L-R: CEO, Hallesignature, Halima

UNODC, NAPTIP, EU, ECOWAS to Collaborate on a Framework to Combat Human Trafficking in Nigeria

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), European Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have pledged to work together to combat human trafficking in Nigeria by ensuring that a framework that would boost stringent implementation of enabling anti-trafficking laws are emplaced.

The commitment was given on Monday in Abuja by the organisations and other stakeholders who gathered for the 1st policy-level meeting on human trafficking in Nigeria.

The gathering is part of the project “From Policy to Action: Implementation of the National

Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022-2026),” funded by the Swiss government and jointly executed by NAPTIP and UNODC. Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, described the current spate of human trafficking as a grave violation of human rights, which is threatening the very fabric of Nigerian society. She noted that combating the scourge requires a coordinated response that brings together all arms of government, law enforcement agencies, international partners, civil society organisations and the general public.

Bello said: “We will ensure that our coordination remains robust and adaptive to the evolving nature of trafficking crimes,” adding that:

“Collection, analysis and reporting of reliable, sufficient and up-to-date

data is needed to better prevent and combat this crime and its complex and ever-evolving dynamics.”

The NAPTIP DG said her office is now adopting a bottom-up approach to identify and track traffickers at the grassroots for effective prevention and prosecution, revealing that NAPTIP is now engaging the 774 local government areas. She noted that the conference was organized to review reports on counter-human trafficking efforts from government agencies, identify priority actions for 2025, and engage in interactive sessions to gather valuable feedback.

On his part, the Deputy Country Representative of UNODC Nigeria, Danilo Campiso, who said a human trafficking-free Nigeria is possible, stressed the need for collaboration for effective implementation.

He said: “I want to emphasize that the success of this project and the full implementation of the NAP depend on strong coordination, commitment, and the collaborative spirit that unites us today. Together, we can make significant strides toward eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria and safeguarding the rights and dignity of every individual.”

The Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, Mr. Tunde Olayemi (ECOWAS) said effective coordination is critical to achieving Africa without child trafficking. He said all hands must be on deck for a safe continent for women and children to live and achieve their potential.

On its part, Miss Ojoma Ali,

Kwara Pays N4b Counterpart Funds to Revolutionise Rural

Infrastructure for Agric Devt

Kwara State governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday said his government has paid a total sum of N4billion as counterpart funds in the last five years towards revolutionising rural infrastructure for agricultural development of the state.

AbdulRazaq stated this in Ilorin during the flag-off of the construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of rural roads totaling 209.77km.

The ceremony was well attended by the members of the National Assembly, speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and other royal fathers, commissioners among others.

The governor noted that, "the road projects are being prosecuted under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), an initiative for which the administration has committed at least N4bn counterpart funds in the last five years".

RAAMP is jointly funded by the World Bank and French Development Agency, with the state government providing counterpart funds.

AbdulRazaq stated the investments have yielded the 209.77km costed at N19,404,220,675.55 for the benefits of the people.

He said: “This flag-off for the construction, rehabilitation, and

upgrade of rural roads spanning 209.77km and connecting 16 local government areas is the fruit of huge investment, strategic planning, our commitment to rural urban development and food security, and our drive for rapid socioeconomic growth and sustainable job opportunities".

The road projects include AlapaHoko (0.7km); Madi-Peke (17.5km); Mandala-Yowere-Agbonna (12.485 km); Gerewu-Eiyekorin- Okoolowo Expressway (3.07km); Panada-Oloro ((5.43km); Inaja-Alaro-Inaja Maliki (6.22km); Ijagbo-Aperun-AdelekeIgbawere (6.85km); KpandarakoGinda-Kusomunu-Kachitako-Tsakpata Lealea- Gulufu Bacita (22.89km); and Lafiagi-Effagi-Putata road (9.53km).

Others are Oko OlowoSokotoTafatafa -Elere-Owode Oja- Baba Kudu- Akopari- Otte Oja road (23.23km); Odo Ode- SoliuArogun-Ikotun-Oke Amin-RondoOffa road (22.08km); Babanla-Budo Idowu-Alasoro-Owode- Shagbe (10.53km); Kpada-Gakpan (9.58km); and Yakiru-Tabiru-Kenu rural road (59.69km).

AbdulRazaq said the RAAMP project aligns with the government’s commitment to revolutionize rural infrastructure for agricultural development in the state.

The governor commended the World Bank and French Development Agency (AFD) for providing the fund and the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) under

the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for proper coordination of RAAMP activities in Nigeria.

AbdulRazaq announced that the government will soon award contracts for the construction of three Agro-logistics Centres, one in each senatorial district (Ajase-Ipo, Alapa and Kaiama) and more rural roads that will spread to other LGAs.

“On assumption of office in 2019, our administration immediately paid the first tranche of the counterpart fund. Between 2019 and now, our government has paid the sum of four billion, twenty-six million, eight hundred and ninety-one thousand Naira (N4,026,891,000) as a counterpart fund. No amount was paid before 2019,” he said.

He urged the contractors and consultants to deliver these projects within stipulated time and design specifications, and urged the host communities to support the initiative.

“For these roads to stand the test of time through quality maintenance, I have signed the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF) bills into law. I have also approved the constitution of the Boards of the Agency,” he added.

Senator Lola Ashiru, who spoke on behalf of other members of the National Assembly from the state, said, many states of the federation, except Kwara, have long been benefiting from RAAMP

intervention because the previous administrations in the state failed to fulfill the required obligations.

He praised Governor AbdulRazaq for the payment of counterpart funds which is an important requirement for accessing the grant, calling him a lover of the masses.

On his parts, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, described the project as another laudable initiative of the administration that will go a long way to ease access to farm produce and contribute to socioeconomic development of the state.

Abdulquawiy Olododo, works commissioner, commended the governor and other key stakeholders for their contributions and tireless efforts that made the day a reality, noting that the project will enhance connectivity, facilitate economic growth, and improve the quality of life for citizens.

“For this year 2024, not less than 170 road projects have been embarked upon across Kwara State with at least 65% of them already completed while others are progressing at an appreciable pace,” Olododo added.

The State Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr Isaac Kolo, said the government’s investments in rural road infrastructure and agrologistics facilities showed that the governor is visionary, goal-oriented and passionate about the people's well-being.

who represented the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria said “Nigeria free from human trafficking is our ultimate goal, and we also stand by that Switzerland front this project.”

The Swiss government commended NAPTIP for its consistent action on the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking crimes and suspects.

The representative of the

NEPL/Seplat

Ambassador of United States, Mr. Micheal Berenton, said it is critically important that the different organisations and agencies, look at the complex system of human trafficking and” look at where we can make a meaningful impact.

“So, when we move from policy to action, those actions are influencing this complex system in a positive way that meets all of our shared goals.”

Drive educational devt in communities through SEED initiative

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and Seplat Energy JV has trained and empowered 69 youths in Delta and Edo States as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.

The beneficiaries were trained in various skills ranging from fashion and design; welding and fabrication; hair dressing/cosmetology; Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and catering, amongst others.

In another related development, NEPL/Seplat Energy Joint Venture (JV) have once again reinforced their dedication to advancing education and promoting excellence in its host communities through their flagship initiative, the Seplat Educational Empowerment Drive (SEED).

The initiative, which focused on driving meaningful change through educational interventions in the areas of infrastructure and learning tools/ materials, marked a significant milestone at Onyeburu Primary School in Jesse, Delta State, where educators, students, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the distribution of essential educational materials to seven primary schools across Delta State.

Managing Director of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Ayodele Olatunde, while speaking at the graduation ceremony of the firm's skill acquisition training scheme over the weekend said the gesture was to empower bright and talented individuals with skills and necessary knowledge.

"We are not just celebrating the completion of a programme, we are witnessing the empowerment of bright and talented individuals who are now equipped with skills and knowledge necessary to make meaningful contributions to their communities and Nigeria at large",

he said.

Mr. Olatunde, represented at the event by the Corporate Communication Manager, Mr. Stanley Okpara, noted that Seplat Energy believed in the transformative power of education and skills development stressing that that informed the drive to promote capacity building, entrepreneurship and sustainable development within its host communities.

"The Seplat Skills Acquisition Training Scheme is one of our flagship programmes aimed at unlocking potential, providing opportunities and fostering a culture of self-reliance" he added.

An elated Seplat boss noted that the event was a testament to what can be achieved when corporate entities, communities and individuals come together with a shared vision. He congratulated the graduating trainees and their trainers, community leaders for making the programme a success.

A community leader, Chief Mrs. Otitiwo Faith commended Seplat and its partners for the programme aimed at preparing the youths to confidently step into their chosen fields and become and agents of positive change.

Meanwhile, this year’s theme, “Igniting Potential, Inspiring Excellence: Advancing Education for a Brighter Tomorrow,” underscores the JV's continued commitment to fostering educational development.

Representing the Managing Director, Western Assets, Seplat Energy, Ayodele Olatunde, and Base Manager, Western Assets, Seplat Energy, Kingsley Udebor, Stanley Opara, Manager of Corporate Communications at Seplat Energy, in an address, emphasized the vital role of education in building human potential and promoting sustainable communities.

Ibrahim; Regional Director, Retail Banking, Abuja, Access Bank, Neka Adogu; Group Head, Retail Banking Business, Access Bank, Aminu Inuwa; CEO, Exclusive collections and more services, Amina Abdulfatah; and Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank, Chizoma Okoli during the Access Bank Customers Engagement forum held in Kano on Friday

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

SECOND ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING OF ABIODUN OYEBANJI ADMINISTRATION...

L-R; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye; Anglican Bishop Ekiti Diocese, Rt Revd (Dr) Olusola Ajayi; Grand Imam Ekiti State and President General League of Imams and Alfas,

Sheikh Jamiu Bello Kewulere; Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; his wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ekiti State, Rev Emmanuel

the 2nd anniversary of the Biodun Oyebanji administration at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel,

Diri: Military Now Changing Narrative on Oil Theft Menace

As army discovers, dismantles over 32 illegal refining sites in Niger Delta

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa and Linus Aleke in Abuja

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has restated that the state will work with the Defence Headquarters Joint Monitoring Team to curb the menace of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Governor Diri also expressed delight

that the military, which is alleged to be involved in crude oil theft, is now leading the charge to change the narrative on oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region. In a related development, the Nigerian Army yesterday said that troops of 6 Division, working closely with other security agencies discovered and successfully dismantled over 32

Suit Against Lottery Commission in Bad Taste, Says Institute

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The International Institute of Experts on Political Economy and Administration has described the move by some governors to close down the National Lottery Commission as ill conceived.

It said that any move to scrap the lottery commission will not only hurt the country's economic interest but will push an estimated 20,000 Nigerians into the unemployment market.

The Executive Vice President for Africa Affairs, International Institute of Experts on Political Economy and Administration, Prof. Tunji John Asaolu, expressed concern when he spoke to journalists, Monday, on the relevance of federal institutions to economic growth and sustainable development in Nigeria.

The National Lottery Commission was established by an Act of the National Assembly to regulate the betting and gaming sector while the Trust Fund is to collect all the relevant revenue due to the federal government of Nigeria and utilize same to the benefit of Nigerians.

However about 21 states’ Attorneys General have gone to the Supreme Court seeking the apex court to scrap the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Nigeria Lottery Trust Fund while 16 states are in support that the federal government should continue to collect the revenue since it is being shared among the 36 states and the FCT on monthly bases.

Asaolu who said the institute was concerned about the impact the Lottery Commission is having on the revenue generation in the country, noted that revenue earnings from the sector have been deployed for the benefit of Nigerians.

He said: "It is pertinent to note that, the federal government through its agency, the Revenue Mobilization

Allocation and Fiscal Commission shares the federal government generated revenue to the 36 States and the FCT on monthly bases.

"Most States in Nigeria survive mainly on federal allocation to run its affairs as Internally Generated Revenue in most non-oil producing states are not sufficient to complement the federal government’s efforts in improving the states infrastructure and social development."

Asaolu said that the affected agencies of the federal government have over 20,000 staff under the pay roll who will lose their jobs should the entities be scrapped.

He accused those seeking to shut down the lottery commission of acting a script designed by external sponsors.

He also alleged that some of foreign operators of the betting business usually short-change the federal government.

Further according to him, "It is worthy of note that over the years lottery operators have deliberately shortchanged the federal government by refusing to remit the due revenue of 27.5 and 25 % to the government respectively, hence the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration has taken the bull by the horn in automating the revenue sector of the lottery industry.

"This is an opportunity that will harness the huge revenue in the betting and gaming sector which shall improve the revenue base of the country.”

Asaolu said that BetNaija is owned by the Russian government, Ghana Games is owned by the Ghanaian government, while Baba Ijebu is owned by the Australian government just to mention but a few.

He said that these operators are not comfortable with the manner the federal government is regulating the sector and not allowing them free access

illegal bunkering sites, arrested several suspects, destroyed 54 locally constructed boats used for criminality as well as intercepted a few vehicles used for conveying stolen products.

The Nigerian Army also noted that ongoing anti-illegal oil bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region is making considerable progress with various operational successes being recorded.

The Bayelsa governor stated this on Monday whe the joint monitoring team, led by Major General Jamil Jimoh, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.

He said he was optimistic that the collaboration among security agencies and major stakeholders in the oil industry would go a long way to stem the tide of l oil theft and increase production.

He stressed the state had already demonstrated its commitment in curbing crude theft, pipeline vandalism and environmental pollution by setting up committees at the local government level as well as using jingles and other means to reorientate the youths.

While acknowledging that an

improvement of crude oil production from the state would translate to increased allocation from the 13% derivation fund, Governor Diri said it was an anomaly for federating states to go cap in hand to Abuja monthly to share revenue

He again called for the adoption of true federalism where states would be allowed to exploit their resources and pay taxes to the centre in order to encourage them to develop at their own pace.

The Bayelsa helmsman also called on oil companies to replace worn-out equipment to avoid frequent failure, which they blame on sabotage.

He said: "As a state, we have actually started working on it. Before now, there have been accusations that the military and other security agencies were involved in oil theft.

"But it is the military that is now taking the lead among other security agencies. I can see the police and the NSCDC also represented in the committee. So, it means we are all now closing ranks.

“It is very sad for us to hear that our own military is accused of involvement

in oil theft. It is as if there is no end to it and the sabotage in our region. If security forces that are supposed to work with civilian authorities to bring this to an end are also involved, then there will be no end to it.

“So, I'm happy that you are taking this lead, and I can assure you of our support. We will support you and work with you to ensure that oil production is shored up and our environment is not polluted the way it is. So, rest assured that at all times the government of Bayelsa State is ready to collaborate with you.”

Earlier, leader of the team, General Jamil Jimoh, solicited the support of the state government to enable them effectively combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the state.

He commended the governor for his developmental strides and efforts made to curb the menace in the state.

He said that the team had the responsibility of ensuring the security of oil facilities in the Niger Delta and ensure improved oil production.

Meanwhile, the Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah

Danjuma, disclosed that other achievements include, the deactivation of numerous cooking drums, recovery of over 250,000 litres of stolen products among others in the latest operational breakthroughs. According to him, "In Rivers State, several operations were conducted with huge successes recorded. At Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA), along River Ekpe-Mgbedei, troops deactivated two illegal refining sites, 3 large tanks filled with over 45,000 litres of stolen crude, 6 drums filled with over 1,200 litres of soda Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), two mini tanks with over 3,000 litres of stolen products.

Others include 4 dugout pits with over 12,000 litres of crude, 3 empty tanks, 3 sacks of stolen AGO estimated to be over 2,000 litres and 8 drums. "Similarly, around Soku Gas Plant in Akuku-Toru LGA, a tug boat with over 50,000 litres of AGO was intercepted with 5 crew members. At Karakrama in Degema LGA, 21 wooden boats, twelve fibre boats used for criminality were destroyed with over 28,000 litres of stolen crude confiscated.

Alleged Procurement Fraud: ‘April 1616’

Got

Preferential Treatment, Witness Tells Court

As Emefiele alleges EFCC fishing for additional evidence

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, that a company, April 1616, was given preferential treatments in the award of contract for the supply of vehicles under former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

The witness, Stephen Gana, stated this in his evidence as the 10th witness of the prosecution (PW10) in the trial of Emefiele, who is facing a 20-count criminal charge of conspiracy, conferring undue advantage, and breach of trust, among others.

Besides, the anti-graft agency in the charge alleged that the former CBN boss forged a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the

Government of the Federation (AGF).

He was also alleged to have used his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies; April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd in suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.

Recall that Emefiele was initially charged alongside a former staff of the CBN, Mrs Sa'adatu Yaro, and April 1616, allegedly linked with Mrs. Yaro.

But the Commission dropped Yaro and April 1616, in the amended 20 count charge, to which Emefiele pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed trial on Monday, the witness confirmed that he was in office during the period that contracts for vehicles contained in Exhibits F4 to F45 were approved.

Gana, who claimed to be the Head of Procurement Department then, informed the court that Toyota vehicles obtained at the cost of N99,900,000 was acquired by the CBN from April 1616 through direct procurement, approved by Emefiele,

adding that the purchase was within his approval limit of N100 million.

Referring to Exhibit F5, Gana said two Toyota hilux were obtained at the cost of N23,100,000 each through selective biding.

The witness further stated that April 1616, which was among two others, was awarded the contract having placed the lowest bid and aligning with CBN's inhouse estimate of the same sum.

Meanwhile, the witness noted that the CBN contracts could be awarded through direct procurement or selective bidding depending on the guidance of the Director of Procurement Department who works in team with the Deputy Director, the Head of Procurement (himself) and the Procurement Officer.

Earlier, Emefiele's lawyer, Mr Matthew Burkaa, SAN, drew the court's attention to a motion he filed in opposition to the prosecution's amended Proof of Evidence for three additional witnesses.

He predicated the application on

the grounds that the evidence of the additional witnesses was obtained by the EFCC one year after the charge against Emefiele was filed. According to Burkaa, the charge before the court was filed on August 14, 2023 and have been severally amended by the prosecution. The defense lead counsel Burkaa while observing that the charge commenced on November 28, 2023, argued that upon filing the charge, the prosecution manifested that it had concluded investigation and a prima facie case established in their opinion against the defendant.

He added that the filing of the additional Proof of Evidence by the EFCC on October 15, 2024, seeking to introduce fresh evidence of Tommy Odama and Ifeanyi Omeke, only confirms that investigation on the allegations against the defendant in respect of this charge is still ongoing, despite the filing of the charge and commencement of full trial.

Southwest, Edo and Delta States,

Aribasoye; at the thanksgiving service commemorating

Ado-Ekiti on Sunday

GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY COMMEMORATION...

NDLEA Says Senator Ashiru’s House Warehouses Illicit Drugs, Aides Prosecuted

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has alleged that the house of Senator Oyelola Ashiru (APC Kwara South) was used to warehouse illicit drugs, insisting that his recent attack on the agency was borne out of vendetta rather national interest.

The agency also alleged that some of the aides of the lawmaker were arrested in the raid on his residence and are currently being prosecuted with one of them already sentenced to jail.

The agency made the revelation on

Monday at its national headquarters in Abuja during a press briefing to respond to a statement made by Senator Ashiru that "the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is corrupt and compromised."

However, apparently unimpressed by NDLEA’s allegations, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, yesterday challenged the Agency to prosecute anyone arrested by its operatives in connection with illicit drugs.

Part of Senator Ashiru’s statement released by his Special Assistant, Olaitan Adeyanju read: “The NDLEA claims to have discovered drugs in Senator Ashiru's Ilorin house, but

there's no information on which court of law the culprits were charged to.

“In fact, Senator Ashiru has been vocal about the NDLEA's corruption and compromise, which might be the reason behind these allegations.”

The senator's assistant also clarified that Ashiru didn't send any aide to influence the dropping of drug allegations against Tosin Odepidian, and the names mentioned by the agency are unfamiliar

“However, the Senator has challenged the agency to prosecute anyone that is found of illicit drugs,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.

Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), represented by his spokesman, Femi Babafemi at the briefing, said the NDLEA is compelled to call this press briefing today because of an unfortunate development earlier last week during plenary in the Nigerian Senate when some uncomplimentary, unfounded, defamatory remarks were made against the agency.”

While acknowledging the great work of the Senate towards the upliftment of Nigeria and Nigerians especially their support for the ongoing concerted efforts towards the amendment of the NDLEA Act, Marwa said the agency was dutybound to respond to the unprovoked

Court Fixes December 3 for Trial of Kwara Former Gov Ahmed, Banu

Shittu in Ilorin

A state High Court in Ilorin yesterday fixed December 3, 2024 for the full commencement of the trial of the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and the former Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu.

attack against it by Senator Ashiru during his contribution to the debate on a new bill for an Act to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

He said the agency waited for a whole week hoping the lawmaker will clarify his position on such a weighty allegation against it but failing to do that, it was left with “no option than to come out and set the record straight for the benefit of other distinguished members of the Senate, our local and international partners as well as the general public.”

He added: “There is no doubt that setting up another agency is within the power of the Senate and if we are invited to contribute to the debate, we will be willing to offer our opinion.

“What we found was shocking, and we concluded that his statement came from a place of vendetta and certainly not out of public interest or any altruistic motive.”

He revealed that: “The personal house of the senator in GRA Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, had been raided in recent past, where drugs and illicit substances were recovered while two of his aides: Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammed Yahaya were arrested.

“Based on credible intelligence and surveillance which confirmed that the senator’s house was being used as a drug joint for drug dealers and users, the house was raided by our operatives at 1:30pm on February 4, 2024 during which the two aides were arrested, while a third suspect escaped arrest.

They were earlier arraigned before the Federal High Court Ilorin before the case was later transferred to State High Court in Ilorin.

During the re-arraignment on Monday at the State High Court, Ilorin, the former governor and his former finance commissioner, Demola Banu, pleaded not guilty to

The duo is facing a 15-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N3 billion public fund during their tenure.

the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N100 million each.

The presiding judge, Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar in his ruling on the case fixed December 3, 2024 for the commencement of the trial.

In an interview with journalists, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said the re-arraignment of the former governor from the federal High Court to the state High Court

was as a result of conclusion of investigation of other aspects of the allegations and to prevent moving from one court to another.

Also speaking, the lead counsel to the former governor Ahmed and Alhaji Banu, Mr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), said that, "We are ready for EFCC where ever the court may take the case to because we have no skeleton on our cupboard".

Widows of Late Military Officers Told to Avoid Drugs, Prioritise Mental Health

A mental health consultant and founder, Secure the Future International, Dr. Sa’adatu Adamu has advised widows of late military officers to be conscious of their mental health because of the trauma often associated with losing their loved ones.

Adamu gave the admonition at the annual widows’ empowerment event in Abuja, organised by the Support Our Troops Foundation (SOTF) for military widows under the auspices of Military Widows Association (MIWA).

She said: "Taking care of yourself mentally is not selfishness; it is extremely essential so that you can be mentally healthy to take care of others around you.”

Also, the National Coordinator, Nigeria Air Force Widows Association (NAFWA), Mrs. Grace Akpan disclosed that experience had proven that most of the wives of

military officers slip into hypertension soon after losing their husbands due to the associated trauma, hence the need for mental health consciousness and management.

According to Akpan, the priorities of late military officers' widows should be their health and their children, advising them to eschew drugs and alcohol addiction.

She explained that some young widows had been found to indulge in drug addiction and alcoholism soon after the demise of their husbands.

Akpan further advised them to prioritise the upkeep and education of their children, whom she described as worthy investments.

Noting that young widows are vulnerable to rampaging sexual predators and exploiters outside, she advised them to try as much as possible not to be idle, preserve themselves and their dignity and be focused.

Earlier in her address, the founder of Support Our Troops (SOT),

Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, underscored the importance of support and empowerment training of late military officers' widows as a way to honour and recognise the sacrifices made by the fallen military personnel.

Ogbue, who was represented by the the project coordinator, Widows Empowerment programme, Mrs. Ojinika Mba-Kalu, stated that Support Our Troops, Nigeria, was founded with a vision to recognise, honour, and reward the sacrifices of the military, including those who are still alive and those who died in combat.

According to her, since its inception in 2014, SOT has been dedicated to drawing attention to the sacrifices of soldiers and their families and providing them with financial support.

At this year’s empowerment event, widows of fallen military officers, comprising the Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as

some orphans, were provided with various food items.

Highlights of the event included testimonies on the experiences of some widows since they lost their spouses.

One of the really emotional testimonies was by Mrs. Azumi Aprezi, a widow who lost her husband and three children the same day 19 years ago.

Aprezi noted that the trauma associated the tragic loss of her husband and three children was unimaginable, underscoring the huge challenges in the aftermath of losing one's husband, while encouraging her fellow widows to persevere while caring for their families.

In an interview with THISDAY, the National President, Military Wives Association (MIWA), Mrs. Olubunmi Ese-Okiti, said the challenges faced by widows of late military officers were enormous, including abandonment by some friends and close relatives.

“While we cannot fault the power of the Senate on that, yet for a member of the upper chamber to have made such an unfounded and unwarranted categorical statement against the agency led us to look inward to see what could have been responsible for such a sweeping, general statement.

“In another encounter with the senator, the agency also received intelligence that some of his boys popularly known as “Omo Senator” operating from his home town, Offa, were equally dealing in illicit drugs.

Nigerian Railway Corporation: Iloanusi Takes Over as New MD, Okhiria Bows Out

Sunday Okobi

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fridet Okhiria, has handed over duties and responsibilities of the corporation to the most senior Director in the corporation, Mr. Ben Iloanusi, after successfully completing his second four-year term tenure of office last weekend.

During the handing over ceremony, the ex-MD commended the management and staff of the corporation for the co-operation and understanding extended to him during his tenure, which he said was the bedrock of his success in running the affairs of the corporation.

Okhiria, who is an engineer, enjoined the management and staff of the corporation to extend same co-operation and understanding to the incoming acting managing director.

The corporation said that new NRC MD has solid understanding of the technology market and industry, as well as strong stake holder management skill.

During his acceptance speech at the highly emotional ceremony where testimonies were made acknowledging the vast experience, patience, compassion and fatherly role of the outgone MD, the acting MD solicited co-operation of the staff and management of the NRC to be extended to him more than that of

his predecessor. He said his office is ready to accommodate constructive advice and criticism that will move the corporation forward during his tenure successfully.

A statement issued yesterday by the NRC Deputy Director Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood, stated that Iloanusi, until his elevation to the post of the acting managing director, was the director of procurement of the corporation.

“He is a graduate of Political Science from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and MBA in International Management from the South Bank University, London.

“Iloanusi joined the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 2011 as the Deputy Director of Procurement before rising to the post of the Director Procurement in 2019,” it stated.

The statement described the new managing director as “Strong and efficient negotiator; has extensive experience of contracts drafting and post contract administration, managing the tender process, supplier, evaluation, and supplier management with pricing and evaluation models.

“He is involved in management information reporting, solid materials and inventory management best practices, e-procurement implementation and post implementation support and management.

Michael Olugbode and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Hammed

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

L-R: Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Edwin Isotu Edeh; Chief WASH Nigeria at UNICEF, Dr. Jane Bevan; Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr Richard Pheelangwah representing the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev; Director and Head of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, and Head of External Affairs, Media, and Partnerships, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Mrs Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh at the 2024 Global Handwashing Day commemoration in Abuja...recently

INDUCTION OF CIOTA AND CIFCFIN AS CORPORATE MEMBERS OF APBN...

L-R: BoT Chairman, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Herbert Agbebiyi; Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), Dr. Isa Salifu; President and Chairman- in-Council, APBN, Ribainu Manason; and President/Chairman-in-Council, Chartered Institute Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), Dr. Segun

during the induction of CIOTA and CIFCFIN as corporate members of APBN in Abuja... recently

DHQ: Reported Appointment of Acting COAS Not True, Call for Coup Treasonable

Insists Lagbaja well, set to resume duty soon

Linus Aleke in Abuja

Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, dismissed as false reports of alleged appointment of an acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

DHQ also described calls for military coup as treasonable.

While warning individuals it claimed were making entreaties to the armed forces to topple the democratically elected government

After 20

Julius

to desist forthwith, DHQ insisted that the army chief, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, was hale and hearty and would resume normal duties at the end of his leave.

A statement by Acting Director, Defence Information (DDI), Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, stated that the authorities had not announced the appointment of any senior officer as the acting COAS, contrary to speculation in the public space. Gusau further clarified that no

such appointment existed within the armed forces, and declared that Lagbaja was still resting as part of his 2024 annual leave.

He said the armed forces were professionally managed and all the service chiefs were performing their duties as stipulated in the constitution of Nigeria.

Gusau said in the statement, "Major General Abdulsalam Bagudu Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans, is providing routine briefs

to the COAS as per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

"The DHQ urges individuals spreading unfounded rumours to desist from doing so immediately. The COAS is hale and hearty and will soon resume normal duties at the end of his leave.

"Media organisations are advised to verify information with the appropriate authorities before releasing fake news to the public.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Years of Non-usage, Wike Revokes

Berger’s Land, Assigns it to Judiciary

Eze tackles ex-Rivers gov over attack on Atiku, Obi, says he’s

unfit to destroy PDP

had only spoken with the COAS a few minutes ago.”

Gusau also stated, "Additionally, those advocating military takeover, as seen in a viral video, should be aware that such actions are treasonable under the constitution."

The acting DDI said the armed forces were steadfastly committed to the preservation and advancement of the country's democracy and were loyal to President Bola Tinubu's administration.

Gusau said the military remained focused on achieving its statutory responsibilities of protecting the country's integrity.

He stated the relative peace being enjoyed today was a direct result of the president's support for the military and the dedication of the military leadership.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the parcel of land reallocated 20 years ago to construction giant, Julius Berger, for the construction of 40 residences of different categories of judges.

He disclosed this yesterday at the official flag-off ceremony of the construction of the judicial quarters at Katampe District by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

He said the revocation, which he conveyed to the Managing Director of Julius Berger at a dinner was in the public interest.

"I thank God they did not develop it. And now we're able to have it.

Now, you wouldn't have had this land for us to think about constructing of this magnificent building," Wike said.

The judicial quarters have a completion time of 15 months, according to the minister, adding that the certificates of occupancy would also be handed to the benefiting judges from the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court.

"We will make sure that this is a pilot project that will be completed on time. And my Lord, the Chief Justice will also be here next year, by the grace of God, to come and

Wike wondered how government would allocate land for more than 20 years to an organisations to develop and they were not able to develop it.

commission it.

"I also believe the Court of Appeal Division, which was flagged off by a predecessor, will also be commissioned by next year, to the glory of God. My Lord, you're a very lucky person. God's time is the best.

"I am so pleased that the will of God that it is at this time you will be the Chief Justice of Nigeria, when such project is starting.

"It is not anybody's making. It is how God has willed it. So, we'll ask you once more, God bless you, and we are happy that you are the one flagging it off, and you will be the one that will commission it," Wike said.

He expressed the determination of President Bola Tinubu to improve the living conditions of the judges, noting

the administration was particular about the independence of the judiciary.

"Mr President had said, the conditions of service is critical to the independence of the judiciary. If you want to insulate the judiciary from manipulation, from interference of either the legislature or the executive, what is important is the conditions of service, one which has to do with their remuneration.”

In her remarks, Justice KerekeEkun described the construction of the residences as a practical step towards ensuring that judicial officers were well-supported. She noted that the judiciary plays a critical role in safeguarding the rule of law, upholding justice and protecting the rights of citizens.

Dangote Refinery Washes Hands Off N100bn Suit, Says No Fresh Case against NNPC, Others

The Dangote refinery yesterday said it had no new court case against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) or any of its partners, explaining that the N100 billion suit against the national oil company was an old matter.

Earlier, a viral online report said that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery had asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to void import licenses issued to the NNPC Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and four

other companies for the purpose of importing refined petroleum products that are already being produced by its facility without shortfalls.

In the suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/1324/2024, the Dangote Refinery was said to be seeking N100 billion in damages against the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). It accused the NMDPRA of allegedly continuing to issue import licenses to NNPC Matrix, and other companies for importing petroleum

products such as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Jet Fuel (aviation turbine fuel) into Nigeria, “despite the production of AGO and Jet-A1 that exceeds the current daily consumption of petroleum products in Nigeria by the Dangote Refinery.”

Nairametrics reported that the plaintiff’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN) asked the court to declare that NMDPRA was in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.

He stated that such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall, arguing that the plaintiff’s products were largely left unpatronised due to the alleged actions of NMDPRA.

Dangote also reportedly stated that there was an alleged grand conspiracy and concerted effort by International Oil Companies (IOCs) and interests, in conjunction with the defendants, who are unhappy that Nigeria has an indigenous refinery ready to solve the lingering energy crisis and save the economy.

DHQ’s response followed trending reports on the health status of the COAS, which had led to his prolonged absence from office.

Earlier, spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, had dispelled a publication that the army had become rudderless following Lagbaja’s absence.

Nwachukwu explained that the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) was coordinating the affairs of the Nigerian Army in the absence of the COAS.

"To this end, the AFN (Armed Forces of Nigeria) and relevant security agencies have been mandated to take necessary action against any individual or group advocating unconstitutional changes in the country,” he stated, adding, “The CDS appreciates Nigerians for their support and prayers. Victory is assured."

Dangote to Deliver Keynote Address at University of Dundee Alumni Day in Lagos

Peter Uzoho

Africa's richest man, top-notch investor and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will deliver special keynote address at the 2024 Annual Day of the University of Dundee Alumni Chapter, Nigeria.

The occasion, according to the organizers, will hold in Lagos on November 2, 2024, with the theme: "Celebrating Our Successes: Mapping the Future".

According to a statement signed by the President, University of Dundee Alumni Chapter, Nigeria, George Kobani, the occasion would also have a key focus on "Navigating Private Sector Investment in Nigeria - The Opportunities and Challenges."

The statement noted: "We are honored to welcome Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote Industries, as the keynote speaker for the seminar session.

“As a distinguished leader and visionary in the private sector, Alhaji Dangote will share his insights on the evolving investment landscape in Nigeria, addressing key opportunities and challenges

faced by businesses in the country."

It said the event will also feature a panel discussion with several esteemed alumni, representing various sectors, who will engage in a robust dialogue on the pressing issues affecting private sector investment in Nigeria.

The panelists, the statement stated, will explore topics such as regulatory hurdles, infrastructure deficits, and the impact of political stability on investment flows.

The organizers said the 2024 Alumni Day promises to be an inspiring event that not only celebrates the successes of the University of Dundee's alumni but also provides a platform to discuss forward-looking strategies for fostering economic growth through private sector investment in Nigeria.

It further said there would be panel discussion by distinguished alumni leaders from diverse sectors.

While inviting all alumni, stakeholders, and guests to participate at the insightful and engaging event, the organisers pledged to continue to strengthen the Dundee alumni community and contribute to the future of investment in Nigeria.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Obayendo;

PHOTO KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

PRESS CONFERENCE ON COMING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING...

Panel Report: Bobrisky Had Special

Privileges But Served in Custodial Facilities

Crossdresser arrested by NIS at Seme border

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

An investigative panel set up by the federal government has revealed that controversial crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly called Bobrisky, served his six-month jail term following his conviction over Naira abuse offences.

The panel, however, revealed that the crossdresser was granted certain privileges during his time at the Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre in Lagos.

But, in a related development, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said it apprehended Bobrisky yesterday while he was trying to cross the border into the Republic of Benin.

Chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the panel also found no evidence to support claims that the crossdresser bribed officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCos) to be allowed to stay in a rented apartment outside the prison.

Bobrisky was released from prison on August 5 after serving out his six-month jail term, following his sentencing on April 12 for violating laws regarding

the abuse of Naira notes.

But in a viral audio recording shared by a social media activist, Martins Otse, a.k.a. VeryDarkMan, he alleged he bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop money laundering charges against him.

In the same audio recording, Bobrisky also claimed he bribed officers of the NCos to allow him serve his prison term outside prison confinement. The revelations made the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to launch an investigation to unravel what actually happened as a response to public outcry over the allegations, The Tunji-Ojo inaugurated an investigative panel on September 30, chaired by the permanent secretary. The panel was tasked with probing the alleged corruption and other violations within the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Presenting the findings from the first phase of the investigation on Monday, Executive Director and Founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Uju Agomoh, confirmed that the panel found no evidence

suggesting that Bobrisky spent his jail term outside of a custodial facility.

Agomoh said the panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr. Okuneye slept outside the custodial centre during the period of his imprisonment, which was from April 12, 2024 to August 5, 2024.

Agomoh also stated during a briefing at the Ministry of Interior in Abuja that she noted that Bobrisky’s six-month sentence included the usual remission applicable to inmates.

The panel’s report cleared rumours of Bobrisky serving the sentence in a private apartment but confirmed that special privileges were accorded the crossdresser in custody.

Journalists were, however, told the report was a preliminary document, and further details might come to light as the panel continued its probe into alleged corruption within the NCoS.

Tunji-Ojo commended the panel for its thorough and diligent work, which began three weeks ago with a commitment to transparency and institutional reform.

The minister spoke at the

unveiling of the public presentation of Phase 1 report of the Independent Investigative Panel on alleged corruption, abuse of power, torture, cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

Tunji-Ojo reiterated the ministry's stance on zero tolerance for corruption, abuse of power, and any form of human rights violations, stressing that the investigation is part of a broader effort to build a transformative correctional service.

He said, “The Nigerian Correctional Service is a key institution within our justice system and national security architecture, and we will not condone any form of cruelty, inhumane treatment, or malfeasance.”

Tunji-Ojo assured that officers found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action, stressing that the initiative marks the beginning of a comprehensive reform to create a rehabilitative and corrective correctional service.

He added, “We have a duty to ensure that our correctional institutions are places of rehabilitation and not of suffering. This report is a first step in a long journey to restore integrity and

Oyebanji: Unity and Cooperation With N’Assembly Members Driving Ekiti Devt

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has ascribed the aggressive development strides in the state in the last two years to cooperation and unity of purpose between his government and the National Assembly members from the state under the leadership of the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele. Oyebanji, who disclosed this in Ilawe-Ekiti on Monday during the

commissioning of Ilawe-Ikogosi Link Road by Senator Bamidele, stated that the partnership had been a veritable impetus to Ekiti development as it has attracted a number of federal projects to the state.

“Members of the National Assembly told me to choose one of the federal roads in the state and they will try to put it in the budget, and I chose Ado-Ijan-Iluomoba road because it is on this road that we have the Airport, Knowledge

CORRIGENDUM

Our story on page 9 of Sunday, October 20, 2024, with the headline: “Like a Mustard, Wike University Begins Academic Activities”, should have read: “Like a Mustard, Wigwe University

Begins Academic Activities.” We deeply regret the mix-up in the names and advise the general public to take note.

– EDITOR

zone, Smart school, Afe Babalola University, Federal Polytechnic and Institute of Transport Technology, among others.

“They did not only get the road into the budget, they also invited the Minister of Works to personally inspect the road and the Federal Executive Council has awarded the road and work will commence on the road in the next one week,” he said.

Speaking further on the significance of the road, the governor stated that due to the poor condition of the road from Ilesa to Ado Ekiti, he decided to rehabilitate alternative routes for those travelling to Ibadan and Lagos through Ikogosi to Igbaraoke in Ondo State and Ilawe through Ikogosi to Efon Alaaye, thereby bypassing the conventional road that passes through Aramoko Ekiti.

“All these are possible because there is unity between government and our representatives in the National Assembly. It is that unity that has made it possible for me to tell them this is what I want you to do for us.

“They are supposed to choose their constituency projects, but I appealed to them to have a departure from that regime, let me go round and ask people what they want in their communities and they have been implementing the needs of those various communities,” he stated.

Commissioning the road project, Bamidele, who used the opportunity to disclose that Ilawe was his place of birth, praised the governor for inviting him to commission the project, and also promised to establish a mini stadium in the community as a way of giving back to his place of birth.

human rights in our correctional system.

“We will not tolerate any form of misconduct or abuse within our custodial facilities.”

Ajani reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency throughout the reform process.

She stated that “this first phase of the report serves as a foundational step towards achieving best practices in line with international standards for correctional services”.

The committee announced that the next phase of its work would involve broader investigations, public hearings, and the solicitation of memoranda from stakeholders to ensure transparency and public involvement in the reform process.

The Phase 2 report will be presented within the next year, with a focus on addressing systemic challenges and implementing sustainable reforms, the committee said.

Bobrisky Arrested by NIS at Seme Border

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) apprehended Bobrisky while trying to cross the border into Republic of Benin. NIS, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Udo, said, “In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) intercepted Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju, otherwise known as Bobrisky, at the Seme Border over an attempt to exit the country.

“The service wishes to inform the public that Okuneye Idris is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern. He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.

“The service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the country’s borders.”

Security Agents Foil Attempt to Kidnap Tribune Editor’s Family

Assailants shoot three soldiers, one vigilante

Chuks Okocha and Linus Aleke in Abuja

Anti-kidnapping squad in Nasarawa State, early yesterday morning, successfully thwarted an attempt to kidnap the family of Dr. Leon Usigbe, the Abuja Bureau Chief of the Nigerian Tribune.

The incident occurred around 12:50am at his residence on Kurape Road in Karshi, an area adjacent to the Federal Capital Territory.

The assailants, however, shot and wounded at least one of the neighborhood vigilante on guard during the attack.

One intruder managed to climb the perimeter fence of his house and unlocked the gate from the inside, allowing the others to enter.

Once inside, they vandalised windows with stones and attempted to break down both the front and back doors, but were unsuccessful.

The anti-kidnapping squad, which had only recently been deployed from Lafia due to a spike in abduction incidents in the area, was alerted and arrived within minutes. Upon their arrival, the assailants opened fire, injuring three soldiers.

In response, the squad returned fire, causing the kidnappers to flee before they could access the building.

Dr. Usigbe was not at home during the attack, but his wife and children were present and left visibly shaken.

This incident marked the third kidnapping attempt in the area within three months, with two families having previously paid ransoms for the release of abducted members.

When contacted, the Nasarawa State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said, "Our anti-kidnapping unit repelled that incident."

L-R: President, The Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru; Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ayobami Oyenibi; Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the Academy ,Prof. Olufemi Fasanmade; Project Officer of the Academy, Ginikachi Mgbahurike; and Prof. of Pharmacology, LASUTH, Prof. Adeneye Adejuwon, during a press conference on Coming Annual General Meeting, Scientific Conference and Induction Ceremony of the Academy, held in Lagos... recently

L-R: Director, Civil Infrastructure, Bureau of Public Procurement. (BPP), Nasir M. Bello; Director Procurement, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Shinema P. Binga; Acting Director General, Bureau BPP, Olusegun Omotola; Representative of Secretary to

Soludo: No Matter Where Perpetrators of Sunday’s Killings Hide, We Will Find Them

Hurried burial of victims has disrupted investigation, police commissioner laments Senator blames governor, says Anambra no longer safe under him

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday, vowed to find and bring to justice perpetrators of last Sunday’s killings in Nibo community.

About 12 persons were killed in the community by unknown gunmen.

But the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam, who visited Nibo community for an on-the-spot assessment, expressed concerns that the hurried burial of some of the victims by their families might have disrupted investigation into the tragic incident.

But the senator for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh, lamented that the state under Soludo was no longer a safe place to live.

Some gunmen suspected to be cultists on a reprisal attack

had Sunday, during the new yam festival of Nibo community, opened fire on some beer parlours, killing several youths.

The number of victims continued to vary between 12 and 16, but the police authorities said only five persons lost their lives.

Soludo, who visited the community, condoled with the families and community over the loss of lives in the incident.

He vowed to fish out the perpetrators of the act and go against cultism in the state.

While urging the people to go about their lawful duties, the governor emphasised that “no matter where the perpetrators hide, they will be brought out for sanctioning”.

He assured the people of their safety and general wellbeing.

Itam, who also consoled with the victims’ relatives, lamented that

relatives of the deceased persons had picked up their bodies too quickly and buried them, thereby, disrupting what would have provided a lead to the identities of those behind the act.

A press release by the spokesperson of the command, Superintendent of Police Tochukwu Ikenga, quoted Itam as saying, "Anambra State Police Command remains committed to the ongoing investigation and to arrest the perpetrators of the cult-related killings in Nibo yesterday 20/10/2024.

"The command also frowns at the act of some deceased's relatives to bury evidence, suppress information and disrupt the ongoing investigation."

Umeh, in a press release personally signed, said a stakeholder in the area confirmed to him that 16 persons were felled during the attack.

The senator stated, "It is with shock and deep pain that I condemn the

shooting, which took place in Nibo in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra Central Senatorial District, in Anambra State on Sunday, 20th October, 2024.

"From the information I received from an indigene of Nibo, who is a major stakeholder in the community, about 16 people were killed in the shooting, with several other injured persons still lying critically in the hospitals.

"The shooting took place just a few poles from the Governor’s Lodge. It has been tales of killings and kidnappings across the state without any visible efforts to stem the tide for a long time now.

"While I commiserate with the families of the victims and Nibo community, I urge people who are killing and kidnapping people in the state to lay down their arms.

"Killings and wasting of human

Tinubu Mourns Former Minister Onu

President Bola Tinubu has mourned the first civilian governor of Abia State and former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

In a two-page page tribute entitled: "Goodnight, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Goodbye Perfect Gentleman", the president described Onu as a true leader whose absence would be sorely missed by the nation, family, friends and professional colleagues.

Tinubu, in the tribute personally signed, stressed that the deceased was a true progressive and quintessential

politician,who contributed greatly to the formation of the legacy party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that has produced two presidents namely Muhammadu Buhari and himself.

On behalf of the Nigerian nation, Tinubu appreciated Onu as he takes his final bow for his invaluable services to Nigeria.

"We thank him and pray that his soul rest well in the bosom of the Lord. His legacy will continue to inspire us to strive for the ideals he held dear.

"When Dr Ogbonnaya Onu died on April 11, 2024, I did not doubt that our country had lost a perfect gentleman,

elder statesman, patriotic Nigerian, and staunch believer in our march towards Nigeria's true destiny as a great nation.

"Dr Onu was a true progressive. He was also a quintessential politician, one many adored and looked up to for inspiration and direction.

“He believed in the ideals of the progressive movement as a way to develop our country, which is why he worked tirelessly for the progressives' emergence on the nation's stage in 2015.

"Dr Onu's contributions to forming our legacy political party, the All Progressives Congress, in the build-up to the 2015 election are on record. His

then All Nigeria Peoples Party was fractious at the time.

“But we can hardly forget how Onu rallied that party's progressive wing to ally with the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria and Congress for Progressive Change to form the All Progressives Congress we have today.

“He provided leadership and direction within our party. The rest, as they say, is history. We must thank Dr. Onu, among others, for this critical work in the birth of our party and for what we have achieved thus far. Thus far, our party has produced two presidents, including me.

TINUBU LAUNCHES BID TO RAISE OIL OUTPUT BY 1M BPD IN 12 MONTHS

upstream sector,” he observed.

He listed infrastructure modernisation, security enhancement, regulatory streamlining, investment attraction, technology adoption as some of the measures to optimise production.

“By addressing these areas comprehensively, we will not only aim to reach the 1MMBOPD target but also to create a sustainable framework for future growth. As we embark on this ambitious project to boost our oil production, let us also keep our focus on the critical role of gas in our energy mix.

“The path to 1MMBOPD must be constructed on strategies that maximise the value of our gas resources, reducing flaring and increasing utilisation for domestic

and export markets,” he added. At Heirs Energies, in the first 100 days after the company took over operational control of its OML-17 asset in 2021, he said the company doubled its production from 28,000 to over 50,000 barrels per day.

However, he added: “We suffered a setback with unabated crude theft, which caused us to shut-in and work collaboratively with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to better secure the pipeline system.

“From a low of 5 per cent terminal receipts in December 2021, year-todate in 2024, we have recorded an average terminal receipt of 85 per cent; a remarkable improvement and a good example of what a purposeful collaboration between NNPC and

operators underpinned by rigorous execution can deliver.

“With the improvement in the operating environment, we have restarted our investment and production growth journey, and have now successfully reversed the fall in production that we suffered in 2022 and 2023, as a consequence of the evacuation challenges. A few days ago, OML-17 attained over 51,000 barrels per day, and we continue our production growth journey.”

Also speaking, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, said that it was time to walk the talk, noting that the oil industry must move beyond powerpoint presentations.

“Whatever we need to do, we have a clear roadmap, a specific timeline. And indeed, a very specific

contracting process. We think our environment is today very competitive for producing oil.

“The second part of it is about the contracting. As we know, it is very good to have Nigerian content and Nigerian contractors should be encouraged to build local companies. Everybody agrees to this. But it has created a new challenge.

“And what the executive order did is to bring them (service providers) back. So that when you are going to have local partners, they must be specific around what they are going to do. So that instead of carrying a briefcase, the people will now be doing specific things.

“And we have now engaged many of these critical contractors, and many of them are on their way

lives go a long way in diminishing our state. Those events scare our people from returning home and discourage businesses and investments in Anambra State.

"We remind the governor of the need to provide security. The outcry of the citizens over the unsafe and porous security in the state should not be politicised by the agents of the state government. This is a matter of grave concern to all and sundry."

The community remained in

mourning over the incident. The security director of the community, who identified himself as Wadada, said, "The men came in two vehicles, a Lexus Jeep and Sienna vehicle, both without number plates.

“They came into Nibo through Amawbia, passing through all the police checkpoints and the governor's lodge and opened fire on our people in a shop. One of my vigilante men, Mr Uchenna Obiekwe, an only son, who was unmarried, was killed.

Kano Hisbah Declares Jigawa Commissioner Wanted over Alleged Adultery

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano.

The Kano State Shariah Police, Hisbah Board, has declared Auwalu Sankara, the suspended Jigawa State commissioner for special duties wanted over alleged adultery.

The Board made the declaration yesterday, over his failure to attend reconciliation on series of allegations leveled against him.

The Commandant General of the Board, Sheik Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, told Newsmen, that they had invited Sankara and the other family members, to settle the issue out of court, which he refused to honour.

Daurawa, further disclosed that the Board has taken the matter to Shariah court.

back into our country. And we have substantial indications that they will do this. And lastly, why would anyone put his money into our country, into our assets, when he is not sure of evacuating the production? And the onshore in particular, nobody would do it.

“So we agree that we must replace the pipeline infrastructure. There is no alternative. The best of intention, the best of security intervention will still give you probably 50 per cent of the installed capacity today,” he argued.

At the programme, the Minister of State (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and his counterpart in the Ministry of Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, assured the industry players of government’s willingness to clear all the existing

The Hisbah had confirmed the arrest of Sankara with a married woman through intelligence tracking after receiving series of complaints of his alleged nefarious acts with the married woman by her husband’s younger brother. The arrest followed a complaint by Nasiru Bulama, the woman’s husband, who accused the commissioner of engaging in an illicit affair with his wife, Tasleem Baba Nabegu, the mother of his two children.

“Nasiru Bulama filed the complaint with the Kano State Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Hisbah Board, alleging Sankara’s involvement in illicit sexual activities with his wife,” the official added.

bottlenecks. Lokpobiri stressed that the set target of an additional 1 million barrels per day was achievable, assuring of the president’s political will to get things done. The chief executives of major oil producers, including those of Shell; Total Energies; ExxonMobil; Chevron; Oando; Agip as well as independent producers like First E&P; Waltersmith; Oriental Energy Resources; Seplat, Heirs Energy and Matrix Energy all pledged to ensure that the new target is achieved.

In addition, funders and strategic service providers like UBA; Geoplex, Standard Chartered Bank; Mercurial and SLB all promised to work to ensure that the oil industry in the country is revamped.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Mr. Dapo Oyedomi; Director, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatal Idown Onafowote; Acting Zonal Director, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Directorate, Michael Welkas; and Director, Research, Training and Strategic Planning, (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun at the opening ceremony for year 2024

Mandatory Continuous Public Procurement Capacity Development Training Programme (MCPPCDTP) in Lagos ... yesterday

PROMOTiNG ENViRONMENTaL sUsTaiNaBiLiTy…

Director of Ecology Department, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Tolulope Adeyo; National Executive Council Chairman, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi; External Communication Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company, Mr. Samuel Iboroma; Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Environment and Water Resources, Hon. Olakunle Olamidosu RotimiAkodu, and Director General, NCF, at the 18th edition of the Walk for Nature event in Lagos…recently

NBC Condemns EFCC’s Invasion of Enugu Radio Station

Olawale ajimotokan in abuja

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has expressed utter dismay at recent invasion of Urban Radio 94.5 FM, Enugu by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) during a live Radio show, titled, “Prime Time”.

The action was condemned in a statement issued yesterday by Director, Public Affairs, NBC, Susan Obi.

The incursion was purportedly to arrest the programme’s presenter, Favour Ekoh. Obi berated EFCC saying its action tantamount to a violation of the professional ethics of broadcasting especially on a live

Cholera Outbreak Kills 10 in Enugu

Gideon arinze inEnugu

The Enugu State Ministry of Health has stated that at least 10 persons have been confirmed dead following the outbreak of cholera in the state.

In an internal memo signed by the Director of Medical Services, Samuel Egwuonwu, on behalf of the state Commissioner for Health, and made available to journalists yesterday, the ministry outlined the steps being taken to address the crisis. “I am directed to inform you about the outbreak of cholera in Enugu State. Several cases have been recorded, and it is feared that approximately 10 individuals may have died,” the memo stated.

The document further advised

healthcare providers to be on high alert for patients presenting with symptoms such as severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. It also urged them to enhance Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in their facilities and report cases promptly.

The ministry also announced that it had initiated containment strategies in line with guidelines from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“The Enugu State Ministry of Health is working with its partners to curb the spread of cholera within the state,” said the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, adding: “We are following NCDC protocols to ensure the situation is quickly brought under control.”

PDP Forum Launches Empowerment Scheme in Sokoto

Onuminya innocent in sokoto

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) support group in Sokoto State has unveiled an empowerment scheme to enable the youths in the state to be self-reliance.

The forum Chairman, Alhaji Ahmad Amadu, said the group named Sokoto PDP Advocacy Forum for Good Candidate was initiated to prevent supporters from decamping to other political parties after losing elections.

He further explained that the move was aimed at providing business empowerment supports along with the relevant livelihood skills to party loyalists and

teeming youths across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Amadi, popularly called Oil and Gas, explained that the initiative was not intended to create a division in the party and its strata as all members would be given equal opportunity to benefit.

According to him, the party lost 2023 governorship election along with some elective positions in Sokoto State while some party bigwigs were not supporting members, especially at the grass roots.

He said the situation might cause the party to lose supporters, therefore, the initiative was to facilitate members to remain in the party ahead of future elections.

Olukoya Opens Trade Fair for SMEs

The General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries(MFM), Dr Daniel Olukoya, has urged Nigerians and members of his church to remain resilient and grab the opportunities within their reach.

Olukoya said this during the inauguration of the Seminar / Trade Fair Extravaganza organised by the church for over 200 Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) at the University of Lagos Multi-purpose hall.

After declaring the exhibition open, Olukoya also inspected the qualities of the products and services

displayed in various stands by the business owners within the premises.

The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Pastor Kunle Adesanya, explained that the exhibition was aimed at encouraging and prompting the participants to set up their various businesses and improve on their ideas.

He noted that offering the goods and services at discounted rates at the event would make it easier for all the members of the church to explore business ventures and a lifeline opportunity that could become a lifeline for them and their families.

broadcast.

“The approach for which the arrest was carried out is improper.

“This action is regrettable, considering the impact of the

broadcast media on the society.

“While the NBC appreciates the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in sanitising the country of financial crimes, NBC differs

with the manner of approach deployed by the anti-graft agency which could have led to public disorder, disturbance, aggravate mass panic and hysteria,” the statement said.

Equally the commission expresses heartfelt apologies to the listening publics, the people of Enugu State, and the entire broadcast industry for the incident.

Court Fixes Dec 3 for Trial of Kwara Ex-Gov Ahmed, Banu

Hammed shittu inIlorin

A state High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday fixed December 3, 2024, for the full commencement of the trial of the immediate-past state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and the former state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu.

The duo are facing 15-counts charge bordering on alleged diversion of N3 billion public fund during their tenure. They were earlier arraigned before Federal High Court in Ilorin before the case was later transferred to the state High Court in Ilorin.

During the re-arraignment yesterday at the state High Court in Ilorin, the former governor and his former finance commissioner, Banu, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and were granted bail in the sum of N100 million each.

The presiding Judge, Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar, in his ruling on the case fixed December 3, 2024, for the commencement of the trial.

In an interview with journalists, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said that the re-arraignment of the former governor from the federal High Court to the state High Court was as a result of conclusion of investigation of other aspects of the allegations and to prevent moving from one court to another.

Obasanjo Inaugurates Three Roads in Bauchi, Urges more Support for Gov

segun awofadeji in bauchi

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has inaugurated three major road projects in Bauchi state, with a call on the people of the state to support Governor Bala Mohammed in moving the state to greater heights.

Obasanjo, while speaking at the inauguration yesterday, commended Governor Mohammed’s strides in advancing the development of Bauchi state, adding that the transformative infrastructure initiatives of the Governor stands as a model for other leaders to emulate.

The former President, who

noted that the governor has done well in delivering the dividends of democracy to his people, encouraged the governor to continue delivering democracy dividends to the people of the state.

“I have seen what you have done for the people of Bauchi within the short period that I am here. You have indeed done tremendously well from what I have followed up about you serving the people of the state. You are building a legacy that will stand the test of time and as we inaugurate the dualised roads out of the 121roads that you have embarked on, three are now being inaugurated,” he said.

C’River Council Polls: IPAC Rallies against Violence, Other Irregularities

Bassey inyang in calabar

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Cross River State has appealed to the electorate and the people of the state to shun violence, and other forms of electoral malpractices in the forthcoming local government elections in the state slated for November 2 this year.

The state IPAC Chairman, Effiom Edet, made the call during the flag -off of sensitisation campaign rally by the body against vices of election rigging, thuggery, and political violence.

Addressing participants at the flag-off of the rally yesterday in Calabar, the state capital, the IPAC chairman urged the electorate, and the people of the state to eschew acts that could jeopardise the success of the forthcoming council polls.

He said no credible and right leader at any level in a democratic setting can be chosen through acts that are antithetical to democracy such as violence, rigging, vote buying, and outright manipulation of election results. He said: “Election is not a do or die affair. Local government council elections which is to be conducted by November cannot be a do or die affair.

NECO Warns School Owners against Registration of Candidates by Proxy

Kuni Tyessi in abuja

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has warned school owners and other relevant stakeholders to desist from enrolling candidates for its examinations by proxy.

Also, the NECO e-Verify, an online platform for confirmation/verification of NECO results, was unveiled last year and the Council has called on members of the public to note that any certificate purported to have been issued by the Council, and which cannot be verified or authenticated using the NECO e-Verify platform, is fake.

Council yesterday by its acting Director of Information and Public Affairs, Azeez Sabi, the Council said it had observed the fraudulent practices that such registration encourages and which had led to the incessant false identity and parading of false results.

In a statement released by the

sunday Okobi

The ARISE Media Global Divisional Director of Finance, and former THISDAY Finance Controller, Mr. Nduka Moseri, has bagged a Doctorate in Finance from Babcock University, Ogun State.

Dr. Moseri, who is currently in

He said in its determined efforts to eradicate all forms of examination malpractice, the Council has gone ahead to put in place some measures to check impersonation in all its examinations.

The statement read in part: “The Council observed that such fraudulent practice often result in identity theft and subsequent parade of fake results.

ARISE News Director, Moseri, Bags Doctorate in Finance from Babcock University

training as a Data Scientist, had his HND in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi; BSc Accounting, and two Master’s degrees in Finance and Business Administration respectively. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Fellow of the Institute Chartered Taxation of Nigeria, Fellow of the African Chartered Fraud Examiners, Fellow of the African Chartered Public Accountant, Fellow of the African Chartered Financial Accountant. Also, Moseri is a certified Information System Auditor from ISACA from the United States of America.

The Delta State, Owa Oyibuborn scholar, Moseri, who surrendered all his successes and academic achievements to the glory of God Almighty, his doctoral supervisor, Professor Sunday Ikechukwu Owualah, and his boss, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, is a trained sage expert and Certified Forensic Accountant among many other certifications.

Fubara Revamps Zonal Hospitals for Efficient Healthcare Delivery in Rivers

Blessing ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured the state of revamping and upgrading of the zonal hospitals at the three senatorial districts of the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt, said the aim for revamping of the hospitals is to boost the medical referral system in local communities across the state.

Oreh disclosed that Rivers is among the top three states that will be celebrated at the 2024 Private Sector Health Alliance Nigeria Awards and Gala Night alongside Kaduna and Lagos States. The commissioner, who

disclosed also that the proposed award is for improving health equity and access in Nigeria, said Governor Fubara, on assumption of office, promised to prioritise healthcare alongside other sectors, and has kept to his promise.

TUESDAYSPORTS

Milan Bank on Chukwueze against Brugge Tonight

Femi Solaja  with agency report

After losing their first two matches, AC Milan will try to revive an ailing UEFA Champions League campaign this evening as they welcome Club Brugge to San Siro.

The seven-time European champions are yet to pick up a point in this year’s league phase, while their visitors got off the mark with a close-fought victory over Sturm Graz earlier this month.

With Nigerian winger, Samuel Chukwueze in dazzling form lately after being looked by the coach, thousands of AC Milan fans in the stadium will be looking forward to the Super Eagles star recreating his

goal stint of last weekend in a Serie A match against Udinese.

Having succumbed to a 3-1 defeat in their first continental contest under Paulo Fonseca, losing to Premier League high-fliers Liverpool at San Siro, Milan went on to suffer another setback last time out.

The Rossoneri were beaten 1-0 by Bayer Leverkusen, as a secondhalf strike from compatriot, Victor Boniface,  ensured all three points would go the German champions’ way, leaving Fonseca’s side emptyhanded again.

Stretching back over several years, Milan have won only nine

of their last 33 games at Europe’s elite level, and another defeat this week would see the once-mighty side lose their first three matches of a Champions League campaign for just the second time to date.

At several different clubs, Fonseca has now won only one of his last nine in UEFA’s top club competition, and he is sorely in need of another win this Tuesday evening to give a mixed start to his stay at San Siro.

On their return from the international break, Milan beat Udinese 1-0 at the weekendrecording just their fifth win in

19 games via  Chukwueze’s early goal - despite playing over an hour with 10 men after the dismissal of midfield dynamo Tijjani Reijnders.

As a result of that determined display, the Rossoneri remain undefeated through four home fixtures in Serie A this season, winning each of their last three without conceding a goal.

In the other matches tonight, defending champions, Real Madrid will host last season’s losing finalist, Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu in a match that the home side will want to win after losing to Lille on match day two.

AS Monaco will welcome FK Crvena Zvezda while Arsenal will

want to put aside their domestic defeat as they host Shakhtar Donetsk in London just as Aston Villa host Bologna. Former Italian champion,

Juventus will host VFB

Former Champions, Rivers United have opened a two-point gap in the race for this year’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after a lone-goal win away at Niger Tornadoes in Minna on Monday evening.

The feat has given the former champions the chance to upstage Remo Stars at the top of the log and also remain the only side yet to taste defeat in the ongoing season.

After a goalless first half, Seiyefa Jackson scored the only goal of the match in the 47th minute and all attempts by the

home side to cancel the goal was resisted with effective defending but Rivers United’s defenders. Emmanuel Nnaji was giving the red card in the tail end of the match.

Rivers United are now top with 20 points while Remo Stars  dropped to second place on 18 points with Enyimba who lost on Sunday retaining the third position on 14 points.

In other matches played yesterday, in-form, Ikorodu City maintained their impressive run in recent time with a massive

4-2 win against Lobi Stars under the watch of Daniel Amokachi at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Lagos Island.

The Ikorodu Oga lads got in to the lead as early as second minute with goal from Salaudeen Taiwo in the second minute and Emmauel Solomon doubled the advantage with another goal in the 19th minute but the away side cancelled the advantage deep into the end of the first half with two quick goals from Ifeanyi Assurance.

However, Ikorodu City

restored advantage in the 56th minute through Solomon Alade and another goal from Rivio Ayemwenre in the 58th minute puts the match beyond the visitors and pushed Ikorodu City to eight points but still in the relegation zone.

In Ibadan, it was Adam Mustapha’s goal in the 67th minute that gave the Shooting Stars a lone goal win against Katsina United while Enugu Rangers played out a goalless outing against Akwa United in Uyo.

Liverpool  Captain Virgil van Dijk has said he has opened talks with the club about signing a new deal.

The 33-year-old has been at Anfield since January 2018 and his current contract runs out at the end of the season.

“Discussions are ongoing, we will see what happens in the future,” said Netherlands centre-back Van Dijk.

“My full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else.

“What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have started and we will see.”

England international Trent Alexander-Arnold and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah are also out of contract next summer but there has been no update on their situations.

The Reds signed Van Dijk for £75mfrom Southampton and he has helped them win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and Fifa Club World Cup.

Under new manager and fellow Dutchman Arne Slot, he has helped Liverpool to the top of the Premier League this season with seven wins from their opening eight games.

“I feel good, physically, mentally and I am having fun,” added Van Dijk, who was speaking after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea.

“When it’s time to make a decision, you guys [the media] will know it as well.”

Van Dijk has been instrumental in Liverpool conceding just three goals this season, giving them the best defensive record in the Premier League.

Barcelona fell victim to a €1 million scam after being deceived by a fraudster posing as a representative of Robert Lewandowski’s agent. Lewandowski, who joined the Catalan giants from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022 for an initial fee of €45 million), has proven his value on the pitch, netting 71 goals in 106 appearances. However, behind the scenes, the club faced a significant issue, as the fraudster exploited the high-profile transfer to swindle the Catalan giants.

Following the transfer deal, Barcelona were contacted by someone claiming to be working with Robert Lewandowski’s agent, Pini Zahavi, who demanded €1 million be sent to a Cypriot bank account.

The fraudster, using the false identity of “Michael Hermanus Gerardus Demon,” pretended to be Lewandowski’s lawyer and persistently pressured the club until they agreed to the payment.

Barcelona wired the funds to

an account at Banc de Xipre, but the bank’s compliance department flagged the transaction as suspicious.

According to an investigation by Cadena SER, the fraudster had no prior banking history with the institution and was asked to verify their identity.

When Barcelona reached out to Zahavi, Lewandowski’s agent he denied any knowledge of the fraudulent individual, leading the bank to freeze the funds.

The fraudster, ‘Mr. Demon’ later

escalated the pressure on Barcelona, threatening to report them to UEFA if they didn’t pay and demanding an additional €250,000 for silence.

Fortunately, Barcelona managed to recover part of the money from the Cypriot bank, though no criminal investigation has been launched as the club has not filed a formal complaint.

Barcelona confirmed to Cadena SER that they were the target of an attempted fraud, which has led them to strengthen their anti-fraud protocols.

US Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka, has risen to number one in the latest WTA rankings, ending Iga Swiatek’s 11-month stay at the summit.

Belarusian Sabalenka, who also retained her Australian Open title in January, tops the rankings for the second time after an eightweek stay between September and November 2023.

Neither player was in action last week but Poland’s Swiatek drops to second after being given a points penalty for failing to compete in the mandatory six WTA 500 events.

The 23-year-old - who appointed a new coach earlier this month -

has only competed in two of the tournaments and has not played since the US Open in September, after deciding to miss the tour’s Asian swing because of fatigue. She had led the rankings by more than 4,000 points at one stage after winning five titles in the first six months of the season.

But Sabalenka, 26, slowly reeled her in the second half of the year, winning titles in Cincinnati and Wuhan to go with her triumph at Flushing Meadows. The next chance for Swiatek to return to number one is the season-ending WTA Finals next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Samuel Chukwueze...expected to spearhead AC Milan’s search for first UEFA Champions League win tonight in San Siro

MISSILE

Ex-minister to Federal Govt

“Thelevelofsufferingacrossthecountryisunprecedented,exceptperhapsduring theNigerianCivilWar.Familiesarestrugglingtomeetbasicneeds.Thepolicies, whileperhapswell-intentioned,areexacerbatingpoverty,increasinginflation,and hurtingthemostvulnerableamongus.Ourleaderscannotcontinuetofritterthe commonwealthofthecountryrecklesslyandaskthepeopletomakesacrifices" –FormerLands,HousingandUrbanDevelopmentMinister,ChiefUdueseEssien,warnsthat theremaybeanarchyifthehardship persists.

ABATI

Between The States and EFCC & Ors.

Today, October 22, is the day that has been set aside by the Supreme Court of Nigeria for the hearing and the consolidation of the suit brought before the Court in the matter between 16 states of the Federation and the Attorney General of the Federation to determine the legality or otherwise, to wit the constitutionality or otherwise also, of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Proceeds of Crimes Act. The suit originally filed by the AG Kogi State- SC/CV/178/2023 - has now been joined by 15 other states. Out of these, 13 are expressly questioning the legality of the EFCC and similar anti-graft agencies, and they are asking the Supreme Court to nullify all such commissions created outside the province of Constitutional provisions. Two states – Ogun and Cross River States are challenging the assumed powers of the NFIU to dictate how much states can withdraw or control with regard to funds appropriated by the House of Assembly. The co-plaintiffs and those who seek consolidation will appear today before a seven-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji. This is an interesting development, with regard to the public interest law dimension of the case, and the response from the public and stakeholders have been robust, plus the fact that the enabling framework for public institutions and the Constitution itself end up being strengthened when they are tested and interpreted in the courts.

The issues in this case can be easily summarized as follows. One, the plaintiffs argue that the EFCC Act is unconstitutional. It is a product of a United Nations Convention against corruption, and was not ratified in accordance with Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Section 12 of the Constitution says no treaty can have the force of law in Nigeria until it is ratified by a majority of all the Houses of Assembly in the Federation. The states argue that the EFCC Act cannot be applied to them because they were not party to it. They argue that the agencies lack the powers and the authority to investigate and prosecute matters related to the misappropriation of public funds. They cite Joseph Nwobike vs FRN as the authority to back up their claim. The Defendant, the Attorney General of the Federation argues that the concurrence of the states as stakeholders was not necessary to make the EFCC Act valid. Two, at least three states argue that the NFIU cannot investigate, requisition documents, arrest, or invite anyone with regard to how the states manage funds. Three, the states insist that they have the right to establish their own anti-graft agencies and not be answerable to any federal agency since this is a Federation.

The case has generated considerable interest from both lawyers and non-lawyers alike with everyone trying not to pre-empt the Supreme Court. But the point has been well made that this is not the first time that the legality of the EFCC, and the NFIU et al. has been raised and that there are precedents.

that the states should transfer funds meant for the councils accordingly and that withdrawal from the same account by the local councils must not exceed N500, 000 per day. Withdrawals must also be duly reported to the NFIU. The Governors insisted that the states-local councils joint account is a creation of the constitution and it was wrong to describe the local government system as a third tier of government. The Nigerian Governors Forum sued the FG and NFIU. In 2022, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja ruled in favour of the defendants. Again in 2024, the Supreme Court further affirmed the financial autonomy of the country’s 774 local governments. It is therefore not surprising that the states and the Governors who have turned the local councils into mere appendages are now also approaching the Supreme Court. In both major issues, the plaintiffs seem to have found a loophole in the enabling acts of the anti-graft agencies which they hope to put through the furnace of judicial test.

has not been effective, railed: “These guys are terrorists; in my view they terrorize us; they use their might in their red coats to terrorize us. Once you say EFCC, you are scared. That is not what a law enforcement agency should be. They ought to be better.”

Femi Falana SAN, disagrees with some of the points raised by his brother Silk. He has also written his own separate letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives to counter Agbakoba’s submissions. He said that contrary to Agbakoba’s claim, the Supreme Court has consistently supported the ICPC and the EFCC (Nyame vs. FRN; AG Ondo vs. AG Federation); and that no illegality can be established with regard to claims about violations of the principles of federalism (Olafisoye vs FRN). Falana further contends that it is the duty of the state to “abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power” and that the EFCC is a common agency with constitutional authority. He deplores the attempt by the state governments to frustrate the prosecution of public officers. Falana’s main conclusion is that the National Assembly should entrench the legality of the EFCC and ICPC in the Constitution as part of the ongoing Constitution amendment process – a point to which Agbakoba says he concurs. Having thus raised the facts of the case, the issues involved, rules as established in precedents, and expert opinions of senior counsel, it remains for us to await the ruling of the Supreme Court exercising its original and inherent jurisdictions in what is clearly a matter of public policy. Despite the precedents that have been quoted, it is up to the Justices of the apex court to either affirm or reverse themselves. Nonetheless, certain conclusions can be reached.

Under the doctrine of covering the field, the validity of the exercise of the National Assembly’s powers under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution can be upheld. The state has a responsibility to check corruption, and over the years, we have seen the ingenuity of Nigerians in both public and private places to take what is not theirs. The closer many Nigerians get to the proverbial national cake, the more covetous they become. Agbakoba says “once you say EFCC, you are scared”. Well, the situation is so bad, somebody needs to scare Nigerians. Even with the best efforts of the various anti-graft agencies, Nigeria has consistently ranked poorly on the Global Transparency Index. The country grapples with a worsening reputational damage. We should therefore not throw the baby away with the bath water. Nigeria needs the anti-graft agencies now more than the country did in 2003. Indeed, in February 2023, the FATF added Nigeria again to the list of countries that have been grey-listed. The country is required to implement an action plan comprising 19 items before May 2025 to avoid the certain prospect of moving from “the Grey List” to the “Black List.” This certainly is not the best of times for Nigeria to start talking about nullifying its anti-graft agencies. Perhaps, the better option lies in the middle ground between Agbakoba and Falana.

Analysts have cited the cases of Olafisoye v. FRN (2004) where the court upheld the powers of the anti-corruption agencies to do their work, and AG Ondo State v. AG Federation (2002) where the court ruled that the National Assembly has the powers to legislate on corruption related matters with regard to Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, and Section 4(2). In Olafisoye’s case, the Supreme Court ruled that the National Assembly has the exclusive powers to legislate over corruption matters which would seem to nullify the claim by the states that they would rather establish their own anti-graft agencies. The objection to the NFIU is rooted in the desperate attempts by the states to control local government funds and defeat the goals of financial autonomy for local councils. In 2019, the state governments had a running battle with the NFIU which had given a directive that no state government must touch funds meant for the local councils. The NFIU gave specific guidelines

Two legal luminaries, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria – Dr. Olisa Agbakoba and Mr. Femi Falana have offered their perspectives on the subject. Agbakoba, in separate letters titled “Re: Urgent Legislative Attention on Constitutional Reforms Relating to Law Enforcement Agencies and Anti-Corruption Efforts” written to the Senate and the House of Representatives, without holding brief for the state governments, submitted that the EFCC was “unconstitutionally established” and hence, “an unlawful organization”. He said the National Assembly acted ultra vires, simply exceeded its authority under Section 4 of the Constitution, and that is why the states are challenging the validity of the EFCC. Agbakoba SAN made specific demands: (a) that the enabling framework setting up the EFCC has to be reviewed because the EFCC appears to be working at cross-purposes with the Nigeria Police Force; (b) that the National Assembly should organize a public hearing to consider constitutional issues to discuss needed reforms in line with section 13 of the Constitution; (c) that the National Assembly should reform the EFCC by clearly defining its mandate to prevent future abuses. When he appeared on Arise News flagship programme, The Morning Show, Agbakoba went a step further, by reminding everyone that the EFCC legislation was passed in two days in 2003- the fastest legislation ever passed in Nigeria (!), and many mistakes were made. He wants the mistakes in the EFCC Act reviewed. But the high point of the interview was when Dr. Agbakoba, saying the EFCC

It must be remembered that in 2003, Nigeria was heavily in debt to the tune of about US$35. 9 billion. The Obasanjo administration embarked on the historic and important mission of getting debt relief for the country. The country was spending more on interest payments for its debt, with debt to GDP ratio at about 58%. Nigeria needed help and President Obasanjo was committed to getting help to rescue the country. In October 2000, the Obasanjo administration established the Debt Management Office (DMO). The country’s efforts to secure debt relief soon met a brickwall, when the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey-listed Nigeria along with 22 other countries, that is countries that could not combat financial crimes like corruption and money laundering as well as terrorism financing. To make progress the Nigerian government had to set up anti-corruption agencies - the EFCC and the ICPC. Both bodies were products of expediency, but the outcomes were pleasant. In October 2005, Nigeria and the Paris Club reached a final agreement of $18 billon debt relief and reduction of Nigeria’s debt stock by $30 billion. About 18 years later, it is most unfortunate that Nigeria’s external debt has since crossed the $41 billion mark! The country is back in the debt trap. In the intervening years, the EFCC traced about N776 billion fraud cases, stolen only by public officials. In 2024 alone, this year, the EFCC has secured 3, 175 convictions and recovered N156 billion.

So, is this a case of corruption fighting back? Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson claims that there is a push-back against the EFCC because it has been so effective. We must note the concern that has been expressed however that the EFCC has been too histrionic in its efforts and selective in its operations creating the impression that it can be used as a tool of political witch-hunt by whoever is in power at the centre. Some past Governors are shielded from prosecution while some others are specially targeted. What the EFCC requires is to be seen to be fair to all parties concerned and be above board. Fairness is at the heart of any justice administration process. This is what Agbakoba SAN alludes to when he dismisses the EFCC as a terror organization. The National Assembly has been accused of not following due process in establishing the EFCC, but even if that were established, would that render all acts by the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies a nullity? TUESDAY

Agbakoba is right when he says the EFCC is in urgent need of reform. The agency must be seen to be acting always within the ambits of the law. In recent times, EFCC officials showed too much overzealousness, exposing the institution to public ridicule and the derision of the persons they had declared wanted. For example, the former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello who had been declared wanted by the EFCC showed up at the EFCC headquarters only to be told by the people who had declared him wanted locally and internationally to go back home. Then, in the evening of the same day, they went hunting for him, shooting in the air, and terrorizing the public. Just in case there are too many people in the EFCC who are addicts of Hollywood and Nollywood films, they should be re-directed to where they can make the best use of their talents. Such persons tend to turn EFCC operations into movie-like engagements. Nollywood is a fast-growing industry that can accommodate more talents. The EFCC should stay firmly on the path of professionalism. Both Falana and Agbakoba agree that there is a need to “constitutionalize” the EFCC. This is important. Whatever grey areas may exist in the enabling acts of the anti-graft agencies can be corrected through amendments to constitutional provisions and the acts. The EFCC, ICPC, NFIU should see the latest development not as evidence that they are working so that is why they are being resisted. This should be an opportunity for soul-searching and reflection, and a re-dedication to core organizational goals and objectives. Nigerians are calling for the abolition of the agencies because of shortcomings that they have observed. EFCC officials are known, for example, for engaging in all kinds of tactics. At a point, the EFCC Chairman himself had to complain that there are corrupt elements in the EFCC. Going forward, EFCC officials must be made to declare their assets. People fighting corruption must not be seen to be living above their means. Many Nigerians wonder why anti-corruption agents become so rich. This was how the police lost the trust of the public. EFCC officials must focus on their core task of fighting financial and economic crimes. They should not allow themselves to be used as debt recovery agents looking for commissions. They must stop media trial. They must stop supporting politicians as they were accused of doing in the last general elections. There is a Manual on operational guidelines for the EFCC prepared by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. They must abide by those guidelines, and resist the temptation to become an organization where anything goes. The EFCC needs its own ombudsman to make it more professional, ethical and law-abiding.

EFCC Chairman, Olukoyede