ALLEGED FORGED SENATE RULES: Fury in NASS over bid to dock Saraki, Ekweremadu

Supply gap in new forex market forces Naira down to N284/$

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor, Babajide Komolafe & Nkiruka Nnorom

Monday, may have begun to face its first liquidity test — adequate and independent supply of

L

AGOS — THE new foreign exchange framework, which started on an impressive note,

foreign currency to the market.

Dealers, yesterday, said demand appeared to be

outstripping supply, a development which forced Naira value to N284/ USD1.00, down from

N281.85 it closed on Monday.

Vanguard learned that the expectation of inflow of

Oil exports on course despite militants’ attacks >21

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 63055

foreign currency from oil companies and other independent suppliers had not materialized, thereby forcing the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to intervene.

The apex bank had

Continues on page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

ALLEGED FORGED SENATE RULES:

Fury in NASS over bid to dock Saraki, Ekweremadu •Buhari has turned into a dictator — SENATE •Abide by provisions of the constitution, House tells Presidency •Summons on Saraki, Ekweremadu, others served on NASS notice board •It's plot to remove S-East from prime position in govt —House S-East caucus

•No more co-operation with APC govt — PDP SENATORS

By Henry Umoru, Joseph Erunke & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA— OUTRAGE overflowed in the two chambers of the National Assembly, yesterday, over bid to arraign the two presiding officers of the Senate for alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules 2015, with the Senate pointedly accusing

Continues on page 5

Nobody in Nigeria can seize my property —Jimoh Ibrahim >11

Mr & Mrs NEW IGP: President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by out-going Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase (left) and Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim, after an audience with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. Story on Page 8.

COLUMNISTS: 13 years on:Ebonyi govt, host communities, Ibeto partner on resuscitation of S-East NIGERCEM See inside

Facing up to an incompetent political class

New wife hopeless at housework

•P.17

•P.41

CJN's appointment: Courting trouble •P.19

Fayose's account: Call EFCC to order, PDP govs tell >11 Buhari

2—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016

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C M Y K

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016

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POCKET CARTOON

MOU: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (right sitting); Deputy Prime Minister, United Arab Emirates (UAE) & Chairman, Dubai Holdings, Mr. Ahmad Bin Byat (left standing); Chief Executive Officer, Smart City Dubai LLC, Mr. Jabber Bin Hafez (left) and Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (right standing) during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Smart City Lagos between the City of Dubai and Lagos State Government, at the Emirate Towers, Dubai, on Monday.

Fury in NASS over bid to dock Saraki, Ekweremadu Continues from page 1 President Muhmmadu Buhari of turning into a dictator.

Following a four-hour closed-door session, the Senate in a unanimous resolution, summoned the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to appear before its Committee on Judiciary within two days, even as senators across party lines affirmed that the Rule Book, allegedly forged, remains authentic.

The Senate resolution also claimed a plot by the Presidency to remove its leadership through what it described as a coup.

The indignation in the Senate over the planned arraignment of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, also spilled

over to the House of Representatives, which in a similar resolution, called on the President to keep to the constitution in his decisions in order not to abort the nation’s democracy.

Similarly, the PDP caucuses in the Senate and House of Representatives, in separate meetings, also lambasted the Presidency, with the PDP senators resolving, henceforth, to stop all manner of cooperation with the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration.

The PDP House caucus at a press conference in the National Assembly building, vowed to resist any plot to remove the presiding officers of the Senate, describing it as an attempt to foist a dictatorship on the country.

Meanwhile, the reality of

IT'S UP TO YOU

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TAKE HEART

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VERY important change you make in life begins with a thought or inspiration. The ability to create uplifting images in the imagination different from past input, enables one to step outside from the familiar, and re-imagine who we are. We can create new experiences in a more beautiful way to uplift our lives. The imagination is the greatest tool for deliberate creation. Imagination is your way to light, love and freedom.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

T

HE fact that one is thirsty does not mean one should drink gutter water.

the showdown crystallized, yesterday, evening as judicial officials pasted the summons on Saraki and Ekweremadu to appear before the Federal High Court on June 27.

The summons was pasted by way of substituted service, and it became the first time the two men were formally being notified of their prosecution.

The Senate resolution followed a four-hour closed door session presided over

by Senator Ekweremadu.

Senate summons Attorney-General

Following the session, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), upon a matter of urgent public importance, raised a motion accusing the Buhari administration of attempting to change the leadership of the Senate by muzzling the legislative arm.

The motion, which was adopted unanimously without dissent, warned that the Senate might be compelled to withdraw its support for the administration if it continued to interfere in its domestic affairs.

The Senate said the attorney-general must appear to “justify with evidence the basis for his action and why it does not constitute gross misconduct, incompetence, contempt of court and abuse of office.”

It insisted that the “Senate Rule 2015 was not forged” and that “it is the authentic rule of the Senate.”

The motion, tagged: “Motion on the imminent threat to our democracy as it relates to the alleged invitation of our principal officers by the court in Abuja,” asked the Senate to rise and defend democracy.

Melaye’s motion went further: “This Senate notes

further that the judiciary had through several rulings in a recent case suit no AFC/ABJ/CS/646/2015 on the same issue, warned the executive arm from treading the path of criminalising or interfering in the running of the internal affairs of the Senate.

“This Senate, therefore, acknowledges the grave implications this emerging trend poses to the security, continued existence, unity, and survival of our dear country.

“This Senate is aware that the legislature is subject to provisions of the constitution to regulate its procedures as explicitly stated in Section 60 of the Nigerian Constitution, which we have all sworn to uphold.”

He said he was disturbed that instead of “applying itself to the myriads of problems confronting the nation, including the escalating cost of living, extremism, worsening insecurity, rising ethnic divisions, skyrocketing unemployment, declining national productivity and an economy nose-diving into recession, the executive continued to be hell-bent on chasing rats while the federation burns.”

Upon that and other resolutions, the Senate declared that if its rules were fake, then the treatments the President had received using the same rules were fake.

No condition is permanent — Ekweremadu

Ekweremadu, who presided over the day’s session, warned that “those who use their public office today to persecute others must realise that there is no condition that is permanent.

“I don’t intend to say much because I’m involved.

I just want to add that those who use their public office today to persecute others must realise that no condition is permanent.“ All senators, who took turns to contribute to the motion, accused the executive of unnecessary interference in the affairs of the National Assembly, warning it to steer clear.

House condemns move

The House of Representatives, in its resolution on the issue, also charged the Presidency to always abide by provisions of the constitution of the country and not do anything that would jeopardise the nation’s democracy.

The House resolution was upon a motion sponsored

by Tajudeen Ayo Yusuf (Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu, Kogi State), entitled ‘Urgent need to safeguard the nation’s democracy and protect the integrity and independence of the National Assembly.”

The motion, which was unanimously carried, also tasked President Buhari to call his attorney-general to order.

The resolution said the move to arraign the two

presiding officers of the Senate was an attempt to dabble into matters wholly the internal affairs of the Senate.

According to the House, the alleged meddlesomeness of the executive is a deliberate and concerted attack on the National Assembly to render it useless in the eyes of the general public, adding that “if this ugly trend continues unabated, it will be detrimental to good governance and highly damaging to our democracy."

No more co-operation with APC govt — PDP senators

Meanwhile, PDP senators, yesterday, said they had brought their one-year romance with the government to an end, noting that the government’s actions towards their party members so far, since taking over the central government, were enough agonies to pull out their support.

The senators kept the outcome of their meeting secret as they resolved to communicate their new position to the national leadership of the party, yesterday evening after which it would be publicly announced at a press conference today.

To this end, a source at the meeting, who spoke to Vanguard, said a delegation, comprising one senator from each geo-political zone with Senator Ekweremadu, was mandated to take the position of the PDP Senate caucus to the leadership and report back today.

‘We are expecting them to report back the outcome tomorrow (today) and from there, you would hear our position formally at a news briefing, ‘’ he said.

After a similar meeting of the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives, the Representatives vowed to stop any attempt to illegally remove the Senate leadership.

PDP Reps condemn arraignment

Briefing journalists in Abuja, following the closeddoor meeting, PDP House leader, Leo Ogor condemned the moves in the Senate, saying it was an attempt to erode the independence of the legislature against the principles of separation of powers as enshrined in the

constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ogor, who relied on the ruling by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in suit, No. FHC/ABJ/ CS/646/2015 between Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Plaintiff/Applicant and the Inspector-General of Police, Attorney-General of the Federation who were Defendant/Respondents respectively, challenged the executive to provide instances where the presiding officers had hands in the amendment of the Senate Standing Rule.

“Democracy thrives on mutual respect and cooperation among the three arms of government.

Therefore, the executive arm of government has no business whatsoever meddling in the internal affairs of the legislature.

Each of the houses of the National Assembly since 1999 has always had its rules produced by the management of the National Assembly, hence Senate Standing Orders 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 in the instance of the Senate.”

The caucus also noted that Senator Ekweremadu ceased to be a Senator from the 4th of June 2015 when the 7th Senate adjourned sine dine until he was inaugurated alongside other members of the 8th Senate on 9th June 2015.

The caucus, therefore, wondered how the production of Senate Order issued for the inauguration of the Senate would be any business of his, adding that the two were never accused by any panel of inquiry or the purported petition to the police.

It said: “It is equally instructive that Senator Ekweremadu and the Senate President were neither accused nor mentioned by the Senators who petitioned the police; Senators and bureaucrats who made statements during the investigation; and even the police in its report.

“We, therefore, challenge the Attorney-General of the Federation to tell Nigerians how it came about the names of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Bukola Saraki in the lawsuit or how a legal practitioner of his ranking preferred criminal charges against presiding officers of the National Assembly without according them a fair

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6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

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Brutalised Kano boy goes home Monday, gets a house

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HE 20-month-old boy, Musa Murtala, who was brutalised by his step-mother in Gulu village, Rimin Gado Local Government Area, Kano State, is expected to return home next Monday.

The boy ’s mother, Malama Bilkisu Usman, who disclosed this in a phone interview yesterday, said that the lad had been discharged from hospital.

However, she said that they would stay in Abuja for observation before returning home.

“We are staying in Abuja for some time before we will return to Kano,” she said.

Bilkisu explained that they would stay in Abuja for follow-up appointment at the hospital where he was treated.

She commended the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, for supporting them, saying that Musa has recovered.

She, however, called on the authorities concerned to ensure that those who committed the offence were punished in order to serve as a deterrent.

Musa was discharged from Ceder Crest Hospital in Abuja, Monday, where Mrs Buhari sponsored his treatment.

Also speaking on the issue, the Chairman of Ibrahim Magnet Foundation, Alhaji Ibrahim Magnet, who donated N1 million to the boy, said Musa would stay in his house in Abuja before returning to Kano.

According to him, the boy would have to see an eye specialist to ensure that he recovered fully.

A friend of Magnet and President of West African Ventures, Mr. Jack Romance, also donated N1 million to the boy. The amount was used to buy a house for the boy in Kano.

Musa was brutalised by his step-mother early last month. When the news of the act went viral, Mrs Buhari sponsored the boy’s treatment.

He was immediately moved to Abuja from Murtala Muhammed Hospital, Kano.

Man, 30, beats sister-in-law to O

NE Ojeriahi Victor, 30, yesterday, appeared before an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State for allegedly beating his elder brother’s wife to a pulp because she was barren.

It was alleged that the accused told their neighbours that he beat up his sister-in-law because she had refused to give his elder brother a child after

five years of marriage.

Ojeriahi, a businessman who lives on Ibefun Street, Alapere, is facing a one-count charge of assault occasioning harm.

The prosecutor, Mr. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 14 at the complainant’s residence.

Ihiehie said that the

incident happened shortly after the complainant, a trader, came back from the market that night.

Ihiehie said: “She looked for the key where her husband normally kept it for her, but did not find it. As she waited outside for her husband to come back, her brother in-law came into the compound.

“He walked to where she was

standing and pushed her. She fell.”

The prosecutor, a sergeant, said that the accused took the torchlight the complainant was holding and started hitting her face.

“The accused beat her to a pulp until neighbours came to her rescue,” he added.

Ihiehie said that as soon as the complainant’s husband

After yesterday’s downpour in Lagos, this flood situation at Obalende caused traffic gridlock that stretched to Iyana Oworo, close to the Third Mainland Bridge. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Secondary school dropout lynched over phone theft

By Ike Uchechukwu

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ALABAR—A member of a five-man robbery gang, identified as Chidozie, was yesterday lynched by a mob at Iyang Edem by Mount Zion in Calabar for stealing mobile phones.

It was gathered that Chidozie and his gang members allegedly visited Atu Secondary School, where they attacked a teacher and dispossessed her of valuables, including her phones.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, told Vanguard that the gang did not know that the people in the neighbourhood had been trailing them as they had been terrorising the area for quite some time.

His words: “He was unfortunate, because the others escaped. Due to the spate of armed robberies in our area, they did not spare him because he refused to accept that the phone was with him. They beat him to

death and then set him ablaze.”

The source disclosed that Chidozie was just released from prison last week, adding that he was also rusticated from Atu Secondary School when he was in Senior Secondary, SS, 2 due to the nefarious activities he was involved in.

Another resident of the area, who did not want her name in print, said they were happy that he was killed on the spot, adding “that boy and his gang

have been disturbing this area for a long time; they snatch bags and rob shops in the evenings.

“He was so unfortunate to have taken this route after they robbed somewhere else. We are glad that they got him today.”

When Vanguard contacted the Police Public Relations Officers, Irene Ugbo, she said she was not aware of the incident, but promised to call back.

Meanwhile, Chidozie’s remains were still by the road side at press time.

Dissolve my marriage before I commit murder, man begs court

By Jane Echewedo

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56-year-old clearing agent, Emmanuel Adedeji, has told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his 16-year-old marriage before the devil uses him to commit murder, because his wife maliciously accused him of using his son for ritual.

Adedeji informed the court’s President, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, that his wife, Funmilayo, with whom he had two children in their 16-yearold marriage, was defaming his character.

He said: “My wife accused me of using my physicallychallenged son for money ritual. It is God that blessed me with wealth, I never used my son.

“Funmilayo beat me up in public and tore my clothes to rags. She is always raining curses on me very early in the morning and those curses are now coming to pass in my life,” he said.

He starved me of sex for 12 years—WIFE Adedeji pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage, that he was no longer in love and do not want to commit murder.

“Please, dissolve the marriage before the devil uses me,” he begged the court.

Meanwhile, Funmilayo, 49, a food vendor, owned up to the allegation of raining curses on her husband.

She said: “Yes, I always rained curses on him because he used to beat me. On two occasions, he had beaten me to pulp and I ended up in hospital.”

Funmilayo said that her husband had been starving her of sex for the past 12 years.

“My husband has refused to sleep with me for 12 years now for no just cause,” Funmilayo said.

The mother of two said that she accused her husband of using their son for money ritual because his money

started booming immediately the baby was born.

She said: “My husband’s wealth came after the birth of our baby. Our son is now 14 years old but neither walks nor talks.”

She begged the court not to

grant her husband’s request, saying she still loves him.

The court president, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, after listening to the couple, adjourned the case till June 23 for further hearing.

24-yr-old escaped detainee, re-arraigned fo

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N Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, remanded a 24-year-old man, Seun Olamilekan, at Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos, after pleading guilty to breaking police cell.

Olamilekan, whose address is unknown, is arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, damage and escaping from lawful custody.

After pleading guilty to the charges, the Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, said the accused should be kept behind bars pending judgement.

Earlier, the prosecutor,

Inspector Essien Ndarake, told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 31 at Alagbado Police Station, Lagos.

He said the accused, with another still at large, damaged the cell’s burglar proof in a bid to escape.

Ndarake said: “The accused damaged the iron rod of the cell gate to escape at night.”

Ndarake said the accused, who was arrested and detained over alleged stealing, was later found roaming about at AbuleIroko in Ogun.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—7

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o pulp over barrenness

She won't let me into the house, suspect tells court came back and saw what his younger brother had done, he confronted him and was about to beat him up when neighbours stopped him.

He said that the accused narrated to the neighbours that he beat up his sister in-law because she had refused to give

his elder brother a child after five years of marriage.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the offence, alleged that the complainant refused to let

him into the house when he came back from work.

The magistrate, Mrs O. S. Amzat, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N10,000 with two reliable sureties and adjourned the matter till July 17.

An accident scene along Airport Road, Emene, Enugu State. PHOTO: Instagram.

Fury in NASS over bid to dock Saraki, Ekweremadu Continues from page 5 hearing,” the caucus submitted.

Meanwhile, the South East caucus in the House has also decried what it described as an attempt to blacklist the South East at the federal level with the recent plot to arraign the highest Igbo person in government, Senator Ekweremadu.

Leader of the South-East caucus in the House of Representatives and Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuma Onyema, stated that the South-East had been “marginalised, brutalised and it is targeted at Ekweremadu because he is from the South East.

“This administration has shown resentment for the South East. Go to appointments; South East is systematically shut out.”

A statement by the caucus called on “all well-meaning Northern elders, federal legislators, and the international community to rise in the defence of our nascent democracy.

“There is currently no one of South East origin in President Muhammadu Buhari’s kitchen cabinet and the distribution of other appointments such as ministerial appointments leaves no one in doubt that this government has an incurable hatred for Ndigbo.”

Continuing the caucus said, “This latest onslaught is being carried out through trumped-up forgery charges already before the Federal Capital Territory High Court.”

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday officially summoned Saraki, Ekweremadu, former clerk to the

2 arrested after purchasing car with fake bank alert

By Esther Onyegbula & Faith Ake

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WO men, who specialise in defrauding car dealers in Lagos by issuing fake bank cheques and fake bank alerts, met their waterloo yesterday, when one of their victims, identified as Ifeanyi, raised the alarm when he discovered that an alert he got for the payment of the vehicle sold to

or damaging police cell He said: “A surveillance team moved immediately to the place and ambushed him. Even on his way to Lagos, the accused jumped down from the vehicle and took to his heels, but he was given a chase and re-arrested.”

The offences contravened Sections 106 (a), 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, with Section 106(a) providing a seven-year imprisonment. Sections 348 and 409 prescribe two years each for offenders.

The case was adjourned to July 5 for facts and sentence.

the suspects was not genuine.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects, who claimed they were sent by their boss, had succeeded twice in issuing fake bank alerts and stealing cars from dealers at car marts before yesterday’s attempt was foiled.

Ifeanyi became suspicious of the transaction after he allegedly received bank transaction alert for the payment of the vehicle.

His suspicion paid off after his assistant, who was sent to the bank to confirm the payment, informed him that the said transaction did not reflect in their bank account.

Another car dealer, who spoke in confidence, said yesterday was not the first time criminals were using fake bank alerts to purchase vehicles from the park and getting away with it.

He said: “God has exposed them today. The last time it happened, the bank server was down so they just allowed them to go.

Later we found out that it was a fake alert.” The suspects, who were almost lynched by the dealers, confessed to have succeeded with two vehicles sometime ago

The suspects. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez. from the same New Way Park Lagos State Police spokesperBerger, via same method. The son, SP Dolapo Badmos, said suspects were later taken to the the case was not reported at police station. When contacted, Kirikiri Police Division.

National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and outgoing Deputy Clerk, Ben Efeturi, over their involvement in the alleged forgery of Senate Standing Orders.

The summons were effected through a substituted service which was pasted at the corridor along the Senate President’s office.

According to the summons, Saraki, Ekweremadu, Maikasuwa and Efeturi are to appear before the court on Monday, June 27.

Parts of the summons read: “By oral application dated 21st June 2016 moved by D.E Kaswe, Principal State Counsel Federal Ministry of Justice, in this case, praying the court for: “An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the complainant/ applicant to serve the criminal summon on the defendants by substituted means to wit by pasting it at the Notice Board of the National Assembly Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

Standing Rules “And after hearing D.E Kaswe with A.A Kaltingo Esq, Counsel for the Complainant/Applicant moved the court orally for the above relief “ Also included in the summons were statements volunteered by Maikasuwa and Efeturi on the matter.

Maikasuwa in his statement said: “The Senate Standing Orders used in Seventh Senate was not known to me. The Clerk of the Senate is in position to know. I was not aware of the amendment made to the Standing Rules.”

Also, in his statement, Efeturi said the Senate Leadership handed the 2015 Standing Rules as amended by their convention and practice to him.

“The Senate Leadership handed the 2015 standing rules as amended by their convention and practice.

Standing Orders 2003, 2007, and 2011 followed similar practice, “he said.

Judge’s absence stalls Fani-Kayode’s arraignment

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HE absence of the trial judge, Justice Sule Hassan, has led to the failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, to arraign spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign in the 2015 elections, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode in court. Fani-Kayode, who is facing charges of fraud and

money laundering at a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, was to be arraigned last Friday, but the case was postponed till yesterday also due to the judge’s absence.

The former Aviation minister, was brought to the court by EFCC officials. This came as investigation revealed that all others charged alongside with

Fani-Kayode, are out on bail and attending court sessions from home while he (Femi) is still being detained. A source, who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the judge, assigned FaniKayode’s case is known to have very close affinity with EFCC where he was once the acting Head, Legal Unit of the Commission.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016

Labour rejects abolition of tenure for PS, directors ...says policy'll destroy civil service

By Victor AhiumaYoung

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RGANISED L A B O U R , yesterday, expressed shocked over Monday’s sudden decision by the Federal Government to abolish the tenure policy for Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the Public Service, saying the abolition was alien to the civil service and unacceptable.

On the platform of the of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, labour called on the Government to halt the plan and summon a stakeholders meeting to discuss the issue to avoid industrial unrest as there were already tension in the public service..

According to ASCSN, the tenure policy which started in 2009 under late President Umaru Yar’Adua stipulated two terms of four-years for Permanent Secretaries and singe 8-years for directors.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos, the ASCSN President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama and the Secretary-General, Alade Bashir Lawal, warned that the persistent policy somersaults by the present Government if not put in check were likely to destroy the cherished norms in the public service.

The body recalled that few months ago, the Federal Government for inexplicable reasons, elected to recruit nonserving officers as Permanent Secretaries some of whom were above 60 years of age in flagrant violation of the Public Service Rules, PSR. “This is in a situation where there are highly skilled, educated, and knowledgeable civil servants who should have been elevated to these exalted positions. All appeals by this union to the Government to reverse the appointments and promote senior civil servants who have served the nation meritoriously for decades to the posts of Permanent Secretaries were treated with contempt,” the union lamented.

FG sacks striking resident doctors Resident doctors agree to suspend strike until July 14

By Chioma Obinna, Simon Ebegbulem, Victoria Ojeme & Gabriel Olawale MINISTER OF Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, has directed Chief Medical Directors, CMDs, and medical directors, MDs, of federal government tertiary health institutions to fill the vacancies created by resident doctors who have “abandoned” their training programme.

Apparently disturbed by the directive by the Federal Government to the various teaching hospitals to replace the resident doctors, the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has agreed to suspend its strike at a meeting with other health sector stakeholders on Tuesday.

The Association’s leadership

also appealed to members to suspend the strike until the next meeting scheduled for July 14.

The decision emanated from the meeting between resident doctors and other stakeholders, organised by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogàra in Abuja.

The meeting will reconvene in three weeks to review progress made in the implementation of agreements reached in the meeting slated for July.

Resident doctors a.k.a. trainee doctors, that constitute the main support force and backbone for medical practice in the public sector, embarked on a nationwide strike on Monday, under the auspices of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD. However, according to Boade Akinola, spokesperson of the

ministry, the directive is contained in a circular signed by Amina Shamaki, permanent secretary of the ministry.

The circular read: “It has come to the notice of the management of the ministry that some resident doctors in your establishment have voluntarily withdrawn from the residency training program by refusing to report for training without authorisation. public service rule, PSR 030402 (e) is relevant.

“This is in spite of the ongoing negotiations on their demands put forward by the representatives of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association.

“In view of this development, you are hereby directed to replace all the doctors that have withdrawn their services, with

AUDIENCE: From the left, the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Lehmann; Australian Assistant Secretary for Trade for Africa, Mr. Mathew Neuhaus, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during an audience at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

others from the pool of applicants for the training programs in the various disciplines in order not to create ominous gap in training with attendant disruption of health care delivery in your facility.

“Meanwhile, the ministry is working with the panel on the review of the residency training programme in Nigeria, led by Professor Wole Atoyebi, the registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College, to fast-track the development of a comprehensive blueprint for postgraduate training of doctors in the country.

“Please, ensure immediate compliance.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan sacked 16,000 resident doctors on August 14, 2014 for participating in a nationwide strike called by its national body.

The doctors were on strike for more than six months during the Ebola outbreak in the country.

The doctors, however, were recalled two weeks after the directive.

In a related development, relatives of patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Benin City, yesterday, thronged the hospital to seek the discharge of sick relatives following the death of a fire victim, Mrs. Margaret Edobor, 65, who died at the accident and emergency ward of the hospital, following the ongoing nationwide strike by resident doctors.

Buhari appoints Ibrahim Idris as acting IGP

As Arase bows out, solicits mass support for successor DIGs to be retired AIGs to be considered for DIG positions

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, appointed Assistant Inspector General, AIG, Ibrahim Idris, as the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, to replace retired Solomon Arase.

With the retirement of IGP Solomon Arase, the six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, DIGs, who served under him are to be retired.

They include: Dan-Azumi Job Doma, DIG in charge Finance and Administration ‘A’ department; DIG Sotonye Wakama, DIG in charge Operations ‘B’ department; DIG Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe, DIG in charge Logistics and Supplies ‘C’ department.

Others are: Kakwa Christopher Katso, DIG in charge Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID; Cynthia Amaju Onu, DIG in charge ICT and Jubril Olawale Adeniji, in charge of Research and Planning According to Vanguard’s investigation, 10 Assistant Inspectors General, AIGs, of

Police under the former dispensation are senior of the new IGP. They include former AIG zone 2 Lagos, Ibrahim Manko, AIG in charge Force Secretary; Patrick Dokumor, AIG in charge Zone 7, Abuja; Balla Nasarawa, Tambari Mohammed; Bala Hassan, AIG in charge Zone 2, Lagos, Yahaya Ardo, Musa Daura, Baba Adisa Bolanta, Usman Gwary and AIG Tunde Ogunsakin.

It was gathered that the status of this set of Assistant Inspectors General of Police, would be decided by the Federal Government, as regards who among them would to be appointed Deputy Inspectors Generals of Police, or be asked to proceed on retirement.

The appointment of the DIGs will, however, reflect the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The input of the new IGP will, however, play a key role in the determination of the positions to be given the senior officers.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Idris would remain in acting capacity until confirmed by the

Police Service Commission.

The statement, which also gave a brief profile of the new helmsman of the police, read: “The acting Inspector-General, who hails from Kutigi, Lavun in Niger State, was born on January 15, 1959.

“Idris enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1984, after graduating from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a Bachelor's degree in agriculture. He also holds a degree in law from the University of Maiduguri.

“AIG Idris has served in various commands and formations in the Nigerian Police Force, working in the Police Mobile Force for 17years as Unit Commander, Squadron Commander, and Commandant.

“He served as Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa and Kano states and was also the Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Mobile Force at the Force Headquarters.

“He was also at the United Nations Mission in Liberia and East Timor and was awarded “Medal of Merit” by the President of the Republic of East Timor in recognition of his service.

“AIG Idris, who was in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters before his appointment as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, will act in that capacity, pending his confirmation.”

According to the new acting IGP, as reported by an evening paper, he strongly believes that "Almajiri system breeds terrorism and it is being driven by foreigners."

Meanwhile, shortly before the statement, both the retiring and the successor IGPs visited President Muhammadu Buhari in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking when they emerged from a brief meeting, the outgone IGP, Mr. Arase, thanked Nigerians for the cooperation given to him and also appealed to them to extend same to his successor.

He said: “I want to formally introduce my successor, AIG Idris Kpotum Idris. He is going to be in acting capacity until the Police Council confirms him. ‘’By extension, I want to also appeal to you to give the same support that you gave to me to my successor.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—9

BRIBERY SCANDAL:

Gov Fayose acting childish

—PRESIDENCY Challenges him to show proof linking Buhari's wife Aisha Buhari in Jefferson bribery scandal not President's wife —Lamorde

By Levinus Nwabughiogu & Bartholomew, with agency reports

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BUJA—THE Presidency has said that Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State acted so infantile by linking President Buhari’s wife, Aisha, to U.S. Congressman, William Jefferson’s bribery scandal for which the American lawmaker was convicted in 2009.

This came as former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, said yesterday that the Aisha Buhari named in the bribery scandal involving a U.S. congressman, Williams Jefferson, in the Halliburton scandal was not the President’s wife.

The Presidency while dismissing the issue, also described it as laughable and desperate act to attract media attention.

scandal.”

He explained that “common names alone are not enough to automatically link innocent people to crimes or scandals, especially in an era of identity thieves.”

He further challenged Fayose to “show proof when and where Aisha Buhari was invited for interrogation in connection with Congressman William Jefferson’s bribery scandal, let alone indicted for a crime locally or abroad.”

According to the Presidential media aide, “free speech does not entitle Governor Fayose to falsely accuse innocent people of crimes they knew nothing about.”

He warned Fayose that Aisha Buhari was “entitled to protect

her reputation from being recklessly maligned, adding that political opposition was not a license to attack people’s reputation brazenly without legal consequences.

Lamorde clarifies

Meanwhile, former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, said yesterday that the Aisha Buhari named in the bribery scandal involving a U.S. Congressman, Williams Jefferson, in the Halliburton scandal was not the President’s wife.

Lamorde, who disclosed this in an interview with online platform, Premium Times, at National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru,

Jos, where he is currently on a course, said he was fully involved in the investigation as EFCC director of operations at the time to know that President Buhari’s wife, Aisha, was not the person involved in the scandal.

He said: “I can tell you authoritatively that the Aisha Buhari named in that case is not President Buhari’s wife. It is another Aisha Buhari entirely.

“I was the director of operations at the EFCC at the time, so I know about the case very well. I can tell you that it is not her (President Buhari’s wife). That much we established.

“It is unfair to link the President’s wife with that case.

“She was definitely not the one involved, and Fayose and other Nigerians should know this."

Garba Shehu reacts

Reacting to Fayose’s allegations in a press statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said: “Ordinarily, the Presidency would have ignored Fayose because he is a man “childishly obsessed with the desire to grab the headlines and insulting people at will because of his incurably boorish instincts.”

Malam Garba explained, however, that the “Presidency chose to respond on this occasion for the sake of innocent Nigerians who might be misled

by Fayose’s shameless and blatant distortion of facts.”

He said ignoring Fayose carried the “ risk of giving traction and credibility to outright and brazen falsehoods inconsistent with the status of anybody that called himself a Governor or leader.”

According to Shehu, Aisha had “no direct, indirect or the remotest connection with William Jefferson’s corruption scandal in the United States.”

Challenges Fayose

He challenged Fayose to “tell Nigerians if the so-called Aisha whose pictures he proudly, but ignorantly shared, was the same Aisha married to President Muhammadu Buhari, or if the Aisha of his idle imagination had any relationship by blood or any relationship in whatever form, with President Buhari’s wife.”

Shehu also challenged Fayose to “produce evidence from the records of investigation and subsequent trial of Jefferson to prove that Buhari’s wife, Aisha, was in anyway linked to that C M Y K

President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Jabi, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

We want public investigative hearing —3 lawmakers demand

Saraki raises alarm over spate of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions

By Immanuel Jannah

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B U J A — S E N AT E President, Bukola Saraki has raised alarm over the rise in sexual harassment complaints in tertiary institutions across the country.

He made the disclosure while declaring open the public hearing on the bill to provide for the prohibition of incidences of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.

Saraki said sexual harassment incidences were becoming too frequent that it could no longer be ignored.

He described the menace as a special challenge that required specific and more direct attention, calling on the executive arm of government to pay attention to the right issues affecting the lives of the people, including those with direct impact on their enjoyment of liberty, freedom and aspirations.

Saraki said: “Complaints of sexual harassment in our places of learning are on the rise and this dangerous trend has quite a significant impact on the quality of learning, life and dignity of our children as a whole."

....As CCT rules on his motion to disqualify Judge July 13

SEX SCANDAL:

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE three members of the House of Representatives accused of improper conduct, attempted rape and soliciting for prostitutes in Ohio, the United States of America, yesterday told the leadership of the House to convoke a public investigative hearing on the allegations against them.

This is as one of the accused lawmaker, Mark Gbillah, who represents Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State, denied any culpability in the allegation, saying he had never cheated on his wife since he got married.

Meanwhile, speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who presided over the plenary, referred the allegations to the Committees on Ethics and Privileges and Foreign Affairs to carry out investigations on the matter.

Dogara also cautioned commentators on the allegation to tread with caution as an accused was assumed innocent until proven guilty.

The three members, according to a letter from the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, to the speaker are Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi); Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue).

Entwistle had in the petition to Dogara, alleged that the actions of the three lawmakers at the International Visitor Leadership Programme, brought disrepute to the parliament. He alleged that they solicited for sex from prostitutes and grabbed hotel housekeeper in a bid to rape.

Relying on House Order 6, Rule 20 and 22 that deals with privileges of members, Gbillah stated that it was important that the matter be specifically addressed on the floor of the House, adding that the allegation was completely false.

Speaking on behalf of the other accused members, the Benue State-born lawmaker said: “For my colleagues who don’t know me and Nigerians out there, I want to categorically state here, for any avoidance of doubt, that no such incident occurred.

“I want my colleagues and the nation to understand that though we are in the eye of the storm, we will bear this cross and courageously too.

“I want to say that this is calculated to tarnish the image of the three members and this very hallowed institution. And I caution Nigerians who are quick to conclusion, I want to state categorically for all Nigerians to know again, that I love my wife without reservation.

“I only have eyes for my wife. I have never cheated on her. I wish she was able to come to this hallowed chambers to testify to this. I went on this trip with my wife and my baby. I travel everywhere I go with my wife and baby.”

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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA—THE Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, yesterday, slated July 13 to determine the merit of a fresh application seeking to disqualify Justice Danladi Umar from presiding over the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

The tribunal adjourned ruling on the motion after it entertained legal arguments from Saraki’s lawyer, Mr. Paul Erokoro, SAN, and the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs,SAN. Saraki had in his fresh application dated June 13, asked the CCT chairman, Justice Umar, to handsoff his trial, saying remarks the judge made in the open court on June 7, indicated his bias against the defendant.

His legal team, led by a former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, noted that Justice Umar threatened that the defendant would face the full consequencesofchargesagainsthim despite whatever delay tactics he chose to employ in the course of the trial.

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22 , 2016

Lagos signs Smart City deal with Dubai

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—THE Lagos State Government and the City of Dubai yesterday, entered into a historic partnership that will see Lagos emerge as the first Smart City in Africa.

The Memorandum of Understanding ,MoU, for the Lagos Smart City was signed at the Emirate Towers, Dubai by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Chief Executive Officer of Smart City Dubai LLC, Mr. Jabber Bin Hafez.

The signing of the MOU, which would make Lagos the home of the very first Smart City in Africa, was witnessed by the Chairman of Dubai Holdings, His Excellency, Ahmad Bin Byat who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

A Smart City is a growing concept that draws from the success of Dubai’s innovative knowledge-based industry clusters to empower business growth for companies and knowledge workers all over the world.

Governor Ambode in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said that the Smart City (Lagos) is expected to bring multi-billion dollars investments to the State, create thousands of jobs and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis in particular and the entire Lagos State in general.

“This is a deliberate attempt by us to establish a strong convergence between technology, economic development and governance.

“The MOU is between Lagos State Government and Dubai Holdings, LLC, owners of Smart City (Dubai) to develop a sustainable, smart, globally connected knowledge-based communities that drive knowledge economy,” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor stated that the collaboration is part of the larger vision to make Lagos safer, cleaner and more prosperous.

Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister, Bin Byat said the Dubai authorities were impressed with the conduct and readiness of Lagos State Government and were eager to proceed with the State Government and the Smart City Lagos project.

Residents groan under flooding as rain persists in Lagos

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—AS the rainfall continues unabated in Lagos, residents yesterday, lamented flooding of their areas which has ultimately affected vehicular movement in the state.

Mostly affected are residents of Lekki axis, who now have to navigate through pools of water as their roads are totally submerged by flooding.

Also experiencing flood are residents of the reclaimed Ilubinrin, Park View and Banana Islands said to have been submerged.

On the mainland, both sides of

the Oshodi to Anthony through Oworonsoki areas particularly around UPS courier company where a couple was swept away by flood a few years back are again being threatened by massive flooding.

The rains that had continued in the past few days, led to gridlock on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, making vehicular movement on the ever busy road difficult.

It was learned that the failed portions of the roads also contribute to the flooding that has innundated the area.

Sources said since the

cancellation of the Lekki-Epe Expressway concession by the state government, there had not been any prompt repairs of the road.

According to a resident, who identified himself as Chijioke; “With all the rain falling in Lagos, let’s channel some of this Lekki flood to the sea,” adding that this will help mitigate the flooding that had crippled business activities.

Another resident, Adewale Akintayo, lamented; “Our streets have turned into p‘River Nile’ to the extent that flood is flowing into our houses.''

Nigeria, Russia begin e-trading platform TrailTrans logistics and

By Naomi Uzor

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Flag Officer Commanding , FOC, Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai (left) unveiling a plague of the renovated sick bay at the command, while the NNS Beecrfot, Commodore Abraham Adaji watches.

CJ laments increase in rape, domestic violence, others

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—CHIEF Judge of Lagos State Hon. Justice Olufumilayo Atilade has lamented the persistent increase in rape, domestic violence cases and others in the state, saying “sexual offences have become rampant in the society.”

Atilade added that the method and procedure for handling the prosecution of these offences must be appraised critically.

Addressing participants at the commencement of the workshop organised by the State Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary in partnership with the Legal Defense Assistance Project, LEDAP, in Lagos, she said that the Criminal Justice Law 2011, was an innovation geared towards enhancing the administration of Criminal Justice in Lagos.

N2.6BN THEFT: Accused ex-NIMASA staff statements voluntary, court rules

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, ruled that statements made by two former staff of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Captain Ezekiel Agaba and Ekene Nwakuche, were voluntarily made.

The court reached the decision while ruling on a trial-within-trial conducted to ascertain the willingness of the statements made by the accused.

Agaba (second accused) and Nwakuche (third accused) are charged alongside former Director General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi over N2.6 billion theft.

Also charged are: Governor Juan as well as Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd and are being prosecuted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

AGOS—RUSSIAN trade mission, yesterday, said RuNiTrade, an e-trading platform designed for Nigerian and Russian business communities will enable both countries gain long lasting relationship for mutual benefits.

Disclosing this at the meeting with Russian trade mission, organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, the Managing Director,

RuNiTrade, Mr. Uwem Sampson, said it is the first ever business to business (B2B) e-commerce marketplace particularly designed and developed in accordance with Nigerian and Russian business requirements.

“It would bring businesses from both countries on one platform where they will be able to buy and sell goods in a business friendly environment. It will also help to establish good perception, harmony as well as trust between Russian and Nigerian businesses,” he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 — 11

FAYOSE’S ACCOUNT: Call EFCC to order, PDP govs

tell Buhari

By Dapo Akinrefon & Rotimi Ojomoyela

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HE Peoples Democratic Party Governor’s Forum yesterday described the freezing of the personal accounts of Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as gross abuse of the constitution.

The forum, which spoke through its Chairman and Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the anti-graft agency to order.

This came as the Ekiti State House of Assembly faulted the move by the EFCC, saying it acted beyond its powers.

Reacting to the freezing of Fayose’s account by the EFCC, Governor Mimiko noted that EFCC's action has portrayed the nation as one in crisis.

Expressing his displeasure over the step, Mimiko said EFCC cannot interfere with the account of a sitting governor, adding that, it was contrary to Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

In a statement, the Ondo State governor argued that if the intention is to suggest any criminal infraction or fraud against the governor, the agency should have sheathe its sword till he (Fayose) vacates office.

While he warned that the country is drifting towards totalitarianism, he insisted that the account of any individual could only be frozen after a court of competent jurisdiction as so ruled or an interim order by a court of competent jurisdiction is granted to the anti graft agency.

EFCC acted beyond powers — Ekiti Assembly

Reacting to the development, the Ekiti State House of Assembly described EFCC’s action as ultra vires.

Describing the action as null and void, the Assembly said the order formed part of the

Anti-graft agency acted beyond its powers — LAWMAKERS resolution of the House, which also witnessed passing of a vote of confidence on Governor Fayose, at its plenary at the Assembly complex in Ado-Ekiti.

Speaker of the House, Mr Kola Oluwawole, and Leader of Business, Mr Tunji Akinyele, at plenary, noted that being the second anniversary of Fayose’s election, it was a sad commentary on the nation’s democracy, that after having severally tried unsuccessfully to discredit the election, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government had resorted to armtwisting to embarrass and cause discomfort for the Fayose-led government in Ekiti State.

Passing a vote of confidence on the governor, the lawmakers said “the 26 of us in the House of Assembly are resolutely loyal to the governor and his government and no amount of intimidation or monetary inducement can sway us otherwise.”

Strike: Fayose, labour meeting deadlocked

Meantime, as the industrial action declared by the Ekiti workers entered its fourth week, the meeting between Governor Ayodele Fayose and the organised labour ended in a deadlock yesterday.

The meeting, which was called by the governor to interact with

labour leaders in the state on how to resolve the disputes that led to the ongoing strike lasted for three hours and the union leaders were seen wearing long faces while leaving the venue.

In a telephone interview, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Raymond Adesanmi, told Vanguard that the strike would continue because the meeting failed to resolve the contending issues.

“The governor listened to us and promised to get back to us.

We are also going to have our own meeting on Wednesday to review the situation but the strike continues. It is either three months salary or no talk.”

EDUCAT I O N SUMMIT: ConsulGeneral of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, Mr. Ingo Herbert (middle); Chairman/CEO, Mr. Saturday Jackson (2nd left); M a n a g i n g Director, Mr. Andrew Jason, both of SJJ Education, and other staff of the organisation, during the tuitionfree German Education summit in Lagos, yesterday.

Ogun Assembly approves N14.1bn bail-out for Amosun

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — O G U N State House of Assembly, yesterday, granted approval to Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s request to obtain N14.16 billion from the Federal Government Budget Support Facility to the States of the Federation.

The facility was meant to provide financial support to the States with a view to positioning them to navigate the present economic

challenges and meet the obligations of staff, pensioners and other stakeholders.

The governor had sent a request letter to the assembly urging it to allow him access the Federal Government bail out second time.

The Assembly ’s approval followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mafe Adeyinka, and supported by the members.

Opening debate on the motion, Mafe said the facility which was for a 10-year tenor with a single

digit interest rate, would reduce the financial burden of the state, thereby creating avenue for the government to expend the Internally Generated Revenue of the State on capital projects.

Passing the motion into resolution through a voice vote, the Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi lauded his colleagues, saying the facility would be of great benefit to the state and serve as a means out of the current economic challenges.

S-West labour takes unpaid wages issue to Obasanjo

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE South West leadership of the Trade Union Congress, yesterday, held a closed-door meeting with former

President Olusegun Obasanjo over non-payment of workers’ salaries.

The leaders of the TUC in the South West, Comrade Olubunmi Fajobi, who led others arrived

Obasanjo’s Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital around 12: 30pm, quickly went into a closed-door meeting with the former President.

They pleaded with former

Buhari, Osoba, others for Ambode’s anniversary book launch

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari, former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Prof Pat Utomi and Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu I, are expected to lead other dignitaries to the public presentation of a book: “Cascade of Change: A decade of liberal thoughts,” in Lagos.

The book, authored by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, is scheduled to take place tomorrow, June 23,2016, at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 11. am.

According to the organizers of the event, discourses will centre on Governor Akinwunmi

Ambode’s first year in office, with Buhari as Special Guest of Honour.

The event, under the chairmanship of Osoba, will have Ambode as Chief Host and Akiolu as Royal Father of the Day. Renowned Professor of Economy and Public analyst, Utomi, Dr. Doyin Abiola and Mr. Dipo Famakinwa will all deliver keynote discourses.

President Olusegun Obasanjo to intervene in the lingering crisis between the workers and governors of the six South Western states.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the closed door meeting, which lasted for an hour, Comrade Fajobi said the labour leaders have decided to enlist the assistance of the former president over the matter, saying, they are highly convinced that Obasanjo commands greater respect among the affected governors.

Fajobi, who is also the chairman of the Ogun State chapter of TUC however, listed some of the labour’s demands to include nonpayment of workers’ salaries running into about 13 months.

Nobody in Nigeria can seize my property — JIMOH IBRAHIM

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HE Group Chairman of NICON Investment Limited, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, said yesterday that nobody in Nigeria can seize his properties.

Ibrahim, who in a statement yesterday, was reacting to a report which said a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, had given Assets Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, an interim judgement to take over his firms over N50 billion debt, said: ‘’My attention has been directed to lies being spread around by an institution called AMCON over an interim order of injunction she had lied to collect before an innocent Federal High Court in Lagos. ‘’AMCON is aware that we keep a deposit of Eighty-Six billion Naira or 172 million pounds with Union Bank and AMCON is aware that application to collect the money from Union Bank is pending before an Ikeja High Court. All of these facts, it has not disclosed to an innocent Federal High Court. ‘’AMCON deceived Nigerians to believe that they got judgement against me when there was nothing like that. An interim order of any court last for 14 days. AMCON is executing the interim order even when the Judge has not signed the execution writ. ‘’We have since filed an application to discharge the interim order. I'm not in the category of people that AMCON or anybody can intimidate. It is laughable and a wide ambition to say anyone in Nigeria can seize my property! What a day dream!! ‘’We shall abide with the law and any interim order of court even when they are made in error as we are not far away from justice.’’

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

Avengers denies ceasefire agreement with FG •As new militant group issues FG, NASS ultimatum over N-Delta devt plan, confab report

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South South, Egufe Yafugborhi, Perez Brisibe, Akpokona Omafuaire & Godwin Oghre

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ARRI—THE Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, yesterday, said it has never entered into any agreement with the Federal Government on cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta region.

The group which had claimed responsibility for series of attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region, in a post on its twitter handle, said: “The NDA High Command never remembers having any agreement on ceasefire with the Nigerian Government.”

It was earlier reported that a 30-day truce had been agreed with the militants to give President Muhammadu Buhari time to come up with a comprehensive plan for the oil-rich region.

The “30 days of quiet” was said to have been agreed upon last week by a Federal Government team led by the Minister of State for

C M Y K

Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and representatives of the militant groups, community leaders and the state governments.

But the Avengers denied being party to the agreement.

Also, a new militant group, Ultimate Warriors of the

Niger Delta, UWND, with alleged alliance with a foreign organisation, yesterday, gave the Federal Government ultimatum to commence implementation of portions of the 2014 National Conference, which created a road map for the rapid development of the region or expect a violent change in the

next three years.

Similarly, Niger Delta Patriotic Front, NDPF, said that the purported 30-day ceasefire allegedly brokered with militants in Delta state was a ploy by the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, and its promoters to deceive President Buhari.

DESG economic discourse to focus on bridging investment gap in Delta

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SABA—DELTA Economic Summit Group, DESG, is to host its maiden economic discourse, entitled “Bridging the Investment Gap in Delta State,” in line with its vision to become the principal private sector led think tank and advocacy group in economic development.

DESG aims to promote improved collaboration between the state government and the private sector through its June 30, event.

The event, slated for Lagos, already has an impressive list of confirmed guests, investors

and speakers. Participants include Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Chairman, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Chris Ogbechie; CEO, Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismark Rewane; MD, BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu; Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Kingsley Emu; CEO, Hiccupuray, Mr. Ali Akpobome (Alibaba), among others.

The panelists will speak on their sector specific experiences and how private sector investment can increase in Delta State, while government officials

will provide insights into general developments in the state.

According to Chukwuka Monye, the Director General of DESG, “Creating opportunities for everyone to interact is critical for bridging the investment gap in the state. Based on our relations so far with the state government, it is clear that a lot of work has been done by the government, although the awareness within the private sector is not there.”

The DESG Economic Discourse will also be used to review Delta State's development as it turns 25 this year.

PDP: Sheriff declares Edo gov primaries illegal

By Ben Agande BUJA—EMBATTLED former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali modu Sheriff, yesterday, declared Monday’s governorship primaries in Edo State as illegal and a contraption of an illegal care-taker committee and has urged members nationwide especially in Edo State to disregard same.

In a letter addSressed to Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by Sheriff and the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, they urged INEC not to give legitimacy to what happened in Edo State, adding that the party was going to conduct a proper primaries in the state.

Similarly, they released a scheduled congress in Edo State to start from June 23 – 29, with the inauguration of Congress Committee scheduled for Thursday.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—13

Okowa, Dickson, Peterside mourn Justice Niki Tobi

By Samuel Oyadongha, Festus Ahon & Gbenga Oke

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SABA—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, his Bayelsa State counterpart, Mr Seriake Dickson, and DirectorGeneral of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside have paid glowing tributes to the late legal icon and retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Niki Tobi, describing his death as a loss to Niger Delta and the entire nation.

Okowa in a statement by Charles Aniagwu, his Chief Press Secretary, said: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I commiserate with the Nikki Tobi family, the Ijaw nation and Nigerians on the demise of the erudite teacher and jurist, Justice Tobi.

“Justice Nikki Tobi was a man of many parts, who excelled wherever he found himself, leaving behind trails of credibility and integrity. Justice Tobi excelled in two difficult worlds.

“He was excellent in the academic world as a lecturer and became a reference point in the legal world. I am shocked and pained by this death. A man of humility, credibility and high integrity has passed on,” Okowa said.

On his part, Governor Dickson, describing Justice Tobi’s death as a personal loss to him, the government and people of Bayelsa State well as the entire

Ijaw nation.

“In his demise, the Ijaw nation and indeed Nigeria have lost one of its very best and he will be painfully missed by all,” he said.

The governor in a condolence message to the family of the deceased, the Government and people of Delta State, said Justice Tobi was “a thoroughbred, highly principled, upright and intelligent personality, whose contributions to the legal profession and nation building would remain indelible in the history of Nigeria.”

Dickson said he received the news of Justice Tobi’s death with

shock, sadness and a great sense of loss.

Also, Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, described the death of Justice Tobi as a huge loss, not only to the law profession but also to the entire nation.

Peterside in a statement, said: “Nigeria has lost a great son. For us in the Niger Delta, this is an irreparable loss because the great Justice Tobi served humanity diligently and selflessly.

“We will always remember him for his invaluable interventions and wise counsel. Nigerians will also miss his wide knowledge

of legal principles, both as a teacher and a judge.

“Our consolation, however, comes from the fact that he lived a good and worthy life. He will never die. Surely, he will live forever particularly in the minds of those who encountered him in classrooms and temples of justice where he bestrode for many decades.”

Tobi, who died on June 17 at the National Hospital, Abuja, nearly one month to his 76th birthday, was born July 14, 1940, in Esanma in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

Tobi retired on July 14, 2010 as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

INSPECTION: From left: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, President, Nigeria Bar Association, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, and Attorney-General of Rivers State, Mr Emmanuel Aguma, during the inspection of Civic Centre, Port Harcourt venue for the NBA Conference in August.

Oshiomhole hosts Umahi, says democracy at stake not war

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has hosted his colleague governor from Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi, who was the Chairman of the electoral committee for the governorship primaries of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State, that saw to the emergence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the party’s candidate for the September 10, governorship election.

Oshiomhole who spoke when his Ebonyi State counterpart paid him a courtesy visit at his office, said: “What is at stake is not war, it is contestation, it is democracy.”

Umahi visited the governor shortly after conducting the PDP primaries at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

Oshiomhole, said: “I appreciate you, party or no party. I always said that for people of our level and of our exposure, we should all recognise that there is only one supra-party to which we all belong and that is Nigeria as a nation and we are all committed to serving it and contributing to its strength, unity, progress and prosperity.

“I believe we made a conscious

choice as a people to settle for a multi-party democracy. We could have opted for a unitary party system where everybody must belong to one party, but we opted for multi-party democracy. And

it can only happen if people, very decent people, responsible people, people who mean well find different political platforms to canvass for support, to bid for power and to use power

creatively to impact on the lives of our people.”

Oshiomhole said the visit would go a long way to demonstrate that what was at stake was not war but contestation in democracy.

Protest rocks NASS over exclusion of Bayelsa

AMBASSADORIAL LIST:

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By Joseph Erunke

BUJA—AGGRIEVED Bayelsa State people, protesting the exclusion of the state from the ambassadorial list sent to the Senate last week for screening and confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari defied heavy downpour in Abuja, yesterday, to take their case to the National Assembly.

The protesters, under the platform of Concerned Bayelsa Indigenes, whose action at the National Assembly gate temporarily halted vehicular movement for some minutes, said that the non-inclusion of any indigene of the state in the list was an injustice that must be addressed immediately.

The group accused President Buhari of deliberately sidelining Bayelsa State in major

appointments, one of which was the recent appointments of permanent secretaries.

Coordinator of the group, Bodi Arerebo, told newsmen during the protest that the President’s

action was unfair to the state he said campaigned vigorously for his victory at the 2015 presidential poll, against its indigene, Goodluck Jonathan, who held sway at the time as President.

Adebanjo resumes as The statement described the new Rivers CP new CP as a versatile officer with

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Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT—MR Folunso Adebanjo has assumed office as the new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ahmad Muhammad in a statement, yesterday, said that the former CP, Mr Musa Kimo was redeployed to Force Headquarters, Abuja.

commendable crime fighting record.

He has served in various capacities in the force, and was in the recent past the Commissioner of Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal (Anti-Bomb), Force Headquarters, Abuja and Commissioner of Police Edo State Command.

He was until his present posting a Commissioner of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Gunmen kill APC chieftain in Rivers

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By Davies Iheamnachor

ORT HARCOURT— GUNMEN in the early hours of yesterday, shot dead one Mr. Allain John-Morrison in Abua/Odua Local Government Area of Rivers State, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC. It was gathered that the gunmen had trailed their victim who was a former Councillor of Ward 1 in the council to Okobuo area where he was shot and beheaded.

The APC chieftain was said to be heading to Ahoada area from his community on a motorcycle before the killers emerged from no where and blocked him.

Confirming the incident, a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odua council, Mr. Gift Igoma, said John-Morrison was shot dead at 6a.m., along Abua/Ahoada Link Road by suspected assassins.

Igoma who is now the APC chairman of Abua/Odua said that the Okada rider who was carrying the victim, who escaped the attack told sympathizers at the police station that three men on military uniform doublecrossed him on the way and shot his passenger.

Meanwhile, police in the area have ordered that the remains of John-Morrison be deposited at the mortuary for proper investigation into the killing.

....As LG boss laments death of 4 in communal clash Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— CARETAKER Committee Chairman, Gokhana Local Government Area, Rivers State, Mr Monday Dumiye has condemned Monday’s killing of four persons in a communal clash between Deken and Deyor communities in his council.

The chairman who spoke, yesterday, enjoined security operatives to step up their activities in the council, saying it will help guarantee safety of lives and property.

Appealing to residents of the various communities to pursue peace, the council boss tasked traditional rulers to assist move by government to achieve enduring peace in all parts of the council.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

14.8m persons affected by insurgency —NGO

By Victoria Ojeme

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BUJA—THE Country Director, Plan International Nigeria, Dr. Hussein Abdu, has disclosed that 14.8 million people have been affected

by Boko Haram crisis in the North-East in the last six years.

Abdu also stated that seven million of that figure is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, 3.9 million of which had been covered, while 84 percent of the 2.5 million people suffering from malnutrition were children.

Dr. Abdu gave these statistics during the 2016 Day of the African Child held in Abuja.

He said over 20,000 had been killed, 2.2 million displaced, while 2.7 million children were in need of protection.

He added that one million children need access to education, with 19,000 teachers displaced.

He said: “In Borno State, over 300 schools have been damaged or destroyed and at least 196 teachers and 314 school children were killed from 2012 to 2014 December.”

SUMMONS: Staff of National Assembly looking at the summons served on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, former Clerk of National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and Mr. Benedict Efeturi, on the Senate notice board, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Forgery allegation: Court adjourns Saraki, Ekweremadu's trial to June 27

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—JUSTICE Yusuf Halilu of an Abuja High Court sitting in Jabi, yesterday, deferred the arraignment of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, on a twocount charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery, till June 27.

The court also ordered substituted service of the charge on the defendants by pasting it at the notice board

Let generosity reach its peak! (2) As-salam alaykum waramotullahi wabarakatuh HERE is no time to be more generous than now.

Be generous at heart; do not let stinginess overcome you.

Let the verses of Quran and hadith encourage you to spend generously in the way of Allah and keep the goal of attaining the hereafter in your mind. Allah SWT says in the Quran: “And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul— it is those who will be the successful.”

Be generous with your wealth.

Our wealth is not really ours. It is a trust from Allah SWT and we must be careful about how we spend it. Be extra-generous in Ramadan and do not withhold from causes that benefit the ummah and humanity generally. Be it feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and helpless or spending for causes that help spread the deen and

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uphold its values. Spending for the sake of Allah comes with great rewards and promises.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: “Every day, servants (of Allah) get up in the morning and are visited by two angels.

One of them says: O Allah!

Give more to the one who spends (for the sake of Allah); the other says: O Allah! Bring destruction to the one who withholds.”

The Prophet (s.a.w) also encouraged providing food for the iftar: “Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person’s), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person.”

Allocate a portion of your money to spend on each day in Ramadan, even if you have

of the National Assembly.

The order followed an oral application by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. David Kaswe, who told the court that effecting personal service of the charge on the defendants proved “very difficult.”

He said the prosecution had also deposed an affidavit to show efforts it made to furnish the defendants with copies of the charge against them.

He, therefore, urged the court to invoke sections 123 and 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and little, share it with others who are poor.

Be generous through kindness. In Ramadan, we are prone to irritability, ruining our mood and also that of others.

Instead be patient and exercise kindness. Be generous in offering a kind hand to someone, carry someone’s load, help someone by shedding their burden of work and be merciful on those under you. Be generous with smiles and compliments; make someone’s day with a loving remark.

So, think about all the ways you can be generous this Ramadan and let generosity reach its peak!

Culled from Umm Smith on Ramadan.

Ramadan timing today City Fajr Iftar/Maghrib Abuja 4:49am 6:53pm Ibadan 5:09am 7:05pm Ilesha 5:05am 7:08pm Ilorin 5:02am 7:05pm Kano 4:38am 6:53pm Lagos 5:10am 7:04pm Asaba 5:00am 6:55pm Zaria 4:42am 6:52pm Maiduguri 4:20 6:35pm Jalingo 4:35am 6:38pm Please, note that at Farj time, sahuur ends and Magrib time, Iftar, begins.

okay that the charge be served on the defendants by substituted means.

In a brief ruling, Justice Halilu acceded to the request, though he noted that the prosecution ought to have supported the application with a motion ex parte.

However, the judge said he was minded to grant the oral request for substituted service, considering the need for the defendants to be aware of the charge pending against them.

The case was subsequently adjourned till next Monday for arraignment of the defendants.

Other defendants in the charge are the former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and

his Deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi.

The four defendants were accused of complicity in alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.

The alleged bogus Standing Order was used to conduct the July 9, 2015 election that brought Saraki and Ekweremadu to the leadership of the Senate.

Government said the defendants had, by their conduct, committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act. The charge was a fallout of investigation police conducted into a petition by a group of lawmakers under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum, SUF, which alleged that the Standing Order used for the July 9, 2015 election of principal officers for the 8th Senate was doctored.

Navy denies money-for-job allegation

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—THE Nigerian Navy has dismissed reports in social media that it was asking prospective candidates to pay N40,000 for placement in 2016 recruitment.

The Navy, which asked parents, guardians and candidates to be circumspect of the directive to pay the purported amount, blamed a syndicate using the name of the Navy for the fraud.

Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, who gave the clarification in a statement yesterday, said: “The reports available to the Service suggest that the

criminal elements are operating in various locations across the country.

“In view of the above, parents, guardians and candidates have sought confirmation from the Nigerian Navy on this disturbing criminal extortion by the syndicate.

“Therefore, after a thorough investigation, the Nigerian Navy is requesting parents, guardians, candidates and the general public to avoid being defrauded, as nobody has been mandated, directed or authorised to collect money from any candidate in the course of the 2016 recruitment.

“The Nigerian Navy, hereby, reiterates that, as directed by the Federal Government, participation in the recruitment remains free.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—15

Mass sack: Labour, banks face-off takes new twist ..Union threatens withdrawal of over N2bn fund from Zenith, Diamond, First Bank

By Victor Ahuma-Young

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HE LINGERING industrial dispute between organized labour and employers in the banking sector over recent mass sack of workers has taken a new twist as the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has threatened to withdraw its over two billion naira fund in three major banks in the country over recent mass retrenchment of workers and alleged refusal to allow their workers to join union as guarantee in Nigeria’s constitution.

The affected banks are Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank Holdings and Diamond.

A source from the union said NUEE has close to two billion in First Bank Holdings, over N100 million in Diamond and over N500million in Zenith Bank Plc, besides salary accounts of its members and staff.

It was gathered that other unions affiliated Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and TUC, will soon follow the same line to tackle the twin problems of ongoing retrenchment in the banking sector and perceived anti-union policy of some managements in the financial sector.

NUEE in separate letters to the management of the affected banks, dated June 17, issued the banks two weeks ultimatum to revert alleged anti-workers’ policies to halt the withdrawal among other measures being planned by labour.

A sample of the letter by the General Secretary of NUEE, Mr. Joe Ajaero read: “We write to express our displeasure over the unabated anti-workers stance of your bank which includes

casualization, stifled unionization of workers, arbitrary sack of workers etc. Despite the concerted efforts made by our sister union- National Union of Banks, insurance and financial institutions employees, NUBIFIE, to make your management have a positive review of your stance, the situation is even becoming worse.

“As a responsible and one of the leading industrial unions in the country, we cannot be passive as

FG approves rehabilitation of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Rd

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—MOTORISTS and other users of the dilapidated busy Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Federal road may soon have a sigh of relief as the Federal Government has approved its rehabilitation.

Recall that the people of the area had recently sent a save our soul message to the Federal Government over the effect of the bad road on them.

However, Power, Works, Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashiola, who disclosed this, said the

rehabilitation work would be done in phases.

Fashola was moved to approve the rehabilitation work on the road following a representation made to the Ministry by Chief Sam Onuigbo who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency.

Worried by the terrible plight of his constituents who use the road on daily basis and the negative economic impact it inflicts on them, Onuigbo had visited Fashola with photographs and video clips of the collapsed portions of the road and urged him to save his people and other users

your bank which houses our outstanding investment turned deaf ears to the genuine concern of NUBIFIE. We would not hesitate to ask employers in our sector to stop further payment of staff salaries through your bank if this situation remains unabated. It is therefore pertinent that your management put a stop to your anti-workers stance forthwith if you desire our continued business relationship with you. We hope you will give positive consideration to this not later than two weeks.”

Reacting to the threat, a senior management staff of First Bank Holdings who spoke on condition of anonymity, said neither First Bank Holdings nor First Bank Nigeria Limited, is involved in anti-labour policy, saying both organized are fully unionized.

On retrenchment of workers, he insisted that “every action that affects the staff of both organizations including disengagement is decided and agreed upon by both management and in-house unions. That is NUBIFIE, and its Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, counterpart.”

Enugu govt shifts Town Hall meeting on provision of water

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—A town hall meeting on provision of adequate drinking water for residents of Enugu State earlier proposed by Enugu State Government to hold within this month of June, has been postponed to a later date that would be announced in due course.

A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Uwakwe Abugu read: “Although the plan to hold the critical town hall meeting within this month had been announced severally, this postponement has become imperative in view of ongoing meetings and negotiations between the state government and some interest groups and business interests whose vital inputs are certainly central to the dynamics of the proposed town hall meeting.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

BIM, MASSOB in war of words over activities of Niger Delta Avengers

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—IN line with its resolve to actualize sovereign state of Biafra, through nonviolent approach, the Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, yesterday distanced itself from any alignment with the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, saying that the youth wing of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, was equally not in support of the NDA activities.

In a statement issued after its

meeting and signed by Mazi Chris Mocha, BIM said it has no link with NDA and neither MASSOB loyal to Chief Ralph Uwazurike has any link or pact with any militant group.

BIM was reacting to the statement credited to the MASSOB leader ,Mr. Uchenna Madu that MASSOB is in support of the NDA activities in the Niger Delta, and urged all the alleged expelled members of MASSOB to form their own Biafra agitating groups and leave MASSOB alone.

"BIM still believes that nonviolent approach is the only panacea for the achievement of self determination and actualization of sovereign state of Biafra."

He urged the general public to disregard the statement made

by Mr. Madu," he said.

Meanwhile, BIM has warned it would strip naked anybody including Mr. Madu if they did not change their approach towards actualization of Biafra.

But reacting to BIM's statement and threat, leader of MASSOB Mr. Uchenna Madu dismissed

it as the ranting of an ant, adding that Uwazurike ceased to be the leader of MASSOB the day he was suspended and he allegedly confirmed his exit by declaring to the world that BIM is his new Biafra agitating group.

He said that MASSOB has no youth wing and anybody claiming to be representing and speaking for the youth wing of MASSOB is joking, adding that MASSOB has no faction , but what BIM members call MASSOB youth wing is BIM youth wing.

Supply gap hits new forex market forcing Naira to depreciate to N284/$ interbank Banks face liquidity pressure as interbank rate triples Cost of funds shot up to 51% CBN injects $150m As banks scramble for N1.1trn to fund forex purchases Investors gain N224bn on NSE Continued from Page 1 contained the demand pressure in the first trading day of the new policy with a combination of spot and forward market actions where it dolled out about USD4.02 billion to assuage the tasty market.

The breakdown of the Monday dollar splash shows that the apex bank sold USD532 million on the spot segment while the balance went to meet the long outstanding demands under the previous forex regime.

The outstanding, totaling about USD3.5 billion, was met in the forward segment, made up of USD697 million in one-month forward, USD1.22 billion in twomonth contract and USD1.57 billion due in three months.

But settlement for the forward deals appeared unclear to the dealers as they expected prompt crediting of their dollar account and debiting of Naira equivalent, which has not happened.

Consequently, yesterday’s trading session appeared hazy, a development which may have contributed to the depreciation of the Naira.

Liquidity pressure Meanwhile, a new liquidity pressure has hit the money market following the diversion of huge cash into foreign exchange by banks between Monday and Tuesday, a development which spiked inter-bank interest rate to more than triple.

The interbank overnight rate soared to 60 percent on Tuesday from 18 percent as banks expected the CBN to debit them about N1.15 trillion for the Monday and Tuesday transactions.

They were also said to be amassing more Naira cash for today and future trading days, thereby extending the liquidity strain indefinitely, a development which would bring huge C M Y K

pressure on interest rates.

Such pressure, money market dealers explained, would ultimately spike cost of funds across all segments into prime lending rate if it lingers for days.

Vanguard investigations reveal that over N1.5 trillion has been mobilized into the inter-bank foreign exchange transactions in the past two days.

The banks have been amassing cash for the purpose of foreign exchange bids since mid last week when CBN announced the new flexible foreign exchange framework, a development that made banks’ liquidity balances spike 382.5 per cent last week. It hit N1.1 trillion byFriday before CBN applied some liquidity mopup apparently to forestall the pressure it could bring to the exchange rate under the new foreign exchange market regime.

Meanwhile, interest rates in the interbank money market rose sharply to 51 per cent yesterday as banks scramble for naira to fund the $4.2 billion sold by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Monday.

The naira depreciated marginally to N284.83 per dollar in the interbank foreign exchange market, despite $150 million supplied by the CBN through the 15 banks appointed as Primary Foreign Exchange Dealers, PFXDs. On Monday, the CBN had sold $4.2 billion in spot and futures to clear backlog of matured foreign exchange obligations of banks.

This move, according to a Bank Treasurer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, exceeded market expectations and triggered demand for funds in the interbank money market. “Our challenge now is how to source for naira to fund the dollars sold by CBN, and we are talking about over N1 trillion, it is quite challenging”, he told Vanguard.

The intense competition for funds sent cost of funds to its highest level this year, with short term interbank interest rates rising by average of 165 percent yesterday.

According to data provided by Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ), interest rate for Overnight lending shot up to 51 percent from 18.7 percent on Monday, indicating increase of 168 percent. Similarly, interest rate for Securitised Lending (Open Buy Back) rose to 45 percent from 17.3 percent on Monday.

Naira depreciates The revived interbank foreign exchange market entered the second day yesterday; with the CBN supplying $150 million to create liquidity for trading.

Market sources confirmed to Vanguard that the apex bank sold $10 million to each of the 15 PFXDs at exchange rate of N281 per dollar. The PFXDs in turn traded the dollars with other banks in the interbank market.

However the naira depreciated in both the spot (immediate delivery) and futures (future delivery) segments of the market yesterday. Data provided by FMDQ showed that the naira depreciated in the spot market

by N2.98 or 1.1 percent to N284.83 per dollar, from N281.85 per dollar on Monday.

In the Futures market, the naira depreciated across all the tenors. The exchange rate for Seven Days (7D) forward rose by 10.5 percent to N284.05 per dollar from N257 Monday. 14D futures rose by 9.8 percent to N287.3, while 1M futures rose by 9.6 percent to N292.7 per dollar. Exchange rate for 2M futures rose by 9.1 percent to N297.82, 3m futures rose by 7.6 percent to N302.13, 6m futures rose by 4.5 per cent to N302.13, One Year (1Y) futures rose by 0.5

Enugu to hold meeting on provision of drinking water

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—A town hall meeting on provision of adequate drinking water for residents of Enugu State earlier proposed by Enugu State Government to hold within this month of June, has been postponed to a later date.

A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Uwakwe Abugu read: “Although the plan to hold the critical town hall meeting within this month had been announced severally, this postponement has become imperative in view of ongoing meetings and negotiations between the state government and some interest groups and business interests.

Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode and his wife at Federal High Court in Ikoyi Lagos

percent to N307.95 per dollar.

Naira appreciates in parallel market The naira however appreciated to N338 per dollar at the parallel market from N345 per dollar on Monday. President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe attributed the appreciation to decline in activities in the parallel market. The told Vanguard, “The market is still in a wait-and-see mood. Operators want to observe the trend in the revived interbank market to ascertain the direction of the naira and the implementation of the flexible exchange rate regime.”

GlaxoSmithkline leads N224bn gain on NSE Investors gained N224 billion on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, as activities resumed on positive note after sell-off on Monday by profit takers and bargain hunters.

Specifically, the market capitalisation or total value of listed shares rose to N10.105 trillion from N9.881 trillion on Monday, indicating 2.3 per cent increase. The All Share Index, ASI, rose by the same margin to settle at 29,422.71 points from

28,769.90 points in the previous day.

The total value of traded shares jumped 201.4 per cent from N2.25billion to settle at N6.79 billion while the total volume traded increased by 22.5 per cent to 533.3million units.

Sentiment remained strong across all the major sectors with exception of ASeM that recorded zero activity during the day. The NSE 30 Index closed higher at 1,306.94 basis points, representing 2.4 per cent increase from Monday close of 1,276.22 points. The banking sector recorded the highest gains amongst all the other sector, returning 3.5 per cent on the back of 5.17 per cent, 4.84 per cent and 4.62 per cent appreciation on the shares of Access Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc in that order. The industrial goods sector returned three per cent to investors driven by gains in Lafarge WAPCO Plc and Dangote Cement Plc, which rose by 3.87 per cent and 2.78 per cent respectively. Increased buying interest in Nigeran Breweries Plc (0.8 per cent), among others.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 —17

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VERY generation sees its rights, benefits and morals challenged by acrimonious vested interests— the rise of Donald Trump shows the racist, conflict-ridden undercurrent present in America’s hinterlands has been kept alive by institutionalised poverty and manipulative politicians, just as it has been in Nigeria.

It is up to those who believe in justice and fairness, to answer the clarion call every time such threats rear their heads, to fight for yet more progress, truth and reasonableness in public processes.

The Osun hijab crisis is just another political attempt at diverting public attention from real-issues (non-payment of salaries, a comatose state government with little output) to non-issues such as the way pupils dress. Nigeria has no state religion. So public spaces such as schools should remain untainted by outward signs of religion. This is the policy in most democratic nations where there is a distinct separation between religion (plus religious authorities) and the state.

So why would a governor weigh in on pupils’ dress?

Politicians have capitalised on the mental poverty of the masses, entertained and encouraged it by focusing on absurd matters to mask their lack of innovativeness andinability to move this country forward. We’ve lived with this for too long.

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Facing up to an incompetent political class

*Conflict of school uniforms...over the Osun hijab controversy are forced to accept whoever parties nominate, in often strange processes? Party delegates themselves seemingly don’t choose candidates based on their plans for the electorate but rather based on their bank accounts.

Most candidates, especially at the state level, don’t really

Ballot papers Tam David-West, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, recently said Nigeria doesn’t need restructuring (he emphasised, like I have often done, that even if every village in Nigeria became its own state, the same problems we have now would still plague them) but rather a change of attitude.

We also desperately need to change the calibre of people elected at state and local government levels. First of all, INEC must start by printing the names of those we are voting for on ballot papers, rather than just party symbols. How many of us have been tricked into voting for people we don’t know, people whose records in and out of office we are unaware of, simply because we

Politicians have(been) focusing on absurd matters to mask their lack of innovativeness and inability to move this country forward campaign: the average Nigerian can only name his or her governor (if at all). Most people have no clue who represents them in the House, the Senate, or even worse, at the local government level and

are even less capable of saying what measures or policy decisions any of these people have taken to impact their lives.

How can one judge the performance of people one doesn’t even know? Nigeria is a country of many ironies but this is perhaps the crudest, and one of the very many problems we’ve accepted over time.

We abandoned politics to thugs and often uneducated, unqualified individuals, saying politics was for “bad boys” and now we are reaping the benefits: ex-touts and motorpark hooligans who transfer the street criminality they’ve always known to the lofty chambers of our national offices.

Are we then surprised that year in year out, not much seems to evolve in Nigeria? If hoodlums are expected to take complex policy decisions they know nothing about, why are we surprised governance is turned to mugging the masses?

This isn’t about elitism or snobbery: it is the defence of talent and meritocracy in all our interest. One cannot expect those who’ve lived a life of crime and obtained riches fraudulently to conduct themselves any differently once they attain public office.

Scandalous NASS

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HE immunity and life pension proposal for National Assembly leaders is another proposal that shows many legislators are still quite incapable of any ability to either read the mood of the country or to come up with real solutions to our myriad of issues.

Moreover, the proposal, made at a constitutional review retreat, shows the

Constitution is being reviewed only in such ways as to benefit those who continue to receive more than their fair share of our scant resources.

On another note, the US government, we all know, is a faction of pro-Buhari interest groups and Obama himself is intent on witch-hunting or is it “embarrassing” our

The greatest agents or elements of fraud in Nigeria, let us remember, aren’t at the federal level, in the ministries or various departments, but rather at the state and local government levels. The anticorruption fight in Nigeria has mostly focused on former ministers and their associates.

What happened to the 30 or so former governors the EFCC, under Nuhu Ribadu, claimed were corrupt? What happened to all the alleged evidence gathered?

Retirement home for governors There is an unholy alliance between state governors and local government chairmen who act only at the behest of their governors. The local governments (and not the Presidency), we’ve all forgotten, are responsible for providing us water, sanitation, sewage, local health care, some of our roads as well as guaranteeing the proper management of markets and regulating the use of land.

Where in Nigeria is this effectively done, without local vested interests coming into play? The Senate has been turned into a retirement home for governors(even those, amazingly, with corruption cases still pending and allegations unanswered). But it is us, the citizenry, who are guilty of the ultimate dereliction of duty: we’ve let politicians run amok, unopposed. It’s time to reclaim our country: Buhari can’t be everywhere but we, the people, who live and work in every nook and cranny of Nigeria can affect the dearly desired change.

Our states are made of

“wards”, each with councillors.

We need to find out who they are, scrutinise their elections and most of all, find out what the budgets are for our local governments. Your councillor is your first government link. Not the President, or any of his ministers, not even your governor.

Development, or lack thereof, starts at the ward level: we must follow the money trail where it goes. Our young people have been used to subvert democratic processes, many of them have been turned to political thugs and cultists, while in other countries, they are at the forefront of grassroots oversight of government activity.

Cycle of self-hurt We are now in a catch-22 situation: most government officials won’t empower Nigerians to monitor their activities, for obvious reasons.

Yet, the same Nigerians who should be concerned enough to watch politicians closely are either themselves compromised or trapped in a cycle of self-hurt by defending the actions of those destroying this country.

But if we are serious about getting our country back, the Constitution has given us one powerful fail-safe.

Recalling legislators who’ve betrayed public interest would send a powerful signal to the political class. Sections 69 and 110 of our Constitution specifically state constituents can petition INEC to recall under-performing members of state and federal houses.

In fact, the Constitution doesn’t define what specific actions (or infractions) lawmakers should have made before constituents can claim “loss of confidence”, meaning citizens are free, at any time to recall their lawmakers, who, more than any appointee in the executive branch, are the true representatives of the people.

So it is politically sponsored misinformation for anyone to say lawmakers must be tried and sentenced as guilty of any offense before they can be recalled, suspended or otherwise disallowed from participating in law-making. The only way for citizens to show they can’t be taken for granted is to take real action and to show zero tolerance for corruption and incompetence, particularly in the National Assembly.

Still fantastically corrupt National Assembly. Let’s get serious. Nigerians, demand serious leaders.

*The Senate in session

S

TATE governors are rumoured to receive N500 million in security votes every month. That’s about N6 billion yearly that’s allegedly unaccounted for. Multiply this by 16 years of would-be democracy by 36 states.

Then ask yourself why the average Nigerian is still so poor. Let’s not fool ourselves, even broke, Nigeria is far

richer than most African countries. What do we have to show for it? We need to beam the spotlight on our governors.

*Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the cohost and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 LAST week, Osun State was in the news again for a wrong reason. A high court judgment which allows female Muslim Students to wear Hijab (shawls) on their uniforms pitched Christians against Muslims. What would have degenerated to face-offs between adherents of the two religions was averted by security agents.

Students of Baptist High School Iwo, who wore church garments and choir robes on their uniforms in reaction to the Hijab, were denied entry into the school premises by security men on Wednesday June 15, 2016, while those who wore Hijab were allowed in. Governor Rauf Aregbesola had on the previous day threatened violators of school rules and regulations with expulsion.

Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court delivered the controversial judgment in a case instituted by the Muslim community against the state government insisting on the right of female Mus-

By Louis Amoke OVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State recently through the G reconstitution of the State Board of Internal

Revenue, took a bold step towards a systematic increase in the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state for the delivery of more dividends of democracy to the people.

This decisive action was for two reasons.

First, the tenure of the previous Board under the chairmanship of Mr. F.O.C Chime had expired. The second reason is in response to the current economic challenges in the country which have drastically reduced the financial earnings of the states in particular and nation generally.

The reconstituted Board which was made, pursuant to Section 19 (1) of the Finance (Amendment) Law of Enugu State, brought on board men of proven integrity and financial prowess to drive the noble agenda of the state government towards improving on its IGR. It is worthy of note that the Ugwuanyi’s administration in just a year in office, despite the harsh economic situation, had completed six major road projects while over fifteen development projects are on-going.

His administration had also advertised the award of contract for 25 new roads including 3 bridges in the 17 Local Government Areas, as part of the administration’s grassroots development initiatives and the contracts will soon be awarded for execution.

The board appointed a seasoned administrator, Mr. Chukwuemeka Anthony Odo as Chairman. Mr. Chike Onodugo, Mr. Jude Sunday Egbo, Bar. Joseph Onuoha, and a lawyer, Mrs. Chinasa Perpetual

Averting religious crisis in Osun lim students to wear Hijab on their uniforms. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had appealled against the judgment and ordered Christian pupils to wear church robes to classrooms in the meantime.

The secularity of Nigeria is guaranteed under the 1999 constitution. It allows adherents of the various religions the freedom to protect and propagate their faiths. No public policy should be perceived to covertly or overtly accord one religion an advantage over the other under any circumstance.

We totally abhor Governor Areg-

besola’s quixotic and dangerous religious adventurism in Osun State since he assumed power over six years ago. His untiring efforts to push his personal religious agenda in schools have stoked tension which could boil over any time unless sanity is allowed to prevail in the state. Adherents of the two major faiths coexisted harmoniously over the years until he came into the scene.

Governor Aregbesola should concentrate on governance instead of instigating petulant religious acrimonies to divert attention. He should deliver the much-needed

OPINION Enugu's new revenue regime Awkadigwe (who serves as secretary to the board), among others, are members.

Ther reconsituted board has attracted the attention and commendation of the public, especially those conversant with the calibre of persons serving as members.

There is no doubt that this strategic vision remains one of the statutory ways out of the current economic quagmire For instance, the choice of the new board Chairman, Mr. Odo, was widely viewed by many as a square peg in a square hole, considering his antecedents in finance and business environment where he rose to become the Executive Director, Corporate and Institutional Banking, Lagos Region, in Intercontinental Bank Plc, now Access Bank .During its inauguration, Ugwuanyi noted that the Internal Revenue Service in the state was crucial to the economic well-being of the government and by extension that of the people of the state, particularly in the present “days of the severe national economic depression that is threatening the solvency of government at all levels and which is already hindering their operations.”

The governor regretted that the receipts from Federation Account is growing progressively smaller, making it expedient for most state governments to depend on

internally generated revenue to fund their activities and service their obligations.

The governor noted that he had envisaged this situation in his inaugural speech when he warned that every revenue-generating agency of the state should be ready to intensify its efforts to generate and remit more revenues to fund government development efforts.

Consequently, he charged members of the newly reconstituted board to raise their performance bar and develop strategies that would achieve a significant and substantial increase in the internally generated revenue of the state.

He equally mandated them to ensure the effective collection of all the revenue accruable to the government as well as checkmate all avenues of leakages and wastages in the process. He stressed that the prevailing economic conditions had caused government to labour tirelessly to “meet its heavy financial commitments and obligations; to pay salaries, fund development projects, ensure social services and maintain security among others.”

The governor called on individuals and corporate bodies in the state not to fail in their obligations to pay their taxes, as defaulters, according to him, “will not be counted as friends of the state”. He reassured “that every Kobo put into the pockets of the government, will be utilised transparently and in a manner that would add value to the lives of the people of Enugu State.”

The new Chairman of the State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Odo, who is a member of the Enugu State Economic Advisory

dividends of democracy to the people of Osun. There are more important issues that demand attention such as the overdue appointment of commissioners, unpaid workers salaries and accumulated pension arrears. The Governor should devote his energies to these problems which impose terrible hardship on the people.

Religious crisis is alien to the southwest where most nuclear and extended families have members from both faiths. If the tension boils over, it can lead to bloodshed even within families. The people of Osun State should learn from the sorrowful experiences of people in some parts of the North where religious intolerance has often led to massive losses of lives and property.

We appeal to Christian and Muslim leaders in the state to embrace peace. We also recommend an outof-court settlement as no court can decree peaceful coexistence among the people.

Committee, on behalf of other Board members, expressed gratitude to the governor for the confidence reposed in them to serve and assured him that they will explore and exploit all sources of internally generated revenue to ensure that government meets its obligations to the people of the state.

He promised the board would strive to expand the tax net in the state so that every taxable person and organisation will be given the opportunity to perform their civic obligation of paying tax for the government to continue to be at their service.

According to him, “strategies will also be implemented to grow existing non-tax revenues and expand other income sources of government bearing in mind the economic indices of the state as a civil service driven economy.

“We are aware that the state government is in a hurry to deliver more services to the people, through its development agenda, we shall harness all forms of internally generated revenue to ensure that present administration meets its obligations to the citizens.

“Taxation is our collective responsibility.

The new Board of Internal Revenue will be driven by the culture of service, team spirit, transparency, accountability and professionalism.”

There is no doubt that this strategic vision remains one of the statutory ways out of the current economic quagmire. The onus is therefore, on individuals and corporate organisations to cooperate with the board by ensuring that they fulfill their obligations of paying taxes regularly. *Mr. Amoke, a journalist, wrote from Enugu, Enugu State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com could be considered more time than was necessary to appoint officials of his administration.

He appeared confused as to how to go about it, leaving room for all kinds of speculations as to his preparedness to take office. His critics wasted no time concluding that he was daunted by the task before him. Even when presidential assistants explained that the president needed time to select a credible team of high

CJN's appointment: Courting trouble b

NE wouldn’t know why u t OAbuja again seems to be

courting needless and avoidable controversy, even trouble, with its reported plan to appoint a new Chief Justice of the Federation from the Nigerian Bar. This would be going against the age-long tradition of appointing the most senior member of the Bench to that position. There is no point trying to mend what is in good shape. ‘If it ain’t broke’, Americans would say, ‘don’t fix it’. The way Buhari is being urged to go about this appointment clearly captures what Fela means when, in ‘Palava’, he sang that, ‘When trouble sleep, yanga go wake am, wetin e dey fin’/palava he dey fin’. Yes, the President would indeed be looking for ‘palava’ by this- and he may just end up with ‘palava’ like everyone else who looks for it, if he listens to those urging him on this.

As judges are very often expected to be seen and not heard, members of the bench may be too conservative to brew any trouble for the president. Indeed,

the manner the trouble would emerge may not even show that it has its origin in a presidential decision gone awry, that is one based on the decision to appoint somebody not on the bench as the CJN. This at a time when there is somebody fully qualified to ascend the saddle except, it would be interpreted, on account of his ethnicity. No, the trouble that would come from this would only help stoke the fire of resentment now manifesting in the form of militancy among those who already feel sidelined by this government, especially people of the Niger-Delta and their ‘avenging’ ilk out to make things hot for this government. I will return to this point shortly. But first to the series of missteps so far taken on similar issue by this administration. This will show why this latest plan would be a non-starter in the long run.

If there is one thing that this administration has had a tough time getting right, it is in the area of appointments generally and the nature of its appointments in terms of its national complexion in particular. Buhari took what

It would also be difficult to convince anyone, least of all people of Cross River and the Niger-Delta that such a plan, if effected, is without malice and ill-will fliers into position, the response from their critics was that the president had many weeks after he was declared winner to plan and select members of his team.

When the first set of appointments was finally made, the announcement was coloured by controversies about how onesided the appointments were, namely, their lack of ethnic diversity. Those appointed, almost to the last man, were northerners. Even at the best of times this would have been controversial to say nothing of it coming shortly after a bitterlyfought and an ethnically polarising election. And for a man yet to convince many of his critics and even supporters that he is not a northern hegemonist and islamist rolled into one,

Over five centuries, Ijaws still enslaved (2) Continued from yesterday

By Ekanpou Enewaridideke ITH the toppling of the government of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa W (1957) and General Aguyi Ironsi (1966), the Ijaws built high hope when General Yakabu Gowon took over the reins of governance in 1966. Gowon’s government was devoid of any defining ideology as he metamorphosed into a dramatist of frivolities exemplified by his creation of indgenisation decree (1972), decimalisation decree (1973), National Youth Service Corps (1973), change of traffic from right to left (1971) and the organising of the second All – African Games (1973).

The currency decimalisation decree which entails the change of pounds and shillings to Naira and kobo created uproar in Nigeria because it took a heavy toll on the economy. This decree led to the Naira's devaluation by 50% coupled with massive importation of fuel. Fuel scarcity reared its ugly head for the first time in Nigeria between 9th and 14th of August 1974.

Lecturers went on strike but General Gowon dictatorially compelled them to call off the strike on May 10th 1974.

Labour protested strongly against the decree in 1974 too and this led to the establishment of the UDOJI SALARY REVIEW COMMISSION which recommended N720 and N16,200 as annual remunerations for lowest and highest category of workers.

With the above frivolities which Gowon created and pursued vigorously, he did nothing to address the development problems of the Ijaws. The government of Gowon ingeniously succeeded in multiplying the problems of the Ijaws as he did not create the smallest room to accommodate the recommendations of Sir Henry Willinks commission apart from his creation of Rivers State – a state created more in response to the balkanization

agenda of the Nigerian Federal Government and a circumstantial pathological desire to employ the military resources of major Isaac Boro for the execution of the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 – 1970.

Many governments have come and gone in Nigera without addressing the problems

With development as the antidote,the current rampaging Niger Delta Avengers would be totally annihilated in a second of the Ijaws in the Niger Delta. Yesterday it was President Goodluck Jonathan whose cream of developmental attention was focused on the North geopolitical zone – the zone that remorselessly voted against his re-election bid in 2015.Maybe President Jonathan would have been inspired by the EGBESU SPIRIT to focuse on the development of the Niger Delta if he had won his re-election. Today, it is the turn of President Muhammadu Buhari whose proverbial body language betrays insensitivity to the developmental needs of the Niger Delta people.The poor allocation to the Niger Delta region in the 2016 budget is a foretaste of President Buhari’s historic developmental SCORN for the Niger Delta region.

The Nigerian Government is not ready to develop the Niger Delta where the Itsekiris, Ijaws and Urhobos, Isokos and other nationalities inhabit. That the terrain is difficult is only an escapist fantasy because from the same difficult terrain million of barrels of Crude Oil are shipped abroad for sold by the Nigerian Federal Government. The trillions

Buhari’s decision to make this kind of appointment at a time when ethnic sensitivity was at an all-time high- the constitution of a kitchen cabinet that was more than 90% northern was to say the least insensitive. Add to this the fact that the south-east had no representation at all and you have the recipe for distrust and suspicion about the national outlook of his administration.

Moving from this the administration took several months to constitute a cabinet of ministers, and when it did its composition was still a subject of controversy given the portfolio assigned people from certain parts of the country. In all this the administration remained truculent, insisting on the rightness of its position even when it could have been less hostile to criticisms. In this the president himself didn’t help matters, as he still doesn’t by his failure to explain many of his decisions. Given the delay with appointments the administration wouldn’t fully take off until November 2015, which has had serious implications for both the performance of the administration and the level of progress in the rest of the country.

The series of problems with the 2016 Appropriation Bill could have been either mitigated or all together avoided if a cabinet had been in place early enough.

It seems strange that President Buhari would be urged to sideline the tradition in the bench with the possible appointment of a socalled card-carrying member of his party from the bar to succeed Mahmud Mohammed whose tenure as CJN ends in November.

By the order of seniority the next person in line is Justice Walter Onnoghen, an indigene of Cross Rivers State. His appointment as

generated from the Niger Delta are sufficient to confront and defeat the developmental challenges of the region.

Singapore is a very marshy wetland situated on the tip of the Malaysian peninsula. Geographically, it is situated between India and China. Only few fishermen inhabit the Island. The British bought this Island and it has been developed into a tourist site generating millions for the people. The Nigerian Government has the capacity to do a similar thing in the Niger Delta where the aborigines are daily traumatised.

The underdevelopment in the Niger Delta is very conspicuous. The vibrations of enslavement permanently occupy such a large space of the Niger Delta geography that the aborigines are invariably tempted to embrace the confrontational ideology in their range of agitations. No normal human being would fault this Marxist approach. Mere reflection on the investigative words of UN regurgitated in the situation of their in-depth and dispassionate analysis and assessment of the Niger Delta points to the developmental wickedness of past Nigerian Governments: ‘Ordinarily the Niger Delta should be a gigantic economic reservoir of national and international importance. Its rich endowment of oil and gas fit methodically into the international economic system.

Its evidence for massive revenue that carry the promise of a rapid socio-economic transformation within Niger Delta itself.

In reality, the Niger Delta is a region suffering from administrative neglect, crumbling social infrastructures and services, high unemployment, social degradation, abject poverty, squalour and endemic conflict!’

Characteristically, the Nigerian Government is plagued by the virus of amnesia. The length of time must have swept the dispassionate evaluative words of the UN into oblivion. This then becomes a contextual justification for the enslavement of the Ijaws in the Niger Delta.

If this contextual justification enjoys situational rationality and acceptability,

CJN would make it the first time somebody from Cross Rivers State would fill that position, and the first time in three decades, precisely twenty nine years, that any southerner would be CJN. There is no better opportunity for Buhari to make a statement about his good intention to people outside the north than this. He would also be making history as the first president to appoint an indigene of Cross Rivers, a so-called minority state to the position of CJN. Why then would the president spurn such rare opportunity to improve his own record as a true Nigerian nationalist as opposed to a sectional leader? Ill-will or a desire to ruffle the feathers of his critics for its own sake? What profound idea lies behind this illinformed plan that could only further undermine this administration?

There is surely nothing sacrosanct about sticking rigidly to the hierarchy of seniority in the bench or anywhere else.

Many times such insistence on seniority is a cover-up for mediocrity. That somebody is the most senior person in line for a position does not make them the most competent or eligible.

Appointing somebody from the bar is not unprecedented either.

There have been such appointments in the past. But that was at a different time and situation. A president could take such a decision but not when it is liable to bad interpretation. It would also be difficult to convince anyone, least of all people of Cross River and the Niger-Delta that such a plan, if effected, is without malice and ill-will. President Buhari can do without the distraction of another controversial appointment.

the 1995 WORLD BANK REPORT is timely enough to reawaken the Nigerian Federal Government to the development needs of the Ijaws. The Nigerian Government is too intelligent to be awakened by the compelling rhythm of the 1995 WORLD BANK REPORT captured thus … ‘despite its vast oil resources, the Niger Delta region remains poor, per capital income remains below the national average of 280 dollars, unemployment in Port Harcourt, the Capital of Rivers State, is 30 percent and it is believed to be equally high in rural areas. Educational levels are below the national average and are particularly low for women, while 76 percent of Nigerian children attend Primary School, this level dropped to 40 percent in Niger Delta. The poverty level in Niger –Delta is exacerbated by the high cost of living.

In the Urban areas of Rivers State, the cost of living index is the highest in Nigeria’.

It appears that the Nigerian Government is not prepared to develop the Ijaws whose Crude Oil wealth defines the mainstay of Nigerian economy. From 1960 – 2016 is a long period for positive developments to occur. Development is the antidote against the confrontational agitation in the Niger Delta.With DEVELOPMENT as the antidote to the resurgence of violent agitation anywhere in the Niger Delta,the current rampaging NIGER DELTA AVENGERS would be totally ANNIHILATED in a second.

536 years had sailed away but the Ijaws are still weeping for development. If after 536 years nothing had happened to the Ijaws developmentally, there is no hope for the Ijaws in Nigeria. It is only an independent Country recommended by the Willinks Commission which can cater for the Ijaws in every dimension. This is the time for the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop the enslavement of the Ijaws and recognise their status as one of the owners of the Oil wealth in Nigeria. vindictively LINKED similarly, and Concluded *Mr. Enewaridideke, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Akparemogbene, Delta State.

20 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

Aftermath of students riot: Uneasy calm at UNEC •Irate students spoil for another violent showdown over poor services

By Francis Igata, Enugu

L

IKE an active volcano, the frustration and anger of students of the University of Nigeria,UNEC, Enugu campus over persistent erratic power supply by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company,EEDC, in the past six months, eventually erupted into a violent protest.

This was after the students were said to have made several appeals to the university management to alleviate their predicament by providing a functional generator to replace the one that packed up. The students were said to have been irked when their one-week ultimatum to the school authorities to repair the broken down generator was reportedly treated with levity.

The incident led to the shutting down of the school, with lectures suspended and even the nonacademic staff prevented from working in their offices.

To compound the students’ woes, water supply to the university has become epileptic, triggering a sharp rise in the cost of water with a bucket now selling for N40. Consequently, there is serious concern about sanitary condition at the hostels with the lavatories not having water.

Indeed, when Vanguard Metro visited the Lady Ibiam female Hostel at the campus, we were greeted by an offensive odour from the conveniences.

Access to internet services The students were equally infuriated that the abysmal power situation in the campus affected Wi Fi services which they had paid for to the tune of N12,000, thus denying them access to internet services.

Further findings by VM showed that the students were equally angered by abandoned infrastructures that dot the campus, including the gigantic ongoing Administrative Block which has been in this state for four years.

Unconfirmed reports revealed that the building, started by a past Vice Chancellor, Barto Okolo, may have run into a hitch following alleged financial malfeasance surrounding the contract award.

At the campus However, VM can confirm that the Police authorities in Enugu State have since moved in to avert further breakdown of law and order at the University. At the campus entrance gate, a Police Amoured Personnel Carrier, APC and about five patrol vehicles with stern-looking policemen were stationed there to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

•Abandoned Administrative Block At the transport section of the university, four campus shuttle buses with smashed windshields bore testimony to the anger of the rampaging students during the

The issue of water is another thing; we are living at the mercy of water vendors; a bucket of water sells for N40 riot. This was also the case with vandalized street light poles at the lecturers quarters.

But while the police appeared to have restored order, there was still palpable tension in the university community over fears that the angry students are regrouping for another round of violent protest.

Angry student speaks Reviewing all that has happened, Chigozie, a 200 level law student had lamented thus: “There is no electricity power in the school. Students are frustrated over the absence of Wi Fi to browse after paying N12,000 for it. Last week, we had a full one week strike to enable the Student Union President negotiate with the management over the broken down generator.

“The management did nothing to alleviate our plight. They treated us as if we are not making any sense to them. We wake up every morning and there is no light to read our books. Exams are scheduled for June 28. There is no light to read our books, iron our clothes, among other things.

The school management said they were going to repair the generator. Later they said the

•Campus shuttle bus with smashed back screen. generator is beyond repairs. school management was “We told them to get us a new rationing the light. Some will generator. We have not had light have power supply from 7 to for the past six months. The

9pm, while others will have from 9 to 11pm. That is two hours electricity per day. That is how we have been living. You can imagine what two hours a day power supply will do for a student who lives in a hostel that is over populated.

“The issue of water is another thing. We are living at the mercy of water vendors. A bucket of water sells for N40. You can imagine at this hard times how many buckets a student will need in a day. Consequently, the sanitary condition is poor. We fall sick weekly here. The Wi Fi was meant to last for one year. Look at it: six months down the line, no services. They told us that every hostel will have Wi Fi but it turned out to be a lie.

“We have resorted to buying modem and pay for internet services. This is broad day extortion by the university management. How can one pay for something and cannot have it? A typical law student is meant to read six hours a day. How can this be achieved? How do we charge our lanterns?”

Police response Speaking on the development and Police efforts to restore law and order, Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu said: “The presence of our men was to ensure that further breakdown of law and order is averted. We do not want an escalation of the situation.

Properties have been destroyed in the riot over issues the students have against their management. We are bent on ensuring public peace and safety so that people can go about their normal businesses.”

Lagos community cries foul over land encroachment by govt

By Chris Onuoha

R

ESIDENTS of Ira Nla, AjaLekki community in Eti-Osa local government of Lagos State havedecriedthewrongfulincursion into their land through a water channelization project by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, MOE. They expressed shock that the contractorassignedbyMOEtocarry out the project decided to redirect a canal channel in the swampy area to pass through people’s land instead of its original channel which still exists. They equally expressed dismay that in the process of doing that, the fence and part of the building of Ruby Hall School, IraNla, Aja-Lekki were pulled down.

According to some residents, the original channel for the swampy waterwaypassagewassomemeters away from the school premises but the contractor handling the project,

Equinox Nigeria Limited, said to belong to a developer and wife of former Attorney General of the Federation,allegedlyauthorisedthe contractors to pull down the fence and part of the school building, claiming the order came from the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Alausa, Ikeja.

However, findings also showed that the said land that housed the school was sold to the school proprietorbyAlhajiOteshadefamily in Ira-Nla and duly certified by the family attorney. But the developer, having acquired land close to the said site from the Lagos State Government for agricultural purposes, decided to divert the canal channel to pass through the school compound. Apart from the school, other property owners around the area also lost portions of their land to the channelization, including a Catholic Church,

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ira-Nla, Aja-Lekki.

Expressing displeasure over the development,AlhajiAjiboyeMoruf, a community leader in the area said that government should consider the right of people living in that area whose properties have been affected, including the children in the private school whose safety and health have been undermined as a result. “We appeal to Lagos State Government to reconsider this unwarranted usurp of our land which should be restored to us or adequatecompensationpaidtous,” he said.

According to Moruf: “The owner of the affected private school has been a source of succour to us in this community. He solely graded the road from Ira- Nla community leading to Addo road junction, plus other developmental projects he executed in the area.”

Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

Oil exports on course despite militants’ attacks

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor, with agency reports

N

IGERIA in May exported 1.89 million barrels per day, contrary to fears that crude export has dropped to as low as 1.3 million barrel per day. Data released by Windward, a maritime intelligence firm showed that Nigeria’s crude oil exports in May dropped by just 62,000 barrels per day (bpd) from April, with exports still reaching 1.89 million bpd.

Windward tracks all exports coming from Nigeria including crude oil, condensates and shipto-ship transfers, so its figures are nearly always higher than estimates of crude oil production alone. But its figures indicate that Nigeria exported between 300,000-500,0000 bpd more than what OPEC and other agencies thought it had produced in May.

Repeated militant attacks Nigeria, according to the firm, kept exporting crude oil at a largely steady pace in May, though below historical levels, despite repeated militant attacks on its infrastructure that drove output down to 30-year lows and helped global prices rise, the data showed.

The data from the maritime intelligence firm, Windward, and Thomson Reuters revealed a far smaller drop in exports from April to May than most in the market had suggested. It suggested that Nigerian oil production is more resilient than many thought.

The oil industry has been grappling with a spate of militant attacks that took out the Forcados crude oil stream in February and

T

AGM: From left, Company Secretary, Mrs. Rose Hamis, Chairman, Mr. Larry Ettah, and Mrs Omolara Elemide, Managing Director, all of CAP Plc during the 51st Annual General Meeting of Chemical and Allied Products, CAP Plc, which took place at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos. affected Bonny Light, Brass River and Escravos in May, mainly by targeting pipelines taking crude to export terminals.

An accident on the terminal exporting Qua Iboe, its largest oil stream, further knocked production and led the International Energy Agency (IEA) to declare May production at 30-year lows of 1.37 million bpd. But Windward showed May exports dropping by just 62,000 barrels per day (bpd) from April, with exports still reaching 1.89 million bpd.

The figures are significant, particularly as the government announced a 30-day ceasefire with militants yesterday that could forestall further attacks on oil sites.

$3,169.00 63.00 -0.52

$49.73 - 0.92 $48.57 CURRENCY BUYING US DOLLAR 196 277.1636 POUNDS 219.0104 EURO 202. 4166 FRANC 1.8767 YEN 0.3164 CFA 217.9177 WAUA 29.7371 RENMINBI 52.2583 RIYAL 29.4453 KRONA 275.8112 SDR

-0.80

SELLING 196.5 277.8707 219.5691 202.933 1.8815 0.3264 275. 619 29.8134 52.3916 29.5205 276.5148

197 278.5777 220.1278 203.4493 1.8863 0.3364 276.3203 29.8897 52.5249 29.5956 277.2184

CBN Exchange rate as at 21/06/2016

C M Y K

“It was the gains from small fields that offset declines from oth-

Nigeria, according to the firm, kept exporting crude oil at a largely steady pace in May, though below historical levels ers,” said James Davis, head of crude supply at FGE Energy.

“The disruptions in the fields that

Capital injection: Unity Bank, Black Trituium in strategic alliance

-2.20

$ 19.17

BoI explains EFCC’s probe of cement funds management

By Omoh Gabriel

By Peter Egwuatu

$137.30

— 21

I

n its determination to reposition the bank, Unity Bank Plc has begun the process of forging a strategicalliancewithBlack Trituium, an equity and investment fund manager.

Vanguard gathered that the bank is in talks with Black Trituium to fine-tune the modalities of injecting funds into the bank through equity stake.

In this development, the Group is poised to make significant equity investment in Unity Bank Plc This strategic alliance, Vanguard learned, will expand Unity Bank’s business scope, strengthen its capital base and support the bank’s retail strategy whilst meeting the investment objectives of Black

Trituium, which is an equity and investment fund manager, managing funds for individuals and institutions such as Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

The collaboration with Unity Bank is expected to expand the retail and Small Scales Enterprise, SME platform of the bank.

Market operators who spoke to Vanguard about the alliance said “It is a unique opportunity that has the potential to broaden the bank’s customer base and provide long term stakeholder value.”

Furthermore, given the current economic outlook, the operators said “this strategic alliance is a proactive response that is a value investment with immediate benefits that will enhance the capacity of the bank to meet the needs of its banking public.”

were out was pretty much what we expected. What we didn’t expect was the marginal increases in other fields.” Reuters data showed total exports in May at roughly 1.67 million bpd, down from 1.77 million bpd in April, and also a rise in exports of grades including Bonga, Agbami, Antan, Amenam, Okwori that helped offset the losses.

The figures remain sustantially below the close to 2 million bpd Nigeria has exprted in the best of times. Still, they suggest that many industry observers, for example the “secondary sources” polled by OPEC that pegged Nigeria’s May production at around 1.4 million bpd, were overly pessimistic about its ability to keep pumping. Trade sources noted that some of the oil could have come from crude stored at export terminals and on ships offshore.

But these volumes are not typically substantial in Nieria, and most traders noted that oil kept flowing from streams that had been repeatedly attacked, including Bonny Light and Brass River, while the Qua Iboe outage was shorter-lived than expected.

According to Windward data, 22 million barrels exported in the last 10 days of May pushed exports closer to par with April.

Davis said the full ramifications of Nigeria’s unrest remain unclear. The rise in Qua Iboe exports would be offset by further declines in Bonny Light and Brass River, both of which have faced additional strikes.

“The real impact would be whether there is damage at a field level that is significant enough to have a long term impact” Davis said.

he Bank of Industry (BoI) yesterday explained that the investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the allegation of misapplied cement funds had since been resolved.

According to the Bank’s management, parties to the transaction have addressed the concerns raised with the new terms reached on how to manage the funds which have grown from N9 billion in 2011 to N13.2 billion as at last week Friday. Indeed, BoI was appointed in 2009 to manage funds accruing from levies on imported cement for the development of Nigeria’s cement industry.

“As and when the funds were released since its inception, BoI granted loans to entrepreneurs in the cement value chain, specifically for investment in risk assets in the cement industry’s value-chain. Between 2011 and 2015, the Federal Government transferred N9.6 billion to BoI based on earlier scheme as approved by the Federal Government.

“When the CTIN was later established, BOI was in 2013 asked to transfer the fund to CTIN’s account with a private commercial bank. In late 2015 the CTIN petitioned the Presidency following which an investigative panel was established. However, BoI Management had since resolved the matter amicably with CTIN since late February 2016 during which it was agreed that an interest rate of eight per cent should be applied to the fund retroactively to previous releases based on which the fund grew to N12.3 billion as at December 2015.

The management of the Bank had since February 2016 met and agreed with the Chairman of the Board of CTIN and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote on further utilization of the fund, based on agreement by the two parties—BoI and CTIN. “Going forward, effective from last Friday 17th February, 2016 BoI and CTIN agreed that the bank should invest the sum that has now risen to N13.3 billion in the money market on behalf of the institute at an interest rate of nine per cent. BoI maintained that the fund was not misapplied as stated in the said petition.

22 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

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They fail to note that insurance ordinarily should cover all the identified risks associated with erecting buildings despite the fact that insurance for public buildings is compulsory by law.

‘MDAs obstruct full implementation of CPS’

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INISTRIES, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government are obstructing the full implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, by accepting spurious evidence of compliance from contractors seeking government contracts, the National Pension Commission (PenCom), has said.

The MDAs, according to PenCom, are also being reluctant in ensuring that companies bidding for projects fulfilled their obligations relating to pensions as enunciated in the Public Procurement Act 2007.

PenCom disclosed this in a presentation made at the National Assembly, stressing that in 2015, 3,620 employers were issued Compliance Certificates and that the low number of requests was due to the reluctance of MDAs to ensure contractors seeking government’s jobs complied with the law as enunciated in the Public Procurement Act 2007.

The Commission noted that with effect from January 2012, private sector employers that comply with the provisions of the PRA 2014 are issued annual Certificates of Compliance, and that to be issued with the certificate, employers are required to submit evidence of remitting contributions to the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of their employees as well as show evidence of valid group life insurance policy.

“All MDAs are required to demand for the Compliance Certificate as a requirement for transacting any business with a private sector organisations. Appropriate circulars have been issued to all MDAs in that regard. Also, the Commission monitors advertisements for contract by MDA to ensure that the pre-qualification criteria included evidence of compliance with the PRA 2014. In 2015, 3,620 employers were issued Compliance Certificates.

“The main reason for the low number of requests being the reluctance of MDAs to ensure that companies bidding for works have fulfilled their obligations relating to pensions as enunciated in the Public Procurement Act 2007,” it said.

PenCom posited that methods deployed by MDAs to avoid complying include: the exclusion of the pension requirement in the advertisement for contractors and/or acceptance of spurious evidence of compliance from contractors.

It said that in a bid to address the lapses, it had agreed with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) that henceforth, only Certificates it issued would be the valid evidence of compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007.

Muktari'll drive greater profitability, growth in royal exchange —Odogwu

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HE Board of Directors of Royal Exchange Plc has an nounced the appointment of Alhaji Auwalu Muktari as the substantive Group Managing Director of the company.

This was made known at the end of a meeting of the Board of Directors of the company in Lagos and the appointment took effect from June 15, 2016. In announcing the appointment, Chairman, Board of Directors, Royal Exchange Plc, Mr. Kenneth Odogwu, said that Muktari, was appointed the acting Group Managing Director in January 2016. Odogwu commended Muktari’s esteemed service and contribution towards the continuous expansion of the Group. He also affirmed the Board of Directors believe in Muktari’s ability to drive the group towards greater profitability and growth in the years ahead.

The Chairman further added that with Muktari’s extensive experience and knowledge of the insurance industry, his primary assignment would be to drive the continuous growth and profitability of Royal Exchange and make the company a market leader in the financial services industry in Nigeria. Muktari completed his first degree in Business Administration and later his Masters Degree in Banking and Finance at Bayero University Kano in 1993 and 1995 respectively. He also attended Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he obtained a Diploma in Insurance at Credit Level in 1983.

He started his working career with the Kano based insurance company, Kapital Insurance Limited and rose through the ranks to become Head of re-insurance department. Muktari joined Royal Exchange Assurance Nigeria (as it was then known) in 1995 as Branch Manager in Kano, with direct oversight and responsibility over the activities of Bauchi, Maiduguri and Yola offices of the company.

Send comments & enquiries to insuranceandyou@yahoo.com C M Y K

INSURANC

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Insure that public building or risk three-year jail term Stories by Rosemary Onuoha

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HE incessant collapse of buildings in Nigeria is a major concern not only to the professionals associated with construction, but also to the clients and the end users. Many other countries have also witnessed incidents of building collapse and culprits are adequately punished. But in Nigeria, the reverse is mostly the case as culprits are hardly punished.

One of the incidents that left many countries in tears was the collapse of a building belonging to Synagogue Church of All Nations on September 12, 2014, which killed about 116 people.

Causes of building collapse A more recent incident struck in March this year shortly after a windstorm, a five-storey building under construction at Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos, collapsed, killing 36 persons and injuring several others.

According to building experts, one of the major causes of building collapse is the use of substandard materials while other causes are bad design, faulty construction, and foundation failure.

Buildings have also been known to collapse due to total or partial failure of one or more of the components that hold them.

Despite the identified causes, these experts have consistently failed to see insurance as an integral part of any building project. They fail to accept that

insurance ordinarily should cover all the identified risks associated with erecting buildings despite the fact that insurance for public buildings is compulsory.

What are compulsory insurances? Compulsory insurances are those classes of insurance made compulsory, with the objective of providing protection to third parties and the general public. Accordingly, builder’s liability insurance is one of the compulsory insurances.

What is builder’s liability insur-

The penalty for noncompliance is N250,000 plus three years imprisonment.

Record of conviction, sealing-off and demolition of the building are the penalties provided under the Federal and Lagos State laws

ance? This is a type of insurance that all owners or contractors of buildings under construction (more than two floors), must pur-

chase to provide compensation in event of bodily injury, death and property damage to workers at construction sites and affected members of the public following collapse of the building and other construction risks. The penalty for non-compliance is N250,000 plus three years imprisonment. Record of conviction, sealing-off and demolition of the building are the penalties provided under the Federal and Lagos State laws.

Good security In essence, owners or contractors of buildings under construction must ensure that they comply with the laws of the country.

In order to get a good deal as a contractor or owner of the building, ensure that when selecting an insurance company, you look for one that provides good security, reputation for claims service, reasonable prices and prompt documentation.

You can also obtain the assistance of insurance agents. When selecting an agent, you should look for one that provides prompt, efficient and helpful service. However, to ensure that you are protected from unscrupulous agents, make sure that you deal only with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) registered brokers and agents.

Insurance brokers are full time professionals who advise their clients on the most appropriate scope of insurance covers, the insurance companies that offer the

COCKTAIL: From left, Director, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Eziaku Ethel Obidegwu; Director, Chief Andrew Stephen Odigie; Chairman, Mr. Obinna Ekezie; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Eddie Efekoha; and a Director, Prince Ben Onuora, at the pre-annual general meeting cocktail 2016 of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, in Lagos.

VOL. 1 NO 71

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

From left— Ebonyi State PDP Chairman, Mr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi; President/ Chairman of Board, African Export Import Bank, Cairo, Egypt, Dr. Benedict Oramah; Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State; Chairman, NIGERCEM and Ibeto Group, Chief Cletus Ibeto; Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, and Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, at a meeting in Abakaliki.

13 years on:Ebonyi govt, host

communities, Ibeto partner on resuscitation of NIGERCEM

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By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI-EBONYI state government weekend signed a pact with IBETO Group of companies and representatives of 4 host communities of Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi state on the revitalization of the Nigeria Cement Company Plc, in the South East which had been moribund since 2003.

The occasion which was tagged signing of Deed of Understanding/ terms of Settlement between the Nigeria Cement Company Plc and Representatives of the four host communities of Nkalagu, Nkalaha, Umuhuali, Amaezu and Ebonyi State government at International Conference Centre, ICC, Abakaliki laid to rest issues surrounding the revamping of NIGERCEM by the present administration in the state.

Recall that the former administration of Governor Martin Elechi had said that NIGERCEM was moribund and couldn’t be revitalized as it vowed not to handover the cement company to IBETO group of companies.

But knowing the hyper-economic importance, its pride of place within C M Y K

the South East geopolitical zone and employment opportunities inherent in such a pact, Governor David Umahi immediately inaugurated Ebonyi State Production Implementation Committee which worked tirelessly to see to the realization of resuscitating NIGERCEM to its full potential.

The parties involved took their turn to sign the deed of Understanding/ term of settlement which comprised IBETO’s social responsibilities to the host communities and the state and withdrawal of cases from the court as it concerned NIGERCEM. With the signing of the pact, it is believed that within 27 months that NIGERCEM would not only kick start production of quality cement but also carry out infrastructural development of the company and engage in massive employment of the people of the state.

In his remarks, the Chairman of IBETO group of Companies, Dr. Cletus Ibeto who described the occasion as historical expressed optimism that with the future upgrade and operational standards of NIGERCEM, the glory of the company would be restored in Igbo land.

“I never believed such ceremony will take place today in Ebonyi. Am

Governor Umahi (right) and Mr. Awolowo in Abakaliki. thrilled by this crowd; by the grace of God, it won’t be long and we will start realizing the dividend of NIGERCEM.” In a keynote speech, Governor David Umahi. Of Ebonyi state who was full of thanks to God for the successful signing of the pact by all the parties involved appreciated the host communities, committee members, IBETO group of companies and the executive members for their contributions in the epoch making event.

He assured the core investor of

adequate security and conducive environment as it works towards realizing its vision and key objectives behind the establishment of NIGERCEM. Also, the Senator representing Ebonyi central zone, Chief Obinna Ogba and the Senior Special Assistant, SSA to Governor Umahi on cement production, Sunday Ugwuocha who expressed joy over the exercise noted that the taking over of NIGERCEM by IBETO would have a positive impact on the lives of Ebonyi people, economically and otherwise.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA- The rejuvenated Anambra State Fadama III Addition Financing has been repositioned to give hope, succour and sustainable means of livelihood to about 5000 genuine farmers in the state.

To ensure that the objective was achieved without hiccups, sensitization meetings with rice production clusters and groups have been held across the eight participating Local Government Areas of Ayamelum, Awka North, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ihiala, Ogbaru, Orumba North and Orumba South, which are participating in the FADAMA 111 AF. The state governor, Chief Willie Obiano has also given an impetus to the success of the programme by approving and paying the sum of N112 million as the state government’s counterpart cash contribution for 2015 and 2016.

Determined to ensure that the available funds were judiciously applied to take farmers in the state to the envisaged Promised Land, FADAMA has provided the enabling environment for profitable agriculture by providing the necessary technical assistance to the farmers. In fact, FADAMA111 AF has proved to be the engine room with which the government would realize its agricultural dreams, especially in the areas of self-

sufficiency in rice production and general food security.

The state project coordinator of FADAMA 111AF, Mr. Patrick Egbue said the position it occupies in agricultural sector is key to achieving a remarkable objective, adding that it has continued to make its mark, following on from the glorious success of the parent project, Fadama III, which recorded many achievements in various agricultural upstream and downstream activities, including farming, animal husbandry, horticulture, apiary, confectionary, fishery, market development, feeder roads, among others.

The achievements, he said, gave birth to Fadama III Additional Financing.

Indeed, the huge investment of the government in agriculture, through the Fadama III Project AF, could be seen on the faces of farmers in the state, as the hitherto tattered and deshevelled looks of farmers have been turned into wealthy and cheerful ones based on their improved yields and income.

Communications officer for Anambra FADAMA, Mr. Nezianya Obinabo explained that over 2000 farmers have already enrolled for rice farming under the project and are already keying into the process of trying to realize Governor Obiano’s objective of realizing and ensuring food security in the state.

He said: “The efforts of the state government to end importation of rice, especially

FADAMA gives hope to 5000 farmers in Anambra

One of the rice farms in Anambra State in Anambra State, are being applauded across the length and breadth of the state. The government is making serious efforts towards making Anambra State the first among the rice producing states in the country. Already, over 60 percent of the state’s population now enjoys Anambra Rice, a feat that was achieved through the unrelenting efforts of the State Fadama Coordinating Office, SFCO.” Anambra SPC of FADAMA 111 AF, Mr. Patrick Egbue recalled that before the introduction of modern farming techniques in the 1980s, which meant moving towards adopting best agronomic practices, most farmers relied basically on subsistence farming.

He said: “They produced

Abia Speaker procures fertilizer to rural farmers in his area …urges them to embrace agriculture

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—IN line with the national call for Nigerians to embrace agriculture to augment the dwindling oil revenue, the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike has procured large quantities of fertilizer for rural farmers in his constituency to encourage them to go into farming.

Azubuike said the gesture was to “encourage farmers, especially in our rural communities and boost food production” as part of efforts to diversify the economy in the face of the drop in oil price.

He said that the gesture was his little way of encouraging his rural constituents to be part of the State Government’s agenda of making Agriculture one of the five pillars of the administration.

Distributing the fertilizer to rural farmers from the 10 wards of his constituency, at Umuezenta, Umuomainta Nbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North State C M Y K

Council Area, Azubuike urged into agriculture instea of waiting them to make proper use of the for non-existent white collar jobs. material and stressed the need for Other stakeholders who Nigerians to go back to the farm witnessed the event, including, to enhance food security. the immediate past Chairman of The Speaker told the the Council, Chief Ginger beneficiaries that they would Onwusibe and the Special adviser benefit by embracing agriculture to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on as the State House of Assembly Environment Dr. G.C Iwuoha, has made a law for the also commended the Speaker for Government to establish Abia thinking it wise to assist the rural Marketing Agency, which he farmers with fertilizer and urged explained would buy excess food the beneficiaries to utilize them from the farmers which could effectively. earn them more money and also enhance food self-sufficiency.

In his remarks at the occasion, the Transition Committee Chairman of Isiala Ngwa North Council, Mr. Alex Big Nwosu and his D e p u t y , Innocent Nwankwere commended Azubuike for the gesture and e n j o i n e d Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike and some of the youths to go beneficiaries

Governor Willie Obiano with FADAMA officials

Anambra FADAMA SPC, Mr. Patrick Egbue and other officials what could hardly sustain their individual households up to the next farming season.

However, with the use of mechanized farming, improved seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, irrigation facilities for all season farming and other modern farming methods, our people gradually started to see farming as a business.

“During the eras of Fadama II and III, commercial agriculture was top on the agenda. The use of farmer groups and cooperatives, to further achieve profitable and sustainable agricultural activities, got appreciable leaps. For instance, during Fadama III, a lot of capacity building activities were organized for the farmer groups and cooperatives. They were encouraged by the supervisors of the Project, to take proper ownership of their sub-projects, through proper management and by making minimal financial contributions (beneficiary contributions) to the running of such sub-projects. They were specifically trained on how to run agriculture as a profitable business.

“The advent of Fadama III, which was implemented between 2009 and 2013, saw an improvement in the input and output of farmers in the country, including Anambra State. With the bottom-top principle, under the Community Demand Driven (CDD) approach, Fadama Users Groups (FUGs) and Fadama Community Associations (FCAs) were the drivers of the project, through

the implementation of Local Development Plans (LDPs), which were the only basis for funding of any sub-project.”

Egbue regretted that while some beneficiary farmers keyed into how to maximize agricultural activities in terms of what they were taught.

Others, especially those he described as the laggards and laissez-faire ones, believed it was business as usual and therefore paid dearly for it as the projects under their management were neither profitable, nor sustainable.

He observed that despite avoidable lapses noticed in some areas under Fadama III, there were success stories recorded during that period, adding that it was the successes that led to the emergence of Fadama III Additional Financing. The emergence of Fadama III Additional Financing, he added, is expected to ensure that the gains made under Fadama III were not only sustained, but made more profitable to the farmers.

Continuing, the FADAMA boss said: “Basically, the objective of the ‘Additional Financing’ is to increase the income of farmers in the prioritized staple crop processing zone (SCPZs) on a sustainable basis. To realize that objective, the project has done a lot of sensitization and training programmes for the production clusters and production groups. Instead of using Local Development Plans (LDPs) as was the case under Fadama III, business plans are the only basis for funding now.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—25 —25

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

The Church Service marking the end of the Synod of the Diocese on the Niger held at St Andrews Anglican Church Obosi where Osita Chidioka and his family members donated a Hall they built and donated to the church as demanded by their father who is turning 90 years on November 9, 2016.

Left to Right: Former Aviation Minister and Corp Marshall FRSC, Chief Osita Chidioka, his father; Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev Dr. Owen Nwokolo, his wife, Elsie, and Chidioka’s younger brother.

(L-R)- Shows traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, his wife, a member of Igwe in Council of Obosi and former Secretary General of Common Wealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku during the church service, and his counterpart Chief Osita Chidioka.

Former Vice President,Dr Alex Ekwueme and his wife during the church service

(L-R) - Two members of Igwe in Council of Obosi Kingdom, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and his counterpart Chief Osita Chidioka, Ike Obosi, (Strength of Obosi). during the church service.

Wife of the Vice President and Mrs Obiano win Awards in Georgia

Wife of Governor of Anambra State, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano displaying the 2016 Excellence Award by the Nigerian Women Association of Georgia (NWAG) Saturday at The Westin Hotel & Resorts, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

(L-R): Acting Consular General of Nigeria, Mr. D.O. Falowo, wife of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Oludolapo Osibanjo, President of Nigerian Women Association of Georgia (NWAG), Dr. Stella Etta, and wife of Governor of Anambra State, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano at the Awards Banquet Saturday at The Westin Hotel & Resorts, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

C M Y K

(L-R): President of Nigerian Women Association of Georgia (NWAG), Dr. Stella Etta, Representative of District 35 Metropolitan Atlanta, Senator Donzella James, wife Governor of Anambra State, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano and President/Chair of Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Georgia House of Representative, Dee Dawkins-Haigler presenting Mrs Obiano as Honorary Georgia Citizen Saturday at The Westin Hotel & Resorts, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

Officials of Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Enugu State, paid a courtesy visit to wife of Enugu State Governor at government house. 5th left is first Lady, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi and 4th left is President of the group, Dr. Esther Ekwe and others at the occasion.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

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CE & YOU

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In essence, owners or contractors of buildings under construction must ensure that they comply with the laws of the country

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Micro-insurance to improve market penetration – Wiggle

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LECTURE: From left, Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Sakiru Oyefeso; Guest Speaker, Alhaji M. A. Bada and Mr. Edwin Igbiti, Chairman, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, Activities Committee during the 2016 CIIN Tafsir lecture organised by the CIIN, in Lagos. most advantageous insurance protection and at the price that suits their individual client’s needs.

Also read the fine print which entails that after making a decision to purchase a particular policy, read the policy when you receive it. If any item in the document is not in order, you are advised to query this and request that the necessary amendments be made.

The policy that is purchased is the evidence of the contract and would be required in the event of a claim or litigation. Hence, it is preferable to keep this document which is the evidence of the insurance contract in a secure place.

As a policyholder, you should always ensure that the policy coverage period is monitored as the

insurance companies usually insert the condition that they are not obliged to send reminders of expiry or renewal dates of insurance contracts. However, most agents, brokers and underwriters have put in place a system of sending out reminders on policy renewals.

Insurance premiums Make sure you pay the premium on time. Nigerian insurance companies have a ‘No premium, no cover’ condition which means that if you have not paid your premium, your insurance cover is invalid. To avoid lapsing or nonrenewal of an insurance policy, insurance premiums should be paid on time. It is advisable to

make payment via crossed cheque with an endorsement stating the purpose of the payment and, if possible, the policy number. Most life policies provide 30 days of grace while insurance brokers have 30 days credit facility. Insurance agents do not enjoy any form of credit facility.

Lastly, keep all documentation in a safe place. It is advisable to ask for a receipt stating the amount and purpose of the payment whenever a payment is made. Keep all receipts, policy documents and other documents received from the insurance company in a safe, waterproof/fireproof location. Also keep records of all forms filled and all correspondence with the insurance company/broker/agent.

Islam is in support of insurance — Bada

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N Islamic Cleric, Alhaji M.A Bada has urged Muslims across the country to consider taking insuranceasaform of protection against future loss, noting that Islam supports it.

Bada, the Chief Imam of Oluyole Estate Extension, Ibadan Oyo State, who spoke at the 2016 Ramadan Tafsir Lecture organised by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria(CIIN) in Lagos over the weekend,notedthatsinceinsurance is a form of risk mitigating tool, it has a place in Islamic religion.

According to him, “Islam did not negate insurance, since it is a form of protection against future loss.

Prophet, during his life time, practiced a form of insurance, although he did this as charity, because he never collects any form of money for rendering such service.Thedifferencebetweenthen and now is that insurance operators have decided to operate insurance as an entity or a company, where managers get paid for providing insurance services.”

In some Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, he said citizens are

denied certain privileges because of lack of insurance, saying there is no ambiguity about insurance in Islam.

Speaking further, he said there is the tenets of ‘Utmost Good Faith’ in insurance contract that the insured and the insurer must abide by, noting that this should also be applicable to all human endeavour on earth. Bada said that if Muslims, Christians and Pagans uphold this tenet,peoplewillrespectoneanother and live harmoniously irrespective of their religious differences, he added that this would make the world be in peace.

Appealing to people to be closer to God by abiding by His teachings and avoid his don’ts, he said “human beings are created to worship God, as this is the essence of our creation. In the midst of this, humans must utilise the talents giventothembyGodtobesuccessful in life. Islam is a complete way of life that teaches morality in totality.”

The incoming Director General of CIIN, Mr. Olutayo Borokini, appealed to the participants at the lecture to uphold the teachings of

the month of Ramadan to make the society a better place to live in.

Managing Director of Staco Insurance Plc, Mr. Sakiru Oyefeso, said the Ramadan Tafsir was an initiative of CIIN, which started four years ago, adding that from then till now, it has recorded tremendous progress and followers both within and outside insurance industry.

ICRO-INSURANCE is a veritable product line for improving insurance market penetration in the country.

Chairman of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Godwin Wiggle stated this last Monday at a media briefing to mark the end of his two years tenure in office.

“As a way of promoting micro insurance in Nigeria, the Association organised a micro insurance fair in 2015. This aim was to bring the stakeholders together and chart the way forward for micro insurance in Nigeria. I am happy to report that it was a success and we will continue to build on the success of that event to push micro-insurance as a veritable product line for improving market penetration,” Wiggle stated.

The NIA Chairman had stated in his acceptance speech in June 2014, “To sustain and improve on the good relationship that already exists with our regulator, NAICOM; to reach out to other regulators in the financial services sector whose oversight functions impact on our business; to strengthen the cordial relationship that exists with other arms of the industry such as NCRIB, ILAN, ARIAN, CIIN etc; to enforce market discipline by encouraging peer review among member companies with a view to aligning the market practice with international best practices; to sustain the current effort at addressing the laws affecting the growth of the market. The Companies Income Tax Amendment Act (CITA) 2007 amongst others readily comes to mind; as well as to increase the support for the Technical Committees of the Association with a view to realising their potential which will be harnessed for the achievement of the overall goals of the Association.

Others are “To fast track the process of re-establishing the

Oil & Gas Insurance Pool so that the industry can reap the full benefit of the Nigerian Local Content Development Act; as well as to promote micro insurance as a way of deepening insurance penetration in Nigeria.”

Wiggle said that looking back at the agenda they set for ourselves at the beginning of their tenure, “We want to say that we have made some modest achievements during the period,” he stated.

On the relationship with NAICOM, Wiggle said that NIA has continued to engage the Commission on issues that affect the business of members and this will continue as issues may arise.

Technical committees He said, “In the area of promoting market discipline, the mandate of the Governing Council Disciplinary Committee has been widened to include conflict resolution among members. This is to enable the Committee handle disputes between member companies. This will complement activities of the Customer Complaints Bureau.

“The Governing Council has also referred many issues to the technical committees to ensure that views are adequately taken into consideration in taking decisions in core technical areas. This is a sure way of strengthening the technical committees which are usually the bedrock of our decisions on technical matters.

“Let me also report that the Energy and Allied Insurance Pool (EAIPN) has taken off and 20 companies have already subscribed to the Pool. To ensure high performance and leverage on international experience, African Re has been appointed as the manager to the pool,” Wiggle said.

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28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

Rio Olympics:

Enyimba:

Irofa not available for Nigeria — Dad D

Loss to Zamalek won’t affect us against Abia — Osadiaye

OMINIC Iorfa Snr has rubbished rumours in the local media which claimed that his son, Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Dominic Iorfa Jnr, is in line to represent the Nigeria U23s at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The retired Super Eagles star earlier made it crystal clear that Iorfa Jnr will not switch allegiance to Nigeria until he clocks 23, and that is if he has not League group campaign the end of the day. played competitively for the senior poorly losing 0-1 to the North “Of course, the CAF team of England.

African side in Port Harcourt Champions League loss to “I don’t know where they keep last Sunday but will confront Zamalek of Egypt on Sunday getting these fake stories about the capital city rivals, in Port Harcourt will have no my son (Dominic Iorfa Jnr), “ Warriors in today’s NPFL negative bearing on the said Dominic Iorfa Snr. rescheduled matchday outcome of the league clash “He has not been contacted to 12 oriental clash at the against Abia Warriors.

• Osadiaye play for the Nigerian Olympic Adokiye Amiesimaka “We may have lost the match Team, and will not represent Nigeria Stadium in Port opener to the Egyptian side but in the Olympics. “ Harcourt. Osadiaye said the that does not mean they were Dominic Iorfa Snr is one of the ‘brotherly fight’ will be better, I think they were damn most respected football figures interesting and tough but his lucky. “We played quite well in his homeland but it has side will emerge victorious at in defeat but we will focus on NYIMBA striker, been confirmed that the Joseph Osadiaye has the end of football hostilities. winning against Warriors to England U21 “Yea, the clash will involve restore some level of said his side’s CAF international can not Champions League loss to two brothers in a healthy war confidence in ourselves before represent the Dream Egyptian giants, Zamalek SC and I think 90 minutes will we head off to Pretoria, South Team VI in Brazil. will count for nothing in top- decide the winners.

Africa to confront Mamelodi The Southend-on“However, we are the big flight clash against sister side, Sundowns in the CAF Sea - born stopper brother of the two and we will Champions League matchday Abia Warriors. has played The Nigerian champions like to prove it on the field of 2 clash,” said the former Warri competitively for started their Champions play by emerging victorious at Wolves marksman.

England youth team and it will take ages •Irofa for the Nigeria Football Federation to complete the paperwork required for him to play for Nigeria.

For the same reason, Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo was not considered for the Olympic Games in Brazil.

EARTLAND utility player, Julius Ubido has said outright that the Owerri outfit will not go down on relegation at the end of the on-going league season.

The Naze Millionaires are fourth from the base on paltry 23 points same as third-placed side, Plateau United from 22 matches.

The 2009 CAF Champions League finalists have not won a OURNAMENT seed 2 of •Heartland match in the last eight matches. the ongoing Central Bank Ubido said every team has its of Nigeria Senior Open Tennis teething problem that his side will Championship, Michael soon overcome their challenges.

Moses yesterday advanced to “Of course, Heartland cannot be the second round of the a candidate for relegation either competition when he defeated But, instead of basking in the glory of the AMELODI Sundowns goalkeeper in the on-going league season or Isaac Attah 6-3, 3-0 (rtd) in one memorable win, the Chloorkop based side were Wayne Sandilands has highlighted the one to come. of the inconclusive first round keen to shift focus to their next game against the importance of the clubs 2016 CAF “I quite agree we have huge games of Monday that was Enyimba who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Zamalek at Champions League clash against Enyimba challenge but something tells me concluded yesterday. a waterlogged Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in next week. The Brazilians host the Nigeria we will very shortly come out of Same goes for Nonso Port Harcourt. giants at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in the trouble.

Madueke that defeated “We are not getting carried away, lets enjoy it, Atteridgeville next Wednesday.

“We have not been in this Tochukwu Ezeh 6-1, 6-1 to also but I think it is time now to start turning our Pitso Mosimane’s troops got their group discomforting and tight situation book a second round ticket. attention to Enyimba who are coming off a loss at stage campaign off to the perfect start since I joined the side or I can Another first round survivor home,” said Sandilands on Sundowns arrival from beating Group B rivals ES Sétif 2-0 in remember.

Istanbul, Turkey on Monday. was Olanrewaju Alayaki that Algeria this past weekend.

“However, I know there are trials “We have to make sure we do our job in the game beat Rilwan Marakinyo 4-6, 6next Wednesday. and it comes in different shapes 3, 6-2 to set up a clash with seed Sundowns clash in Sétif was halted on 90 minutes two, Michael Moses in the and sizes I strongly believe we will for crowd trouble with the referee eventually round of 16 games. come out of the trouble even bringing an end to the game after a 10-minute Following the heavy stronger. stoppage in play. downpour that is disrupting the “And the turnaround in our Sandilands revealed that although the CBN Champion tournament fortune will commence on Sunday scenes towards the end of the game referee, Musa Saidu Bala, when we would have beaten Akwa were unsavoury, he enjoyed issued a statement to announce United in NPFL matchday 24 clash playing in front of what some slight adjustments in the in Owerri on Sunday. was a hostile crowd at doubles events.

“We just need the victory against the Stade 8 Mai 1945.

“As a result of poor weather the Uyo outfit to bounce back to “It is always nice, it is condition, the best of two tie reckoning as well as take our a different type of crowd break short sets with no pride of place in the league,” said than you get back home,” advantage scoring and a 10 the former Lobi Stars playmaker. the 32-year-old continued. “It is that really point match tie break format will Heartland are just one of the two aggressive crowd that really gets behind their team be used for the doubles event club sides yet to taste relegation so it is always beautiful as a player to experience at the on-going 38th Open pill from the top-flight. such things.

Championship,” he said.

E

Heartland not relegation candidates — Ubido

CBN Senior Open:

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Moses, Madueke advance

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Champions League: Sundowns’ stopper plots Enyimba’s fall

•SANDILANDS

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C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 — 29

Ibrahimovic quits international duty after Euro 2016

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triker Alvaro Morata is set to rejoin Real Madrid this summer, according to Juventus’ general director, Giuseppe Marotta.

Los Blancos have an option to buy back the Spain international from the Italian giants for a fee rumoured to be 30million euros.

It is unclear whether Morata is wanted by the Champions League winners for next season or if he will then be sold on for a profit, with Premier League pair Arsenal and Chelsea said to be interested. “Real Madrid will exercise their right to repurchase,” Marotta said •Morata in quotes posted on Marca.

“We expect their offer in writing in the coming day, then we’ll see, but the number of possibilities that remain are few, and we will try to replace him with an equally-good player.”

T

ODAY’s game against Belgium may be Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s last for Sweden after he announced he will retire from internationals following Euro 2016.

Sweden head into their final Group E fixture in Nice likely needing a win to reach the last 16.

In a pre-match media conference yesterday, Ibrahimovic said: “The last game at the Euros will be my last game for Sweden. I will not play at the Olympics.” Ibrahimovic came into the tournament aiming to become the first man to score at four European Championships, but has so far struggled to make an impact, drawing blanks against Republic of Ireland and Italy.

Coach Erik Hamren added: “We would need a whole press conference for my opinion on Ibra. He has made a huge contribution for Sweden. He has been fantastic for Sweden.

“I heard today that Ibra would retire. He told me in February that he considered retiting and he confirmed it today. “Sweden do have a bright future after Ibra, even if he would be a huge loss, both as a goalscorer and as a personality.

“He has really helped Swedish football. We might no longer have a Zlatan, but we will have a number of good players. “I am optimistic about the future with our young players. Our greatest star going is a big loss, but the future is bright.”

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UEFA fine Hungary £50,000 for crowd trouble

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England fear no foe — Hodgson

Euro 2016: Italy scares Pique

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pain defender Gerard Pique admits Italy “ worry me” at Euro 2016. Both La Roja and the Azzurri have won their first two games at the tournament, and the centre-back was asked about the contenders for the trophy in a Press conference yesterday.

“Italy are always Italy, and that worries me,” Pique told assembled media.

“France are playing at home, so they have that to their advantage.

Germany are always there fighting to make the final.

oy Hodgson remained defiant over England’s Euro 2016 prospects after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Slovakia dropped them to second behind Wales in Group B and into the bottom half of the knockout draw.

Hodgson made six changes to the starting line-up and four to the XI that finished last Thursday’s dramatic 2-1 win over Wales in Lens, with Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge rewarded for their goalscoring exploits from the bench as captain Wayne Rooney was rested.

This reshuffled England dominated throughout but could not find a way past Matus Kozacik in the Slovakia goal, while Wales romped to a 3-0 win over a disheveled Russia to claim top spot.

Isaac Success agrees terms with Watford

Morata set for Real Madrid return

ungary have been fined £50,000 by UEFA following crowd disturbances during their Euro 2016 match with Iceland. European football’s governing body said in a statement that the charges were relating to “crowd disturbances, setting off of fireworks and throwing of objects” during the 1-1 draw against Iceland in Marseille.

Belgium and Portugal will also face action following disturbances during their games.

Croatia were fined £77,000 for crowd trouble during their match against the Czech Republic.

Watford reject Liecester’s second bid for Deeney

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• Wilshere

atford have rejected an improved £25m bid from Leicester City for captain Troy Deeney, according to Press Association Sport.

Leicester have now had two bids rejected by the Hornets this summer with their latest £25m offer turned down at the weekend.

The Foxes are keen to bolster their offensive options ahead of welcoming Champions League football next season and have identified Deeney as one of their main targets to supplement Jamie Vardy and not replace him.

Only three players had a direct hand in more of their team’s goals than Deeney (35%) did for •Deeney Watford last season.

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•Success

atford are on the brink of announcing the capture of Nigeria youth international Isaac Success, the online edition of Spanish newspaper Ideal reported on Monday night.

After months of negotiations, the young striker has agreed terms with the Hornets and could be unveiled by the English Premier League club as early as next week. The stumbling block earlier was that Success had demanded a significant increase in his wages but that is now a thing of the past based on the agreement reached between the parties.

The 20-year-old arrived in Andalusia in 2014 along with former Enyimba striker Uche Agbo, before he was promoted from the reserve team to the first team.

Success’ sporting rights belong to Udinese and would have played at the Italian club next season if he was not sent to Watford.

HAPPY MOMENT... Members of the Imo Grasshoppers Handball team rejoicing with their trophy after winning the female event of 3rd Sam Ocheho-InnJoo International Handball Championship last weekend at Rowe Park Sports Complex Yaba, Lagos C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

•Shittu

•Buhari

•Danbatta

NEW GLOBAL ICT TRENDS:

How technology can aid faster economic recovery

By Prince Osuagwu

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IGERIA’S economy over the years has been predicated upon crude oil production and sales. But going by current realities, oil is no longer a viable economic mainstay. Globally, the price has continued to nosedive and economies which made the mistake of putting their eggs in one basket are quickly looking for a way out.

Diversification, has however, been identified as the viable solution and that is where Nigeria is headed. Eventually, knowing what to diversify into is as important as the diversification itself.

Meanwhile, several Information and Communications Technology, ICT professionals have argued that Technology is the alternative to what oil cannot give Nigeria at the moment. They back up these arguments with the turnaround several economies of the world are recording now, courtesy of technological developments.

That argument was also carried further, Monday, when one of Nigeria’s national dailies, BusinessDay Newspapers gathered the best of industry practitioners in Lagos to discuss the possibility of ICT presenting viable alternative to oil.

The event under the theme “Beyond oil: ICT as a viable alternative” xrayed the potentials that support ICT as a viable candidate for this replacement and also highlighted some of the bottlenecks that could militate against immediate impact.

Interestingly, with every speaker, from the Founder and CEO of Computer Warehouse Group, Mr Austin Okere, CEO Rack centre, Mr Ayotunde Coker,

Director Lagos Angel Networks, Mr Collins Onuegbu, CEO MTN Nigeria, Mr Ferdi Moolman, the direction was clear-Nigeria should upgrade as a full digital economy.

A digital economy is essentially a global network of new economic activities enabled by technology and data. This new economy has the potentials of opening a wide horizon of possibilities that were unknown or unthinkable before.

Incidentally, Nigeria has witnessed a bit of that transformation with the liberalisation and opening up of the telecommunications sector of the economy in 2001. That move threw open several other sub sectors like the financial institutions, e- -commerce, data centers, computer games, voice over IP communication, among others that leveraged on the possibilities of technology to blossom.

Global trends The good news is that other current global ICT trends are still suggesting that

Technology is the alternative to what oil cannot give Nigeria at the moment. They back up these arguments with the turnaround several economies of the world are recording now

the power of technology innovations are heavily leaned towards the emerging markets, where Nigeria obviously calls the shots.

Coker, the Rack Centre CEO, said that his company has carried out researches to benchmark other reports and found out that there is an addressable market in the data centre business. For him, the data centre business was going to explode in the country. The reason according to him was that the operators are suddenly realising that if their networks fail and their customers churn, they were going to lose tremendous businesses.

Again, he disclosed that same way, they are beginning to understand that trusting their networks with local based data centres was far more profitable and reliable than hosting their networks abroad where it will surely take a few rigmaroles to recover if there is a sudden occurrence.

Having discovered this trend, Coker said Rack centre was going to invest over $200 million on its data centre network, in addition to the hundred millions of dollars they have spent already.

Angel Investors Collins Onuegbu in his own observation of current ICT trends said that Nigeria was fast leaving behind the unfortunate experience where new businesses suffered for several years, to scale, due to lack of funding and support.

For him the trend being experienced globally is the gradual rise in the number of Angel investors who put seed funds into start-up businesses in order to help the scale.

His Lagos Angel Network, boasts of a

pool of companies and businessmen who have achieved business edge somewhere and decided to put money together to help growing businesses.

So far, the network has provided funds and as well business mentorship to about three young starters expending over N100 million in the process. Meanwhile the networks target about eight start-ups before end of year which it will spend nothing less than N500 million.

From big data to smart data, the fast moving world!

The world is experiencing a restless technology market. No one dwells on the motion but the movement. All just suddenly the market is trying to fully understand the dynamics of Big Data and its potential but development has moved on beyond big data.

At least that is what Kuzai Danha, Managing Director, West Africa for Sage observed.

Data revolution, no doubt has been at the forefront of technology innovation and job creation. In other words, the new digital economy revolves around the data revolution. so big data came to solve the complexity problem in data volume, data velocity, data veracity and data value.

But today, Danha said that smart data and super computer are the current trends “we are now in the era of super computer, which means that things are done much more faster than the usual.

So any business operator who is doing things the old way should prepare to lose business should his competitor launch into the new order. The interesting thing is that those new businesses are looking towards the emerging market.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 — 31

Austin Okere is the Founder of CWG Plc, the largest Systems Integration Company in SubSaharan Africa. An Entrepreneur in Residence at CBS, New York, Okere also serves on the World Economic Forum Business Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship after the body in 2014 adjudged his CWG as Global Growth Company .

Apparently, this has given the background to why he has strong passion for development of Nigeria’s informal sector.

How to go about this development and some of the benefits, are what he discussed with our Hi-Tech Editor, PRINCE OSUAGWU.

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HERE’s the belief that government has not been able to aggregate the potentials of the informal sector and put it out there for people to know where to invest. Is that not a setback to companies like CWG, especially for the business and plans you have for that segment?

If we don’t address it, it will be a setback for us. It’s good to celebrate successful moguls like Dangote, Elumelu and others; they are billionaires, which is fine. But the true motivation is to have a situation where a billion Naira is spread over a million entrepreneurs. Each will then have access to N1m to invest in their respective ideas. I believe the impact will be more significant and inclusive.

I am not advocating that you give out money to people as a gift, but give them to start a business from which they will pay back and uplift others.

Innovation and entrepreneurship If people are empowered to start businesses, it will in turn create more jobs, this is more impactful and better than having just ten billionaires in a country of 170 million people.

Why has CWG not spearheaded this?

What we did as a company, is to be listed in the Nigeria Stock Exchange in 2013 because we have always emphasized that CWG is not going to be a one man company that dies with the owner, we have to make it a strong institution.

Like I said earlier, I retired in 2015 and I am happy the new leadership is taking the company in the direction that we jointly laid out, which is very good. CWG was recognized in 2014 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a Global Growth company, and I was invited to serve on the WEF Business Council on innovation & entrepreneurship. I was also invited to serve as an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Columbia Business School, New York after they did a case study on our company.

Why is it so important that govt must develop informal sector So, the informal sector is very important and should be

Why government must develop informal sector — Okere developed and formalized at every opportunity because if people, for instance, are unbanked, any monetary policies of the government is blunted because the money is not in the formal sector.

Government must target the informal sector; I appreciate the mobile money, which is targeted at bringing the informal sector into the banking sector.

Businesses in the informal sector must be empowered to grow just like CWG has grown. CWG is in four countries; Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun and Uganda; we also have six partners in Africa and together cover 28 countries; it’s

If I live in a place where the nearest bank is very far away, I will not be encouraged to go to the bank, but if you can bring the bank to my phone, then you have taken me from the informal to formal exactly what we do here that we export to those countries to empower their SMEs. So in these 28 countries, we are addressing a consolidated market of over 600 million people.

•Austin Okere

This has helped us to form a big trading block that has economic power, that when we are negotiating deals, we can negotiate as a strong block and get significant discounts from our foreign suppliers, which we can pass onto our customers. The problem is most of the local companies operate in small, isolated units so they hardly get a good deal that consolidation brings, and are not able to scale.

The informal sector is very important to us, and we are helping the government to generate ideas that can move the sector; mind you, those in this sector are not poor people, they are only disenfranchised.

If I live in a place where the nearest bank is very far away, I will not be encouraged to go to the bank, but if you can bring the bank to my phone, then you have taken me from the informal to formal. There is also the need to train marketable graduates that can learn how to learn, which is what their peers in the advanced countries are doing. We must be able to train our graduates to follow global trends and adapt them to local markets.

How is the forex market affecting the ICT industry?

The forex market is presently a

disaster for all of us. Every time we find ourselves in this forex situation, Nigerian businesses bear the brunt. In 2008-2010 when the global recession happened, a lot of businesses died mainly in the Stock Broking sector.

Now, businesses are dying again because you find a company that has for instance a $10 million trade bill, and by the time the company signed a contract with its foreign partner, the dollar was N178.

Foreign partner Now, the dollar has moved to above N300, they still have to repatriate to their foreign partner because if the local company doesn’t repatriate, the foreign partner will not supply again or they will take the local company to court. o, either way, it is the local companies that are going to suffer the exchange loss, not the customer nor the foreign supplier. This is not only happening in the IT sector, but also in other sectors because we are all importing raw materials and machineries, which must be paid at the new exchange rate.

A lot of companies are going to

die because of the forex market; and it is going to be very painful because it means a lot of jobs will go too.

You were part of a broadband initiative called NgRen, how did it just suddenly die?

This makes me so sad.

Yes, in 2013, the World Bank and the Federal Government through the Nigeria University Commission put out a bid for the Nigeria Research and Education N e t w o r k (NgREN), which CWG and a Consortium of local IT companies delivered. The first phase of the project which connected 27 Universities, the CVC and the NUC, with over one million users, delivered 155mbps capacity to each university and providing high definition telepresence capabilities for real-time collaboration, voice over internet protocol, shared access to research content and joint experimentation projects.

The second phase was planned to cover five more clusters of about 100 institutions and five million users. Subsequent phases were to cover all higher education institutes numbering over 600; Federal, State and Private.

The network was to be connected to the London Open Exchange via an international private leased circuit, and offer additional services such as web hosting, unified communication, digital library collection, video bridging and archiving services.

This indeed would have afforded Nigerian Universities the opportunity to take a quantum leap in standards, and significantly improved their low ranking in quality of teaching and research output, and thereby bringing them closer to their global peers.

INNOVATION

New OLED TV supports HDR, Dolby

•LG OLED TV

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HEN a particular home appliance maker came up with a split screen TV that can allow you watch movies on one side while doing your computer work on the other, it was apparently a pointer to how the television technology was becoming a one stop shop in entertainment.

Now LG Electronics has made it more pronounced with. OLED TV that supports High-dynamic-range imaging, HDR and Dolby. HDR is a technique used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity than is possible with standard digital imaging or photographic techniques. So a TV that spots this technique can be described as a mini theatre. But that’s not all about the innovation of the new product. It also supports Dolby technology.

Dolby creates audio, visual, and voice technologies for cinemas, home theatres, PCs, mobile devices, and games.

With the combination of both, perhaps the TV will become a game-changing high-end invention with improved nearblack uniformity, post-calibration colour accuracy and gaming responsiveness.

The television is LG’s 2016 flagship OLED brand and it consists of four models under a new Signature brand and four affordable models. They are incredibly thin and elegant, and primed to deliver the ultimate picture quality with deeper blacks, The TV’s biggest distinguishing mark is its 4K resolution. LG OLED 4K TVs contain nearly 8.3 million pixels with a resolution of 3840 x 2160p is equivalent to four times that of Full HD. The breathtaking clarity and fine picture details will

amaze, even up close on a large screen.

LG E6 4K OLED TV series is made up of simple and minimalistic products that are easy and intuitive to use. OLED’s true blacks and super-wide viewing angles is indeed a big draw for TV viewers. While other TV brands are yet to perfect this OLED TV technology, LG Electronics says it has always been the first to break innovations, having introduced 1st OLED TV into the Nigerian market in 2013.

A proud General Manager, Home Entertainment Division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Steve Ryu described the new product thus: “The LG 4K OLED55E6 is a stunning TV. " "

32 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Secretive deals are sources of avoidable trouble; meaning that you will need to do away with whatever can not be placed above board. Think positively about your image and prepare to protect your name.

GEMINI: Unless you are more vigilant some people will call themselves your friends and make your purse very uncomfortable. Your personal family must be given priority attention today. Be more loving.

CANCER: Similar to yesterday but there will be more pressure on you through either career or business related issues. Your willingness to be as gentle as necessary while trying to assert yourself holds the needed solutions.

LEO: Those of you in the middle of legal battle will need to prepare for both expected and unexpected confrontation. Exhibition of maturity the way you will not run your way into avoidable problem will see you through.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

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IGHT from ages man has continued to look for ways of clothing his nakedness. Nakedness does not just mean not wearing clothes alone. It includes covering our evil deeds,

God is watching wicked acts, ways and sins etc.

As it was the days of the biblical Adam and Eve, so it is today.

When we commit heinous crime, we run for cover under the stone,

TERROR MUDA

under the water and under the dark, hoping and praying that we will not be caught.

We live a lie. We forget that air bear witness to our cruel act; the sun by our shadow

in “Never say goodbye”

takes our photograph, and our conscience convicts us daily.

Beware, God is watching. Your sins will find you out.

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

VIRGO: Female members of this Star Sign will need to be as receptive as necessary while handling their sex life, especially if you are married. Say no to any negative advice, especially from not too close (so call) friends.

LIBRA: Proper management of your image should top your priority list today. Those of you nursing false hope will need to wake up from slumbering and be as practical as necessary. Matters-of-the-heart are looking favourable SCORPIO: It is important you exhibit maturity and love while handling your personal family affairs. Don’t forget your ability to be secretive when necessary. Respect the law and it’s enforcement agents around you.

SAGITTARIUS: Unnecessary argument can not help either you or your partners now, that is why you will need to encourage receptive approach. But whatever happens you will win and succeed today eventually.

CAPRICORN: Unnecessary aggression on your part may send wrong signal about you to others who you may eventually need their co-operation in both now and in the immediate future. Think money and your family.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: You may be tempted to give in to temptation to become unnecessarily complacent about health related issues, either of yours or others that are important to you. Avoid unnecessary argument at work.

PISCES: Although element of good luck will put smile on your face today, don’t forget that there will always be tomorrow; meaning that it is important you don’t step on toes because of your immediate needs and wants.

ARIES: Those with sugar coated tongues may take undue advantage of you, especially if they discover that you will like sycophants to surround you today. Take good advice from your reliable friends seriously.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AQUARIUS

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

RULER = GENIUS RELATED URANUS. QUALITY =FIXED. ELEMENT=AIR. SYBOL = A MAN WITH A BOW OF WATER OF KNOWLEDGE/THE WATER BEARER. GROUP = MASCULINE. ZODIACAL NUMBER = 11TH Aquarius is ruled by freedom loving Uranus-the planet of unpredictability, eccentricity and genius. Aquarius is friendly, loving, hopeful and very altruistic in nature. That is why you are a nice person who truly care for others, especially the less fortunate ones. You are a loyal friend willing to belong to powerful social clubs or reasonable community. But you can exhibit eccentric nature.

The quality of Aquarius is fixed. That means it is important for you to watch the way you change your mind on important issues; Uranus factor makes all Aquarius natives freedom loving and whoever tries to impose any idea on you will be resented Element of Aquarius (air) makes you an intelligent person with fair share of sense of humour. Aquarius is the star sign that rules considerable social influence, and the natives of this star have better chances to have at least some influential friends. And as Aquarians are truly good friends and bad enemies it is not in the best interest of anybody to frustrate an Aquarian.

Aquarius is a scientific sign. Aquarians are highly intelligent and inventive. And any Aquarian who falls to take his sudden flashes of ideas seriously is doom (to fail eventually) because, Uranus the ruler of Aquarius, usually bring success to Aquarians unexpectedly through ideas that come suddenly, and unexpected luck usually accompany their sudden inspiration and/or ideas.

The most dangerous weak points of Aquarian are the tendencies to procrastinate things and willingness to take opponents or enemies for granted; I mean you must not believe that some body you might have had heated argument with will not try to undermine your progress after what will look like intervention of peace makers.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—33

Rivers govt moves against infant, maternal mortality Current percentage of infant and maternal deaths unacceptable —Gov Wike

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ORT HARCOURT—RIVERS State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike has said that the state government will implement strategic programmes to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the state.

Speaking at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, when he received Mr Wilbroad Ngambi, Head of United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, Governor Wike said that the current percentage of infant and maternal deaths remain unacceptable .

Wike said there was the need to address the issue, with a view to reducing it to the barest minimum.

He said that his administration gives priority to health issues, especially when the health of children and women was involved.

The governor noted that the state government will release the necessary counterpart funds to UNICEF to enable the organisation implement relevant programmes that will improve the living conditions of the people.

He said: “We will collaborate with UNICEF to improve the living condition of our people,

especially in the area of reducing infant and maternal mortality.”

The governor directed the Ministries of Water Resources and Environment to work with UNICEF to assess the communities that will benefit from the water and sanitation

projects.

Earlier, Head of United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, Rivers State Office, Mr Wilbroad Ngambi stated that the new office will coordinate activities in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Bayelsa states.

He said that UNICEF will

continue to partner the Rivers State Government to enhance the living standard of the people.

Mr Ngambi urged the state government to pay its counterpart funds for the implementation of the 2016 programme of the organisation.

WORKSHOP: From left: Mrs. Emily Arhagba, Vice Principal, Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Mr. Aminu Ahmed, Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, Alhaji Abubakar Taminu, Acting Registrar, PTI, Mr. Mohammed Haruna, Manager, Strategic Planning and Documentation PTDF, during a workshop at PTI, Effurun, Delta State.

Navy recovers suspected pirates' vessels, destroys illegal refineries

By Kingsley Omonobi

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ARRI—THE Nigerian Navy has arrested more pipeline vandals and recovered suspected pirates vessel four months after pirates hijacked an oil tanker, MT Maximus.

The navy said it also recovered a vessel, MT Dejikun, used by suspected pirates.

A statement by Commodore Christian Ezekobe, Director of Navy Information, said: “In another development, NNS Delta carried out a raid within its area of responsibility. In the raid which was carried out at Ogbe-Igoh community in

Warri, Delta State, the Nigerian Navy team destroyed an illegal refinery site and one Cotonou boat

containing about 50MT of stolen crude oil and 6 X 15, metal tanks containing illegally refined AGO.

DELTA: Tipper, quarry union ends rift, sets

up 19-man exco

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE leadership crisis rocking Delta State chapter of Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers of Nigeria, UTQEN, has been resolved with the setting up of a 19 man Interim Executive to run affairs of the

union pending when election would be conducted.

Inaugurating the interim executive at the state Secretariat of Trade Union Congress, TUC in Asaba, National Secretary of UTQEN, Prince Tony Ijeh, said “The state chapter of the union has always been a boiling point

Nigeria Turkish Nile varsity medical faculty accredited to start a college of gets NUC accreditation medicine was indeed a dream

L

By Onozure Dania

AGOS—THE National Universities Commission, NUC, has given approval to the Nigerian Turkish Nile University, NTNU, to admit students into its College of Medicine.

This was as a result of the recently concluded accreditation exercise carried out by the NUC. According to a statement by the Dean of the College of Medicine, Prof Melih Erkan, “After a recently conducted accreditation exercise

“No suspect was apprehended as they fled the site before the arrival of the Nigerian Navy patrol team.”

carried out by the NUC on the facilities in the College of Medicine at the Nigerian Turkish Nile University, the NUC has expressly given accreditation for the College of Medicine to begin to admit students.

“The university will be starting three new programmes in September. They include microbiology, biochemistry, and medicine.”

Erkan added that getting

come through for the management of the university after years of planning and investment in state-of-the art medical equipment and the recruitment of highly experienced professors and lecturers from Nigeria and Turkey.

“Our aim is to be the best in Africa. It took the university three years to put the college of medicine in place in terms of equipment and staff.”

during our meetings with the Ministry of Labour. This inauguration is a milestone accomplishment.”

Expressing joy over the decision of the factions to come together and have a common executive, Ijeh urged them to bury their grievances in the interest of peace and unity.

Appealing to the new executive to carry everyone along, he stressed the need for them to work together for the progress of the union in the state.

The 19 man interim executive has Mr. Dumebi Eluaka as Chairman, Patrick Usi, Vice Chariman, Moses Ukuedjor, Secretary, Oni Enme, Public Relations Officer and 15 others.

Mr. Dumebi Eluaka in his acceptance speech, said they will not betray the confidence reposed in them, promising to carry every member of the union along.

Burutu council alleges invasion of Ogulagha community

By Tare Youdeowei

B

URUTU—THE Burutu Local Government Legislative Arm, Delta State, has raised alarm over alleged invasion and arrest of Ogulagha community chairman and other law abiding indigenes by men of the Joint Task Force JTF. The House presided over by its Leader, Frank Adokeme in a motion moved under matters of urgent public importance by Churchill Botu representing Okpokunou Ward 7, also condemned the incessant invasion of Oporoza community and arrest of secondary school students by the JTF in search of members the faceless Niger Delta Avengers.

It noted that the action of the JTF had caused untold hardship on the people of Ogulagha and Oporoza communities and commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for setting up the Advocacy Committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro to mediate in the recent militant activities which has seen the destruction of pipelines and other oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

The legislative arm called on the JTFtothreadwithcautionandapply the rules of engagement in carrying out their duties particularly in search of militants.

CODAF accuses FG of playing politics with gas flaring

By Ochuko Akuopha

O

LEH—COMMUNITY Development Advocacy Foundation, CODAF, a nongovernmental organisation, yesterday, accused the Federal Government of politicizing the process of ending gas flaring in the Niger Delta region.

It lamented the hardship and threat being constantly posed to the health and environment of the people of the Niger Delta region by gas flaring and oil exploration activities while “only a few cronies benefit from the oil wealth.”

Addressing newsmen shortly after a workshop at Uzere community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, CODAF Executive Director, Mr. Richard Benin noted that weak environmental policies hadworsenenvironmentalproblems which in turn lead to insecurity.

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

IMSG dribbles pensioners again

2450 entries for 2016 NB/ FARAFINA Creative Writers’ Workshop

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THOUSANDS of pensioners, who thronged their pay points in the 27 local government areas, went home disappointed, yesterday,, as no government official was on hand to either pay or address them on when they would get

A

S THE 2016 Creative Writers’ Workshop gets underway in Lagos, sponsors, Nigerian Breweries Plc and organizers, Farafina Trust have announced that 2450 entries were received for this year’s edition out of which 24 final participants were selected.

According to the organisers, the ten-day workshop kicked off yesterday and will come to a close on Friday July 1, 2016 with a literary evening of readings, open to the public at the Lagos Oriental, Hotel.

The workshop is led by internationally renowned Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie.

It takes the form of an interactive class session where participants are assigned a wide range of reading, as well as daily writing exercises.

Participants are also exposed to creative techniques to help them bring different perspectives to act of starytelling.

their unpaid pensions and gratuities.

Vanguard gathered that the movement of the pensioners followed several radio announcements signed by the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Sir George Eche, asking the affected retirees to present themselves at their pay

points for verification and payment.

Vanguard gathered that the radio announcements, which preceded the earlier planned second round of demonstration, made the senior citizens temporarily shelve the exercise.

Reports from all the local council areas of the state showed that the

IBC workers shut station over non-payment of salaries

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—STAFF of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, the mouth piece of the state government, has commenced a three-day warning strike to press home their demands for payment of their five months arrears of salaries.

The workers, who were operating under the canopy of Joint Action Committee, JAC, effectively sealed the Corporation’s premises, as well as hung placards that aptly depicted

their grievance at the gate.

Some of the placards read: “Okorocha, pay us our five months salary”, “Okorocha, We are tired of dishing out lies via IBC channels”, “We want our salary 100%”, “We mourn our DG who died of non-payment of 5-month salary ” and “Okorocha, We have reached our elastic limit”.

One of the workers, who was clutching a copy of yesterday’s Vanguard with the page containing Yinka Odumakin’s column fumed that the Governor ’s Chief Press

Secretary, CPS, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, had the guts to claim that all civil servants had been paid up to April.

The CPS, who was replying to an earlier piece written by Odumakin stated: “As I write, the payment of April salary has begun. In other words, the civil servants, teachers, local government workers and so on, have been paid up to the month of April. Which means, only the month of May is outstanding, since June has not ended. We stand to be contradicted on these counter-claims.”

Enugu PDP hails Ugwuanyi on devt ....moves to reposition party

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Enugu State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, yesterday, commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his “uncommon vision, steadfastness and leadership role” in providing dividends of democracy to the

people in spite of the current economic challenges in the country.

In a statement issued to notify party faithful of the proposed inauguration of the party’s Local Government Area executives, the state chairman of the party, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, expressed delight that Gov.

Ugwuanyi has so far discharged his duties diligently and to the satisfaction of the party and the people of the state at large.

Hon. Nnamani said that the governor has made the repositioning process of the party easy because of his administration’s peace and development initiatives

Samsung boosts learning with interactive whiteboard solution

By Emeka Aginam

functionality.

Speaking during the introduction of the new solution in Lagos, Changwook Lee, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, said that the highly connected Interactive White Boards with unique display solution is effective in such areas as decision-making, business processing, costs and risk reduction, while boosting business workers' performance.

T

ECHNOLOGY GIANT, Samsung Electronics has launched a new interactive whiteboard solution to enhance learning and productivity in schools, government and corporate organisations.

The solution is expected to deliver convenience and compatibility through an upgraded design and enhanced

He said that the white boards will help enhance the teaching environment in schools. These key advantages deliver a more collaborative employee environment and also a more elevated learning environment.

“At Samsung, we understand the unique challenges that owners face when it comes to selecting and implementing technology. This product was built to address the market’s

need for a cost-effective, easy-tomanage, professional-grade solution that is better suited for these environments.

“With Samsung Interactive White Boards, we are giving corporate organisations, schools, and governments the power to optimize communication infrastructure to interact better, making meeting rooms and classrooms highly intuitive for use by every individual,” he said.

L

et us be truthful to ourselves, why should Muslims use hijab to school when there is uniform? If wearing hijab is something good, why complain about CAN teaching their children to cover their body? -Mrs. Morayo Simeon, Businesswoman C M Y K

T

his is a retrogressive step and we need to ask if this will advance the educational achievement of the pupils/students in Osun State. Nations are after technological and socio-economic advancement, while we fight religious wars. -Mr. Ime Okon, Lecturer

I

attended public second ary school and it was interesting. In my days, no difference between Muslim, Christian, traditional worshipers, we studied, did the good, the bad and the ugly together without discrimination. -Mrs. Loveth Chekwube, Self Employed

W

hy should students be allowed to use another uniform apart from the one that is accepted by the government? Before the emergence of Governor Aregbesola, the school in Osun State never had any issues with uniform. -Miss Okereke Bukola, Worker

anchored on the principles of vision, all inclusiveness, steadfastness and progress.

He noted that the govenor has kept faith with the manifesto of the PDP through his unprecedented achievenments in all sectors of development, especially in road construction and rehabilitation despite the lean resources at the disposal of the state government, stressing that the party is strong and formidable for the challenges ahead.

The state party chairman disclosed that the proposed inauguration of LGA executives was part of the repositioning process to strengthen its grip on the state, adding that his leadership had mapped out strategies on how to move the party forward and win future elections.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08051019450) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On hijab crisis in Osun State

pensioners gathered in their numbers, at all the pay points, as early as 7.30am, even as they hoped that the end of their suffering was in sight.

When Vanguard visited the Orie Uratta headquarters of Owerri North local council area, a pensioner, who simply identified himself as Chief Okey, wondered why the government rolled out the announcement when they were not ready to attend to the frail and famished old men and women.

“For goodness sake, how can the governor be dribbling old, frail, famished and sick people like this? What is most baffling is that the impression he creates outside the state is that all is well with us. This is most unfair to God and humanity”, Chief Okey lamented.

Vanguard recalls that only last week, the retirees grounded social and economic activities in Owerri, to press home their demand for payment of their pension and gratuity.

As at the last count, pensioners of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, are owed 36 months arrears of pension.

I

t was the state government that banned hijab in public schools and the Muslim community took it to court. What CAN should have done was to have asked to be joined in the suit as a stakeholder. -Mr. Ismail Abiodun, Worker

L

et the school go back to the old school days where schools are identified with their school face caps for boys and berets for girls and well sown school uniforms that will not expose them to the type of series of dangerous attacks. -Miss Kubura Aremu, Model

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 — 35

Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill 26 persons, injure many in Benue

By Peter Duru

C L O S I N G CEREMONY: From left; CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr Ferdi Moolman; Lagos State Education D i s t r i c t Representative, Mrs Somoye Olusola; Nigerian Singer and song writer Sound Sultan; another artist and MTN Ambassador, Praiz and Director, MTN Nigeria, Chief Victor Odili at the closing ceremony of MTN staff 21 days of yello care, yesterday. Photo byAkeem Salau

M

AKURDI—IN what seemed like a coordinated attacks, suspected Fulani herdsmen yesterday allegedly attacked four Benue communities killing over 26 persons, injuring many others and razing several houses and huts.

The attacks came on the heels of Saturday’s invasion of Dusa villages in Turan council ward of Logo local government, where a Village Head and five others were killed.

Vanguard gathered that the villages affected in the latest attacks were Uzaar in Tombo, Anyii in Logo local government and Vase in Ukum local government.

According to the source, the maurauders launched an attack on Uzzar and Anyii Monday night killing about 8 persons and razing down parts of the affected communities.

According to him, “Vase was attacked at about 1am Tuesday where 12 persons including six relatives of a serving Permanent Secretary in the state were butchered in cold blood. The sequence of the attacks clearly showed that they were well coordinated and that is why the people could not put up any form of resistance.

“As we speak there is a huge influx of displaced persons of over 1,000 including women and children running away from their homes to Ugba, the headquaters of Logo same as Zaki Biam in Ukum, for safety. From the

M

INNA—FORMER Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, (retd), has promised that he will continue to advise both the federal and state governments where necessary to move the country forward, even as he called for total support for the government.

“I am ready and willing to continuously offer beneficial advice to the federal and state governments”,General Babangida declared in Minna, yesterday when he received the Chairman and members of the Niger State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The PDP working committee led by state chairman of PDP, Tanko Beji, visited the former Military President at his uphill residence on his return to the country after a medical check- up.

General Babangida said: ”I am committed to the Project Nigeria because I have no other country that I can call my own.''

He solicited the cooperation and support of all Nigerians to governments at all levels, saying “‘ without our support the

Superintendent, ASP, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the attacks, said however that “the Police have recovered four corpses from Vase, three from Anyii and one from Uzaar village. That is the number I can confirm to you.”

Police arrest suspected burglars of Saraki's residence 2 policemen, I NSCDC officer, driver held

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—MEN of Kwara State Police Command have arrested four men in connection with the alleged theft of huge sum

I'll continue to advise FG, govs, others — IBB

By Wole Mosadomi

sustained attacks it is becoming clear that the herdsmen want to take over the affected communities close to River Benue because of the rich vegetation.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant

governments cannot achieve their plans for the states and the nation.''

The former military ruler expressed gratitude to the delegation for finding time to visit him and assured them that he would always be available when called upon.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Beji prayed God to grant the former military president sound health to serve the state and nation longer.

He urged Babangida not to relent in his advisory role, saying “the younger generation is happy to be tapping from your wealth of experience.”

of money from the Ilorin residence of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Before the commencement of Ramadan fast, there were reports of theft of the money, said to be meant for Ramadan welfare for supporters of the Senate President in the state.

Vanguard gathered yesterday however that the four men were being interrogated in the office of the State Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, SIIB, along Ahmadu Bello way, Ilorin.

The suspects according to Vanguard checks included two police officers, one officer of the NSDC and a driver.

Further checks revealed that the suspects were arrested with the aid of the Circuit Camera Television, CCT, installed in the expansive Ilorin home of the senate president which literally showed how the suspects scooped the said money.

According to the source, “when the camera was reactivated, it showed faces of the suspects and how they scooped the money. It

CRIME WAVE: Army's Special Forces off to Kogi soon — COAS

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, yesterday said the Nigerian Army would soon deploy Special Forces to Kogi to help tackle crime in the state.

Buratai disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Yahaya Bello at the Government House in Lokoja.

The army chief said plans were

at an advanced stage to deploy the troops to the affected areas in the state.

He said: “I want to assure you that very soon we will deploy Special Forces to the state. That is why I came here with the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison; he is getting them ready and by Monday they should be on ground. They will come with their vehicles and their sustenance, so very soon they will come in and begin the operation.”

was as if they forgot there was CCT because they are supposed to know as officers. But, I think by and large, It is a case of everyday for the thief, one day is for the owner.”

Vanguard also gathered that the police are already preparing papers to take the suspects to court for prosecution any moment from now.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ajayi Okasanmi told Vanguard that he had not been officially briefed of the arrest and interrogation of the suspects, saying ‘’I have not been officially briefed of the incident.”

Bauchi teachers besiege SUBEB over unpaid 8 months salaries

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—ANGRY teachers across the 20 Local Government Areas of Bauchi State yesterday stormed the state Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, protesting eight months unpaid salaries and other benefits.

The teachers, who stormed the SUBEB’s office on Ran road early in the morning displaying placards with various inscriptions and demanding payment of their entitlements, disrupted operations at SUBEB while it lasted.

They later proceeded to the palace of the Emir of Bauchi Dr Rilwanu Adamu to register their grievance where they appealed to the traditional ruler to intervene in their matter.

The Emir, while sympathizing with them, commended them for their maturity in handling their grievances, assured that he would appeal to the relevant authorities over their plight.

The leader of the protesting teachers, Mohammed Auwal, who spoke to journalists, said they were employed in March 2015 and deployed to all the 20 councils to teach, “but due to selfishness or carelessness of some people we have not been paid since October till date. ''We have passed through different stages of verification.

We have been verified more than five times but nothing has been done about our salaries. We want the government to sit down and look at these issues and help us because we are more than four hundred in number.”

Labour threatens to shut down Oyo over education policy

By Ehi Eweka

O

RGANISED Labour has given Oyo State government Thursday to resolve ongoing dispute with workers in the state over its education policy, failing which all commercial and other activities in the state will be shut down.

Speaking through the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by Joe Ajaero, Labour warned that it would, among others, cut fuel and power supplies, in addition to ensuring that the banks and other financial institutions in the state do not function until the state governor halts his perceived antipeople policy against the people of the state.

NLC in a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Abiola Ajumobi of Oyo State, beginning from June 17, lamented among others, that

the Governor had been resisting and insisting on imposing his will on the people despite the complete rejection of the path the Governor had chosen to tread.

According to NLC: “The people of Oyo State have spoken loud and clear on this matter and if the only response that the Governor could give is to order the arrest of labour leaders in the state, intimidate and harass the masses, then it is very unfortunate and tragic.

When a government turns against his own people then, we know that it has lost its moral and contractual grounds to continue governing effectively. We therefore urge the Governor to end this ongoing impunity and stop every harassment and intimidation of Labour leaders and the people immediately.''

“Congress demands that the

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

MULTICHOICE ON SICKLE CELL DAY: From left— Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mrs Caroline Oghuma; Director, Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, Mrs Ayo Otaigbe; Nurudeen Solaja and Dr. Anuette Akinsete, at the MultiChoice celebration of World Sickle Cell Day at Ijede Local Council Development Area. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

ETISALAT/ LEARN: From left— Deputy Director, Education District 3, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Oso Joseph; Director, Regulatory and CSR, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ikenna Ikeme; Senior Project Officer, Leadership Empowerment and Resource Network, LEARN, Mrs Tonne Saheed, and Deputy Director, Education District 3, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Ojikutu Mustafa, at the Lagos edition of 2016 Career Counseling programme organised

by Etisalat in partnership with LEARN in Epe, Lagos.

ACCESS BANK'S TRAINING: From left— Executive Director, CSR-in-Action, Ms Bekeme Masade; Chief Operating Officer, Apiri Hallowed Foundation, Mr. Tukasi Fisayo; and Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc, Mrs Bolanle Victor-Laniyan, at the second stream of Access Bank-sponsored training for civil society organisations on proposal, report and grant writing in partnership with CSR-in-Action, at the bank's head office in Lagos.

FCMB'S GIFT OF SIGHT: From left— Group Head, Corporate Affairs, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Diran Olojo; beneficiaries, Mr. Oliver Ibedim and Mrs. Catherine Igbokwe; Chairperson, Bakassi Local Government Area, Mrs. Edisua Iso, and Ophthalmic Surgeon with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, TCF, Dr. Shailendra Gahilod, at FCMB's community outreach programme, Priceless Gift of Sight, in Calabar, Cross River State.

INSPAYA: From left— Creator and Presenter, Inspaya, Evangelist Banji

Adesanmi; former General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria, Rev Wilson Badejo, and his wife, Rev. Yinka, at the launch of a new Inspaya, a documentary show, in Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

MARKETING EDGE AWARDS: From

left— Head Strategy, Mr. Friday Okuwe; Client Service Director, Mrs. Biodun Adefila, both of SO&U Limited; Founding and Managing Partner, Dorothy Ufot & Co, and wife of award recipient, Mrs. Dorothy Ufot (SAN); Chairman, McCann Group of companies, Mr. Steve Omojafor, and Human Interest Manager, SO&U, Mrs. Kemi Evbota, at the Marketing Edge Awards in Lagos.

C M Y K

DIPLOMATIC YOGA: From left (front row)— Head, Chancery, Indian High Commission, Lagos, Mr. V. D. Choudhary; Vice President, Chief Sanjay Jain; General Secretary, Mr. Sanjeev Tandon; Social Secretary, Mr. Melanta, all of Indian Cultural Association, and others, at their Yoga Day on the lawn of the Indian High Commission premises.

WAFEM COURSE: From left— Director, Debt Management Department, Mr. Baba Musa; Director, Administration and Finance Department, Mr. Euracklyn Williams, and Director, Financial Sector Department, Mr. Ousman Sowe, all of West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, WAIFEM, at the opening session of the regional course on Banking Supervision, Intermediate Level, organised by WAIFEM in collaboration with the College of Supervisors of the West African Monetary Zone, WAMZ, in Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016 — 37

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

•Gbillah

•Gololo

•Ikon

ALLEGED SEX SCANDAL: The

fuss, the furore

By Charles Kumolu

A

LLEGATIONS of sexual misconduct levelled against three members of the House of Representatives by the United States government, has thrown up nagging questions for both the accused and accuser.

Specifically, Mohammed Gololo was accused of grabbing a hotel maid and soliciting sex, while Samuel Ikon and Mark Gbillah allegedly requested a car park attendant to help arrange the services of prostitutes during a visit to Cleveland for the International Visitor Leadership Programme.

Video evidence The weighty nature of the claims and the peculiar nature of the setting of the alleged crime leave the matter susceptible of mixed interpretations.

Indeed, two things seem to have strengthened the vagueness believed to be trailing the allegation against the trio of Messers Mohammed Gololo, Samuel Ikon and Mark Gbillah.

On the one hand, is the timing considering the reputation of the United States as a society that treats such issues with alacrity; on the other hand are concerns for video evidence given the technological sophistication of the US. Notwithstanding, Nigerians are so concerned about getting C M Y K

•Speaker Dogara: Let’s not be judgemental to the root of the issue considering its diplomatic implications which were succinctly highlighted by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Jamjes Entwistle.

“Such incidents jeopardize the ability of future programming and make host institutions and organizations less likely to welcome similar visits in the future,” had said in his letter conveying news of the incident to Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

However, the ongoing trial of the trio in the court of public opinion even when the law considers them innocent until proven guilty, is such that may not do justice to the matter.

It was perhaps on that basis that Dogara asked the US to provide evidence that the lawmakers indeed committed the crimes.

In a series of tweets, Dogara commented on the allegations, as he responded to questions.

“He who alleges must prove,”

he said through his Twitter handle @speakerdogara.

“That’s the law.”

“As we speak no evidence has been put forward other than the letter sent to my office and copied to many others.

“Together with the US Embassy in Nigeria we will get to the bottom of this matter and until then let’s not be judgemental.”

He added thus: “Under our laws an accused person is deemed innocent until proven guilty and he enjoys the benefit of any doubt. Social media trial and conviction of members alleged to have committed the offence is taking up arms against our laws.”

The speaker ’s assertion, however, was not in any way an acquittal for the lawmakers as it was resolved yesterday to assign the investigations to the House Committees on Ethics and Foreign Affairs.

The three men at the centre of the fuss also yesterday strongly

denied the allegations with one of them, Mark Gbillah, APC, Benue, who incidentally went on the trip with his wife and baby telling his colleagues on the floor of the House that he had never for once cheated on his wife since his marriage.

“For my colleagues who don’t know me and Nigerians out there , I want to categorically state here, for any avoidance of doubt that no such incidence occurred.

“I want my colleagues and the nation to understand that though

Together with the US Embassy in Nigeria we will get to the bottom of this matter and until then let’s not be judgemental we are in the eye of the storm, we will bear this cross and courageously too.

“I want to say that this something is calculated to tarnish the image of the three members and this very hallowed institution.

And I caution Nigerians who are quick to conclusion, I want to state categorically for all

Nigerians to know again, that I love my wife without reservation.

“I have only eyes for my wife. I have never cheated on her. I wish she was able to come to this hallowed chambers to testify to this. I went on this trip with my wife and my baby. I travel everywhere I go with my wife and baby.”

General impression of debauchery Meanwhile, outside the chamber, it would seem as if the great majority of Nigerians have pronounced guilt upon the lawmakers. That is not surprising given the general impression of debauchery that is usually associated with Nigerian lawmakers.

However, given the speaker’s demand from the United States for evidence of the infractions by the Nigerian lawmakers, the balance of justice would seem to lay off immediate pronunciation of guilt on the lawmakers pending the provision of irrefutable evidence.

Such evidence could easily mean the provision of video recording of the encounter between the two legislators and the car parking attendant or whatever evidence that may have convinced Ambassador Entwistle to have authored his letter.

Meanwhile, Nigerians are earnestly waiting for the truth to come out.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—39

APC Appeal’s C'ttee summons Masari, Imasuangbon, Ogienmwonyi

By Omeiza Ajayi

T

HE APC Primary Election Appeals Committee has received two petitions from last Saturday’s primary election, Chairman of the Committee, Opeyemi Bamidele said

yesterday.

Consequently, the committee said it has summoned all relevant stakeholders who took part in the election.

The petitions were received from Barrister Kenneth Imansuagbon and Engr. Chris

Ogienmwonyi.

“We confirm as a committee that we have received two petitions, and the national chairman of the party was also copied, and the party has given us the go ahead and a freehand to conduct our sittings.

“We also have gotten in touch with the two aspirants who sent in their petitions to explain their

position, you know, and the timing of our sitting and by the grace of God, both of them would also be appearing before us tomorrow (Wednesday). And definitely, all issues raised in their petitions would be addressed, you know there is nothing to be agitated about. It is also normal for people to feel aggrieved”, Bamidele said.

He affirmed that the issues raised in the petition were similar to what was addressed by the two petitioners in their press conference on Monday.

He also said that stakeholders concerned with the exercise including Governor Aminu Masari, who chaired the primary panel would be invited.

Obaseki is disaster waiting to happen — Igbafe, Oshiomhole’s aide

By Gabriel Enogholase

A

I'll turn around education — Ize-Iyamu

By Emmanuel Aziken

P

DP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has lamented the condition of education in the state describing the red roof revolution of the present administration as political sloganeering deficient in quality and substance.

Delivering a lecture at the University of Benin yesterday, the PDP candidate equally paid tribute to the Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, late Professor Ambrose Ali, his father Chief Osayande Ize-Iyamu and others for their roles in developing education in the old Bendel State.

The candidate who described their period as the ‘’golden era of education” in the state, said it was no surprise that the products of that educational system dominated the public services, political, academic, corporate, legal, medical, military and paramilitary landscape of

Nigeria for a very long time.

Picking holes in the red roof revolution of the administration, he said: ‘’The aluminum red roofs for these schools is not bad, but it is good to put the effort into a correct trajectory in the sense that it is State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) money and a joint effort of the federal and the state governments where the former pays the lion share of the money”, he stated.

FFIRMING that silence in the face of injustice is a crime, a key aide of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mrs. Evelyn Igbafe yesterday joined the train of condemnation against the outcome of the APC governorship primaries describing the winner, Godwin Obaseki as a disaster waiting to happen.

Igbafe, who is also the Executive Director on Poverty Alleviation while calling for the immediate cancellation of the primaries in the interest of justice and fair-play described Obaseki as an “unripe mango and tomato” who was unsellable.

While tasking APC leaders and members to take a cue from the PDP crisis free primaries which produced Pastor Ize -Iyamu as the

be conducted at night after delegates were accredited during the day and election at night.

“Let us not waste time with Obaseki because he cannot go anywhere. A great injustice was inflicted on Engr. Chris Ogiwmwonyi and Ken Imansuangbon and they are going to fight to the last atom of their blood to redress this injustice.

Mrs. Igbafe insisted that Edo people were not happy with the conduct of the primary noting that “in any environment where injustice thrives, silence is a crime.”

She, however, pledged to remain in the party noting that the reconciliation move by Obaseki and his campaign team moving from house to house begging some of the aggrieved APC aspirants to work for the party is an exercise in futility.

Obaseki promises smooth transition from Oshiomhole

By Emmanuel Aziken

U

•Ize-Iyamu: PDP candidate

party’s candidate, she added that the APC governorship candidate was a disaster waiting to consume the party in the 10, September governorship election.

She said, “If the party continues with the choice of Obaseki as its flag bearer, I pity the APC at the governorship polls because the defeat will be a land-slide victory for the PDP because I know that APC will fail with Obaseki. The reason we are not accepting Obaseki is because APC manipulated the primary.

“I am so happy with the PDP because they brought out a sellable candidate in the person of Pastor Osagie- IzeIyamu. APC is moving from house to house begging aspirants, and that will not lead them anywhere.’

“APC have disappointed Edo people. I have never seen a situation where primary will

WELU – APC governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki has promised a seamless transition from the Oshiomhole administration, saying that he is sufficiently equipped with key projects of the outgoing administration.

Obaseki, who emerged as candidate after the primary election, last Saturday spoke to traders at the Uwelu auto parts market when he joined Governor

Adams Oshiomhole on inspection of the asphalting of the Uwelu road, a statement from the Obaseki campaign said.

“I assure you that what Oshiomhole has done part one, I will do the part two.”

A resident of the community, Mr. Isaac Ibalogban was quoted by the campaign as saying: “We are all behind you. Mr. Obaseki, please, don’t disappoint our Governor. We want him to follow the footsteps of this man. Follow his footsteps because he has been

doing well for us. Right from my time, I have been in this town; this is the first time I am seeing this State developing like other States. We have always appreciated him for whatever he is doing. I want you to follow his footsteps so that Edo State can continue to change more than what it is.

“I want to assure you the reason we are all united behind Obaseki is that from the beginning, he’s been in the kitchen.

APC launches peace campaign, recalls suspended officers

By Gabriel Enogholase

T

HE APC has launched a peace drive to reconcile party members aggrieved over the outcome of the governorship polls with the recall of some suspended party officials to their positions.

Among those who have been recalled are Mr. Gentleman Amegor, the Vice- Chairman, Edo South Senatorial zone and Chief Matthew Ehigie, the party ’s chairman in Orhionmwon local government area, party sources said yesterday.

Both men were suspended for their alleged over opposition to Obaseki and covert support for Pius Odubu.

According to the source, “the

party cannot afford to lose the governorship election to the PDP, and that is why we are reconciling with all aggrieved members because we need them in this all

important election. Orhionmwon and Egor local government councils are very crucial for us as far as the election is concerned.”

Onaiwu resigns as DG Govs Forum, to pursue ambition under APGA

B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY-THE Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Osaro Onaiwu has resigned his position, saying he will pursue his governorship ambition on the platform of the All Progressives

Grand Alliance (APGA).

In a letter addressed to the chairman of the PDP Governor’s Forum, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, he explained that he took the decision so he will be able to pursue his future ambition.

Onaiwu, who confirmed his

political future to Vanguard, said “I am still running for the governorship race in Edo state come September. You can see the leadership crisis in the PDP, and that was why I did not purchase the nomination form under the PDP. But I am going to fly the flag of the APGA in Edo state.”

•Obaseki: APC candidate

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, JUNE 22, 2016 —41 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

He can’t take ‘no’ for an answer

New wife hopeless at housework Dear Bunmi, MY new wife is obviously not interested in creating a home for us. I have a good job, which means I am often away during the week, but she seems to resent doing any housework.

She is supposed to be in the family business, but she scarcely goes there. I assumed when we got married the deal would be that I’d earn the money while she kept our home ticking over.

But I’ve never got a clean shirt or anything decent to eat - and the house is always in chaos. All she wants to do is see her friends. Her parents have agreed to help with domestic helps but for how long?

She’s always been spoilt by her parents but they had assured me she could cope with marriage. How do I make her understand that I can’t function like this? It’s a bit too early to be complaining to her parents.

Paul by e-mail

Dear Paul, If you two have never sat down to discuss how you’re going to live your new life, you can’t blame your wife for not knowing what the ‘deal’ is supposed to be.

The first thing you need to do is talk. If your wife doesn’t wish to run the home, what is her contribution to this marriage going to be?

Your wife can’t take all the blame here. You knew she was a ‘silver-spoon kid’when

you met and married her and that’s all the life she knows.

Her transition into a good house-wife is going to take a lot of efforts and patience from you. This is a new journey for both of you and compromises will be needed all along the line.

But you can’t compromise unless you talk - so don’t waste another minute. She obviously wanted marriage or she wouldn’t agree to be led to altar.

You knew she was a ‘silverspoon kid’when you met and married her - and that’s all the life she knows. Her transition into a good house-wife is going to take a lot of efforts and patience from you

His best friend is getting on my nerves!

Dear Bunmi, I currently live with my boyfriend and his best friend is a pest. He virtually lives in our house. I don’t feel I can say anything because they ’ve known each other for years.

But recently his pal has started brushing past me in the kitchen and making suggestive remarks whenever my boyfriend is out of the room.

He hasn’t made a pass at me but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.

Do you think I should tell my boyfriend?

Remi, by e-mail Dear Remi, You have two dilemmas here - how to reclaim your home for yourself and how to get rid of this pest of a best friend. I believe you can kill two birds with a stone without having to tell your boyfriend.

I know he hasn’t made a pass but the body contact suggests he’s building up to

I didn’t bargain for this loneliness Dear Bunmi, Twenty-five years ago, I was a career girl living on my own.

Then I met my husband and we had our daughter. Sadly, he died six years ago and my daughter, who’s in her final year now lives with her boyfriend.

Suddenly, I’m a working woman now living in a onebedroom flat I just bought. I look around me and think: “What just happened?” Were the past 25 years, during which I got married, raised a child and buried a husband actually real?

Where do I go from here? I’m struggling to cope.

Joann, by e-mail Dear Joann, Your life has gone full cir-

cle in some ways, but you now have your daughter and, hopefully, her family to come.

Try to look at this as a positive time for you too. With few ties, you can do anything you want - travel, start a business, fmd love again.

The world is at your feet and you’ve got half a lifetime’s knowledge and experience on your side. So take both courage in your hands and get out there to restrategise!

You have a good job, good health and a flat of your own.

Believe me, life isn’t as bleak as you’ve just painted it.

You’re obviously depressed albeit mildly, but you need to fight to take your life back.

something. You need to deal with this now - and the only way of doing that is to get him out of the house. You need to make him feel as uncomfortable and unwelcome as possible.

Don’t offer him food or drink.

Use the grinder when he’s slumped in front of the TV. Get your friends round for boozy sessions from time to time.

On a more serious note, you shouldn’t let him get away with this sexual bullying.

Nervous laughter will only encourage him. Instead, stop whatever you’re doing and turn to face him.

Tell him: “How do you think your friend would feel if he saw that? Shall I get him in here and ask him?” You’ve got to work on your boyfriend too.

Explain that you’d like some more time together as a couple without his friend ruining the atmosphere.

Offer to cook a romantic dinner for him or even better, promise him a very early evening. Once he ‘s putting in your hands, murmur: ‘Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could do this more often?’

If that doesn’t work, consider telling your boyfriend. It is afterall, your house too. You have every right to feel comfortable in it. Just make sure you’re armed for battle!

Dear Bunmi, I work in a small office with a staff of 12. We’re all very friendly and I’ve been with the company for 12 years. Five years ago, a man in his 50's joined us. He lives on the next street to mine and didn’t have a car. I gave him a lift from time to time. At Christmas and Valentine Day, he would buy me small gifts to thank me.

Two years ago he bought me an impressive gift that I helped him to pick out as he said it was for his daughter. Over time, he kept buying me more gifts, saying they expressed his gratitude.

I had always felt sorry for this man because he lived alone.

Then, some months ago, he told me he was in love with me. I told him firmly, but kindly that there was no way we would get together, but he started trying to give me money for my rent and car.

He also began asking me personal questions. I know now that I should have put a stop to this, but I still felt sorry for him as no one else had much time for him.

A few weeks later, he started saying that he wanted to touch me and couldn’t control himself much longer.

He said I should move in with him and have his children. He said I’d be free to do whatever I wanted as long as I was with him. I decided to avoid contact with him and stopped the lifts.

You need to let him know you like him a lot as a colleague, but you don’t fancy him and never will...

Friendship is something we all need as long as it’s not taken to mean something else

Someone asked me why I wasn’t giving him lifts any more and all hell broke loose.

Everyone at work supports me and a few had told him off. I’ve recently started a new relationship with someone my own age, who works for the same company.

He knows a little about this man and has offered to have a word with him. But that might start trouble.

This older man keeps putting my boyfriend down, especially regarding money. I’ve told him I can’t be bought, but he seems to think his patience will pay off.

He also says things in front of strangers that imply we’re a couple. This is all starting to get to me. He retires at the end of the year, but what do I do until then?

Dora, by e-mail

Dear Dora, You need to tell your ageing admirer the simple truth. In other words, you have to be cruel to be kind. The man sensed your gratitude when he gave you gifts, allowing himself to believe his increasing generosity might make you love him.

He’s obviously lonely and hopes you’ll be his soul-mate and he feels somehow cheated when another man cuts in. You need to let him know you like him a lot as a colleague, but you don’t fancy him and never will.

He currently feels confused, hurt and embarrassed by the sudden rift that has emerged between you. But he needs to build a new life for himself with a partner near his age. Don’t be hostile to him, however, and let him know you’re still his friend.

Fear of retirement and loneliness is obviously making him desperate. Encourage him to go out with both male and female friends so as to boost his social life. If you can, seek out his daughter to help. Friendship is something we all need as long as it’s not taken to mean something else.

Let down by his condoms

Dear Bunmi, Making love with my boyfriend is a nightmare. The foreplay starts off well and we both get aroused and ready for sex. But as soon as we reach for a condom, my boyfriend loses his erection.

It’s been like this for months and ,it’s so frustrating.

Now we’re starting to avoid sex because it’s too much hassle.

Apart from this particular issue our relationship is loving and fulfilling. I’mkeen on using condoms as I don’t want to get pregnant or catch any disease, most especially AIDS. How can we deal with this problem?

Oluchi, by e-mail

Dear Oluchi, Well done for wanting to protect yourself. Instead of reaching for the condom when you’re both aroused, why not make it part of foreplay and slipping it on as soon as your man is aroused?

Alternatively, you could have yourself tested for sexually transmitted infections. Go to the nearest health-centre near you and ask them to check you both if you don’t have your own doctor.

Once you have the all clear; you’ll be free to use a non-protective form of contraception such as the pill, which won’t interrupt your love-making.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

42 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

Violent protests rock S/Africa’s capital ahead of vote istrative capital, which is Similar protests broke

V

19-year-old man who was charged for trying to grab a police officer’s gun at a Trump rally being led away by the Police.

EHICLES were torched and roads were barricaded with rocks and burning tyres in South Africa’s capital Pretoria in violent protests over a disputed mayoral candidate for upcoming municipal elections.

Local media reported that several buses were also set ablaze in other townships in the admin-

also known as Tshwane, on Tuesday.

A portion of the country’s main highway, the N1, was closed off after protesters hurled stones at cars. The unrest erupted on Monday after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) released the names of mayoral nominees for local government elections on August 3.

out earlier this month in Durban in the home province of President Jacob Zuma, signalling increasing factionalism within the party ahead of a vote which analysts believe could see the ANC lose power in some major cities. The party is reeling under “factionalism, corruption and leadership without credibility”, said political analyst Prince Mashele.

Man charged for ‘attempting to kill’ Donald ICC jails former Vice-President of Congo Passing sentence at the ONGOLESE ex- and 18 years for five who holds a British driv- rally in Phoenix where Trump counts of rape, murder ICC in The Hague, C rebel leader Jeanhe “ would try again to

A

19-year-old man has been charged for trying to grab a police officer ’s gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas and use it to kill the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

According to a complaint filed in the US District Court in Nevada on Monday, Michael Sandford tried to disarm the officer at the June 18 rally at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island Casino before being overpowered.

It said the young man,

ing licence, told a Secret Service agent after his arrest that he had driven from California to Las Vegas “to kill Trump”, and had been to a range a day earlier to learn to shoot as he had never fired a gun before.

“Sandford acknowledged that he would likely only be able to fire one to two rounds and stated he was convinced he would be killed by law enforcement during his attempt on Trump’s life,” the complaint said.

It said Sandford told investigators that he had purchased tickets for a

kill Trump” in the event his plan in Las Vegas failed.

Officials would not confirm Sandford’s nationality saying only that he had told investigators he had been in the United States for about 18 months, and had lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, before travelling to California.

A spokeswoman at the Las Vegas prosecutor ’s office said the young man was due to appear in court later Monday on a charge of act of violence on restricted grounds.

Iran warns Bahrain over revoking cleric’s Qassim had played a key finger at Iran, a vocal critcitizenship

T

HE head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has issued a warning to Bahrain suggesting there could be armed resistance across the country after Manama stripped the kingdom’s top Shia cleric of his citizenship.

The Bahrain News Agency quoted the Interior Ministry on Monday as saying that Sheikh Isa

role in creating an “extremist” sectarian atmosphere and working to divide Bahraini society.

The move against Qassim comes less than a week after a court suspended the activities of the country’s leading Shia opposition group, Al-Wefaq, on charges of “terrorism, extremism and violence” in the kingdom, and having ties to a foreign power - pointing a

ic of the Sunni-led monarchy. General Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Revoutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, warned Bahrain on Monday its move against Qassim could “set the region on fire”.

“Al-Khalifa [the rulers of Bahrain] will definitely pay the price for that and their bloodthirsty regime will be toppled,” Suleimani said in a statement

Clinton trounces Trump in fund-raising

D

E M O C R AT I C presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has a huge advantage in campaign funds over Republican rival Donald Trump, figures show.

Mrs Clinton’s campaign began June with $42m (£28m) in the bank; for Mr Trump it was $1.3m.

The businessman has claimed to have selffunded his campaign, portraying himself as an outsider not linked to special interests.

Since securing his party’s nomination, fundraising has intensified.

His team have sought to quash concerns about

finances, saying money is “pouring in”.

His campaign said in a statement regarding

Egypt: Court voids transfer to Saudi

A

N Egyptian court has reversed a decision to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

Tuesday ’s verdict by the highest administrative court in Cairo declared void amaritime border accord with Saudi Arabia, which would have seen Egypt surrender control of the Tiran and Sanafir islands at

Pierre Bemba has been jailed for 18 years following a landmark conviction at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and sexual violence.

Bemba, a former vicepresident of DR Congo, was convicted in March of crimes committed in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002-2003.

He was accused of failing to stop his rebels from killing and raping people. Bemba’s lawyers have already said they will appeal against his conviction.

Judges announced sentences of between 16

*Jean-Pierre Bemba

and pillaging, with the jail terms running concurrently. The eight years Bemba has already spent in custody will be deducted from his term.

His conviction was the first time the ICC had focused on rape as a weapon of war, and the first time a suspect had been convicted for crimes committed by others under his command.

Judge Sylvia Steiner said Bemba had failed to exercise control over his private militia sent into CAR, where they carried out “sadistic” rapes, murders and pillaging of “particular cruelty”.

The two key issues remain - where Bemba will serve his sentence and the amount of compensation to be awarded to his victims.

Kenya launches crackdown on foreign charity workers

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HARITIES, or NGOs, working in Kenya risk losing their licenses if they fail to comply with new tough rules about employing foreigners.

The authorities say that, with some exceptions, foreigners should not be employed if there are Kenyans who can do the job.

The large disparity between what foreigners and Kenyans can earn has also been criticised.

An estimated 240,000 people work for NGOs in

Kenya, mostly local staff.

Kenya is a regional hub for NGOs, with aid agencies working in countries from Democratic Republic of Congo to South Sudan based in the country.

Charities play a large role in providing essential services in Kenya, observers say, with some running schools and clinics.

One international NGO told the BBC that higher pay for foreigners was essential as they are working far from home.

David Oyelowo film to open London Film Festival

May fundraising that it FILM based on the continues to see “a tretrue story of a mendous outpouring of Botswana king who marsupport for Mr Trump. ried a London office Red Sea islands’ worker will open the BFI London Film Festival.

A United Kingdom the mouth of the Gulf of stars Rosamund Pike and Aqaba. While the verdict is not final, it could deal David Oyelowo.

It tells the true story of a blow to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Si- the marriage of Seretse si’s government, which Khama, King of Bechuahas eagerly argued that naland (modern Botswathe agreement would na), and Ruth Williams, bring economic benefits a British office worker.

The film, based on the for Egypt.

The initial deal was book Colour Bar by Susmade public in April dur- an Williams, will be ing a high-profile visit to shown on 5 October, the Cairo by the Saudi mon- festival’s opening night.

The couple at the cenarch, King Salman.

A

*Rosamund Pike tre of the book faced fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments when they married in 1947.

The BBC film is directed by Amma Asante, whose previous credits

*David Oyelowo include Belle.

Clare Stewart, the festival’s director, said: “A United Kingdom is testament to a defiant and enduring love story that also reveals a complex, painful chapter in British history.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016—43

‘US has huge measure of confidence in Nigeria’

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu & Prisca Sam-Duru

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HE outgoing US Consul-Generaland Public Affairs Officer, Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab, has disclosed that the United States Mission in Nigeria has in the last three years built the capacities of over 300 Nigerian journalists across the six-geopolitical zones, saying that the commitment displays a measure of the confidence that the US mission has in Nigeria and its media.

Mrs. Ghebreab said this on the sidelines of a retirement reception in honour of her and the US Public Affairs Section’s (PAS) information specialist, broadcast media, Mrs. Joke

Omotunde.

According to her, the United States and Nigeria share strong and progressive diplomatic ties, especially in areas of cultural exchanges, collaboration in regional and continental conflict resolution, security, and education.

Speaking further on building the capacities of Nigerian journalists’ through several training programmes held in different states of the country, as well as in various parts of the US, she said the US government had always believed that equipping Nigerian journalists with the necessary skills and/or tools would assist them in

•Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab strenghtening the country ’s democratic process.

Her words: “The US Mission in Nigeria has done a lot in building the capacities of journalists across the nation and in the last three years, the Mission has trained about 300 Nigerian journalists and these programmes held within and outside Nigeria, were meant to enhance professionalism in journalists in their day to day activities.”

She, however, enjoined trained journalists to always put in practice knowledge gained from the various seminars and workshops attended and ensure they accurately discharge their responsibilities. “And I implore journalists that have benefited from the different US governmentorganised training programmes, any knowledge not put in use is lost.

Reporting professionally "It is imperative, therefore, that you apply the knowledge gained by reporting professionally and objectively. We really understand the central role you play in ensuring the success of Nigeria’s democratic process and I must express my appreciation to you all,” the deputy Consul-General and Public Affairs Officer added, while acknowledging journalists who have worked closely with her in the course of her assignment at the US Consulate.

Also restating the US government’s interest in building the capacities of more Nigerian journalists in the near future Mrs. Ghebreab was quick to add at the event which brought together journalists from different media organisations within and outside Lagos that Nigeria, as a country, has enormous energy which is found in the diversity of its people.

“Nigeria is blessed with vast landmass and each area has something unique to stand it out. The US recognises Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa," she said.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

RESURGENCE OF KIDNAPPING, ROBBERY IN ABIA:

Lawmakers storm Aba •As Victims recount encounter IN a bid to find solution to the seemingly intractable problem of kidnapping and armed robbery in Aba, Abia State, members of the House of Representatives Committee on the Army held a town hall meeting in the city.

By Ugochukwu Alaribe – Aba

F

ACT finding visit Speaking at the meeting held at Aba Sports Club hall, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Rima Shawulu, said they were on a fact finding visit to interact with residents of the city to share their experiences over the reported upsurge in kidnappings and other violent crimes.

Shawulu disclosed that the Committee had interacted with members of the State House of Assembly and heads of security agencies in the state with a view to fashioning out ways of arresting the menace.

Concern from rep member Crime Alert gathered that on January 26, this year, the member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ossy Prestige raised a motion in the House expressing concern over the spate of insecurity in his constituency. In the motion, Prestige recalled how activities of the hoodlums were affecting economic and social activities in the city and feared that if nothing was done to address the situation, Aba would soon become a ghost town.

Fear grips residents

The town hall meeting featured business groups, civil society organizations, members of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, traders’ union and other interest groups who shared their experience and that of their loved ones in the hands of kidnappers.

Crime Alert learned that kidnapping and robbery have become a daily occurrence in Aba as most residents now live in fear of the hoodlums who storm the roads in broad day light, abduct victims and escape to their hideouts.

Victims account

Commenting on the situation, businessman, Mike Edoho who said he was kidnapped in 2013, said that he had lost over 70% of his customers due to the increasing level of insecurity in Aba. “In your office, in your house you lock everywhere; on the road, you are afraid. How long will we continue to live like this?” he asked rhetorically.

Ex-President of Aba Sports Club, Barr. Chibuike Nwokeukwu who commended the Committee for the visit recalled that kidnapping is now a daily occurrence in Aba and lamented that despite the presence of military and Police checkpoints, the hoodlums abduct victims and successfully take them to their hideouts.

•Chairman of the committee and others at the townhall meeting

NMA, Civil Society others speak

Representative of the NMA, Dr. Ikechi Michael, lamented that four doctors have been kidnapped since January

No soldier or policeman can stay one month in Aba without being compromised in their work by Aba residents. Soldiers now engage themselves in civil matters and terrorize residents 2016. Another former President of Aba Sports Club, Eleanya Agwu Okorji said he had been kidnapped twice while his wife had also fallen victim once.

Speaking for the Civil Society groups, Executive Directors of the Society for Econom-

•The crowd at the meeting.

ic Rights and Social Justice and Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, FENRAD, Comrades Innocent Nwokocha and Nnanna Nwafor, respectively, lamented the incessant human rights abuses, killing of protesters, extortion and harassment of motorists by soldiers and policemen.

A legal practitioner, Victor Chima Nwaugo, said 10 lawyers had been kidnapped since 2015. He added that kidnappers use tricycles, rickety vehicles to ward off any suspicions from the public and security agencies while trailing suspects who they abduct without firing a shot.

In his submission, Elvis Ebirim representing the Aba chapter of the Association of Imo State Indigenous Town Unions stated that the reportage on the amount paid as ransom by victims has encouraged kidnapping and urged the media to de-emphasize it.

Stakeholders too

A cross section of other stakeholders who spoke called for adequate funding of police and other security agencies, equipping them with hitech security gadgets, frequent or periodic transfer of security personnel posted to Aba to reduce familiarization with residents.

Security personnel According to them, “No soldier or policeman can stay one month in Aba without being compromised in their work by Aba residents. Soldiers now engage themselves in civil matters and terrorize residents. We advocate that no soldier or police should serve more than two months in Aba without being transferred.”

They urged the National Assembly to pass bills to ensure mounting of Close Circuit Cameras, CCTV, at

strategic locations in major cities in the country and tracking device materials for easy and faster tracking of hoodlums.

In an interview with journalists at the end of the session, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Shawulu, stated that they would take the proceedings to the House for review. “Our mandate is on the spate of kidnapping, armed robbery and killings in Aba. What we have come to do is on the spot assessment. We have come to investigate and to find out facts as were ascertained in the motion moved by the lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency (Ossy Prestige) on the floor of the House that there is indeed, the problem of kidnapping, armed robbery and kidnapping in Aba. Be assured that the findings will be presented on the floor of the House and will be publicly debated.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016 — 45

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 — 47

AAC: Nigerian athletes face tough favoured to win. contest in Durban Okagbare’s participaBy Ben Efe

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IGERIAN ath letes to the African Athletics Championships beginning today in Durban have an uphill task of winning medals in the face of rapid improvements made by athletes of rival countries like South Africa and Cote ‘d Ivoire.

Also training conditions and motivation have not helped the cause of Nigeria’s representatives who arrived Durban in batches, a development which led to the withdrawal of Nigeria’s most consistent sprinter, Ogho-Oghene Egwero from the championships. Tobiloba Amusa who has the African leading time in the women 100m hurdles has also opted out.

It is now left for youngster Divine Oduduru and veteran Obinna Metu to face the challenge of beating the likes of Henricho Bruintjie with a personal best of 9.97 and Akani Simbine with a personal best of 9.96.

Murielle Ahoure

The South Africans are expected to win even as Ivorians Ben Yousef Meite 9.99 personal best and Wilfried Koffi with 10.01 are strong contenders for the men’s 100m.

The women’s race, which will be decided on Thursday is another hard land to sow for the Nigerian ladies. Ivorian Murielle Ahoure, who recently took Blessing Okagbare’s African record to the cleaners with 10. 78 seconds, is

tion is not clear, but it would certainly be a blast to see how she copes with Ahoure, Marie Ta Lou and even emerging South African runners Allysa Conley and Carina Horn who has a personal best of 11.06 seconds.

“Things are tough, we must face the reality.

The credentials Cote’d Ivoire is packing to the championships is frightening, especially Ahoure breaking Okagbare’s record.

“However, we just hope to do our best,” said AFN board member Professor Ken Anugueje.

T

HE draw for the qualifying tournament for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be staged Friday by 4pm Nigerian time at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Twenty teams will be drawn into five groups of four teams each to play on home and away basis from October 2016 to November 2017 with the overall winners advancing to the World Cup. The qualifiers include Algeria,Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa, Mali, Guinea, Cape Verde and Cameroon.

Nigeria have qualified for five World Cups previously – 1994, 1998,

2018 FIFA W/Cup draw holds Friday 2002, 2010 and 2014.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick has sworn to ensure Nigeria qualifies for the Mundial. “We will do everything humanly possible to ensure our qualification,” Pinnick said.

Meanwhile, The world football governing body FIFA has released the special ranking for African teams ahead of the draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

According to the new rankings, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are likely to be in pot three that includes Congo, Moroc-

Genk reject N1.9b bid for Ndidi

T

OP Belgian club KRC Genk have turned down a six million Euros(about N1.9b) bid for Nigeria star Wilfred Ndidi, less than two years after they paid $200,000 (about N56m) for him.

“Genk have already rejected a six million

Euros bid for Wilfred Ndidi,” one of his known representatives has informed. “The truth of the matter is that Wilfred won’t go on the cheap as Genk have produced some top stars like Kevin De Bruyne now of Manchester City, Christian Benteke, Divock Origi (Liverpool), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), and all these players did not leave on a cheap.”

The 19-year-old Ndidi has made a remarkable progress in a highly promising career.

He joined Genk in January 2015 as a central defender and played six matches mostly as a left

or right fullback.

However, this season he celebrated his conversion as defensive midfielder by playing 38 matches and scoring four goals in the league as Genk qualified for the championship playoffs and eventually booked their passage to next season’s UEFA Europa League.

His goal against champions Club Brugge in the regular season was also voted the best in the entire Belgian league.

Ndidi has won three full international caps and he is now set to feature at the Rio Olympics.

69-73 48- 62 75- 65 52- 57

Niger Potters Rivers Hoopers Gombe Bulls Customs

Day 3 Fixtures Customs v Niger Potters Gombe Bulls v Oluyole Warriors Plateau Rocks v Kwara Falcons Rivers Hoopersv Kano Pillars

FIBA Continues from BP Lagos to give the team travelling visas. Shockingly too, the Embassy officials offered no explanation for their action.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF had presented every document ranging from travelling insurance, birth certificates, sworn affidavits by the players parents which the Foreign Affairs ministry endorsed since they are minors as demanded by the embassy but yet the C M Y K

co, Mali and South Africa. Algeria, Cote d‘ Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Egypt are the top seeded teams for the continent and are drawn in pot one.

*Wilfred Ndidi

Keshi’s final resting place Continues from BP

DStv Final 8 results Plateau Rocks Oluyole Warriors Kano Pillars Kwara Falcons

*Mikel Obi

12 pm 2 pm 4 pm 6 pm

Spaniards denied them visas.

Surprisingly the NBBF all through was working with the sport’s world body FIBA and the Local Organising Committee on ground in Spain but in spite of all these, the Spanish Embassy which had promised to issue the visa, started shifting grounds from Thursday to Friday last week before they finally returned the players passports to the Protocol officer of the Youth and Sports ministry without visas on them.

former Hawks of Togo coach be buried in Benin.

In the letter the Union said, “The issue that has caused us much anxiety is the proposal by the Aburime Family that they wish their in-law, our son, to be buried in Benin.

“As it is in Delta State, Edo State including the Ewu Kingdom and indeed Nigeria, most men are buried in their hometown on their demise.

“We wish to reiterate our demand as earlier stated at the meeting of 17th June, that our son Steven Okechukwu Keshi be buried at his house in his hometown Ogbe Onyeogu Ukpologwu Illah in line with his last wish before his demise. And this we must state is in conformity with Illah tradition, the Ewu tradition and the Chieftaincy institution which he willingly subscribed to during his lifetime,” the Ogbe Onyeogu family stated.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

FIBA U-17: Spanish Embassy denies Nigerian team visa •As Championship dunks off today

T

HE 2016 FIBA U17 World

Championship will dunk off today in Spain

Nigerian clubs scramble for Yobo

without Nigeria’s team following the refusal of the Spanish Embassy in

Continues on Page 47

INSIDE

Genk reject N1.9b bid for Ndidi

•As former Eagles captain returns to Nigerian league

F

ORMER Everton and Norwich City defender Joseph Yobo will play in the Nigerian league, according to the competition’s organisers.

The League Management Company (LMC) announced the former Nigeria skipper, who recently celebrated a testimonial in his honour, will feature in the last 12 games of the season as an Elite Player, a similar arrangement that

saw former World Cup star, Sani Keita play for Enyimba and then FC IfeanyiUbah.

The league will pay part of the player’s salary as he is expected to use his “star power” to draw fans to the stadiums.

League leaders Wikki

Tourists, IfeanyiUbah, Kano Pillars and Akwa United are among the clubs jostling for the central defender, who has also played for Fenerbahce, Olympique Marseille and Norwich City.

AAC: Nigerian athletes face tough contest in Durban 2018 FIFA W/Cup draw holds Friday

Results

Tussle over Keshi’s final resting place T

•Yobo

HE Onyeogu Family Union Ukpologwu Illah, Delta State has stated, in categorical terms, that the remains of late former national team coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi will be buried at his ancestral home in Illah.

In a terse letter to the family of late wife of Stephen Keshi, the Aburime Family, made available to Sports Vanguard, the union frowned at suggestions that the

Continues on Page 47

Euro 2016 N/Ireland Ukraine Czech Rep Croatia

0 0 0 2

Germany Poland Turkey Spain

1 1 2 1

Today’s matches

•Late Keshi

Iceland Hungary Italy Sweden

v v v v

Austria Portugal Iceland Belgium

5 pm 5 pm 8 pm 8 pm

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Spoken (4) 4 Time (3) 6 Greedy (4) 9 Brown (3) 10 Bewildered (8) 11 Formerly (4) 14 Finish (3) 16 Learnt (5) 19 Journalist (8) 21 Repulse (5) 23 Gift (8) 24 Strict (5) 27 Plaything (3) 31 Worry (4) 33 Briskness (8) 34 Observe (3) 35 Grasped (4) 36 Owing (3) 37 Moist (4)

DOWN 2 Bird (4) 3 Raise (4) 4 Agreed (8) 5 Discourteous (4) 6 Make amends (5) 7 Vehicle (3) 8 Bring upon oneself (5) 12 Go over (5) 13 Room (5) 14 Stray (3) 15 Storehouse (5) 17 Pungent (5) 18 Performing (5) 20 Renew (8) 22 Ballad (3) 25 Short (5) 26 Assessed (5) 28 Difficult (4) 29 Poke (4) 30 Staunch (4) 32 Fish (3)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Maniac 5, Amazed 8, Internal 9, Clap 10, Sly 12, Bless 15, Sea 17, Ill 18, Pit 19, Ape 20, Ensue 21, Use 22, Lea 23, Aim 24, Lad 26, Kayak 29, Put 33, Omit 34, Generous 35, Staple 36, Yearly.

DOWN: 2, Annul 3, Item 4, Canal 5, Atlas 6, Arch 7, Evade 10, Stall 11, Yield 12, Bleak 13, Essay 14, Speak 15, Stump 16, Alert 25, Admit 27, Argue 28, Annoy 30, Usual 31, Step 32, Area.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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