ARRAIGNMENT FOR FORGERY: Buhari, Saraki in war of words

Late publication of accounts: CBN to sack banks’ CEOs, chairmen

By Babajide Komolafe

L

AGOS — THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will sack chief executive officer and chairman of any bank that fails to publish its financial statement within

the regulatory period.

This was contained in the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade and Exchange Policy

•As Naira depreciates to N281.5/$

Guidelines for the 2016/ 2017 fiscal year released by

the apex bank, yesterday.

According to the CBN, all

banks must publish their financial statements latest

Nigerian Breweries Plc: Investors' gains buckle, occupies top 5 losers' chart >20

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 63059

**

four months after their financial year or risk severe sanction, including removal of the chief executive officer and the chairman.

The CBN stated: “In accordance with BOFIA 2010 LFN, banks are Continues on page 8

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

N200

ARRAIGNMENT FOR FORGERY:

Buhari, Saraki in war of words •You’re not in charge; I’m ready for jail, Saraki tells Buhari By Henry Umoru, Dapo Akinrefon, •It’s not only ridiculous, but preposterous — Presidency Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Levinus •Courts being used for vendetta against us — Ekweremadu Nwabughiogu & Joseph Erunke •As court grants Saraki, Ekweremadu, others bail BUJA— THE Presidency, and the A President, Dr. Economy: Buhari angry with CBN over Naira devaluation >9 Senate Bukola Saraki alongside his

deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, were, yesterday, locked in a war of words over the arraignment of the nation’s two top legislative officials for alleged forgery of the Continues on Page 5

Ogun dep gov escapes death, as militants attack convoy >11 Mr & Mrs DOCKED: Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki (middle) and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu (left) at the Federal High Court, Jabi, Abuja over alleged forgery of Senate Rules, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

States should publish accounts — Adeosun >9 COLUMNIST: Court removes Gov Ikpeazu of Abia State PIPELINE BOMBINGS: Itsekiri may fight back, Newuwumi warns Avengers See inside

Brexit: Teachable moment for internal •P.17 colonialists

•Don't panic, I remain your gov, Ikpeazu tells Abians >15

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

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4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016—5

POCKET CARTOON

SUMMIT: Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (right); Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita Ekanem (left) and Chairman, Urban Shelter, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim, during the opening session of the Affordable Housing Summit 2016 organized by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing and the German Development Cooperation, in Abuja, yesterday.

Buhari, Saraki in war of words Continues from page 1 Senate’s Standing Rules.

While Saraki said, yesterday, that his trial with that of his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, was a clear indication that President Muhammadu Buhari was not in charge of governance, and that a cabal had taken over his government, the Presidency said Saraki’s allegations were not only “ ridiculous but also preposterous.”

Senator Ekweremadu, on his part, said his trial and that of his boss was a clear case of the courts being used to achieve vendetta against them.

Saraki spoke shortly after he, alongside others charged with him, including his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi, secured bail from the Federal High Court,

Jabi, despite stiff opposition from the Federal Government’s lawyers.

Cabal has seized governance

According to Saraki, those he accused of forming a new government within the government of Buhari are using their positions to pursue and work towards achieving their nefarious agenda.

He said: “However, what has become clear is that there is now a government within the government of President Buhari, who has seized the apparatus of executive powers to pursue their nefarious agenda."

Saraki, in a statement he personally signed in Abuja, warned the government and the All Progressives Congress, APC, that if there was no rethink in the fight against the legislature, they stood the risk of losing the support of Nigerians.

IT'S UP TO YOU

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SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

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I’m ready for jail — Saraki

He vowed not to surrender to the desecration of the Senate as well as moves by the executive to rubbish the nation’s democracy.

He said he was ready to carry a cross, adding that he was also prepared to go to jail in fighting against injustice and intimidation.

The Senate President said it was unfortunate that at a time the entire government should be working together to solve Nigeria’s many challenges, the National Assembly was once again distracted by the executive arm’s inability to move beyond a leadership election among Senate peers.

The statement read: “Today, we, the leaders of the Nigerian Senate reiterate our innocence against the charges filed by the Attorney-General of the Federal Government of Nigeria at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on the allegations of forgery of the Senate Standing Rules’ document.

“In our view, the charges filed by the AttorneyGeneral represent a violation of the principle of separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches as enshrined in our constitution.

“Furthermore, it is farcical to allege that a criminal act occurred during Senate procedural actions and the mere suggestion demonstrates a desperate overreach by the office of the Attorney-General.

These trumped-up charges are only another phase in the relentless persecution of

the leadership of the Senate.

“This misguided action by the Attorney-General begs the question: How does this promote the public interest and benefit the nation? At a time when the whole of government should be working together to meet Nigeria’s many challenges, we are once again distracted by the executive branch’s inability to move beyond a leadership election among Senate peers. It was not an election of Senate peers and executive branch participants.

“Over the past year, the Senate has worked to foster good relations with the executive branch. It is in all of our collective interests to put aside divisions and get on with the nation’s business.

We risk alienating and losing the support of the very people, who have entrusted their national leaders to seek new and creative ways to promote a secure and prosperous Nigeria.

“As leaders and patriots, it is time to rise above partisanship and move forward together. However, what has become clear is that there is now a government within the government of President Buhari who has seized the apparatus of executive powers to pursue their nefarious agenda.

“This latest onslaught on the legislature represents a clear and present danger to the democracy Nigerians fought hard to win and preserve. The suit filed on behalf of the Federal Government suggests that perhaps some forces in the Federal Republic have not fully embraced the fact that the Senate’s rules and procedures govern how the legislative body adjudicates and resolves its own disputes.

I'll continue to rise above persecution

“Let it be abundantly clear, both as a citizen and as a foremost legislator, I will continue to rise above all the persecution and distraction that have been visited on me. In the words of Martin Luther King, Junior, 'the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at a time of challenge and controversy.'

“I will remain true and committed to the responsibilities that my citizenship and my office impose on me. Without doubt, the highest of those responsibilities is the steadfast refusal to

surrender to the subversion of our democracy and the desecration of the Senate.

This is a cross I am prepared to carry.

“If (my not) yielding to the nefarious agenda of a few individuals, who are bent on undermining our democracy and destabilizing the Federal Government to satisfy their selfish interests is the alternative to losing my personal freedom, let the doors of jails be thrown open and I shall be a happy guest.”

Saraki, Ekweremadu, others get bail

Meanwhile, despite stiff opposition from the Federal Government, the Abuja High Court, yesterday, released on bail the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi.

The quartet were docked before the court on a twocount forgery charge the Federal Government entered against them.

The defendants were alleged to have masterminded the usage of a bogus Senate Standing Rules for the July 9, 2015, election, through which both Saraki and Ekweremadu took over leadership of the Senate.

Government maintained that the defendants had by their conduct, committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act. However, though the Federal Government, which was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, did not oppose Saraki’s bail request, it, however, urged the court to deny the other defendants bail.

The DPP told the court that Ekweremadu and the other defendants previously evaded service of the charge on them.

“We urge this court to be cautious in handling the bail of the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants. This is also considering the fact that the charge against them is very serious,” the DPP insisted.

He noted that the three defendants evaded service until the court granted an order for substituted service of the charge on them by pasting it on the National Assembly notice board.

“My lord, what this means is that if granted bail, the defendants may not be seen again for trial,” Diri added.

He said government’s decision not to oppose Saraki’s bail application was to ensure that legislative business in the Senate was not hampered.

Delivering a bench ruling on the matter, trial Justice Yusuf Halilu stressed that the essence of bail was to ensure the liberty of an accused person, who under Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, was presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“The law is trite that considering whether or not to grant bail is within the discretion of the court and exercise of such discretion must be done judiciously and judicially,” the judge held.

He observed that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, equally “lends supports that an accused person standing trial shall be granted bail to enable him prepare defence.”

He said the concept of “presumption of innocence” under the constitution entailed that an accused person should be afforded the facility and time to prepare to defend the charge before the court.’’

Having considered the applications for bail and submissions by counsel to the defendants, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, SAN, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, Paul Erokoro, SAN, and J. B. Daudu, SAN, and after also considering the

Continues on page 43

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

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Owo FMC accountant kidnapped

‘I started sleeping with my daughter out of frustration’

By Esther Onyegbula

A

41-year-old man, Raymond Anyanwu, who

By Dayo Johnson

Abductors demand N5m ransom

A

KURE—ABOUT five gunmen reportedly abducted the Acting Chief Accountant of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Kayode Asaju.

Report said the abductors have opened negotiation with the family of the victim and have asked the wife for N5 million ransom.

Asaju was kidnapped on his way to Abuja for an official assignment scheduled for yesterday by the unknown gunmen.

Vanguard learned that the victim was accompanied in his official vehicle by three other officials of the finance department, beside the driver.

The driver was said to have noticed that motorists were making U-turn, following the operation of the kidnappers on the Lokoja-Abuja Road, who shot at some of the vehicles trying to escape.

Vanguard gathered that the driver stopped the car at a distance and all the occupants, including the victim, fled into the bush. The kidnappers pursued Asaju, caught him and whisked away.

Some staff of the centre expressed concern over the incessant kidnapping of its workers.

A pharmacist and a widow, who work with the centre, was kidnapped in December last year.

Meanwhile, the police spokesman, Femi Joseph, when contacted, confirmed the incident, saying it occurred outside the jurisdiction of the Ondo State Command.

Joseph assured that the command would work with the Kogi State Police Command to ensure that the victim was released and reunited with his family.

Raymond Anyanwu

reportedly raped and impregnated his 15 years old daughter, said that frustration led him into the act.

Anyanwu, who committed the offence at Ajao Estate, Isolo, said: “I started sleeping with my 15-yearold daughter sometime around January, after I lost my job.

“I am a transporter, but I took to alcohol after I lost my job and could not meet up with my responsibilities as the head of the house.”

Vanguard gathered that

Raymond Anyanwu sleeps with his daughter when his wife has gone to work.

However, trouble started after the victim’s aunty suspected that she was pregnant. After carrying out a test at home, they discovered she was pregnant.

The victim, it was learned, revealed that her father was responsible for her pregnancy, and the mother decided to play it down as a family issue after her husband beat her up, warning her not to disclose the incident to anyone.

Vanguard learned that Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development alerted the police and the suspect was arrested last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the victim’s mother had arranged for an abortion, which had been carried out before she was rescued and taken into protective custody by the Lagos State government.

The case, which is currently being investigated at the Gender Unit of Lagos State Police Command, will be charged to Ikeja Magistrate’s Court today.

How Abuja bizman was allegedly killed by best friend

By Emmanuel Elebeke

A

BUJA—THE prosecutor in the murder case of late Anthony Eze, an Abuja businessman, gave a chilling account of how the deceased was murdered in cold blood on November 6, 2014 at Tungamaji, Zuba, in the Federal Capital Territory by the six accused persons.

The prosecutor, who was under cross-examination by a team of defence counsel standing for the six accused persons, affirmed his earlier position that the sixth accused person, Mr. Augustine Nwamba, hired the other accused persons to kill his friend.

Those charged for the alleged murder are Anayo Eze, Samuel Okoro, Emmanuel Igwe, Idris Shaibu alias Calamity, Okechukwu Nelson and Augustine Nwamba.

According to him, the deceased was shot at a close range with a gun yet to be recovered by one of the accused persons at 8p.m. on the said date.

When asked how many phones he recovered from the deceased, he said: ‘‘The deceased was not alive for me to know how many phones he had. I recovered one phone from him. What I discovered during the course of my investigation was that he was in the company of three persons in a drinking joint before he was shot.

“The deceased was taken to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital by policemen from Zuba Division with the aid of the sixth accused person before the matter was brought to me. I can also confirm that it was dark and drizzling when he was shot.”

The Investigative Police Officer, further argued that he carried out a thorough investigation as an Israeli-

trained investigator and prosecutor and had tendered enough evidence to support all his claims that the six accused persons executed the crime against the state.

On confessional statement

Earlier, Justice Salisu Umar of the High Court 11, Maitama, had admitted a confessional statement on the murder case, following

submissions by the prosecution and defence counsel.

Though the defence counsel opposed the submission of the statement on the grounds that it was not voluntarily made by the first suspect in the case, the court admitted it.

Meanwhile, Justice Garuba Salisu in his ruling said the cross-examination will continue from the adjourned date to enable the defence

counsel close the crossexamination on the case.

The case was adjourned to September 22 and 26 to enable the judge and other judicial workers resume from Ramadan break.

Mr. Anthony Eze, an importer of goods from China, was allegedly assassinated in cold blood on November 6, 2014 by one of the suspects, Augustine Nwamba alias Janganza, said to be his best friend.

Cultists kill 2 policemen, 5 others in Rivers' clash

By Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOURT— CULTISTS, on Sunday, killed two policemen attached to the Rumuji Police Divisional Headquarters and five other persons during a clash in the area.

It was learned that a war erupted between the Icelanders and the Greenlanders cult groups in Rumuji and Ovogo communities, Emohua Local Government Area of River

State, leading to the death of many persons.

Vanguard gathered that the Icelanders invaded the area in search of the Greenlanders, who had taken over the communities after their clash last month.

A source in the area, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that on arrival, the Icelanders shot dead two policemen at a check point in the area.

The source said that the cultists later entered Rumuji community and allegedly killed about three persons

before making straight to Ovogo, where two persons were reportedly killed.

The source also disclosed that the bandits set ablaze over six houses believed to be owned by members of their rival cult group in the area.

It was further gathered that the Greenlanders, who were resident in the area, on noticing that the rival cult members were around also went on rampage.

The community source said the shootings and killings by the cultists forced the residents of the area to flee for safety.

53-yr-old woman delivers twins aft

By Simeon Ndaji

I

T was celebration and thanksgiving, Sunday, at Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja, Lagos, when Elder Amobi Nwachukwu and his wife, Patience, 53, dedicated twins, delivered by the wife after 18 years of waiting.

The dedication of the twins, Emmanuel and Samuel, delivered on March 10 in the United States of America, was presided over by Dr. Charles Osueke, retired Assemblies of God General

From left—Elder Amobi Nwachukwu; one of his daughters; his wife, Patience; and Rev & Mrs Peter Agianpuye Superintendent.

Narrating his experience

while believing God for a baby boy, Elder Amobi Nwachukwu

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016—7

08023019505 08034073107

Herdsmen, farmers clash in Adamawa

By Umar Yusuf

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GOING...: A car submerged by flood on Benin-Lagos Highway after a downpour, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

2 suicide bombers blow selves up in failed Maiduguri mosque attack

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI—TWO suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers blew themselves up near Sulemanti Mosque in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, in the early hours of yesterday.

The suspects, according to Borno State Police Command, strapped with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, targeted a mosque in Sulemanti.

However, the bombs went off, killing the two suspects during midnight Ramadan prayers.

Spokesman of Borno Police Command, Isuku Victor, confirmed the incident yesterday in Maiduguri, stating that “a team of Police Explosives Ordinance Department, EOD, has been deployed to the scene this morning (yesterday) near Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, depot.”

A civilian Joint Task Force member, Bukar Fantami, said the suicide bombers were intercepted near a mosque premises, where they blew themselves up.

Fantami said: “The people in the mosque took to their heels, while we challenged the

explosives-strapped suspects on their mission to the mosque, before the explosives exploded near the mosque, under this tree.

“It was God that saved us. We would have been killed in the dawn suicide bombings. One of our members was injured by a shrapnel from the explosives. A woman also sustained a leg injury. She has been taken to a nearby clinic for treatment.”

On how the suspected terrorists sneaked into Maiduguri, Fantami said:

Meanwhile, the mosque has been condoned off by soldiers and policemen to prevent any further attacks on mosques and other public places in the metropolis.

Another salesgirl raped in Ughelli

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—IN what is gradually turning Ughelli, Delta State, into a town of rapists, barely five

days after a sales girl was raped and bludgeoned to death at Afiesere community, another sales girl has been attacked.

Vanguard learned that the

SHOOT AND BE SHOT: Policemen threatening to shoot photojournalists, who were taking shots at the arraignment of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

ter 18 years wait told Vanguard: “My first daughter is a final year student of Medicine and the second girl, 18-year-old Esther, has cleared her Cambridge ‘A’ levels papers.”

He said as the only son of his parents and an African man, he was praying and believing God for a male child, adding “it looked like while I asked for one, Esther, inadvertently or deliberately, was asking for two brothers.

“When we were at Onitsha, Esther usually play with her friends, Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige’s children (five girls and

“Sulemanti ward and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, quarters, south of the metropolis, is porous with no military posts and patrols at the south flank.”

four boys). When Esther will be going home, they will ask after her brothers and she will respond: ‘Emmanuel and Samuel are coming’.

“Eventually and miraculously, Esther’s twin brothers are here.

To God be the glory.”

Also, a Federal Appeal Court Judge, Justice Chioma NwosuIheme, who described the birth as miraculous, said: “This is the greatest miracle of 21st Century.

I have twins as well, but Amobi (the father of the twins) my younger brother, has broken a record as his surpassed mine.”

OLA—NO fewer than eight persons were feared killed and several others injured, following a clash between Koh community and herdsmen in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

This came barely a week after a similar incident claimed the lives of the three police officers sent on a surveillance mission to the community.

The first attack, which occurred in January, claimed the lives of over 40 persons, including a Divisional Police Officer in charge of Vinikland.

An eyewitness said the latest attack began when a Fulani herdsman trespassed into a farm in the community.

However, Police Public Relation Officer in the state, DSP Abubakar Othman, said only one person was killed.

victim, identified as Charity, was raped and then beaten with a mallet.

The incident occurred, yesterday, inside a shop were the victim sells fish feeds at Ekuigbo community, Ughelli.

Yesterday’s case is the third in five days after the wife of a popular hotelier was attacked and raped inside her shop along Ekerejebor Road in Ughelli, last Friday.

It was gathered that the victim, who was at the point of death, was discovered naked by the owner of an adjoining shop in the same building, who then raised alarm.

Sympathisers rushed the victim to Ughelli Central Hospital.

It was gathered that the assailants had gagged, tied and raped the victim, leaving her for dead, before she was discovered.

Artiste disappears after singing about corrupt politicians

By Umar Yusuf

Y

OLA—ADO Daukaka, a popular local Hausa singer in Adamawa State, has been abducted in mysterious circumstances, few hours after releasing a song against corruption and incompetence.

One of the wives of the popular singer said some strangers came and asked after him Saturday morning after he had gone to the mosque for the early morning

prayer, adding “we told them Daukaka left for the mosque.

From then till now nobody knows his whereabouts.”

“We searched police stations for him to no avail,” said one of the wives, who does not want to be named in print.

Already, people are associating his disappearance with his latest song entitled ‘Gyara Kayanka,’ where he said politicians elected on the platform of the ruling party were just deceiving people.

“The way and manner things are happening in the state will not augur well for anybody.

They just want to intimidate those that are criticising the charade being played in the state,” another said.

Also reacting, the state chairman of Adamawa Concerned Citizens, a pressure group in the state, Hussaini Gambo Bello, condemned in totality the abduction of the famous singer.

The state Police Command confirmed the incident.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2016

Only 17% of radio programmes focus on women — Sonaiya

By Josephine Agbonkhese

F

OUNDER/CEO of Nigeria’s premiere women-only radio station, W.fm, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, has revealed that the under-representation and stereotyping of women in radio programmes across the country inspired the establishment of W.fm.

Sonaiya spoke during a visit to Vanguard Newspapers’ corporate head-office in Lagos, yesterday. According to her, a recent study carried-out

by W.fm showed that only 17 per cent of radio programmes were solely focused on women issues, with 15 per cent of these coming from inspirational radio stations. The programmes, she added, were also presented and produced by men.

“These programmes also stereotyped women as they would rather talk about those who were either going through domestic violence or having relationship and parenting issues."

Total’s Ofon EPC creates 3,000 jobs

By Prince Okafor

T

O T A L EXPLORATION and Production Nigeria Limited has said that its Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, contract for its 65,000 barrels per day Ofon 2 oilfield project, undertaken by Nigerdock, created over 3,000 jobs for Nigerians and recorded 3.2 million manhours without Lost Time Incident, LTI. In a statement after the commissioning and loadout ceremony for the facilities at the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone, the company also disclosed that the project saw the completion of more than five million man-hours overall, equivalent to 22,000 people employed for one year.

Managing Director/Chief Executive of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Terraz, commended the over 3, 000 Nigerians employed during the construction of the project.

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VISIT: From left, Regina Chris-Ogbodo, Head of News, WFM 91.7; Abiola Aiyeola, Head of Programmes; Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor-in-Chief; Mrs. Toun Okewale Sonaiya, MD, WFM 91.7; Mrs. Morenike Taire, Woman Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Mrs. Funmi Ajumobi, Assistant Woman Editor, and Mrs. Josephine Agbonkhese, Correspondent, during the visit of the Management of WFM 91.7 radio to Vanguard Newspapers' Head Office, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Late publication of accounts: CBN to sack banks’ CEOs, chairmen Continued from page 1 required, subject to the written approval of the CBN, to publish not later than four months after the end of each financial year, their audited financial statements (statement of financial position and statement of comprehensive income) in a national newspaper printed and circulated in Nigeria.

“To facilitate the implementation of consolidated supervision, all

•As Naira depreciates to N281.5/$

banks, discount houses and their subsidiaries shall continue to adopt December 31, as their accounting year-end.

"The CBN shall continue to hold the Board Chairman and Managing Director (MD) of a defaulting bank directly responsible for any breach and impose appropriate sanctions which may include the following: Barring the MD or his/her

nominee from participation in the Bankers’ Committee and disclosing the reason for such suspension; suspension of the foreign exchange dealership licence of the bank and its name sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (in the case of a public quoted company); and removal of the chairman and managing director from office if the accounts remain unpublished for 12

Dubai houses: Defence Minister defends Buratai

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—DEFENCE Minister, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali, yesterday, waded into the controversy surrounding alleged purchase and ownership of houses in Dubai by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.

According to him, the allegations are part of attempts by unpatriotic and disgruntled elements to distract the leadership of the armed forces from the successes of the war against terrorism.

A statement by Brigadier General MS Ahmed, the Principal General Staff Officer, PGSO, to the ministry said: “The

Ministry of Defence has observed with dismay, the media report on involvement of the Chief of Army Staff and his family over ownership of property in Dubai. ‘’It is noteworthy that there has been series of concerted efforts in the past by some medium and its cohorts to tarnish the image of the person of Lt. General Tukur Buratai for reasons best known to them which failed to achieve their desired ulterior motives.

“The Ministry of Defence view this as an attempt by some unpatriotic and disgruntled elements to distract the leadership of the Nigerian Armed forces from the successes of the war against terror particularly in the North East.

“It is on record that Lt. General

Buratai has declared his assets as Commander, Multi-national Joint Task Force and as Chief of Army Staff to the Code of Conduct Bureau. These facts are verifiable with the Bureau.

“The Ministry of Defence while appreciating the role of the media in nation building wishes to equally advise the media to exhibit high sense of professionalism in the discharge of their duties especially when it comes to security and defence related matters.

“We assure Nigerians that this government will not habour personalities with dubious character. Therefore, the online media report should be disregarded in its entirety.”

months after the end of the bank’s financial year.”

Naira depreciates N281.5/$ Meanwhile, the naira depreciated in interbank and parallel segments of the foreign exchange market yesterday.

At the interbank market, the naira depreciated marginally by 35 kobo as the interbank exchange rate for spot transactions rose to N281.49 per dollar from N281.14 per dollar.

But at the parallel market, the naira depreciated by N10 or 3.2 percent as the parallel exchange rate rose sharply to N351 per dollar from N340 per dollar on Monday.

A bureau de change operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the sharp depreciation was due to resurgence of demand for dollars, while supply has declined.

Last week, the naira appreciated significantly in the parallel market due to panic selling of dollars which boosted supply. The BDC source, however, said the appreciation was due to panic reaction to the commencement of the revived interbank foreign exchange market under the new flexible foreign exchange policy introduced by the CBN two weeks ago.

N1.2bn fraud: It was wrong for Dariye to divert ecological funds, ex-lawmaker tells court

By Soni Daniel

A

BUJA—A former Plateau State House of Assembly member, Geoffrey Teme, on Monday told the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gudu, Abuja, that it was wrong for Joshua Dariye, a former governor of the state, to divert the state’s ecological fund for personal gains.

Under cross-examination by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Teme, the second defence witness, admitted that “it was wrong for anybody to pay government money into his personal account”.

Dariye, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC, before Justice Adebukola Banjoko, is alleged to have diverted about N1.162 billion ecological fund meant for the state, to the accounts of Ebenezer Retnan Vetures, ERV, Pinnacle Communications Limited, Union Homes, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, SouthWest.

“Will you be happy if the money meant for Plateau State, is paid into the account of PDP SouthWest and not that of the state?”

Jacobs asked.

“I will not be happy,” Teme said.

The EFCC had in the course of investigations into the ecological fund, traced N100 million to the South-West PDP; N80 million to then Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Fund Office in the Presidency, Kingsley Nkomah; N250 million to Pinnacle Communications Limited; N6.8m to the PDP Plateau State; N66 million to 274 PDP wards in the state, and N176, 862,900 to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures.

Teme also admitted: “It will be wrong” to pay part of the state’s ecological fund as bribe to any officer at the Ecological Fund Office in the Presidency.

While identifying three £57,000

Barclays Bank cheques dated September 21, 2004 to be drawn from Dariye’s account with the bank, Teme admitted that he “would be surprised that Dariye runs a foreign account”, and “no, it is wrong for a serving governor to operate a foreign account”.

Teme, who served in the state’s House of Assembly between 2003 and 2006, had under crossexamination by defence counsel, G. S. Pwul, told the court that he was a member of the ninemember panel that exonerated Dariye from the corruption charges brought against him by the EFCC.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016—9

States should publish accounts—Adeosun ....Says fiscal discipline a destination ....Releases N109bn capital vote

By Omoh Gabriel & Emma Ujah

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INISTER OF Finance, Kemi Adeosun, yesterday, said that states must publish their accounts at end of every financial year to open their books to public scrutiny and ensure transparency and accountability.

Adeosun actually challenged state governors not to hide anything relating to their spending, including security votes, from the public.

She said: “Fiscal discipline is a destination; we will continue to improve discipline on an ongoing basis. FG has commenced similar reforms at the federal level with success.

Ghost workers which we prefer to call payroll clean-up has been very successful and the continuous audit unit at the FG level will continue to monitor and improve our efforts there.

“We have saved N 6.6 billion on a monthly basis. This is all about good housekeeping.

The efficiency units has already had success with travel, food, sitting allowance and they will now look at adverts. We are all aware of the efforts on plugging leakages and recoveries.’’

Contract between the States and FG Adeosun said that state governments had a key role in diversifying Nigeria’s economy.

According to her: “We see the states as strong partners in diversifying our economy away from oil and getting Nigeria working again. This is one of the

key drivers behind the administration’s fiscal sustainability plan with states.

It is about improving accountability and transparency, increasing public revenue, effective expenditure, improving public financial management and managing debt sustainably.

This is true reform, it starts with discipline and ends with diversification of our economy.

Last month’s FAAC distribution was made up largely of revenue collections and not only oil revenue.

N305.12 billion was distributed in May; though it was only N23.62 billion higher in May than in April, the pleasing thing is that was funded by locally generated revenue.

On the new foreign

exchange policy, the Minister said: “We are happy with the new FX policy, this was the missing link between monetary and fiscal policy and we are happy that is now in place. It is supply and demand driven.”

On policies to support large manufacturers, the Minister said: “It is not about only one policy but a framework of policies to ensure competitiveness both for local consumption and for exports. This would include looking into tariffs, Customs, Power, etc.”

On the N350bn disbursement planned for this quarter, the Minister said that “N109 billion out of the N350 billion has already been disbursed. The funds are ready, however, there are procedural delays, due to the

required public procurement processes."

The selection process however, allows for many new capable companies to participate in the process and getting involved in the FG projects.

On China, the Minister said that the CBN will be best placed to provide details of what was agreed but from a technical point of view, the principle is that both Nigeria and China can directly exchange each other’s currencies without changing into US Dollars first.There are 22 action points of reform to achieve 5 key objects.

The objectives are: to improve accountability & transparency, to increase public revenue, to rationalise public expenditure; to improve public financial management and ssustainable debt management.

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BUJA—EVEN with the Currency flexibility policy recently invoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to enable market variables determine the value or otherwise of the Niara, President Muhammadu Buhari

BREAKING OF FAST: From the left, Chairman, Jaiz Bank Plc, Alhaji Umaru Mutalab; Chairman, Oando Oil, Mr. Wale Tinubu; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc; Mr. Jim Ovia and President, Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu, during the Presidential Breaking of Fast, at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

yesterday insisted that the policy was not beneficial to the economy.

The CBN policy, it would be recalled, came as an economic and market strategy to systematically devalue the Niara, following its free fall recently.

It was one decision that didn’t

come so easy as president Buhari never wanted to further devalue the currency.

He had on several occasions in many international fora in Egypt and Kenya said that further devaluation of Niara would mean “killing it”, and challenged Nigerian economists and financial analysts to convince him.

FIRS resumes shutting tax-defaulting firms

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HE FEDERAL Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, resumed its enforcement shutting tax-defaulting companies in Lagos and Owerri, Imo State. In Lagos, where two FIRS enforcement teams worked in the Apapa area.

The FIRS visited the offices of Folawiyo Energy Trading Company on Creek Road.

But the company, which the FIRS reckoned was owing N450 million, maintained that it was only owing for last year. The FIRS team did not seal the company, but advised

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By Emmanuel Elebeke

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HE CHIEF Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman, has announced Mr. Adekunle Awobodu the new Chief Financial Officer of the company.

With his new appointment, Awobodu, becomes the first Nigerian to occupy such a sensitive position in over 15 years of its existence.

According to Moolman, Awobodu will serve as MTN’s strategic Financial Business Partner and lead the organisation in facilitating decisionmaking through sound business insights and analysis that drives business improvement and performance.

He takes over from Ferdi Moolman, who was appointed to the same position last December.

Closing investment gap tops discussions at DESG holding

Economy: Buhari angry with CBN for Naira devaluation ....Says policy not helpful

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

MTN announces first Nigerian CFO

its management to clear the matter up at the FIRS office in Ikoyi.

In Owerri, capital of Imo State, the FIRS enforcement team sealed the premises of two eateries and a hotel.

According to the enforcement team, the three outfits were shut after concerted efforts by the FIRS failed to get them to defray their tax liabilities.

The affected outfits are City Chef Restaurant, De Mange Eatery House and Comet Hotels and Conference Hall.

Speaking to newsmen after the exercise, FIRS

enforcement team leader, Mr. Chinazo Udeh, explained that all due processes laid down by law were exhausted before the businesses were sealed.

“We assessed and gave them notice of what they owe as tax.

They did not respond to our communication. This was followed up with two separate reminders. Thereafter, a demand notice was sent to them with all these largely ignored.

After the expiration of the one month window following the final notice, we were left with no option but to enforce the law."

Now, while speaking breaking his Ramadam fast with members of the Nigerian business community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last night, the President said the CBN policy was yet to benefit the country.

He said: “I don’t like the returns I get from the CBN concerning the devaluation of the Naira. In August 1985, the Naria was N1.3 to a dollar but now you need N300 or N350 to a dollar.

What do we derive from that?

How much benefit can we derive from this ruthless devaluation of the Naira.

“I’m not an economist neither a businessman, I fail to appreciate what the economic explanation is.

What has happened to us now is that we have maneuvered ourselves into mono-economy which led to the collapse we are seeing now”.

To get Nigeria out of the employment crisis, the President placed the responsibility of creating jobs on the door steps of the business community.

By Nkiruka Nnorom

T

HE NEED to bridge the yarning investment gap and redirect Delta State’s economy to private sector driven will form the main thrust of the maiden Delta State Economic Summit scheduled to hold in Lagos State on June 30.

The event, with the theme”Bridging the Investment Gap in Delta State, will provide an avenue for private sector operators and the government to rub minds on possible ways to improve the ease of doing business in the state.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the summit, Mr. Chukwuka Monye, Director General, Delta State Economic Summit Group, DESG said the private sector think-tank and advocacy group hosting the event, said huge opportunities abound in the state for investment hitherto unrecognised due to limited awareness and hostile business environment prevalent in the region.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY JUNE 28 , 2016

Lagos outlaws Omo-Onile, sets up 5-man task force

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Monsur Olowopejo

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AGOS State government yesterday warned that it is set to visit the activities of land grabbers, also known as Omo-onile, in the state with full wrath of the law.

The warning was delivered by the government through the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem who said the state is ready to apply the full wrath of the law on anybody caught forcibly taking another person’s land in the state.

Inaugurating a five-man Special Task Force to curb the criminal activities of land grabbers, the government said it will henceforth enforce the state government rights over land in Lagos and to also work with all security agencies to implement state government and private property rights in the state.

The terms of reference of the committee, include: “to reduce to a barest minimum the activities of persons or corporate entities who use force and intimidation to dispossess or prevent any person or entity from acquiring legitimate interest and possession of property acquired through state government or private transactions.

Beside the committee is: “to coordinate the efforts of the various agencies of government charged with enforcing the state government rights over land in Lagos and to work with all security agencies to ensure enforcement of state government and private property rights in Lagos State”.

Kazeem explained that the state government’s decision to set up the task force is in realisation that in recent years, “the land grabbers have caused havoc and unrest in different parts of the state by dispossessing legitimate land owners of their properties, thereby stifling commercial activities in the state.

“It is therefore important that the state government not only identifies the effects of the problems being perpetrated by these unscrupulous elements on commercial activities and peace of the citizenry but also find lasting solutions to the menace”, he noted.

IKORODU ATTACKS: We’re not ready to return home — VICTIMS As Ijaw, Yoruba leaders meet

By Dapo Akinrefon & Bose Adelaja

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ESPITE assurances from the security operatives of adequate protection of lives and property, residents of Igbo Olomu and Ita Oluwo, Ikorodu areas of Lagos and Ogun states, who were displaced due to the attacks by militants, have vowed not to return home until normalcy is restored to the communities.

This came as indications emerged that the security personnel detached to the crises prone areas are having difficulty in having access to food items and portable water in the area due to the desertion of the towns.

Meanwhile, as a means of preventing the spate of killings in the affected communities, some eminent Nigerians, including Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti have agreed to hold an emergency summit to nip the crisis in the bud.

Some communities in Lagos and Ogun states have been deserted following series of attacks by some suspected militants.

This has led to many residents seeking refuge in neighbouring communities until the situation is brought under control.

When Vanguard visited the affected communities, soldiers and other security personnel were seen manning strategic places like Psychiatric, Ola Imam, Iyana-Igbo Olomu, Chemist, Kajola and Oke-Ayo.

and food items to them pending when normalcy is restored.

Narrating her ordeal, she said, “We were in a vigil last Thursday when neighbours called to inform us that the militants have attacked again and I told my family to stay in the church while I sleep in the school. I won't return home because the militants are better armed than the government.”

one of the hotspots.

A combined team of military and para-military personnel have so been patrolling the area.

Vanguard gathered that the chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Mr Omosanya Awoniyi, whose local government covers one of the crisis-ridden area, has been summoned by the state governor.

We won’t return home, displaced persons speak

Security operatives' blues

Ijaw, Yoruba leaders plan emergency summit

One of the displaced persons, who gave his name as Ayobami, said he will not return home until the government takes over the creeks by dislodging the militants just as it is done in other places.

Ayobami said: “I am in Isolo squatting with my elder brother, while my family has relocated to Egbeda, Ogun State. Though the places are not comfortable, it is better than being killed.”

Another displaced person, Ms Victoria Aarinola, told Vanguard that she now stays in her office while her family stays in the church.

Victoria, a school teacher said her colleagues and church members have donated clothings

SYNAGOGUE: Court rules on admissibility of video evidence

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Jane Echewedo

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AGOS—JUSTICE Lateef Lawal-Akapo has fixed today to rule on the admissibility or otherwise of the evidence contained in a Compact Disc (CD) video recording of the building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building on September 2014.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the defence team had objected to the admissibility into evidence of a Compact Disc (CD) video recording of the building collapse which led to arguments between the parties.

The CD is purportedly containing a Close Circuit Television, CCTV, recording of an aircraft hovering above the building shortly before its collapse.

The two engineers who constructed the collapsed Synagogue guest house, their companies, Adrock construction company and Jandy Trust Ltd and the Trustees of the church are presently facing 101 criminal charges of manslaughter before the state High Court.

Shortly after the state represented by Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mrs Idowu Alakija tendered the copy of the CD allegedly received from the general Overseer of the church, Pastor Temitope Joshua, it was objected to by the defence counsels.

While objecting, Mr Olalekan Ojo said: “The document is a copy of the original recording was given to the Lagos State Government by the General Overseer of SCOAN.''

Meanwhile, there were strong indications that security personnel drafted to maintain law and order in the affected communities are unable to get access to portable water and food items in the communities.

Vanguard was made to understand that community leaders who could have assisted them have fled the community.

It was gathered that hunger seems to be ravaging the communities such that the security personnel attached to the affected places could not get food to buy.

Also, security presence in the communities has heightened as an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, has been stationed to Ereko,

In a bid to nip the crisis in the bud, Ijaw leader, Chief Clark and Afenifere leader, Chief Fasoranti have agreed that a joint consultative meeting of Ijaw and Yoruba nations must hold quickly to stop further hostilities.

In a statement signed on behalf of the leaders by National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin said that the recent spate of mindless killings of innocent people in some Ogun and Lagos communities by some bandits “have created worries in the Yoruba and Ijaw nations because of the shared respect of the right to life and given the insinuations about the identity of these killers.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 11

S-West Muslim leaders condemn hijab enforcement in Osun

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN—AN umbrella body of all Muslim organisations in the South West geopolitical zone, Muslim Ummah of South West, yesterday called on some of its members who attempted to enforce wearing of hijab on two private schools in Osun State to desist from the act saying they should leave the enforcement of the court order to the state government.

The apex Muslim organisation, through its Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Prof.

Dawud Noibi said yesterday in Ibadan, while speaking with newsmen, that it would not support such action.

He said, “as reported in the media last week, we learnt of the attempt by some Muslim parents and clerics to enforce the court order on hijab at St. Charles High School and Ife Oluwa Middle School, both in Osogbo, Osun State.

“We wish to use this medium to state that the action of those Muslims does not enjoy the support of the leadership of MUSWEN. No citizen has the right to take the law into his hands.”

Court rejects NERC’s appeal against anti-tariff hike judgement

By Innocent Anaba

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HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has lost out in its bid to stall the judgement of Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos in a suit by a lawyer and rights activist, Toluwani Yemi Adebiyi, over the hike in electricity tariff in the country, as Court of Appeal, Lagos, failed to hear an appeal lodged by the commission.

The Court of Appeal, was to have heard the appeal lodged by the commission against the ruling of the lower court which barred it from implementing upward review of electricity tariff pending the hearing and final determination of Adebiyi’s suit.

Judgement in the suit had already been fixed for July 7 by Justice Idris of the lower court.

Ogun dep gov escapes death as militants attack convoy

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA— O G U N State Deputy Governor, Chief Yetunde Onanuga, yesterday, escaped death in Ibafo in Obafemi-Owode when suspected Niger Delta militants engaged the security teams accompanying her to some borderline communities between Ogun and Lagos states, which were sacked by militants. The deputy governor accompanied by the service chiefs in the state had embarked on an inspection visit to Imushin, Elepete and IgboOlomu where some people were killed by suspected militants when the incident happened.

Onanuga was said to have been asked by Governor Ibikunle

Amosun to visit the place to reassure residents of the commitment of the authorities towards providing adequate security for lives and property.

But the situation changed at Akoka Ebute area of Ibafo, in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area when suspected militants opened fire on the security operatives that accompanied the deputy governor.

However, there was no casualty during the gun battle which lasted for about 20 minutes.

Scores of people last Friday lost their lives when the militants launched violent attacks on some communities in the state.

Worried by the militants attacks,

traditional rulers from the affected communities went on a “save our souls” mission yesterday and held a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa, in Abeokuta.

After the meeting, a state delegation led by the deputy governor visited the affected communities.

As an advance security team was approaching the Ibafo creeks where the suspected militants were believed to be hiding, a barrage of gunfire ensued, forcing the law enforcement agents to take cover.

Vanguard gathered that the security operatives, comprising soldiers and policemen , responded swiftly and repelled the suspected militants, who later retreated deeper into the creeks and escaped in the process.

The state delegation later made a detour from the troubled area after the deputy governor had assured the residents of

PROTEST: Students from tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, protesting perceived selective anti-graft war by the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday.

N4.7bn fraud: EFCC detains Gov Fayose’s men

By Soni Daniel

A

BUJA: Two men, who al legedly aided and abetted Governor Ayo Fayose to launder part of the cash taken from the office of the former National Security Officer, has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. One of them, whose name was given as Abiodun Agbele, was reportedly picked up at a location in Lagos while trying to doctor vital documents relating to some property he bought for the embattled governor.

The names of the others arrested by the commission were not made public at press time.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest but did not give further details.

“It is true that we arrested some men who were fronting for governor. They are in our Lagos office. That is all I can say for now,” Uwujaren said last night.

But it was learned that some officials of a bank, which the governor said had helped him with funds to run his election, were also picked up and moved to Abuja by the operatives of the commission.

Agbele, according to EFCC sources, had been on the watchlist of the commission in the past week, following discovery that he was the arrowhead in the receipt and laundering of huge sums of money from a former Defence Minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, who had since denied doling out any money to the Ekiti governor.

But the arrest of Agbele and others has not gone down well with Governor Fayose, who reacted angrily to the development last night.

In a statement by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, the governor chided EFCC for arresting his aides without first inviting them for questioning.

“Our attention has been drawn to the arrest of Mr Abiodun Agbele by the EFCC and we wish to say that we encourage the EFCC to carry out its investigations without politics as it is being done now.

“It must be pointed out that at no time was Mr Abiodun Agbele invited by the EFCC, and if he had been invited, he would have honoured the invitation. Therefore, there is nothing to celebrate in his arrest if it is not political.

commitment to their safety.

Reacting to the gun battle, the SSG expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the affected communities and called for urgent Federal Government’s assistance.

He said the exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the daredevil criminals in broad daylight was regrettable.

Adeoluwa said, “It is a thing of regret that things have gone so bad in our country; at this level, the teams led by the deputy governor of the state were not able to have access to a part of our state. It means that without mincing words, the Federal Government needs to get involved in this.

“This is something that is beyond the capacity of the police. We need military task force like the one we have in Niger Delta; It’s necessary and desirable. As we can see in Elepete, Igbo-Olomu and Imagbon, nothing can be compared with the violence here in Ibafo.”

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 13

FG lauds Ayade over Bakassi Deep Seaport project

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HE Federal Government has lauded Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State for his foresight in embarking on the construction of the Bakassi Deep Seaport, describing same as a worthy venture that will impact positively on the economic life of the country.

Chairman, Steering and Implementation Committee for the deep seaport and Director Maritime Services, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Alhaji Sani Galadanchi, stated this when he led other members of the committee on a courtesy visit to Government House in Calabar.

Galadanchi commended Governor Ayade “on his vision to diversify the economy of the state from its dependence on revenue allocation from the F e d e r a t i o n Account,"stressing that this was in line with the Federal Government’s desire to move the maritime sector forward.

Wike deplores ploy to politicise judiciary

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IVERS State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, has described as worrisome, a deliberate ploy to politicise the judiciary for the purpose of hearing the bail application of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who was charged for murder during the March 19, 2016 rerun elections in the state.

The governor reiterated his confidence in the judiciary to live above the political games being played by the agents of APC. Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, during the submission of the report by the Justice Monima Danagogo Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the killings and other violent acts/ related matters that occurred during the March 19, 2016 rerun elections in Rivers State, Governor Wike decried the setting up of a special panel by the Court of Appeal basically to consider the appeal of the APC chieftain standing trial for murder.

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We’re agitators, not terrorists, N-Delta militants blast Mohammed

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI- MILITANTS in the Niger Delta, yesterday, lambasted Second Republic lawmaker and Northern politician, Dr Junaid Mohammed, for asking President Muhammadu Buhari to treat them as terrorists, saying that they were agitators and not terrorists like Boko Haram insurgents.

Spokesperson of one of the militant groups, Niger Delta Sea Commandos, NDSC, self-styled Major Osama Blatter, also denied claims that politicians were funding Niger Delta militants.

The group said, “We commend Junaid for remembering that Boko Haram is a terrorist group, but we want to unequivocally tell the ethnic bigot that we are just agitators and not terrorists. Our activities and Boko Haram cannot be compared.

"We are not deterred by the call

by Junaid Mohammed because such calls will only facilitate the crumbling of Nigeria, which is what we are after. Junaid should be informed that we never begged to be appeased by Hausa/Fulani President, Muhammadu Buhari.

We are only fighting to leave Nigeria, which has enslaved and exploited us for too long. We are

not sponsored by any politician, but it a civic duty required of us to liberate us people from slavery.”

Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western zone, has called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, kickstart the 2015/2016 academic session of the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State as a sign of its readiness to address the problems of the region. The council made the call in a communiqué by its Information Officer, Napoleon Kenerekedi, after a meeting in Warri.

INAUGURATION: From the left; Committee Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Dankande; Committee Member, Alhaji Rufia Monguno; Committee Chairman, Mazi Omife I. Omife; National Chairman, Independent Democrats, Edozie Madu and Committee member, Alhaji Babajo Ibrahim during the inauguration of the Coordinating Committee on the Edo State Governorship Primaries at the party's National Headquarters, Mariana, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.

PIPELINE VANDALISM: Group flays arrest, harassment of Delta community’s indigenes

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH— Isoko Movement Against Social Slavery and Economic Sabotage, IMASSES, a civil society organisation in Delta State, has frowned at what it described as the ongoing unwarranted arrest and harassment of some indigenes of Idheze community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State by soldiers over the recent suspected vandalism of a Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC pipeline in the community.

It, however, condemned the “dastardly act of pipeline vandalism that was carried out by some unknown vandals,” advising Agip to thread with caution and desist from further arrests so as not to allow the already tense situation degenerate into full blown crisis.

The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Apostle Jacob Joshua, lamented the “manner of arrests and harassment” of the community’s indigenes by the soldiers “under the watchful eyes” of Agip and called for the

immediate release of those in detention.

It said, “The way and manner the oil company is taking the matter is not community friendly.

No matter what happened, Agip should know that Idheze community is a host community to them. If they don’t call the

soldiers back from their ongoing action of intimidation, harassment and arrest, then it will be an act of threat to the indigenes of the land and this can be counterproductive as it can boomerang and become an avenue for restiveness as seen and witnessed in other parts of the country.”

More N-Delta groups stand on referendum

By Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

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ARRI—NIGER-DELTA Security Watch Organisation of Nigeria, NDSWON, Ijaw Human Rights Monitors, IHRM, and Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, yesterday, insisted on a referendum to ascertain if the various ethnic nationalities of Nigeria were still willing to stay together as one country.

President, NDSWON, Dickson Bekederemo and Coordinator, IHRM, Fred Brisibe, in a statement after an interactive session, said that referendum had become imperative to redefine the

controversial matrimony of the various ethnic groups considering the increasing number of insurgent movements in the country.

National President of IPDI, Austin Ozobo, said President Muhammadu Buhari should order a referendum before the country goes the way of Sudan and other countries.

According to NDSWON and IHRM, “There is the Boko Haram group that now yearns for an independent Islamic caliphate from the northern region. From the same North, the Shiite militia is increasing in prominence with its ambitious desire to rule over the country with its religion."

DEFECTIONS: Oyegun to receive Ogboru, Ochei today

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Delta State governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru and former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, will be formally presented to the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun and the National Working Committee, today.

They will be led to the national headquarters of the party, Abuja by the Delta State Chairman of the APC, Prophet Jones Erue and the state party leader, Olorogun Otega Emerhor.

Ogboru contested the 2015 governorship election as Labour Party candidate while Ochei was the Accord Party, AP, Delta North senatorial flag bearer in 2015.

A statement by the Chairman of Delta APC Welcoming Committee, Mr Alfred Oloko, said Chief Oyegun and members of the NWC will receive the two political tacticians.

Enebong leads Rotary, governs 11 states

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ISTORY will be made on July 2, when one of Nigeria’s finest gentlemen will be installed as the last Governor of Rotary International over 11 states. Akabom Enebong, Chief Executive Officer of One Gas Limited will on that day, take over the mantle as District Governor of Rotary International District 9140.

The district is made up of Rotarians in the 11 states of South East and South South. That translates to about 120 Rotary clubs with a membership strength of over 3000. These noble men and women of different vocations will converge at the prestigious Calabar International Convention Centre, Cross River State to honour their new leader and savour the hospitality that only Calabar can provide.

Rotary International, reputed to be the second best organised non governmental organisation after the vatican is a service organisation made up of disciplined professionals of diverse calling, united in the common ideal of service.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Experts move to tackle epidemic in Africa

ICC: From left— President, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris, Alexis Mour re; Chair, Planning Committee, 1st African Regional Arbitration Conference, Dorothy UdemeUfot (SAN); Vice Chairman, ICC, Nigeria, Chief (Dr.) Raymond Ihyembe, and Partner and Co-Head, Clifford Chance’s International Arbitration Group, Jason Fry, at the ICC pre-conference cocktail in Lagos.

By Victoria Ojeme

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B U J A — PROFESSIONALS in the public health sector across Africa have called for the strengthening of healthcare emergency system to prevent epidemics on the continent.

This was part of the resolutions reached at the end of a two-day seminar on emergency health systems in Africa.

President of the Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria, AGCPN, and Professor of Radiation Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Professor Ifeoma Okoye, said the need for an effective and efficient health emergency system was sacrosanct to overall healthcare service delivery.

Okoye argued that the continuous neglect of health emergency would have negative effects across the broad spectrum in the health sector.

Also speaking, Professor Maurice Iwu harped on the need to enhance modulation in tracking diseases as well as the introduction of a microbiota system.

She said: “There is the need for capacity development, both human and infrastructural, with clinical trial as fulcrum.”

FG DARES VARSITIES: Conduct Post-UTME, face sanctions

By Laide Akinboade

A

BUJA—MINISTER of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, yesterday, reiterated the Federal Government’s ban on PostUnified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, Post-UTME, conducted by tertiary institutions for admission into universities and other higher schools of learning in the country.

Adamu told journalists in Abuja that any institution that violates the directive will be punished by the Federal Government.

He said: “The ban is with immediate effect and under no circumstance should any institution violate the directive.

Those who have already advertised for the conduct of the Post-UTME under any

Feel the plight of the poor

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AVING gone this far in this month of Ramadan, one will understand what it takes to go without food, and empathise with those who couldn’t afford three square meals a day.

Understanding the plight of the poor is one part of what Ramadan is ordained to achieve. We are, therefore, reminded several times, both in the Qur’an and hadiths, that giving food to fasting Muslim is a great deed in the month. In fact, feeding of 60 people is regarded as equivalent to a day's fasting. We need not overemphasise how much Allah values putting food at the table of the poor.

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How much better it would be if we could let others see the sweet and beautiful message of Islam by way of giving. We should not allow this special month to go without a good account of what we have added to somebody’s life.

We need to be asking ourselves all the time how we are going to benefit maximally from the holy month. What are we going to do to make the most of Ramadan?

Surely, it is a profitable venture in which there is no risk. But fast rewards. There are rewards in this life and the hereafter for giving charity at any moment. In this world you are also

Orders refund of money for already conducted exams guise should stop the exercise immediately.

“If any tertiary institution has already conducted PostUTME, such an exercise stands annulled and money taken from candidates must be refunded immediately.”

He said the emphasis had become necessary to ensure that no stakeholder was left in doubt about government’s position on the matter.

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, any educational institution, after secondary education, is regarded as a tertiary institution. Therefore, all tertiary institutions, by whatever name it is called, after secondary education, must be subjected to admission through JAMB.” He added that universities

were at liberty to expel any student who failed to meet up with the requirements for any degree enrolled for.

He said there was no empirical evidence to show that since the inception of Post-UTME, universities had been having better students, adding that students were still being expelled annually for low performance, even as they gained admission through Post-UTME. He said parents and guardians spend fortunes on transportation, hotel

rewarded by the personal satisfaction you will feel, and the feeling of the receivers of your charity towards you and towards their fellow humans in general. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer ’s sustenance is increased.

Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the fire of hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.

We can bring light and hope into the lives of many people who have none. Islam is the natural religion. Many in the world know nothing about Islam, except for the images of violence they see on TV. By way of giving, we can change that misconception. By our giving for Allah’s sake, we can teach the world how beautiful Islam really is.

Maybe our giving could also help us to be better Muslims.

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accommodation, examination fees and sundry costs, just for their wards to gain admission into universities; while in some cases, parents die in the process of travelling to secure admission for their wards, a situation he described as painful and avoidable.

Adamu directed the National Universities Commission, NUC, and the appropriate departments in the ministry to communicate this directive to relevant agencies and institutions to ensure strict compliance.

We'll soon pass Gender Equality Bill— NASS

By Grace Udofia BUJA—THE National Assembly, yesterday, reiterated its commitment to passing into law the Gender Equality Bill without much delay.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tetfund, Senator Binta Masi, made this known in Abuja, at a workshop organised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO; National Universities Commission, NUC, and Are

Babalola University, on the development of Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards for the Studies of Gender and Transformative Leadership programme in Nigeria.

She said though the Senate was still working on the bill, gender parity should be considered to avoid abeyance of the gender equality bill with religious beliefs in the country.

She said: “The Nigerian Senate did not throw away the gender equality bill. There are areas that needed to be fine tuned to prevent it from being in abeyance with the two religions we have in the country.”

Ochei, Ogboru meet with APC's NWC

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ORMER Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, and political heavyweight, Chief Great Ogboru, will today lead a 20-man delegation to a meeting with the National Working Committee, NWC, of All Progressives Congress, APC. A statement by Ochei’s

Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Nkem Osu, said the meeting, scheduled for the party ’s National Secretariat in Abuja, will consider ways of strengthening the party’s structure with a view to enhancing its electoral fortunes in Delta State.

It will be recalled that Ochei and Ogboru were recently admitted into APC in Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016—15

Court removes Gov Ikpeazu of Abia State Don’t

panic, I remain your gov, Ikpeazu tells Abians

By Anayo Okoli

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HE FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang has annulled the election of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and ordered INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Oga, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, who contested the governorship ticket with the governor.

The order was based on the allegation that Ikpeazu submitted false information to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the party’s governorship primary in December 2014.

The court held that Mr. Ikpeazu was guilty of tax evasion and was, therefore, unqualified to have contested the 2015 governorship election in the state.

The court also ordered the governor to vacate office immediately, and hand over to Mr. Ogah, who came second in the PDP governorship primary in Abia.

The accusation Gov. Ikpeazu was accused by two members of the PDP for failing to pay personal income tax promptly as at when due for 2010 and 2011 in line with Section 24(f) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that “It shall be the duty of every citizen to … declare his income honestly to appropriate and lawful agencies and pay his tax promptly.”

In suit no. FHC/ABJ/ CS/1086/ 2014, dated December 22, 2014, and instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, two individuals, Obasi Eke and Chukwuemeka Mba, had asked the PDP and INEC to disqualify Mr. Ikpeazu from contesting the governorship election.

The plaintiffs contended that Mr. Ikpeazu was not fit and proper, having failed to pay his personal income tax for two years in line with the demand of the Constitution of Nigeria.

They further asked the court for “A declaration that the 3rd defendant, Mr. Ikpeazu, having failed and/or refused to pay his personal income tax promptly as at when due for the years 2010 and 2011 in compliance with the mandatory provisions of Section 24(f) of the CFRN, 1999, as amended, as well as Paragraph 13 of Part IV of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2014, is not a fit and proper person to contest the gubernatorial election of Abia State in the 2015 general election, and is accordingly disqualified from contesting the election.”

They also asked for an order barring the PDP from presenting Mr Ikpeazu as candidate for governor in the 2015 election.

Other reliefs sought by the plaintiffs included an order barring INEC from accepting Mr. Ikpeazu as Abia State PDP governorship candidate for the C M Y K

2015 election.

They also requested a consequential order that the candidate at the PDP primary election of December 8, 2014, who polled the second highest number of votes cast at the said election should be pronounced the rightful candidate of the party for the governorship election.

Don’t panic, I remain your governor, Ikpeazu tells Abians Reacting to his removal from office, the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu called on Abians not to panic, but to remain calm over the judgment

delivered in favour of Mr. Uche Oga against him, in the case of alleged falsification of tax receipts.

Governor Ikpeazu, who said that he has faith in the judiciary and rule of law, added that he will appeal the ruling as he has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal immediately against the said judgment.

The Governor noted as an appointee of the Abia State Government from 2011 to 2014, when he served as the General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), and first Deputy General Manager, Abia

State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and Environs respectively, before his resignation in October 2014 to contest the Governorship election in the state, his taxes were deducted at source, and when he had need of his tax clearance in 2014, he applied to the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, and was duly issued with his tax receipts for the period in question.

He maintained that he remains the Governor of the state according to law and will await the final determination of the matter by the appellate court.

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, addressing the press after his removal by the court, yesterday.

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...Jubilation in Abakaliki, Umuahia

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By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI—THERE was jubilation in Abakaliki and Umuahia following a court ruling by an Abuja Federal High Court mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Oga who took second position at the last Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries in Abia State.

Hundreds of indigenes of Isukwuato community in Abakaliki on hearing the news took to the streets chanting solidarity songs in support of the ruling by the court.

The president of the union in Ebonyi State, Mr. Philip Egwu who described the judgment as a victory for democracy commended the judiciary for living up to its responsibility.

Mr. Egwu noted that Mr. Uche Ogah would not just transform Abia State but would also use his wealth of experience to rebuild the state and make it a destination point for investors.

Mr. Egwu who described Mr. Uche Ogah as a detrabalized

Abia man noted that Abia state and its environs would witness unsual development and called on the people of the state to support him to take the state to the next level.

But in its reaction, Abia State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said that the applicant in the suit, Mr. Uche Oga did not participate in the governorship election, and therefore could not be declared the governor.

A statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Don Ubani urged the people to remain calm as Okezie

Ikpeazu remains the governor of the state.

The party said that Governor Ikpeazu “has the constitutional right to appeal against this verdict at the Court of Appeal, and if necessary, up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu shall remain the governor of Abia State until all windows of justice have been exhausted”, PDP said.

“Hon. Justice Okon Abang is merely the first step in a threestep judicial process before justice is completely dispensed in this matter.”

Rep expresses concern over ban on Nigeria beans export

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HOUSE of Representatives member representing Anaocha, Dunukufia and Njikoka constituency, Hon. Dozie Nwankwo, has called the attention of the lower chamber of the National Assembly to the one year ban on importation of dried bean from Nigeria to European countries in a motion before the House.

According to Nwankwo, the ban was imposed in June 2015, on the ground that the produce contained high level pesticide considered injurious to human health, adding that the ban was to last till June 30, 2016, to allow Nigerian authorities time to provide an export control plan and assurance that the beans exported to European countries comply with the EU minimal risk levels for hazardous substances.

He noted further that several relevant agencies of government including Stand, SON, NAFDAC and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment had claimed to be collaborating with one another to resolve the issue before the deadline, yet the issue had remained unresolved.

Frowning at the inability of the concerned authorities to address the issue which had led to the extension of the ban on dried beans export from Nigeria for another three years for the reason that the nation did not do enough to lift the ban during the period of suspension, Nwankwo expressed worry about how safety of dried beans and other food stuffs being consumed in the country.

After debating the motion, the House mandated the Committee on Agriculture, Commerce and Industry to investigate the matter and report back to the House within two weeks.

NDLEA arrests 156 persons, impounds 3 vehicles in Anambra

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) in Anambra State, said it arrested 156 suspected hard drug traffickers, including10 females, in the state in the past six months as part of the agency’s efforts to fight against the sale of illicit drugs in the country.

The state commander of NDLEA, Mr. Sule Momodu, said in Awka yesterday during activities to mark this year’s international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, that three vehicles allegedly used in conveying hard drugs from Anambra to Delta State were also impounded within the period.

Momodu said the fight against

drug trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs was total, and paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for a drug free society.

According to him, 922.5 kilogrammes of cannabis have been impounded this year and appealed to Governor Willie Obiano to assist the agency in building a rehabilitation centre already approved for the state.

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28 28, 2016—17

David Cameron

Brexit: Teachable moment for internal colonialists B RITAIN that coupled the " i n d i v i s i b l e , indissoluble,indi- this and indi that Nigeria has just come out of a referendum on whether to stay or exit the European Union(EU) and the outcome has unravelled the most notorious colonial power in global history.The opt out of EU majority had also rendered the UK PM David Cameron who staked his career for the stay in campaign jobless because of the failure to properly gauge the mood of the people.By the time he and the rest of the poloplaying elite realised it was that deep,they cajoled and begged but it was too late.

Once again,it had pitiably been borne out that most leaders don't get it until it is too late.Which explains why Soviet Union,Yugoslavia et al are now used to be empires.

The world is counting the cost of this global game changing event which would affect many parts of the earth including the American elections in November.

Britain is about to lose Scotland with many more countries asking for referendum.

Inheritance from colonial Britain While all that is going on, we must be able to internalise what Brexit represents to the internal colonialists around the world who would not brook any suggestion to renegotiate their union because they are holding on to the inheritance from colonial Britain.God in His own time has ripped the belly of the fantastically insensitive empire that presided over many marriages of unwilling partners for its economic interest around the world creating dysfunctional homes in the process.

Any nation that has a colonising mentality will have its Brexit moment with decisive consequences and it has been proved once again that there is nothing such forces can do to stop the flow of history. Those who fail to learn from history are bound to become lessons in history.

As Britain has sorted this out without IPOB or Avengers,I have noted the cheeky commendation for Cameron from Nigeria. This has reminded us to ask how Nigeria would have handled Brexit.

The dysfunctional Union would have ignored the agitation for as long as it could. If it was ever forced to conduct a referendum,the outcome would have been rigged in favour of C M Y K

official position. And if the process escaped rigging, the final results would have been declared "inconclusive" since the last "annulment" generated

unpleasant consequences.

In the unlikely event that the will of the people prevailed, Alhaji Lai Mohammed would have been on NTA telling

Nigerians that the outcome of a referendum on an external issue has nothing to do with the rating of Mr. President and that more Nigerians than the "Yes" and "No"

put together are committed to the "change agenda".

I am coming back on this subject but let me yield the rest of the space to my guest,Mazi Sam Ohunnbunwa who penned some beautiful thoughts before the exit of Britain.

Possible exit of Britain from EU and lessons for Nigeria

By Sam Ohuanbunwa

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VER many years, the Scottish people were unhappy to belong to the United Kingdom,UK, and there were agitations to break up the union so that the Scots could go their own way as a separate and independent Nation. A couple of Parties emerged calling for what I may call Scottexit from the UK. There were heated and rancorous debates all over the UK which tended to divide the Nation. To determine if this was truly the desire of the majority of the Scottish people or just the opinion of some of the politicians or a minority vocal protesters, a referendum was conducted last year in Scotland. The Majority of the Scots voted against leaving the UK, preferring the semi autonomous status that gave them opportunity to have greater say in how they were governed.

The agitation ended, at least for now. No bullets were fired and The UK avoided reliving the experience of the violence that engulfed the Nation for several years as the Irish People sought self determination and self rule.

The Scots are at peace right now being part of the UK and they live at peace with their independent Neigbour-Republic of Ireland and the semi-autonomous Northern Ireland.

Political debates Similarly in the last couple of years, there has been a growing dissent among many British People regarding Britain's stay in the European Union, EU. This has led to stiff political debates that divided the Nation. To stop the debate degenerating into violence, the civilised political leadership of The UK decided to hold a referendum to decide, if it is really true that the majority of the British people want to exit the EU. In the last couple of months, the debate has become intensive with Prime Minister David Cameron leading the campaign to Stay while the former London Mayor Boris Johnson is leading those who want to exit. Last week, MP Jo Cox was murdered on the streets of Northern England as she campaigned for Britain to stay

in the EU. And on June 23 this year, a few days hence, the people of the United Kingdom will March out to the pools to freely express their desire. Who knows what the majority may desire. But what a civilised way to end disputes relating to self determination and sovereignty.

Are there lessons for Nigeria from these two examples related above? Between 1967-1970, Nigeria fought a bitter civil war in an effort to prevent the people of Biafra from leaving Nigeria. At that time the slogan was: "To keep Nigeria one was a task that must be done."Well we succeeded or did we? After the loss of nearly three million people, not to talk of morbidities( we still have an army of disabled ex-Biafra soldiers left to die by instalment) loss of material resources of unquantifiable value and at least

So to keep Britain in the EU is desirable but not a task that must be done by all means. If the British got us into one Nigeria, we need to learn a few things on how to resolve Major National issues a three year delay in the development trajectory of Nigeria, it is surprising that we are where we are today. All over Nigeria, there are agitations for self determination while some are asking for sovereignty. Currently, the most prominent are the agitations for Biafra by MASSOB and the IPOB, with their horde of supporters. There is the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, with their variants asking for the Republic of Niger Delta and what ever is left after all the oil wells and pipelines have been bombed or ruined. There is another group which seems to be an almagamation of the two tendencies called the Lower

Niger Congress, LNC, whose geographical territory extends to parts of the Middle-Belt of Nigeria. This group is speaking essentially about self determination which does not necessarily mean secession. In the South West and the Middle Belt, there are dormant volcanoes which can become active anytime.

I do not quite know if the technical defeat of Boko Haram is the end of that chapter.

All over Nigeria, there have been increasing and strident calls for restructuring Nigeria. NADECO and PRONACO which included Balarabe Musa( North West),Tony Enahoro( South South),Wole Soyinka( South West), Bola Ahmed Tinubu( South West), Ndubuisi Kanu( South East) and a host of others started this campaign in the early 90s especially after the June12 debacle.

Sovereign conference They asked for a National sovereign Conference to restructure the Country. This cry remained which compelled Olusegun Obasanjo to set up the National Political reform conference in 2005 that made far reaching suggestions on how to restructure the Country to create stability. Not much came out of this effort as the report was jettisoned at the National Assembly along with the third term agenda.

Despite palliative efforts by Obasanjo, Yar'adua and Jonathan to calm agitations, through all kinds of "bribery" and hand twisting including the amnesty programme,the call remained disconcerting forcing Jonathan to call for another National Conference in 2014. This conference is said to have come up with suggestions on critical areas that need to be addressed to bring peace and stability to our beleaguered Nation.

So far, it looks to me that this government thinks there is no form of justification for any of the agitations and protests. In fact, they seem to treat every agitation, armed or unarmed, peaceful or violent as criminal activity, which must be crushed with brutal force

. I see that the mentality of 1967 still persists: To keep Nigeria one at all costs, so nobody would be allowed to say or do anything that seems to threaten the current lopsided, unstable Nigerian political structure. If you ask me, my preference is to restructure this Nation and restore stability.

My preference is for the leadership of our Country to invest serious effort in making our Country united with happy and contented citizens in every part of Nigeria. Of course, if this becomes impossible, I will naturally consider other options.

But it will be foolhardy to assume that is everybody's preference.

That's why Prime minister David Cameron is not assuming that his preference of Keeping UK in the EU is everybody's preference.

And since some British people have agitated for a Britexit, he decided to call for a referendum.

My wish is that Britain remains in the EU. And eventually that might be what the majority of British people want and if that happens, that will quieten the current rancorous agitation and if the People prefer to leave, that will be it.

Major national issues Everybody will have had their say but the majority would have their way and life continues.

That is called self determination. So to keep Britain in the EU is desirable but not a task that must be done by all means. If the British got us into one Nigeria, we need to learn a few things on how to resolve Major National issues. The way of referendum seems to be the preferred option even to agree to adopt or reject the report or recommendations of the last National conference.

That to me will be cheaper than arming the Nigerian army to kill Nigerians as we see all over Nigeria today in the bid to quell protests and agitations. And it may resolve matters faster and we may surprise ourselves to realise that there is more that unites us than divides us. May God help our leaders. * Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa OFR

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 The appointment of an Acting Inspector General of Police,IGP, from the rank of Assistant Inspector General, AIG,has created another season of instability in the commanding heights of the Nigerian Police force. If precedent is followed,the choice of Mr Ibrahim Kpotun Idris by President Muhammadu Buhari as the new IGP will compel the premature retirement of the six serving Deputy Inspector Generals, DIGs. They were appointed after the immediate past IGP Mr Solomon Arase assumed office April 21, 2015.

President Buhari settled for Mr Idris as the new police boss following an integrity test conducted on the top echelon of the Force. Before his appointment, he was in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters until Tuesday last week. Idris was at different times Commissioner of Police in Nassarawa and Kano States. Apart from his first degree

Stop wasting experience in the Police in agriculture, he holds another bachelor‘s degree in law. He had also won a ‘Medal of Merit’ in international peace keeping operation.

President Buhari is empowered by the law to appoint any suitable senior police officer as Inspector General. He made the right choice given the background of Idris. The Acting IGP is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the policewhich has a crucial role to play in sustaining the nation’s democracy.

Beyond this, the new dispensation in the police leadership has far reaching implications for the nation, the system and the career of the senior officers that would compulsorily retire. The six DIGs who are the first set of casualties are barely a year in office. The nation invested so much in their training for optimal performance. This comes with experience which is invaluable. With their untimely exit, the Force will be denied a cream of crack officers who still have value to add to the system. They are leaving

at a time they are bracing up to the challenges of their offices.

Nigeria is in dire need of a more effective police system that guarantees law enforcement, crime detection and prevention as well as respect for human rights.

This feat can only be attained with tested hands who are not easy to come by.

We bemoan a situation where top police officers who have something to offer are routinely retired, especially at this time when the nation is grappling with serious security challenges.

We recommend that the office of IGP should have a tenure. This will afford the nation an opportunity to get the best out of the DIGs and AIGs. The Acting IGP has two and half years to retirement. The implication is predictable if his successor is picked from the lower ranks of those in line of succession . The nation cannot afford this costly waste any more.

OPINION Governance and the burden of creativity(2)

By Jesutega Onokpasa Being the concluding part of the article publishe last week Tuesday.

HY did our Honourable Minister for Power, Works and Housing agree to take up that portfolio when it ought to have been obvious to him that the job would be too onerous for any one individual, given our present realities?

Even if in consideration of his competence, Mr. President had decided to give him such wide responsibility, forthrightness alone ought to have compelled Fashola to have politely explained to Mr. President that Power alone, being unarguably our biggest challenge in this country, requires two ministers and should not be collapsed into the hybridised ministry Fashola is now constrained to grapple with.

What has the Tourism Development Corporation of Nigeria been up to? What is its one single achievement since it was created? Has it even been able to attract a single additional tourist to justify its very existence? Surely is this not one of our myriad agencies which merely exist to waste government funds with nothing to show in terms of delivering on their mandate? We once had a certain Otumba Runsewe, whom I only remember now for defending Moses Adamu over a bribery scandal at FIFA. Then we had a certain

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Ms Mbanefo whose only claim to distinction is probably the fact that she incongruously insists on a headgear fashioned from the Nigerian flag in a manner suggesting an affinity for fashionriotousness. What sort of people are these who regularly seem to get into public office and come out with hardly anything to show for their stewardship?

How come the Tourism Development

We can do without the army of trigger-happy persons crowding the corridors of power Corporation does not seek to standardise food taste, variety, hygiene and pricing in Nigerian restaurants such that tourists are impressed at our food repertoire as the Giant of Africa? Has it ever occurred to any official at this corporation that there should be a minimum standard in hotels as to rooms, toilets, showers, etc? What in the world does this corporation even do?

While our erudite Attorney General has been threatening to jail judges – as if he has the power to do so – has it occurred to my very distinguished and learned senior colleague that our blessed judges are constrained to labour in court houses that are complete pigsties? How can an

Attorney General sit pretty when officials as noble as judges are constrained to dispense justice in environments approximating to poultry pens? How come all manner of political office holders have a retinue of aides while judges cannot avail themselves of the support of similar assistants?

Is the Attorney General not alarmed by the grotesque lawlessness of political office holders who break the law and demand to be applauded for doing so?

How come governments across the country embark on demolition of so-called illegal structures without recourse to court? It is my submission that in law, no structure can be demolished without a court order. How come Governors regularly demolish buildings in which kidnap victims were housed without the suspects having been convicted? Suppose the court later discharges and acquits the suspect, what then happens to his demolished property?

How can it even be necessary to demolish any house in an under-housed country in the first place? Why not simply take the property into temporary forfeiture until the determination of the case? How does an Attorney General stand by while all manner of government officials keep breaking the law, left, right and centre all across the nation?

The cluelessness in governance is simply alarming. Does someone like Nnamdi Kanu ever need to be arrested in the first

place? You only need to listen to the young man to realise he is probably someone you should be escorting to a doctor for counseling rather than someone anyone with good sense should ahound into jail!

This was an individual who only a fringe of South-easterners were listening to, lapping up his utterly ridiculous fantasies of his utopic Biafra to which he had hitched scores of Niger Deltan and Middle Beltan tribes who have absolutely no interest in ever becoming Biafrans. I mean, I am a Nigerian from Niger Delta and if ever I stopped being a Nigerian, I would simply remain a Niger Deltan – certainly not become a Biafran! Why would I? Yet some trigger happy fellow at the DSS got the idea that it was imperative to nab an inconsequential person like Kanu and ended up making an international hero of him! How to run a country!

We can do without the army of triggerhappy persons crowding the corridors of power and our dear President would do very well for us and his government to distance himself from this rabble of clueless unproductive men and women who seem to have been unable to render him any commendable degree of assistance thus far. We direly need some creativity in governance and we must have it soon or God help us all in this country.

Concluded *Mr. Onokpasa, a lawyer, wrote from Sapele, Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

— 19

FG to raise $50bn from China to finance oil sector projects

By Michael Eboh, with Agency report

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INISTER of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday, said that Nigeria is seeking to raise between $40 and $50 billion from Chinese investors in the next couple of days to bridge infrastructure funding gap in the Nigerian petroleum industry.

This was even as he stated that Nigeria’s crude oil output has risen to 1.9 million barrels per day and would rise further to 2.2 million barrels by next month when repairs are completed on some of the damaged pipelines.

Kachikwu, who is also the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, stated this in an interview with Bloomberg Television, on the sideline of the NNPC-China Investors’ Roadshow 2016 in Beijing.

The roadshow, the NNPC stated yesterday, was a follow up to President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to China in April. Kachikwu, who noted that the NNPC led a powerful team of NNPC top management and key stakeholders to the roadshow said that the meeting has started to yield positive report, as a potential deal for $8.5 billion of investment with North Huajin Chemical Industries Group Corporation (Huajin Group) under China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO GROUP) has already been signed.

According to Kachikwu, the country is eyeing such investment from China, which he said has a huge capacity to put money in the oil sector, while he add-

ed that a lot of companies in China are showing significant interest in investing in Nigeria.

He said, “We just came out of signing a global $8.5 billion potential investment by one of the companies, NORINCO, in the upstream business in Nigeria.

We are beginning the major road show this afternoon (Monday).

As much as we do agree that the price of oil has slid, obviously, and creates a lot of challenge for investors We are looking to raise about $40 to $50 billion which covers the infrastructure gap that we see in Nigeria. So the interest is enormous.”

Kachikwu lamented that over the years, Nigeria, as well as a few other countries, had failed to invest in covering the infrastructure gap in the downstream sector, in pipelines, refining and gas to power.

According to him, the need for new resources is very key, especially as the country does not have those resources, while he stated that going to places like China,

which had shown a huge capacity to put money in the oil sector, is very helpful. Commenting on the dwindling oil price and its impact on investing in Nigeria, Kachikwu said, “As much as we do agree that the price of oil has slid, obviously, and creates a lot of challenge for investors.

“But the reality is that for countries like Nigeria and indeed for most OPEC countries, you still find that price per barrel of oil,

still provides enough incentives.

“And what we need to do is continue to drive down our cost, create policies that are encouraging, focus government attention on the long and short term gains and that was budgeted for the year.

He, however, noted that in the months of May and June, the country suffered a lot of militant attacks which took the country’s crude oil output down from about 2.2 million to 1.3 million barrels.

On ways to shore up the country’s oil output, he said, “We have managed to have begun to lead conversation with the militants.

A lot of engagement is taking place on the authorization of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari; we have been able to get production up back to about 1.8 million to 1.9 million barrels per day as of two days ago. We are continuing those conversations.

Investors lose N278bn on profit taking activities As CBN, FMDQ launch Naira-settled OTC FX Futures market

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By Nkiruka Nnorom

NVESTORS lostN278 billion of their investment on the resumption of trading activities yesterday at the Nige$134.30 -0.05 rian Stock Exchnage, NSE followingprofittakingactiv$3,064.00 ities in the market.

This is even as the Cen171.00 tral Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, kicked off selling oftheNaira-settledOTCFX Futures contracts on $47.72 -0.69 FMDQOTCSecuritiesEx$46.82 -0.82 change, FMDQ. Tradingstatisticsfromthe CURRENCY BUYING SELLING Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE,showthatthekeyperUS 280 280.5 281 formance indicators, the 384.888 385.5753 386.2626 DOLLAR market capitalisation of list310.716 311.2709 POUNDS 311.8257 286.8265 EURO ed equities dropped to 287.3387 287.8509 FRANC N10.249 trillion from 2.733 2.7379 2.7428 YEN N10.527trillion,translating 0.4679 0.4779 9.4879 CFA to 2.6 per cent decline. In 398.1152 398.8261 399.537 WAUA 42.2505 42.3264 42.4023 RENMINBI thesamevein,theAllShare 74.6547 74.788 74.9213 RIYAL Index, ASI, declined by 41.7406 41.8151 41.8897 KRONA 809.43 basis points to settle at 29,840.23 points from CBN Exchange rate as at 27/06/2016 30,649.66 points, also repC M Y K

INTERACTIVE: From left, Coordinating Director, Broadstreet Professionals, Mr. Akeredolu Akinsola Ale; Commissioner, Ministry of Housing, Lagos State, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal; Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Lagos State, Mr. Mustapha Akinkunmi and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing Lagos State, Foluso Dipe, during an interactive session on the proposed Lagos State’s Housing Bond, in Lagos.

resenting 2.6 per cent decrease.

However, activities was mixed across various sectors. The ASeM, whichrecordedzeroactivitytheprevious week rose by 0.09 per cent to settleat1,213.68pointsfrom1,212.64 points, while the NSE 30 Index closed higher at 1,329.41 points, returning 2.4 per cent. Profit taking activities hit the banking sector the mostasthesectorrecordedthehighest price losses of 4.1 per cent to settle at 300.12 points.

Poor performance in the bankingsector Thepoorperformanceinthebanking sector was impacted by 6.12 per cent, five per cent and 4.76 per cent losses on the shares of Zenith International Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in that order.

The oil and gas sector driven by losses on Forte Oil Plc and Seplat PetroleumDevelopmentPlcreturned negative 3.6 per cent, while heavy sell-offonChemicalandAlliedProd-

ucts, CAP,Plc dragged the industrial sector down by 2.5 per cent. The Insurance sector, on the other hand, closed flat at 140.53 per cent, while theconsumergoodssectorwasslightly up 0.63 per cent.

Gainers and losers: There were almostthreeloserstoeverygainerthat emergedduringthedayastherewas 40 losers as against 16 losers. CAP Plc led other decliners with 7.94 per centorN0.20declinetocloseatN2.32, followedbyZenithBankPlcwith6.12 per cent or N1.04 to close at N15.96.

StanbicIBTCHoldingsPlcandForte Oil Plc depreciated by five per cent eachtocloseatN16.15andN190.00 per share. Seplat went down by 4.98 per cent to close at N331.60.

FidsonHealthcarePlcledthegainerswith9.91percentincreasetoclose at N2.44, followed by Julius Berger with five per cent to close at N46.20, whileGlaxoSmithKlinePlcappreciated by 4.97 per cent to close at N23.22. PZ Cusson went up by 4.96 percenttocloseatN22.65,whileTransnationwide Express notched up by 4.88 per cent to close at N1.29 per

share. Meantime, the launch the Naira-settled OTC FX Futures marketcomesexactlyoneweekaftertwowayquotetradingcommencedinthe Nigerian FX market on the back of therecentreleaseoftherevisedCBN Guidelines for the operation of the Nigerian Inter-Bank FX Market, essentially transitioning the market from a pegged FX rate regime to a floating one.

The CBN has, therefore, made history by being the first seller of the Naira-settled OTC FX Futures contracts of non-standardised amounts for different tenors from one month through to 12 months which will settle on bespoke maturity dates, providing liquidity in the product that will enable corporate treasurers effectively and efficiently manage their FX risk. According to Mr. Bola Onadele. Koko, Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ, the Futures market is an opportunity to transform risk into certainty - a major paradigm shift in the financial markets landscape.

20— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 Investment analysts believe the spike in OPEX was most likely driven by inflationary pressures, particularly those related to logistics and distribution following difficulties with sourcing transport fuels

,

INVESTOR' INVESTOR'S

,

Nigerian Breweries Plc:

Investors’ gains buckle, occupy top 5 losers’ chart

•As expenses subdued top-line growth

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

T

HE stock of Nigerian Breweries Plc, the leading alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage company in Nigeria, appears to be buckling its recent gains attributed to the good first quarter 2016 performance.

Following the release of the Q1, 2016 results the stock rallied significantly. But surprisingly, the rally buckled last week contrary to the general trend even when the less favoured stocks rallied on the positive sentiment sparked off by the new foreign exchange regime which took off last week. The brewing giant occupied the most unenviable position in the stock market report last week, occupying the number one position three times (out of five) in the daily table of top five losers.

Last week, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, enjoyed its most bullish season since this year following the commencement of the flexible forex market which saw investors’ gains rising.

It appears that some investment analysts were not yet comfortable with the Q1, 2016 performance at the backdrop of a poor outing of the brewer in 2015. In this connection, investment analysts at FBN Merchant Bank, the investment banking arm of First Bank of Nigeria, reflecting on the two results, said “we would rather maintaining a neutral rating despite 16% increase to our price target”.

Mixed financial performance Nigerian Breweries’ Q1, 2016 results came in slightly better than expected. FBN analysts said “despite our cuts to the earnings per share, EPS, forecasts, our new price target of N123.5 is around 16% higher than our previous price target because we have cut our capital expenditure, CAPEX, forecasts by an average of 8.0% over the 2016-17 period. The reduction to our CAPEX forecasts is driven by a more subdued outlook for consumer demand due to macroeconomic headwinds”.

The stock price had significantly surpassed that target to almost N150 last week before it began to go down, with some analysts suggesting a corrective dynamics.

On a relative basis, the shares

are trading on a 2016E price earnings, P/E, multiple of 19.1x for 14% EPS growth in 2017E. Stock analysts believe Nigerian Breweries’ shares have underperformed the index this year, shedding -22.0% (as against -13.5% for the ASI).

FBN analysts contended that “although our new price target implies a potential upside of 16% from current levels, we retain our neutral rating because we see greater upside potential elsewhere within our coverage universe”.

Nigerian Breweries’ Q1, 2016 results indicated a marginal improvement after a weak Q4, 2015. Profit Before Tax, PBT, went up 4.0% year-on-year, y-o-y, same as Profit After Tax, PAT, which also grew by 4.0% y-o-y to N10.5 billion.

However, although sales grew by 11% y-o-y to N77.6 billion, a 55% y-o-y rise in net interest expense and a 10% y-o-y increase in OPEX diminished the top-line growth. Investment analysts believe the spike in OPEX was most likely driven by inflationary pressures, particularly those related to logistics and distribution following difficulties with sourcing transport fuels.

Reversal of negative trend Noteworthy is that the growth in PBT is the first, after six consecutive quarters of y-o-y declines, and investment analysts are not sure if this marks the reversal of negative trend or just a one-off flash of good result.

But to the discomfort of optimists, sales had declined by 2.0% quarter-on-quarter, q-o-q, just as PBT and PAT declined by 11-12% on q-o-q comparative basis, due to a gross margin contraction of 481 basis points qo- q to 48.1% and a 19% q-o-q expansion in net interest expense. In contrast to the Q1, 2016 figures, although Q4, 2015 sales grew by 10% y-o-y, PBT and PAT declined by 10% y-o-y and 6.0% y-o-y to N17.0 billion and N11.9 billion respectively.

Increased market share However, some good news to cheer is that Nigerian Breweries’ Q1, 2016 results suggest that it continues to gain market share at the expense of major rival Guinness Nigeria, particularly given that the Q3 (end-March) sales of the latter declined by 33% y-o-y (as against +11% y-o-y for Nigerian Breweries).

•Kola Jamodu, Chairman, NB Plc Although market share data are not available, industry observers estimate that Nigerian Breweries’

The board expects the operating environment in 2016 to continue to be very challenging market share is now in excess of 70% (as against 67% in Q1, 2015).

Following the slow-down in demand for mainstream brands, such as ‘Star’ lager, Heineken and Maltina some industry observers believe that the

•Nicolaas A. Vervelde, MD/CEO, NB Plc

brewer’s value brands such as Goldberg, Life and 33 Export lagers were the drivers behind the top-line growth. The management of Heineken (Nigerian Breweries’ parent) had alluded to this during its Q4, 2015 conference call, and as such, analysts believe that sales growth was driven more by volume growth rather than its product price increases.

But volume growth for mainstream beers such as ‘Star’ lager remains constrained as many consumers down-grade to the cheaper value brands in the face of macroeconomic headwinds’ induced decline in consumer purchasing power.

Outlook 2016-17: Looking ahead analysts at FBN said ‘’beyond Q1, 2016 we expect top-line growth to hover around the mid-to-high single-digit

territory. As such, we forecast 2016E sales and EPS growth of 7.0% y-o-y and 19% y-o-y to N313 billion and N5.54 respectively”.

When annualised and adjusted for seasonality, Nigerian Breweries’ Q1, 2016 PBT of N15.0 billion appears to be ahead of consensus 2016 full year PBT forecast of N54.8 billion.

Uaboi Agbebaku, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of Nigeria Breweries, in a statement on the Q1, 2016 said “the Board expects the operating environment in 2016 to continue to be very challenging.

Nevertheless, it remains confident that the Company is in a good position to take advantage of any upswing in the market especially with our twin agenda of Cost Leadership and Market Leadership supported by innovation”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 —

,

S FORUM

We expect the equities market to regain uptrend by mid-week as investors shake-off the outcome of the BREXIT referendum while keeping their eyes on Q2:2016 earnings scorecards

,

Brexit: Experts weigh impact on Nigerian equities market

By Nkiruka Nnorom PERATORS in the Nigerian capital market have indicated a mixed impact of Britain’s vote to exit the European Union on the stock market.

In the views of analysts at a Lagos-based investment banking firm, United Capital Plc, the exit will have minimal impact on equities, but a possibility of medium term uptick in yields in fixed income instruments.

Though they envisaged a reduction in foreign portfolio investments, FPIs, into the country as UK had in the last 10 decades accounted for about 44 per cent of capital importation into Nigeria, they argued that the effect would be muted since domestic investors are the drivers of activities in the market at the moment.

“Given that foreign portfolio inflows (FPI) into Naira assets has waned significantly in the last 18 months, we do not expect an immediate negative impact on the equities market. In fact, the surge in equity market

O

turnover seen in the last 1o days has been driven largely by domestic investors,” they said.

For fixed income assets, the impact on the direction of FPI in the medium remains uncertain but we expect investors to price in a possible decline in flows, they said, adding: “If we place this against the backdrop of our expectation of significant FGN borrowing, we opine that yields are likely to inch up in the short to medium term.”

On prospects for FPIs, they said: “In the last decade, the UK has accounted for an average of 44 per cent of capital importation into Nigeria with the country’s share of total capital inflows into Nigeria reaching 61.8 per cent in 2012.

While we do not yet have data on the split of capital flows between FDI and portfolio investments by origin, we reckon that the prospect of further political turmoil in the European region could see capital outflows from Europe in the near term.

“This is because a “flight to safety” may be accentuated by

increased financial market volatility expected to ensue from political turmoil going forward.

However, we caution that these

21

political upheavals (especially the possibility of a flurry of referendums across the region) could place investors on an alert

for possible deterioration in frontier markets that have strong trade ties to Europe, with contagious impacts on the broader EM world.”

Why analysts upgraded Nestle shares to a HOLD with a caveat

By Peter Egwuatu NALYSTS at the Financial Derivatives Company, FDC have recommended a HOLD for the shares of Nestle Nigeria Plc at a price of N757.03per share after reversing its target price of N728.75 per share.

FDC attributed its initial price target review of Nestle shares to the impressive first quarter result of the company released on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. Nestlé’s recent first quarter 2016 result shows its resilience in a period of declining consumer demand and negative Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth. Its share price has spiked by approximately 26 per cent in the last eight weeks from N600 to N757.03, as investors are impressed by the improved results.

In Q1’16, Nestlé’s sales, profit before tax and profit after tax increased year-on-year (y-o-y) by 31 per cent , 150 per cent and 126 per cent, respectively.

According to analysts at FDC, “This performance was driven by growth in unit sales

A

NESTLE NIG PLC Q1:2016 Result - Financial Highlights (NGN Billion)

volume and reduced reliance on imported raw materials. The company also managed its cost effectively as cost of sales as a percentage of revenue declined from 55.8 per cent to 50.8 per cent, while operating profit margin and net profit margin increased from 20.5 per cent to 25 per cent and 10.7 per cent to 18.5 per cent, respectively in Q1’16. This was a resurgent performance for a company that experienced sluggish sales and weak earnings for most of 2015.”

The FDC analysts report stated “In view of Nestlé’s impressive Q1’16 result and decent FY 2015 performance, we review our previous rating of the company’s stock price”.

However, they stated that there are still several factors that could limit Nestle’s future earnings and share price. Key factor, according to them, is Nigeria’s enduring economic woes of increasing inflation, declining forex earnings, depleting external reserves and a weak currency which have curtailed the purchasing power of the average Nigerian.

FDC concluded that “it is likely that the market has already factored its improving prospects into its current share price, thereby limiting the extent of its upside. Accordingly, we place a HOLD rating on Nestlé. This is an upgrade from our last SELL rating on the company’s stock.”

Stock Market Outlook (June 28 - July 04)

S

TILL riding the new foreign exchange regime tide the Nigerian Stock Exchange sustained bullish momentum last week to yesterday pushing strong buying interest across sectors which drove the benchmark index above 30,000 points for the first time in 2016 by Thursday last week.

The Afrinvest Weekly Sentiment indication strengthened to 2.4 points (from 2.3%) on the back of sustained buying sentiments.

NSE ASI was up 4.8% week-on-week, W-o-W, and year-to-date, YTD, return closed at 7.0% with market capitalization also improving by N481.6 billion during the week to settle at N10.5 trillion.

However, the bull trend buckled yesterday as profit taking hits the market leading to a 2.64 per cent decline in both market capitalisation and All Shares Index.

This week, investment analysts at Cowry Assets Management said they anticipate a mix of bargain hunting and profit taking activities on the back of recent gains from price rallies, indicating steady.

Analysts at Afrinvest said they also expect some profit taking activities by investors following last week’s sharp appreciation even as news about ratings downgrade (by Fitch) and BREXIT worries weigh on sentiment.

They added, however, ‘’we expect the equities market to regain uptrend by mid-week as investors shake-off the outcome of the BREXIT referendum while keeping their eyes on Q2:2016 earnings scorecards’’.

Source: Afrinvest/company result

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Why IOCs are under assessed As lack of political will stalls remediation

By Sebastine Obasi

T

HE Executive Secretary of Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Mr. Waziri Adio, has blamed the indebtedness of the International Companies, IOCs, to Nigeria on the gaps in Nigeria’s laws.

Adio said the loophole in the country’s laws has made it possible for some IOCs to owe Nigeria up to $600 million.

His blame came as he identified lack of political will and the inability of successive governments to implement recommendations on remediation in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

Adio, who stated this during a visit to Vanguard Head Office at Apapa, Lagos, said there is need for Nigeria to strengthen its laws and institutions, especially in the oil and gas sector, so as to achieve maximum results in its revenue collection. His assertions came on the heels of the recently released 2013 NEITI report, which stated that there was under assessment of petroleum profit tax, PPT, from Chevron and Mobil He said, “In the 2013 NEITI report, the under assessment for oil companies came to about $600 million. Is it their fault? I will say no. Why is that so? Nigeria had an Memorandum of Understanding, MUO with the oil companies. The MOU

expired. There is a procedure for renewing the MOU. While that is going on, there is also room for certain things.

“There are two pricing methodologies; there is what is called the realisable price which the oil companies prefer. There is the official selling price, which the government prefers. But because of the discrepancy in the MOU, if you use what government will favour and what the companies will favour the country lost about $600 million.

“It is not like Chevron or Mobil is cheating Nigeria. If we put our house in order, this thing cannot happen. We should place more

emphasis on systems, processes and procedures that will put some of these things in check.

“There is a lot of collusion by people who have benefited from people over time to make sure that things remain the way they are, to make sure that the system is dysfunctional.”

The NEITI boss however regretted that the remediation function of the organisation has not worked due to political interference and the inability of successive governments to exhibit transparency and accountability.

He said. “Remediation is out of our hands. We come out with

recommendations. We have a platform called IMTT, InterMinisterial Task Team, where we bring all the government agencies together to look at issues affecting the government.

“However, since 2007, when we have been meeting, nothing much has been achieved in that regard. Nothing much has been remedied because of two things; One, we were meeting with people we do not have control over. “We do not have any way of sanctioning them. We are also dealing with people who do not have any incentive to change because they know they have protection.”

VISIT: Acting MD/CEO, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo (4th left) and power sector team of the Vice President’s office with NDPHC engineers during a working visit to the managing director of Nigeria Independent Power Project, NIPP, Gbarain Power station, Bayelsa State.

Infrastructure deficit, unemployment, fueling oil assets bombing — Ovweghre

By Michael Eboh

A

CTING Director-General of the proposed Maritime Security Agency, MASECA, Mr. Jacob Ovweghre, has attributed the resurgence of crisis in the Niger Delta region to the high level injustice against the region over the years, high rate of youth unemployment and infrastructure and human capacity development deficits.

Ovweghre, in a statement in Abuja, after a two-week grassroots peace campaign/ seminar titled, ‘Building a Secured and Peaceful Niger Delta that will become the Economic Hub of Africa 20-2020; with you we can achieve it,’ however, pleaded with the militants and other aggrieved groups to come out or send their representatives to dialogue with government because without peace no meaningful development will take place.

He lamented that the country has lost billions of dollars to the attacks on oil and gas facilities by the militants, stating that it is C M Y K

important and needful for the militants to lay down their arms, while efforts should be made to improve security and guarantee peace and order, especially as continuous destruction or interruption in the production or supply of petroleum products would throw every other sectors of the economy in jeopardy and fiasco.

He argued that Nigeria was yet to fully harness the opportunities and potentials of the petroleum industry, adding that it is still worrying to note that after all these years, oil companies still flare about 17.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year.

According to him, the amount of gas flared can serve the cooking needs of over 320 million people excluding the billions of dollars it would generate for the country per year.

To address the grievances of the region, Ovweghre called on the Federal Government to ensure the speedy conclusion of the Final Investment Decision of Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, upgrade the

NLNG Bonny facilities, and build the Export Gas Processing Free Zone in Escravos, as these would reasonably impact on job

Government should urgently draw up a strategy on how jobs can be created so that the youths will not be enticed to take to arms

creation, employment, security and foreign exchange supplement.

“Government should urgently draw up a strategy of how jobs can be created so that the youths

will not be enticed to take to arms,” he said.

He stated that as a maritime security and conflict management expert, he will contribute his quota to stop anything that will impede peace or petroleum production in the Niger Delta, in conjunction with the elder statesmen in the region and women, community leaders, youth leaders, traditional rulers and organization in the Niger Delta.

He said he is ready to go to the creeks and mediate between those aggrieved groups who are not ready to leave their creeks and the federal government to address all the lingering problems of youth restiveness and agitation with utmost urgency and sincerity of purpose.

Speaking further on the amnesty programme, he stated that “President Muhammadu Buhari inherited a near collapsed amnesty programme, with the former government owing former militants three months outstanding stipends.

NLNG named Gas Company of the year

N

IGERIA Liquefied Natural Gas NLNG Limited NLNG, has been named the ‘Gas Company of Year for its role in reducing gas flare, complying fully with tax laws and impacting on the lives of Nigerians through its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR. The company in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, stated that the award was presented by BusinessDay Newspaper at its 2016 Oil and Gas innovation awards, held in conjunction with Oval Energy Limited.

NLNG explained that the award was presented after an extensive research by BusinessDay Research and Intelligence Unit, using different parameters on all companies involved in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, NLNG won the Gas Company of the Year category.

Specifically, the newspaper said “NLNG won in the Gas Company of the Year category because of its role in harnessing of Nigeria gas resources to produce liquefied natural gas which resulted in generated revenue of about $85 billion in the last 15 years; tax compliance which translated to the payment of $1.6 billion; payment of $30 billion in dividends to its shareholders; and the company’s 2016 CSR projects among others.”

Receiving the award on behalf of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, the General Manager, External Relations of the company, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, said “We are very delighted to receive the Gas Company of the Year Award. NLNG is Nigeria’s success story. We believe in standards and in excellence.

Our resolve for excellence reflects in our business and interaction with our stakeholders, our operations, our CSR projects and in fulfilling our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria. ”Our hope our success and our being as Nigeria LNG, would be a source of inspiration to companies in particular and our nation in general.” he said.

This year ’s awards, NLNG said, is the second edition in the series which aims at rewarding and recognising institutions, organisations in the oil and gas, for excellence in various aspects of their operation covering companies in the entire value chain of the industry in Nigeria, from the major to the marginal players/service companies.

PAGE 25

Gully erosion, flood ravage houses in C-River PAGE 25

VOL. 1: No. 96

We're not cultists —Tricycle operators' chair

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

DELTA… FINGER OF GOD

S

By Emma Amaize

APELEFORMER Member of the Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, Warri, Delta State and ex-Itsekiri warlord, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi, aka ‘Gentle General,” has warned that the Itsekiri ethnic nationality would defend itself if the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, does not desist from the provocative bombing oil and gas installations in its (Itsekiri) territory.

Newuwumi, the Itsekiri equivalent of Ijaw‘s Tompolo and former Commissioner for Youths in the state , told Niger Delta Voice: “The bombing of oil and gas facilities in Itsekiri territory is absurd; it is an act capable of provoking the Itsekiri nation and personalities like me. I am categorically saying that if they continue, they may force us, Itsekiri, to protect our territory, especially if the present administration fails in their responsibilities to protect lives and properties. “

Bombings of oil installations He said: “We will be prepared to assist the government to end the bombings of oil installations in our area just like the role of the civilian JTF in the north, which has yielded successful results. As I said before, the destruction caused us by the Ijaw, which wanted to wipe us (Itsekiri) from the earth's surface is still there, years after the crisis ended.

“The memories are still fresh in our mind for those of us who lived to tell the sad tales of woes and wanton destruction and killings in our communities. We will not fold our hands this time to let them destroy us as they did before.

"The then federal and state governments failed to protect us from the Ijaw until we decided C M Y K

Gov Okowa

Newuwumi

PIPELINE BOMBINGS:

Itsekiri may fight back, Newuwumi warns Avengers •My encounters with Tompolo in Benin River and Camp to take our own destiny into our hands and defend ourselves. I just hope this present government will not abandon us to our fate,” he added.

Why Itsekiri youths are not throwing bombs: On why Itsekiri youths were not carrying arms and bombing pipelines in the creeks like their Ijaw counterparts, he said: “Itsekiri people are a group of intellectuals, peace -loving and law- abiding people, hence

carrying guns is not a way of life for them. If you look at history, you will find out that it was an Itsekiri man, the late Justice Atake that first started the intellectual struggle for resource control even before Ken Saro Wiwa.

“So the struggle is not a new thing for us, it is just that we are not used to militancy, kidnapping and other forms of criminality in our fight for true federalism and equality for the

region. Anyway, we are soon coming out with a formidable platform to tackle all these issues because the Itsekiri have kept silent for a while now.

New group: “Very soon, a new group, which is nonpolitical called the Niger Delta Patriotic Front, NDPF, will emerge and come out with its agenda and demands. There will be no genuine negotiation without the full involvement of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality

because in Delta for example, the numbers of oil wells in Itsekiri land is much more than that of any other tribe,” he asserted.

Encounters with Tompolo: On his attitude towards the struggle and what makes it different from Tompolo’s, ‘Gentle General’ said: “We share different ideologies. In the war (referring to Ijaw/Itsekiri war), the Ijaw, which Tompolo led was more like the aggressor, but I only rose to lead my people in defense when the government of that time failed to defend us against our more formidable opponents for more than two years.”

Total annihilation Newuwumi said he had met with Tompolo on two occasions in the Benin River and his defunct Camp 5. His words: "Yes, during the battle to save my people from total annihilation from the surface of the earth, we met during the Warri crisis. I remember an occasion in the Continues on page 24

DELTA… 24 —

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

FINGER OF GOD

One-year in office: Delta govt’s neglected riverine communities - Ijaw leader

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI- IJAW leader, Mr. Piniki Azaiye, weekend, expressed dismay that the Delta state government allegedly neglected riverside communities in the state in the first one year in office of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and urged him to correct the absurdity.

Azaiye, in a statement, in Warri, said: “Looking at what the governor did in the hinterland, one is forced to ask if riverine communities are not part of the state or is it that he forgot the riverine local govern-

ment areas or he purposefully ignored them. It is as if he has forgotten his campaign promises to the riverine local government areas of the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I want to remind His Excellency that when you resumed office last year, you awarded a contract for a concrete paved road at Okerenkoko, the home town of the deputy governor. Work commenced for about three months and since six months ago, the contractor pulled out of site because there was no funding of the contract again,” he said.

“Was it a political contract to

appease the Gbaramatu people or the funds have being used to settle those that sponsored the deputy governor?"

Azaiye appealed that government should pay the contractor to enable him return to site, as rain has eroded the work done by him.

He asserted: “The governor should do something urgently to correct this imbalance in the riverine areas. Moreover, he should remember that the problem Niger Delta is having with the federal government is the same the state government has."

Abandoned road

Group tasks N-Delta communities on pollution DELTA… FINGER OF GOD

By Sam Eyoboka

U

GHELLI- POVERTY Alleviation for the Poor Initiative, PAFPI, a nongovernmental organization, has appealed to

communities in the Niger Delta region to rise and take action against despoliation of their environment by oil companies and government through oil spillage and gas flaring.

Executive Director of PAFPI, a member the National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in Niger Delta, NACGOND, associated with the United Nations

Department of Public Information, Mr. Kejekpo Omonade, made the call at the recent World Environment Day held at St Michael Anglican Church, Ughelli, Delta State and urged the people to hold government and oil companies accountable.

He implored the people to do everything possible to avoid pipeline vandalism , adding: “Residents should at

all times dispose their waste in approved dump sites, repair damaged vehicles, avoid bush burning, avoid pipeline vandalism and hold government and oil companies accountable for pollution caused by oil spillage and gas flaring.”

According to him: “The theme of this year ’s event is ‘Join the race to make the world a better place’ and the

World Environment Day celebration has been held all over the world since 1973 to raise global awareness on the importance of a healthy and green environment to human lives. And also to solve the environmental issues by implementing some positive environmental actions as well as to make everyone aware that they are responsible for saving their environment.”

try."

He went on: “They are only using fighting for resource control for the Niger Delta as a means to achieve their egotistical desires because if not for their own selfish desire, why are they asking the federal government to release some individu-

economy is also destroying the region’s environment and its ecosystem. The destruction affects the immediate environment and health of the people the Avengers claim to protect.”

He also said: “Like the name, Avengers, I think it was primarily formed to avenge the prosecution of their brothers and some corrupt Nigerians, who are facing criminal charges, if not, what are they avenging and who are they avenging for?"

But to me, it is very unfortunate, especially with some of the conditions in their demands like the release of Col Sambo Dasuki (retd) and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu , which has no bearing whatsoever with the Niger Delta struggle.

“Well, let them negotiate with them; let us see what their demands are really and the persons behind the masquerade. It will also let us know or confirm if the person they said Ayiri is pointing fingers at is behind the whole arrangement. However, beyond all these, the question on my mind are who do they want to negotiate with, for whom are they negotiating and is it for the ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta or for only the Ijaw?

“Who are those to go there to negotiate with government? In whose interest, I do not think the negotiations will work because already the components of the formation of the group, NDA, is faulty, their demands are faulty and did not articulate all the demands of the Niger Delta people.

“Just like the amnesty program, which made some individuals super rich and a particular ethnic group very rich, the negotiation is bound to fail unless the Federal Government do what is right for the people of the Niger Delta,” Newuwumi declared.

Itsekiri may fight back Continued from page 23 Benin River when I was coming from rescuing my people stranded in Ogheye community.

I will tell that story at a later date.

“However, beyond that, we both represent different things to different people. Maybe we might be fighting the cause of liberating the people of the region from socio-economic slavery in the midst of plenty, but we sure have different ideologies and different ways of looking at things.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa C M Y K

" I for one, I repeat once again, abhor violence, kidnapping and destruction of government and oil companies' installations to get even with government, but maybe he has a different approach.

"The choice of non-violence is a personal decision, which I have taken for a long time, but that does not mean that we, as Itsekiri, are weak, we only look at things from different perceptive. I am still a gentle general, as my people know me very well. It is just that I choose to remain calm and peaceful.

“My second encounter was when we met also in his Camp 5 when we agreed to put an end to the crisis between the Itsekiris and the Ijaw. Like my first encounter, I will tell the story of my second encounter on a latter day.”

Avengers formed to destabilize Buhari govt: Scrutinizing the NDA and its mission, he said: “The pattern of their operation is very clear and an indication that it was formed to frustrate the present administration. The destruction of pipelines and oil installations is unmistakably terrorism and economic sabotage. Simply put, they are faceless, senseless and partisan in nature, and an orchestrated attemipt devised by corrupt individuals and politicians to frustrate the present administration’s resolve and determination to fight corruption in the coun-

Tompolo represents different things to a different people. Maybe we might be fighting the cause of liberating the people from socio-economic slavery, but we sure have different ideologies

al found to be involved in corrupt practices.”

Newuwumi added: “Another aspect of the Avengers is the deliberate attacks on oil installations, which apart from killing the already Nigeria fragile

Attacks on Ayiri Emami On the attacks by Ijaw people on Itsekiri leader, Chief Ayiri Emami, who has been very vocal against the Avengers, he said: “Without mincing words, those who are blaming him chose to run away from the obvious fact.

The Niger Delta area is a peculiar terrain, where everybody seems to know each other. Nobody, I repeat nobody or group of persons will dare carry out such nefarious activities in backyard of the person he is pointing fingers at without his knowledge or him knowing them.”

Whom do Avengers represent?

Commenting on the plan to negotiate with Avengers, he said: “It just a pity that the Nigeria government has concluded arrangements to negotiate with them just like the amnesty deal.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 25

Gully erosion, flood ravage houses in C-River CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By Emmanuel Una

C

ALABAR – GULLY erosion and flood have washed away several houses in Calabar, capital of Cross River State.

Last Friday, erosion and flood wrecked three houses at Ikot Nkebre, 8-Miles part of the city, and quite a lot of motorists stranded at the LEMNA Junction for many hours following a torrential downpour.

The houses caved in during the heavy rainfall and the affected residents, who escaped death by the skin of their teeth and could not stop their property from going down in the circumstance.

National Erosion and Watershed Management Project Coordinator for Cross River, Mr Fidelis Anuka, attributed the disaster to barricaded drains and unfriendly environmental

activities by residents of the city.

He asserted that the situation would have been worse if not for the intervention of the agency in salvaging vast portions of land threatened by erosion in the city through comprehensive reconstruction

The houses caved in during the heavy rainfall and the affected residents, who escaped death by the skin of their teeth and could not stop their property from going down in the circumstance of affected areas.

“The erosion situation in the city is severe as people

•Erosion threatening homes

excavate sand just anywhere while some defecate and dump refuse into drains effectively blocking them and water naturally would find a way of escape that is why houses are being swept away,” he said.

Anuka said the agency had intervened in five devastating erosion sites in the city, namely Atakpa, Nyahasang, Ikot Awatin and Edim Otop, and that the agency plans to tackle Ikot Nkebre, where houses swept away in its second phase and called on residents of the

area to avoid unfriendly environmental habits that would exacerbate the situation.

Cross River Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Michael Eraye, said flooding and erosion in the city have become rampant because people do not observe simple environmental rules in building houses and dumping of refuse.

“Irregular human practices like the tendency to build houses on erosion control sites and excavation of soil are major

We're not cultists

government what to do. We also believe that the ban was due to some intelligence report so we totally support the government,” he disclosed.

Investigations showed that criminals used kekes and taxis in most of the gruesome killings, kidnappings and violent crime carried out in the last two months in the state.

Police seize 12 suspected cultists, 12 tricycles Over 13 people were reportedly murdered within the last three weeks in rival cult wars and in nine of such cases, tricycles were used by these hit men to take out their targets, which prompted the Cross River State government to place a ban on the use of tricycles from 7.00 pm.

—Dr. Ewa, Chair, A’Ibom Tricycle Owners/Operators

By Ike Uchechukwu

C

ALABARCHAIRMAN of the Tricycle Owners/Operators Union, Cross River State, Dr. Ekpeyong Ewa, has said that members of the union were not kidnappers and cultists as is being speculated.

Ewa, reacting to the ban of tricycle (Keke) from 7.00p.m. within Calabar Metropolis and environs by the state government, as part of measures to check the menace of cultists, said no registered member of the union in his right mind would get involved in cultism because they know the union has their records.

He clarified that those who used tricycles in such acts were not “our registered members,” adding, “we collect their passport photographs, two guarantors and photographs, which

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we keep in our files in case there are matters of missing items or theft arising, we can

As part of measures to check the menace of cultists, he said no registered member of the union in his right mind would get involved in cultism because they know the union has their records know how to trace them.

“We have the data of any member, who is duly registered

•Dr. Ewa and we are willing to give useful information about them, we might not know their status whether they are cult members or not, but we definitely have useful information about them that we can make available to security agencies when the need arises.

“But I am not disputing the fact that there are some people, who buy keke for the sole aim of carrying out crime or even

causes of erosion and as long as people do not adhere to basic environmental rules, houses will continue to cave in,” he said.

He said the administration of Senator Ben Ayade has committed resources in improving the environment and a process of converting waste to wealth was put in place in the state to create jobs and empower local communities.

give to their boys, but I can tell you that many of them are not our members.”

We’re not against govt He described the directive by government as a welcome development maintaining that since it was in the interest of the public, all owners and operators will surely comply.

“We are in support of what the government has directed because we cannot tell the

Ban on the use of tricycles Cross River Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ozi Obeh, hinted that 12 tricycles used in some of the attacks have been impounded and 12 cultists arrested.

Keke operators suspected to be cultists have since gone into hiding, while the Police have launched a manhunt for them.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 27

Why Nipco is key in downstream operations – NNPC

...To achieve 2bn litres target

By Sebastine Obasi

T

HE Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] has explained why Nipco plc remains a strategic partner with the corporation in the downstream sector of the nation’s oil an gas industry even as the company ’s through-put figures reached 1.8 billion litres of white products.

The Group Executive Director/ COO [Downstream], NNPC, Mr Henry Ikem Obih who was on a visit to the company’s premises in Apapa, said with the seamless operation of the company in the storage and distribution of petroleum products being topmost Nipco will soon reach 2 billion litres distribution figure According to him, “Very soon, in view of the enhanced storage capacity and effective loading system among your peers and with what I have seen, your operation is excellent coupled with good housekeeping and safety culture ‘’ Obih also said the contributions of the Nipco, especially during the last fuel crisis was commendable as the company exhibited high sense of commitment to government’s desire to end fuel queues by being the first operator to bring in cargoes to augment NNPC stock. ‘’We appreciate your contributions at all times and to say that you are very key in our operations is stating the obvious just as we look forward to consolidating the relationship “, he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Nipco, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy said that under through-put arrangement with the NNPC in which Nipco stores and distributes white products to independent and major oil marketers who have bulk purchase agreement with the Pipeline & Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Nipco has done 1.8billion litres .

The Nipco MD explained that the company looks forward to the 2 billion litres target mark as part of its contribution to assist the government in storing and distributing petroleum products to every part of the country.

According to him, Nipco has the wherewithal to fuel the nation either on a through-put basis with PPMC or directly to her esteemed customers under a 24 hours basis for six days in a week.

VISIT: Managing Director, Nipco Plc, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy (middle) receiving

the GM Sales & Marketing, NNPC Retail while the GED /COO Downstream, NNPC, Mr Henry Ikem Obih looks during an inspection visit to Nipco terminal in Lagos.

Customs, Immigration to blame for illegal mining As Nigeria imports 85% of bitumen

By Prince Okafor

C

USTOMS and Immigration Agencies are to blame for illegal mining in Nigeria, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Professor Okey Onyejekwe said.

Onyejekwe, who spoke to Vanguard on the sidelines of the Stakeholders” Round Table on Nigeria’s Energy Mix Strategy, held in Lagos, also said that the activities of illegal miners have been depriving the government of accruable income.

According to him “Part of the challenges we are trying to deal with is the leakages in the sector.

People who hold license don’t use it. They sell them to some Chinese who are now mining illegally and smuggling with the cooperation of the customs, immigration and others. “Nigeria has not really

invested in the mining sector.

There is a lot of Gold that is

People who hold license don’t use it.

They sell them to some Chinese who are now mining illegally and smuggling with the cooperation of the customs, immigration and others produced in Nigeria, but it is done illegally. If you look at the national account, you can’t see even gold appearing as part of our revenue, but we know that people are smuggling it in large

quantity.”

He explained that though Nigeria has about 44 proven minerals, it still imports most of them.

“Come to think of bitumen, we are still importing about 85 percent of our bitumen, for roads construction when we have abundance of bitumen in Ondo state. “Even industrial minerals, all this tiles that we find here, we import them, but we have tiles all over the Nation,” he said.

He also noted that due to low pricing in the commodity, it has been difficult to attract foreign investors. “One of the things the Ministry has done now is to open licenses for people to produce or return their licenses.

Some of these licenses have been revoked, because some people got the licenses through

Electricity: 1,000MW of IPP capacity idle due to gas shortage …As NGA holds business forum

By Sebastine Obasi

N

IGERIA is far from achieving its objective of a regular power supply as 1,000 MW of Independent Power Plant, IPP, capacity are idle due to a lack of gas delivery.

The President of Nigerian Gas Association, NGA, Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya, who stated this during a chat with journalists in Lagos, also said that indigenous players are making significant strategic investments in gas and virtual pipelines to power IPPs and industrial customers. According to him, the gradual movement of the market towards the concept of “willing buyer, willing seller”, and the government’s willingness to ensure an investment-friendly environment, will engender Nigeria’s long term gas development.

His assertions came as he informed that NGA will hold a business forum this week. He said, “For a sector with over $55 billion worth of investment opportunities, we are extremely positive of growth in the economy and the potentials for growth in key areas such as exploration and production, processing, supply, and distribution.

Also, the NGA’s 2016 business forum will hold on June 29th together with our Annual General

Meeting. At the forum, industry stakeholders and policy makers will share perspectives on strategies to re-energize and maximize our natural gas potentials.

He explained that feedback from our members suggests that there is significant interest in exploring for and/or developing a local natural gas industry in Nigeria; There will be wider environmental benefits for the country if that increased gas use displaces some elements of coal-fired energy generation; The Nigerian economy will benefit from gas developments through increased energy security; and Increased availability of natural gas will enable Nigeria to maintain its drive in the gas-to-liquids sector.

“Indeed, the government has taken some positive steps to develop gas including the Gas Master Plan rolled out in 2008 along with partial privatization of the power sector over the last two to three years.

This has led to a significant increase in the price for natural gas supplied for power generation to around US$2.50/Mscf with further increases requested by producers,” he added.

their connections with those in government. They don’t use them. They just hold them, and when you have some serious investors who want to produce, they don’t have the licenses to.”

He explained that it was published that people who are not using their license should come and renew with prove that you are going to do something with the licenses.

According to Onyejekwe the Ministry is focused on transparent issuance of licences to make the process open to genuine investors.

“The first thing the Ministry is doing is to introduce transparency in the licensing, so that you know who owned the license.

“Those who have the license must be people who have the capacity to use it and produce, that we have done by reinforcement of the regulation.

“We are focusing on domestic industrial production, particularly on bitumen, in the next few months. We will open up the bid for people who want to invest in it, because, 85 percent of the tar that we use on the road and asphalt, we import when we are number two in the world,” he added.

Sahara Group boosts war against cancer with N120m

By Sebastine Obasi

C

ANCER patients in Nigeria will soon heave a sigh of relief as a leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate, Sahara Group, has donated N120 million towards the cause of acquiring Mobile Cancer Centres (MCC).

The MCC is a clinic on wheels with state-of-the-art facilities for screening, follow-up and treatment including surgeries for precancer and early cancer cases. The centre also offers screening for ten cancerrelated killer diseases, including hepatitis, diabetes, and malaria, among others, ultimately helping to improve life expectancy in Nigeria where at least 100,000 cancer cases occur annually.

Sahara Group made the donation when Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Patron of #GivingTuesday hosted stakeholders committed to tackling the cancer scourge across the nation through the supply of Mobile Cancer Centres.

In 2012, the United Nations Foundation started the Giving Tuesday initiative to drive philanthropy globally through private and public sector collaboration.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Experts task FG on critical sector’s reform …Call for synergy between oil, other sectors

BRIEFING: From left, Usama Oyebanji, Executive Secretary; Bolaji Osunsanya, President and Adebola Martins, Secretary General, all of Nigerian Gas Association at a press briefing, in Lagos.

By Ediri Ejoh

T

HERE are indications that the country ’s energy sector may be far from reaping good returns unless it adopts the necessary structural reforms on its institutions and processes to effect the changes it deserves, experts said.

This were the views of some experts at the ongoing training in Oil and Gas Reporting, organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute, NRGI, in collaboration with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Wole Soyinka Institute for Investigative Journalism and the Premium Times.

Speaking on the theme: Transparency and Accountability in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector, the

Nigeria Officer, NRGI, Dauda Garuba, the Coordinator of NRGI said there is need for the reformation of institutions and processes, including

Framework should be responsive to Nigeria’s peculiar environment and not merely an unsuccessful mimicry of global standards unbundling of NNPC. His words: “There should be enforcement of fiscal responsibility and procurement laws at all levels of oil revenue spending, including value for money

audit, saving for a raining day through diversification and investment for the future (SWF, Equalisation fund, etc), with clear legislative frameworks about management.

“Creation of necessary linkage between oil industry and other sectors of the economy, de-linking from portfolio investors, access to information on oil revenue in budget and actual expenditure to empower citizens to hold government to account (Sustain ongoing NNPC publication of earnings from crude oil).

“Contract transparency and beneficial ownership – to address tax avoidance/ invasion and strengthen media and citizen groups’ capacity to do shadowmonitoring of public officials and oil company operators and creation of civil society-

media platforms to push for effective natural resource accounting.”

He further called for robust financial management and legislation systems, independent auditorsgeneral, strong parliament, legislature/active civil society, media, informed electorate According to him, the country’s energy industry has overtime been the most investigated industry in Nigeria “probably, with least reform efforts and consequently, the least responsive to even little reform efforts.”

He called for diversification of the country’s economy, as it has a load of wealth of natural resources which houses over ´34 commercially viable mineral resources.”

Also speaking, the Managing Partner, Sterling Partnership, Mr. Israel Aye, called for legal framework, which requires that such laws, regulations and policies governing the industry should be unambiguous, comprehensive, flexible, transparent, dynamic and practical.

He explained that the “Framework should be responsive to Nigeria’s peculiar environment and not merely an unsuccessful mimicry of global standards.”

He added that passing the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB into law is fundamental to providing certainty to regulating the industry thereby attracting foreign investors which would in turn enhance development for the economy.

Erratic power supply: TCN to boost grid capacity

By Ediri Ejoh with agency reports

I

N a bid to increase capacity in receiving megawatt against it’s current realities, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, said it had commenced expansion of its grid capacity.

It however said that though it has the capacity to wheel maximum generation from generating companies, GENCOs to Distribution Companies, DISCOs, there is need to further expand the grid capacity so as to ensure that it continues to surpass the generation curve.

Currently, the grid stability is said to be impaired, due to lack of adequate generation, prompting TCN to state that it will continue to work towards averting the collapse of the system.

“Three specific short term projects have been identified as “quick win” projects that C M Y K

should be completed with the least amount of money and yet have maximum impact on the transmission network.

“These quick win projects would be given highest priority attention in order to

improve the network and increase return on investment”.

The statement further read that “the projects include the installation of a 60MVA, 330/ 132/33kV power transformer

at the Ife transmission Substation which is expected to be completed within three months, adding 48MW to the nation’s transmission capacity.

Nestoil clinches oil service award

By Mike Eboh

N

ESTOIL Limited has been named the Oil Service Project Manager Company of the Year for its history of performance, quality of equipment and number of projects successfully completed in the petroleum industry.

The award, according to a statement by the company, was presented at the 2016 edition of the BusinessDay-Oval Energy Oil & Gas Roundtable and Awards held in Lagos.

The company stated that over the past two decades, it has proven itself through execution of technically complex projects which have enhanced quality of life in Nigeria and contributed to the operational efficiency of its clients in the oil, gas and energy sectors of the nation’s economy.

According to the company, as the indigenous leader in pipeline construction, it has been acknowledged for execution of some landmark projects in Nigeria, which include the construction of the Edjeba Sewage Treatment Plant in Warri, construction of the OB3 (Obiafu/Obrikom to Oben) 48 inches diameter gas pipeline for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), construction of the 24 inches diameter Nember-Cawthorne Channel Trunckline (NCTL) for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), construction and installation of the 2.5 kilometer (km) Escravos River Cross as part of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 oil export pipeline network construction for the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

NESG pushes for investment in renewable energy

By Prince Okafor

T

HE Nigerian Economic Summit Group and other stakeholders in the power sector have called for increased renewable energy investment in the nation’s power generation mix.

They said right energy mix and the implementation of the renewable energy policy will boost the country ’s power sector.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ roundtable conference on Nigeria’s energy mix strategy and the future of renewable energy organised by the NESG in Lagos, a Research Co-ordinator for Energy and Climate Policy, Oeko Institut, Dr. Felix Matthes, while sharing the German experience, said Germany had been able to significantly increase the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power.

The Chairman of the Board, NESG, Mr. Kyari Bukar, noted that gas-fired plants currently account for 64 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity supply, adding that huge investments that were presently unavailable would be needed in gas infrastructure to meet current and future projected demands, assuming existing generation mix remained constant.

He said, “The Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN, predicts that energy demand will hit 250,000 megawatts by 2030. The current generated capacity of about 4,000MW for a population of approximately 170 million inhabitants clearly demonstrates that Nigeria is facing an energy crisis.

“It is against this backdrop that conversations have started regarding alternative energy sources for the nation and we acknowledge efforts by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to promptly address acute energy shortage as well as commend his dedication to public engagement in this regard.”

He said in tackling the nation’s energy constraint, there was a need to agree on appropriate total energy mix for the next few years as well as the targets to attain the agreed mix.

“If and when we achieve a consensus on the right energy mix comes the role that policy will play in getting us to this destination, as well as the strategic plans to implement the policy and a framework to monitor implementation.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 29

Algeria’s oil and gas output to rise by 3% & 3.04% respectively

A

LGERIA’s Energy Company, Sonatrach, has revealed that its oil and gas output is set to rise this year after several years of stagnation.

A Sonatrach report revealed that oil output will reach 69 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2016, as against 67 million tonnes last year, while gas production will rise to 132.2 billion cubic meters, Bcm, from 128.3 Bcm in 2015 and 130.9 Bcm in 2014. The North African country has struggled to draw in foreign energy companies to help it to explore new fields, its efforts undermined low global oil prices and last year’s near50 percent drop in energy revenue that accounts for more than 60 percent of the Algeria’s budget According to Sonatrach chief Amine Mazouzi, “The era of stagnation is behind us and we are now in a phase of growth.

“A drop in European gas demand has dented Algerian exports that have also been squeezed by a combination of slowing production at mature fields, low investment and Algeria’s own rapidly increasing need for gas to generate power.

“We have invested to stabilise and increase production at its large, mature fields and expects to bring five new gas fields online in the south of the country over the next few years,” he said.

The document also revealed that Gas output is expected to reach 141.3 bcm in 2017, 143.9 bcm in 2018, 150 bcm in 2019 and 165 bcm in 2020. Oil output will reach 75 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2017, 75 million tonnes in 2018, 77 million tonnes in 2019 and 82 million tonnes in 2020.

Energy companies and Algerian and European Union officials held a summit last month to explore ways Algeria can adapt to more competitive markets and attract the investment needed to pump more gas. Italy’s Eni almost doubled its imports of gas from Algeria to 11.5 bcm in 2015, compared with only 6 bcm in 2014, the company said. About 30 international companies are present in Algeria’s oil and gas market, including Eni, Anadarko, BP, Cepsa, Shell, Statoil and Sinopec. Two previous bidding rounds for oil and gas fields failed to attract a lot of interest. But the company has said it will start direct bilateral talks with companies in an

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Nigerian Navy smashes petroleum smuggling gang •Intensifies land, sea patrol around Badagry

By Evelyn Usman

B

ADAGRY metropolis of Lagos, a border town between Seme and Benin Republic, has always been in the news following usage of the route by smugglers of various kinds of contraband goods, including vehicles.

In addition to the nefarious activities of these recalcitrant smugglers, is the diversion of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS popularly known as petrol , through the Seme-Border to other neighbouring West Africa countries, where they are sold almost twice the purchase rate..

These products which are usually loaded in trucks, jerrycans of various sizes with inscriptions on them to indicate their owners and polythene bags, are transported through

various modes, such as motorcycles, cars with special inbuilt compartment, where they are concealed, apparently to beat

In 2012, the International Monetary Fund, IMF disclosed that 80 percent of petroleum products consumed in Benin Republic in particular, was smuggled from Nigeria. security checks at the border. At other times, they are taken through illegal routes to their

respective destinations outside the country.

In 2012, the International Monetary Fund, IMF disclosed that 80 percent of petroleum products consumed in Benin Republic in particular, was smuggled from Nigeria.

Vanguard’s checks showed that over 30 tankers loaded with petroleum product were being smuggled through road to Benin Republic on weekly basis, even when the country was groining under its scarcity recently.

Investigation further showed that some marketers are also engaged in the diversion of these petroleum products to neighbouring countries, while Nigerians sometimes spend hours on queue to get them at petrol stations.

Consequently, the Forward Operation Base FOC Badagry

COMISSIONING: From left, Mr. Kwame Gyan-Tawiah; Managing Director Cummins West Africa,Chief Anthony Oforma; one of the pioneers of ASPAMDA, Mr. Feroze Chowdary; Director Components Cummins filtration and Hon. Luke Ojukwu; Deputy CSO of ASPAMDA during Cummins shop front opening in ASPAMDA, Lagos.

has smashed a syndicate that specialised in smuggling these products outside the country, recovering 2, 250 litres of petroleum products.

Speaking on the issue, the Base Commander, Captain Simon Dogo, explained that the suspects were at the verge of loading over 2000 jerricans with petroleum product for onward exportation to Benin Republic at the early hours of Saturday, when they swooped on them. However on sighting the personnel, he said the suspects jumped into the river and escaped, abandoning their boat.

He informed that the base had made similar seizure and arrest of suspects who were thereafter handover to the NNS Beecroft, the operation base of the Western Naval Command.

He said “We are keying into the mandate of the Chief of Naval Staff who has zero tolerance to economic sabotage.

We have been having sea patrol in the past three months since I arrived here with lots of arrests made. We needed to carry out this very one in order to sound a note of warning to economic saboteurs around Badagry. About 90 jerrycan loaded with petroleum product were recovered inside the boat, as well as about to 2000 empty ones.

“My land patrol has had course to also arrest them severally.

Sometimes when we accost them on land, we check their documents to ascertain whether the products are genuine. The products are usually taken to the approved petrol station but it won’t ‘be dispersed to the public.

Rather, they would load them into jerrycans and transport them to Benin Republic.

Iran, Kazakhstan to build joint venture oil refinery D IRECTOR General for Mazandaran provincial Organization of Industry, Mine and Trade, Mohammad Mohammad Pour Omran said on Sunday that Iran and

Kazakhstan planned to build a joint venture oil refinery in Amirabad Port, He made the remarks in a joint economic meeting between Kazakhstan

delegation and Mazandaran trade delegation in Sari Chamber of Commerce.

Pour Omran said that the permission for construction works has been issued by

Gas explorers begin work to develop Leviathan field

T

HE owners of Leviathan, Israel’s largest natural gas field has began move on its development plans delayed for years due to political, legal and regulatory wrangling. The companies’ stocks gained as developers reaffirmed that production was on track to begin in 2019.

The Leviathan partners authorised Texas-based Noble Energy, a 40% stakeholder in the field, to sign a contract for engineering work worth an estimated $120mn, according to a Tel Aviv Stock Exchange filing on Wednesday. Designing the platform is the first stage of the gas field’s development, Israel’s Delek Drilling, another stakeholder, said in an e-mailed statement. in a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, Delek Drilling, Yossi Abu, said that “The complex work of engineering and designing the production platform will provide the engineering solution for the supply of gas to the domestic market and regional export.

“We will also advance tenders for the supply of

equipment and services, in order to make a final investment decision by the end of 2016 and be able to pump gas by 2019,” he stated.

The last obstacle to developing the field was swept away last month when the government approved the companies’ two-stage plan to drill a total of eight wells producing 21bn cu m of gas a year. The partners are in talks with large banks to finance the infrastructure project, the largest in Israel’s history. The gas companies are seeking about $4bn, Bloomberg reported in March.

Production from Leviathan, discovered in 2010, has been delayed by political and legal challenges and the absence - until last month - of a government policy on the country’s fledgling natural gas industry. Things stalled outright in December 2014, when the antitrust commissioner forced new regulatory terms onto the companies, setting off a back-and- forth tussle that included public protests, political debates and High Court rulings.

responsible bodies in Amirabad Port and the refinery is to refine Kazakhstan oil and then export to other countries.

He also said that oil swap is another proposal for bilateral cooperation.

Pour Omran, who is secretary of Mazandaran export council, said that north oil terminal in Neka city is ready for doing oil swap with Central Asian countries, Russia and Kazakhstan.

He encouraged Kazakhstan officials to do oil swap with Iran and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to purchase crude oil from Kazakhstan to develop cooperation between Mazandaran province and Kazakhstan on oil trade.

Trade stood around one billion dollars last year from which 900 million dollars were import from Kazakhstan and 100 million dollars export to Kazakhstan.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016— —31

Way out of this mess

By Sunny Ikhioya

F

OR those schooled in the art of faith, nothing is impossible. We have seen desert lands turned to lush vegetable lands in the states of Israel and Lebanon. We have seen Singapore with no visible mineral resource become a first world country and there are many examples. Why are we finding it difficult to turn our negative situations into positives? Shall we continue to bemoan our past? Are we going to continue with the ties of our past? Can’t we begin again and afresh? During a discussion with a friend recently, a top analyst in one of this country’s leading media outfit and he gave me a very chilling verdict, nothing can be done about the country’s economy, even in the next four years, he stated emphatically. He made it sound so convincing - the economy has been so battered in the last 16 years by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, regime and it will really take sometime for us to get out of the woods. The question now: Are we going to allow the situation to consume us or we should use the opportunities provided by

this hardship to look inward, especially as it concerns the vast resources available in the land?

Do we see the advantages in it and use the opportunity to address the political and structural distortions that has kept us down all these past years or we continue to mourn the situation? Even if we have to wait, like my good friend advised, what guarantee do we have that it will not end in the same cycle of waste that we have witnessed in the past?

Have those in the position of leadership learned any lessons from the past? We hear top public office holders calling for patience when they have not been good stewards of our commonwealth. Apart from the anti-corruption recovered loots, has this government displayed anything different from what we have witnessed in the past?

Could things have been different? As it is now, from what is currently playing out, we have turned full cycle, from a promised welfarist/socialist ideology party, to a full blown neo-capitalist government, meaning it is the survival of the fittest situation. If you cannot compete, then die. We witnessed a bit of it with the Tinubu and

Fashola Lagos state governments. Those who could not survive the heat in Lagos were advised to go back to their villages and not a few heeded the advise. With heavy taxes and strong capitalist business administration, Lagos state got transformed and it was at a cost

It is time to run a true fiscal federalism, that is the solution to our present economic mess

of so much sweat and blood.

That is the situation we have now found ourselves in the present All Progressive Congress, APC, party government of Nigeria. With the fuel subsidy fully removed, foreign exchange rates in full flow, imports, foodstuffs and everything deregulated, it is now a situation of survive or die.

But death cannot come easily, so we must devise means of survival. The big companies are

NTA to lead change mantra: Ibn Mohammed's perspective

By Funke Oga & Jenson Okereke

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HEN it comes to television broadcasting, Nigeria is expected to plunge fully into the digital terrain, Digital Switch Over, by 17th June 2017; and the implications are many. First, it is going to be an entirely different reality for the television industry.

Second, television broadcasting will be so much magnified that only the best can survive. Third, broadcasters would be expected to turn-in stellar performance to remain relevant. Fourth, and this is fearful: competition is going to take an entirely different dimension, feverish: and media houses have to ferociously merge up to what one can describe as the increasingly rising tempo of the game of television broadcasting. This is expected in the area of content generation, marketing and engineering technology. Fifth, an innovative sense of management is expected to emerge to generate and midwife all the ideas that could make any particular television house remain relevant. So the question to asked is: Are TV broadcast stations ready to for all these?

In relation to the above understanding, just as the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is poignantly premised on Change, a philosophy that illuminates the need for new ways of doing things and of course to be largely facilitated by the right leadership, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, seems to be right on course at the moment; with the assumption of duties of a new helms man, Yakubu Ibn Mohammed. The Taraba-born Mohammed, who studied at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, had earlier put all his working years as an exceptional broadcaster, in the services of NTA from 1977, rising to the pick of his career as a Director

and later appointed an Executive Director Special Duties in 2008. He retired in 2012 and as they would say, what goes around comes around, has been appointed the new and 9th Director General of the broadcast behemoth, NTA, on 11th May 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

What is also not lost to Yakubu Mohammed is the fact that the media audience today has become wiser and more analytical Ibn Mohammed has been described as a man who knows the taste of good broadcasting and then can actually make it happen in practical sense; as a suave news man. He had created and produced so many programmes including Tuesday Live, Periscope, News Extra, Weekend File and Nationwide: programmes still running till date and are all frontline shows.

Their relevance is attested to by the long stay on NTA schedule, even when many programmes had long been rested. So what other antecedent does Mohammed needs? In fact, observers say that his high delivery pedigree was greatly necessitated by that special appeal of thoroughness, quick analytical skill and humane-nature which he possesses. His demeanour is always that of friendship and every encounter with him essays humility.

These aside, because sometimes, CV could differ from practicality –

beginning to find out that corporate social responsibility must be part of their key functions or fold up, same with the rich in society. There must be a balance between the rich and the poor, any unfavourable tilt in either direction will upset the system. It is this distortion that has resulted in so many deviant groups manifesting in the country - militants, insurgents, kidnappers etc - So, what must be done?

Since the Federal government has decided to allow every individual to fend for himself, we should not pretend to be running any form of welfare State. As we have deregulated the economy, we must deregulate the structures. I mean it is time to allow every state, ethnic group, regions, cooperatives et al, to begin to take their destinies in their own hands. It is clear that the Federal government cannot survive peacefully with the present structure in place. The centre is too unwieldy and must be re-structured. Every group must begin to look inward.

Before the discovery of oil, we fed ourselves. It is a surprise that the people of Nigeria have forgotten that the steel culture(NOK) was once a part of us. There is a solution to all of our challenges, let us look inward, let us look into our land,

especially when you find yourself as a helmsman – and Mohammed knows this, as he says that the task ahead is challenging. You can accuse him of anything, but when it comes to bluntness that is his cosy ambience.

Without mincing words, he regrets the “unprofessional path NTA navigated in its coverage of the campaigns leading up to the 2015 elections … which shook NTA’s credibility and left many of us in state of shock and disbelief ” he submits. This is indeed a personal surgical appraisal of oneself and that is the beginning of a process of finding a genuine solution to a problem.

So what is the new DG thinking about NTA? For him, the ideology that is going to hold sway in NTA from now is that of Change, as enunciated by the government. Essentially, that idea merges well with that fundamental understanding that broadcast media practice is predicated on innovative approaches to work delivery and that is all about change in its real sense.

According to Mohammed, NTA is critically going to key into “the Change Mantra of the present administration and ensuring the actualisation of the goals and objectives of the Buhari administration” he clearly states.

Therefore, NTA will help in the articulation, propagation and promotion of government policies and programmes. Thus in the words of Mohammed, NTA “ will promote, explain its virtues and promote its dividends.”

In ideal sense and looking at NTA hard in the mirror, the DG has resolved to tell himself the truth “NTA is not where it should be…we must stop living in denial and accept the fact that there is a lot of work right now before us” he says. To achieve this, he believes that NTA has almost inexhaustible reservoir of talent, both within and outside. Consequently, he intends to evolve a deliberate policy of tapping from these talents to propel the desired shift in the fortunes of the organisation. That would ultimately mean the stabilisation of the polity through the promotion of positive

let us look at the resources that we have been blessed with by God and nature and let us begin to farm our lands. I must stress that solutions will never come from foreign aids. The people are already suffering and things must not be allowed to get out of hand. We cannot continue to say the cause of our present problems are from past administrations without proferring alternative solutions.

If we bury our heads in the past, we will never move forward.

The Niger-Delta crises will continue unless the Federal government allows the people a certain measure of control the resources in their land. States in the northern part of the country cannot ban sale and consumption of alcohol and turn around to benefit from revenue generated from alcohol taxes in other states. We must decide on how we want to move ahead. Every state should be allowed to decide on the way they want to manage their economy and run their own government without the over bearing presence of the federal government.

It is time to run a true fiscal federalism, that is the solution to our present economic mess.

*Mr. Ikhioya, www.southsouthecho.com Twitter: @Sunny Ikhioya

ideals, thereby sustaining the unity and peace in the country. For NTA and its people, this is a sine qua non of the existence of the organisation. To say the least, the President can only deliver on his agenda and the economy can indeed grow – either from within or outside – if the country is peaceful and cohesive.

What is also not lost to Yakubu Mohammed is the fact that the media audience today has become wiser and more analytical – arising from a combination of factors like exposure – presence of so many other platforms, including social media (which has brought intense competition to the traditional media terrain), education, need for more information in a world challenged by so much societal and economic issues, and these guide what they want to watch. With the mentality of a strategist, NTA intends to merge all these developments with innovative thinking and effectiveness.

Yakubu Ibn Mohammed is a man who can close his eyes and navigate every corner of NTA station nationwide and coupled with his intimidating experience, it is no doubt that the foremost television house will witness a sea-change in fortune. That in every sense will usher in an era of quality and impacting content in crisp and sharp picture; while adhering to core professional ethos.

For this to happen, he must also bear in mind that the workforce who would put their hands on the deck, indeed swim and sink with him deserve attention in a special way; considering the difficult nature of the television business. Do they call it staff welfare?

Coincidentally, it is said that he was a foremost promoter of better working condition for staff during his days in NTA. It is therefore expected that he does not lose memory of that record.

Every leader needs goodwill – both spiritually and practically – if he must right his name in gold. This can only happen when the soul of the workforce is in sync with the leadership. *Oga & Okereke, public affairs commentators, wrote from Abuja.

C M Y K

32— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CAPRICORN: Moon in Virgo will strengthen your belief and hope both in immediate and far future.Yet, there may be lacuna somewhere. Try to be very practical.

AQUARIUS: Moon in Virgo today may bring you unusual co-operation from powerful people in the next few weeks, yet it’s important you don’t take friends for granted.

PISCES: Moon in Virgo may present you with the opportunity to form enduring relationship with the influential people around. If you start a romantic liaison at work today, it would last longer than expected.

ARIES: Moon in Virgo means expansion of your source of income. Even if nothing permanent is established now, you will have good ideas on how to improve yourself financially through work. Be more loving.

TAURUS: Moon in Virgo takes place at a positive angle to your star, thus you can rightly expect success from many angles. The more enterprising you are, the better. Don’t ignore your love life.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

T

HE ultimate objective of every human being is to be happy. The reason why we toil all night and day is to be happy. However, in spite of our

Talk happiness effort we may never achieve much because of factors beyond us .

For example,the present economic

TERROR MUDA

situation of Nigeria ordinarily does not call for happiness.

But the truth is that true happiness is a thing of the mind. It

in “Never say goodbye”

is not dependent on things, state of the e c o n o m y , possessions,etc. We cannot continue to spread sadness and sorrow just because the situation is not as good as we expect it...

By Kola Fayemi

GEMINI: With the Moon and Mars in Virgo, there may be re-organisation within your base of operation that will bring you glory and advancement, yet there will be tension. Be family minded.

CANCER: Although today’s placement of the Moon in Virgo will have positive effects on your thinking process, you better be as practical as possible so that you have better opportunities.

LEO: Placement of the Moon in Virgo favours your financial prospects more than before. Yet, you must know the difference between enterprise and unnecessary risky adventure. Be more loving and avoid gambling of all types.

VIRGO: Today’s placement of the Moon means possible new beginning for you from many directions depending on your priority. Whatever you want, it’s important you are more practical yet, successwillbe yours today.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LIBRA: Your creativity quotient is enhanced today. Yet you will need to remain your practical self so that you will not be misled via bad and/or wrong advice. Keep your secrets.

SCORPIO: Moon in Virgo can bring your hopes and wishes nearer fulfilement with today’s unexpected support from the influential people around you. Protect your money.

SAGITTARIUS: Moon in your solar 10th house of career and honour signals good things for you today.

However, you must be as practical as possible to take maximum advantage.

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,

Who want my marriage dead?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I have written you many letters without response, I hope I will be lucky this time around. Although, I am interested in my financial affair and will like to know what awaits me in the future as the ups and downs are giving me concern, what I want you to tell me is: Who is working spiritually against my marriage? I have married four times. Why? Rosemary, Abuja.

Dear Rosemary, If you have spiritual warfare, it is in your financial affairs. You were endowed with special ability to make money for both yourself and other people. However, three things can militate against your finances namely; inability to hold on to your gains for too long (miscalculation) jealousy and occultic manipulation by those who are green with envy.

Yet, whatever happens, dire financial misfortune is not meant for you, especially if you heed advice from your star; your being spiritual will assist you.

Fortunate placement of the Moon and Venus in Libra and Sagittarius endowed you with charming and magnetic personality which will make it easier for you to attract members of your opposite sex who will be willing to make you happy. But after sometime, your hidden aggressive personality and tendencies to worry will come out to the resentment of members of your opposite sex.

Some other times, you promise more than you can deliver. Then yours is a jealous soul (yes everybody was born with jealous traits) but yours is extraordinary and if you have reason to doubt the other person, you may not be able to forgive.

The summary here is that there’s not much spiritual aspect working against you here but your too strong or powerful personality is what you will need to work on: if at all you have problem with love. One sure bet is members of your opposite sex cannot do without your magnetic pose.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016—33

Delta signs MoU for Commercial City Project

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA — DELTA State Government, yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with development partners to kick- start the construction of the Delta Commercial City project in Asaba.

Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa expressed the determination of his administration to boost infrastructural development in the state.

Noting that Deltans were yearning for development, Okowa, who witnessed the signing of the MoU by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Festus Agas, on behalf of the state government, said his administration would provide the enabling environment for infrastructural development to thrive.

According him, the Delta Commercial City will not only provide employment for the people of the state but also bring development to the state.

Okowa said: “The signing of the MoU is heartwarming as everyone is eager to get the project started, Deltans are eager to see development in the state, we are convinced the time for the Delta Commercial City is now, as we are building a city for the future today.

“I want to assure you of our government’s commitment and support to enable the project spring up as soon as possible, as government will provide all the enabling environment especially security for the project to thrive.”

Telling the development partners that the project “is an economic plus as it is located in a prime area and will attract a lot of businesses,” Okowa held that “the economic gains to both the state and its development partners can’t be quantified.”

He assured that the project, worth several millions of dollars, had great economic prospects for the state and the investors.

Messrs Moise Nassogui of D’Arcano Group and Olawole Rhodes-Vivour, Al Huda Nig. Limited, who signed for the development partners, said the Delta Commercial City was a project which is pivotal to the development of the state, promising due diligence in the delivery of the project.

C M Y K

BVN: 500 A-Ibom civil servants, pensioners excluded from payroll U

By Tom Moses

YO — APPROXIMATELY 500 civil servants and pensioners with Bank Verification Number, BVNrelated problems in Akwa Ibom State have been excluded from the payroll of the state pending their appearance before the BVN verification committee for screening.

State Commissioner for Finance, Akan Okon, made the disclosed, yesterday, in his office in Uyo while receiving the report of the first batch of the BVN screening exercise presented by the Chairman of the Standing BVN Verification Committee, Mrs. Eme-Ette Imuk.

The commissioner said the deployment of BVN as a yardstick for payment of salaries

and pensions in the state became necessary to effectively deal with high-level of irregularities in the payroll system.

He announced that the verification exercise would be a continuous one to safeguard the payroll system from sharp practices and ensure funds were paid to bonafide workers.

Okon expressed the appreciation of the state government to the chairman and members of the BVN Verification Committee for working tirelessly to deliver the assignment which he said would chart a new course for the payroll system and also go a long way to streamline and secure it for the common good of all.

Presenting the report of the first batch of the BVN screening to the Finance Commissioner, the

Chairman of the Committee and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. EmeEtte Imuk in her remarks explained that of the 1,458 BVN cases brought before the committee, 1,193 civil servants and pensioners were cleared after their BVNs were confirmed which paved the way for payment of their arrears of salaries for April and May. Imuk said those yet to be cleared had pending cases ranging from the affected persons’ failure to appear before the committee, civil servants who took up political appointments without following the required procedures, pensioners who took up fresh appointments in the civil service after retirement, as well as double or multiple salary collections.

WORKSHOP: From left, Deputy Executive Secretary II, National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr Ibrahim Daniya; Deputy Director, Student Support, NUC, Mr Alex Ewuruje, and Director, Office of the Executive Secretary of NUC, Mrs Constance Nnaddi, during a workshop on Development of Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards for Nigerian Universities, in Abuja, yesterady. Photo: NAN.

NBA elections: Uncertainties, as c'ttee fails to meet timelines

By Innocent Anaba

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HERE were uncertainties, weekend, over the fate of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, elections slated for July 23 and 24, as the election management bodies of the association, failed to deliver on their self-imposed timelines for the elections.

While Law Pavilion owned by Grace Infotech Limited is the ICT Partner and Administrator for the elections, the Electoral Committee of the NBA, ECNBA, headed by Mr. Ken Mozia, SAN, is saddled with the mandate of conducting the polls.

Though the electoral committee had issued both preliminary and final guidelines for the elections, it had been unable to meet the timelines it set for the elections, raising concerns on a possible postponement of the

elections.

Stakeholders are also in the dark as to the reasons for nonpublication of the voters’ register and the new date to deliver on the mandate.

The final voters’ register for the elections has not been made public at press time, notwithstanding that the ECNBA stated that the register would be published on June 24, 2016. The final processes leading to its publication are yet to commence.

The election guidelines stipulate that “pre-voting” entails collating member verification, Bar practising fee and branch dues lists from registered branches.

The administrator will then publish the voters’ register across all branches, while members are expected to review the voters’ register to confirm that their names, email addresses and phone numbers are error free.

“Those who have issues with their credentials are advised to visit their local branch to fill an amendment form with their current details, and append their signature confirming their request to edit their details,” states the guidelines.

It added that “the editing of details will be opened for a period of one week, after which the Branch Chairman is required to send a signed collated verification list of members’ details to the Electoral Committee, so that members’ details can be updated, and a new voters register hence published finally on June 24, 2016.”

The ECNBA has failed to publish the final list on June 24, 2016 as stipulated, while the provisional list of voters has not been dispatched to branches or published for viewing and complaints.

Two Okere Urhobo families allege marginalization by kinsmen

By Tare Youdeowei

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IFO and Makro, two of the five families that make up the Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, have alleged maginalisation by the three other families of Olodi, Ighogbadu and Oki. According to leaders of the two families, they have become disadvantaged as they do not have representation on the Board of Trustees, the body that administer the commonwealth of the kingdom.

They also descried the current hostile disposition against them, calling on the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bright Onajefe-Gift, to intervene in the matter to forestall a break down of law and order in the kingdom.

The families in a statement

by Brig. Gen. Gold Eburu (retd.), Mathew Poko, A.U. Iahorue and Frank Akopriaye in Warri, said they could no longer tolerate being treated as slaves in their own land, warning that they would no longer condone “these acts of unprovoked and unwarranted aggression against us any more.”

Oshiomhole’s allegation against Okowa is hallucination —Maku-Eyituoyor

By Onozure Dania

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ARRI — CHAIRMAN, Warri North Local Government, Delta State, Mr. FrancisMakuEyituoyor, has described Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State allegation against Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State of recruiting thugs to sway the outcome of the Edo State election to favour the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as an outlandish hallucination.

He said the allegation showed that the All Progressives Congress, APC, was arming itself with an excuse ahead of the foreseeable defeat the party will inevitably suffer in the elections at the hand of the PDP. Maku-Eyituoyor, in a statement, yesterday, said Okowa was a man of unblemished reputation, who would never do anything capable of smearing his integrity, adding that the Edo State governor’s allegation was frivolous as it was ludicrous.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Groups hold family conference

5 suspected kidnappers granted bail in Anambra

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ATURE CARE 360 Life Foundation in partnership with Farval Medical Services will be holding a family conference on July 8,2016 at Isolo, Lagos.

Speaking at a press briefing, Dr. Chidinma Nwaigwe, a co- founder and Chief Medical Director of Farvel Medical Services said: “This is the first time we are hosting this programme and the theme is 'Know,' we are trying to ensure everyone takes a little piece of information home and also our own little of re-investing in the society by also providing free medical check-up.”

Nwaigwe further disclosed that ”our outreach programme does a lot on sensitizing children of the primary and secondary school age to think in the right track, thereby giving them good moral support.

“At the conference, we shall be sharing with our audience modern day parenting, rights of a child, tips in choosing a house maid and lots of others. All these and many more will be discussed at the event."

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—AN Otuocha High Court in Anambra State, presided over by Justice D.O.C. Amaechina has granted bail to five accused persons charged with the kidnapping of four persons from Uruebo village, Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

The accused persons, Obinna Oduche, Vincent Anyakora, Okezie Morah, Chukwuebuka

Okoye and Paschal Nweke had been remanded in Onitsha prisons custody since April 1, 2016, by an Nteje Chief Magistrate court presided over

by Mr. Chukwuma Ibemesi following their arrests on March 29, by men of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, Awkuzu.

In a 14-count charge preferred against them by the police prosecution, the accused persons were alleged to have on March 20, 2016 at a bush within the village, kidnapped the complainants, Godwin Okoye,

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—A human rights group, Campaign for Democracy, CD, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Police Service Commission, PSC, not to retire the 20 Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police, AIGs due to the recent appointment of their junior officer, Idris Ibrahim as Acting Inspector-General of Police, Acting IGP. The group noted that the retirement of the 20 officers enlisted in force before the new

HE CHALLENGES faced by residents of gated estates and communities will come under X-ray when a new book on the subject will be presented to the public, Thursday. It is entitled, “Community Policing: Securing The Gated Community; Facts, Cases and Nuggets.”

The book will be launched at Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, under the chairmanship of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Constitutional lawyer and

Acting IGP will not augur well for the country especially now that the country is being faced with security challenges.

The National Publicity Secretary of CD, Dede Uzor Uzor, weekend, appealed to the Chairman of PSC and President Buahri to have a re-think over the proposed retirement because it will affect the police force due to their wealth of experience over the years.

According to him, “the retirement of 20 senior AIGs, who enlisted in the force before the new IGP is not the ideal thing

human rights giant, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN. According to a security expert and author of the book, Mr. Agodi Kanu, he was motivated to write the book as a result of his many years of experience in consulting on security for gated communities all over the country.

Amongst those expected at the book presentation are the National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief George Moghalu, who will be the Chief Presenter, the Minister of Interior, Lt. General

Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd), Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonanya Onu, the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, Chief of Naval, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ekwe Ibas, Major General Lawrence Anebi Onoja (rtd), Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Engr.

(Mazi) Nnamdi Udoh who are all Special Guests of Honour.

The book will be reviewed by the editor of the Guardian on Sunday, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo.

at present when there are security lapses in the country.

They are the officers who form a generation of police and to retire them will create a massive vacuum of both experienced and highly sound professional officers, who are specialists in

T

fields that will affect the police badly.

“We need their services especially now the country is being faced with security challenges such as Boko Haram, militancy, armed robbery and kidnapping among other crimes".

Labour spoils for war with IMSG

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE national leadership of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU, and the Imo State branch of Association of Senior Civil Servants, are spoiling for war with Imo State government over the compulsory leave slammed on the six management staff of the State Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, including the establishment’s Chairman, Mr. E. I. Onunaku.

Similarly, labour is irked that the state Head of Service has equally approved the immediate redeployment of 132 officers and staff, whose grade levels range from 12 to 14, to other ministries.

Labour is of the opinion that “the state government’s action grossly violated both public service rules and labour laws.”

The position of the labour union was contained in a letter addressed

to the Acting BIR Chairman, by the Assistant General Secretary of NCSU, Mr. Luke Dahang.

“We maintain our earlier opposition to deliberately disregard the extant laws and regulations guiding BIR operations.

"We must also state in clear terms that any attempt by individuals or group of persons, to forcefully eject BIR staff, who are members of our union, will be met with stiff resistance,” Dahang stated.

Continuing, the union warned that should the resistance result to unpleasant situation in the workplace, the state government would be held responsible.

While expressing worry that government had issued three circulars on the same subject matter, Dahang also said that this has created serious doubts in the minds of workers.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08051019450) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

he constitution did not say item belonging to a governor cannot be seized. If Governor Fayose has a truck that was used to carry illegal arms and it was stopped by the police, does the Police have a right to seize it? -Mr. Oghenerhobor Elvis, Self Employed

Ezeokenwa, Humphrey Udechukwu and Sylvester Odili, headed to Otuocha High court presided over by Justice Amaechina and filed an application for their bail.

After hearing the application of the defence counsel, Justice Amaechina granted them bail on the ground that the defence counsel had given an assurance that the suspects would not jump bail and neither would they as the defence counsel interfere with the police investigations.

Don’t retire 20 AIGs, rights group begs Buhari, PSC

Book on community policing for launch

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Izunna Edogwugwu, Francis Onwuzulike and Bartholomew Obimma, elder brother to Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (a.k.a. Ebube Muonso), a prominent Catholic priest in Anambra State and allegedly collected N160,000, N3,700, N66,000 and N56,000 from each of the victims as ransom before releasing them.

Following their remand in the prison custody by the Chief Magistrate Court and transfer of the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, their legal counsel, Sylvester

On EFCC’s freezing of Fayose’s account

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e cannot support or accept a situation where the EFCC fights the President's enemies, who are not proven to be corrupt, but it is totally powerless against the people who are corrupt or have the right relationship with the President. -Mr. Ezugo Nwashili, Businessman

I

mmunity shields a governor from prosecution.

Freezing Fayose's account is prosecution and therefore illegal. If Gov Fayose’s cars are suspected to be gotten from stolen funds, does it mean that they can impound his cars? -Mr Chinaza Onuigbo, Worker

H

ow long will EFCC freeze the account? If it was confirmed that the said account was in one way or the other used for laundering, will the account be permanently frozen, or Gov Fayose will be allowed to use his account until he leaves office? -Mrs. Shola Owolabi, Nurse

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f the EFCC can freeze an account without any court order, then there is a problem. There should be a third party which reviews the available evidence to make sure that it is sufficient before the individual’s account can or should be frozen. -Mr. Barbarty Majek, Work

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or the first time, I will give Gov Fayose a very good advice. If at all EFCC unfreezes his account, he should take the commission to court for clarification of section 308 of Nigeria Constitution, so the anti-graft agency will know its limit. Miss Eniola Ruth, Student

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 35

Buhari furious over deaths of malnourished IDPs in Borno As eight children die daily

Health Minister orders emergency team to state

By Victoria Ojeme, with Agency reports

A

NGERED by the reported cases of malnourished children and dying Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in government camps in Borno State, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday met with top officials of the state government, seeking explanation into the issue.

The president sought explanations following the recent statement and photographs released by Doctors Without Borders, MSF, showing malnourished persons in the camps.

This came as Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole directed that a team proceeded to Borno State following report that eight children were dying daily from malnutrition in the state.

Officials of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, on Sunday left Maiduguri ahead of the meeting with the president at the Aso Villa.

President Buhari was said to be angry at reports that persons

displaced by the Boko Haram, currently seeking refuge at government-owned camps, have been dying of malnutrition despite the billions of naira and materials provided by the federal, state governments, nongovernmental organisations and private individuals to assist the displaced persons.

Last week, the MSF issued a statement, saying, about 24,000 IDPs were in dire health situation with at least 30 people, mostly children dying every day.

Two weeks ago, the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, paid

a visit to Bama camp upon receiving reports that hundreds of malnourished persons recently rescued from Boko Haram captivity were dying in a camp in Bama, 75 kilometre from Maiduguri, the state capital.

Shettima ordered the relocation of 61 heavily underfed children to the intensive care unit of the Umaru Shehu Ultramodern Hospital in Maiduguri, where they are currently being treated.

Another set of over 400 persons with lesser cases of malnourishment were also moved out of the camp to a

special care unit for proper feeding and medication.

But before the Governor’s visit to Bama, dozens of the IDPs had died of hunger-induced ailments, an official said.

Meanwhile, Professor Isaac Adewole directed an emergency team to Borno State Borno State following report that eight children were dying daily from malnutrition in that state Adewole gave the directive to the Director-General of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Dr Abdusalami Nasidi on the inaugural meeting of the governing Board of the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Disease Control yesterday in Abuja.

Mrs Buhari donates food to widows, disabled, indigent persons in Kogi

BRIEFING: From left; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kaduna State Correspondent Chapel, Mr Midat John with the Senior Adviser Media and Publicity to Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Mr Samuel Aruwan and the Secretary, Correspondent Chapel, Mr Chimeze Eniyocha at a media briefing on the alarming cases of rape in Kaduna. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

By Boluwaji Obahopo

We'll not surrender to Fulani herdsmen — ORTOM

L

OKOJA—WIFE of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari has donated food items to widows, physically challenged persons and other less privileged women in Kogi State to cushion the effects of economic downturn in the country.

Mrs Buhari, who was represented by Hajiya Maryam Ibrahim on the occasion, said the gesture was made possible through the First Lady’s pet project, ‘Future Assured’, which objective is to give succour to the less-privileged women and youths.

She said the present administration was concerned about the well-being of the people and would continue to initiate more programmes that would impact positively on the lives of the people.

The President’s wife used the occasion to thank the people of Kogi for the support given to President Muhammadu Buhari and other All Progressives Congress, APC, candidates in the last general election.

By Peter Duru

M

A K U R D I — GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State, has declared that his administration will not surrender the state to the invading Fulani herdsmen, following unending attacks on Benue communities by herdsmen.

The Governor who lamented that the activities of the herdsmen were hindering farming in the state said the government would not give out its land to herdsmen for open grazing.

Ortom who spoke in Makurdi, at the end of the Town Hall Meeting he held with stakeholders in the three senatorial zones of the state, said the government would continue to support those who were prepared to ranch their cattle in the state.

He said the decision of the state government to enact a law to prohibit open grazing of cattle was borne out of the commitment of

his administration to end frequent invasion of the state by herdsmen.

Governor Ortom said agriculture remained the biggest industry in the state, noting that available land in the state could not accommodate farming and cattle grazing at the same time.

He regretted the lives being lost in several Benue communities due to the activities of herdsmen, stressing that the administration was working round the clock to

ensure that peace reigned across the state.

Governor Ortom said, “I have made it clear that we will not surrender Benue to herdsmen.

We are saying that we do not have land for grazing. Though we are ready to support those that are prepared to ranch their cows but for those involved in open grazing should find other states because with the new law that would soon come into effect, that practice will not be acceptable in Benue State.”

BOKO HARAM: Insurgents now disguise as vigilantes, hunters — DEFENCE HQ

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—THE Nigerian Army yesterday said following coordinated offensive against the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa Forest, the fleeing terrorists now disguised as vigilantes or hunters to evade easy detection.

A statement by BrigGeneral Rabe Abubakar said, “The terrorists, after being smoked out of Sambisa forest, in their desperation to wreak havoc on innocent Nigerians and to remain relevant, devised a new tactic of dressing like vigilantes or hunters to deceive unsuspecting members of the public of their true identity. ''The case of Kuda-Kaya village in Madadali community of Adamawa State where a group of Boko Haram terrorists, dressed like vigilantes, opened fire on celebrants during a ceremony readily come to mind.

“The general public is hereby advised to be wary of unsubscribed services or presence of vigilantes or hunters in their neighbourhood in order not to ignorantly harbour killer gang in their midst. ''Members of the public are also advised to be security conscious, at all times, and report promptly to security agencies any suspicious persons or group of persons in their community or raise alarm, where and when necessary.”

U-Connect launches online recruitment platform, Gr8jobsng

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UMAN resources consulting company, UConnect Human Resources Limited has launched an online solution, Gr8jobsng to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers.

In a statement, U-Connect said the Gr8jobsng platform would provide an enabling structure that “allows job seekers the opportunity to present themselves in efficient and effective manner

whilst capturing the attention of different employers. It also allows employers to effectively and efficiently select job seekers that embody the values, competencies and experiences they are looking for.”

Speaking on the solution, Chief Executive Officer, U-Connect Human Resources Ltd, Mrs. Omomene Odike, said: “This platform is a key enabler to solving the recruitment and career

progression challenges of both the Employer and the jobseeker, which will positively impact on them and the larger Nigerian economy.

“It is tailored towards addressing the needs of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises SME’s, multinationals companies and international companies by giving them access to top notch HR service and qualified employees.''

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

C M Y K

COMMISSIONING: From left— Patron, Bunmi Adedayo Foundation, Mr. Adekunle Adedayo; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Bunmi Adedayo Foundation, Mrs. Olayinka Adedayo; Executive Chairman, SUBEB, Mr. Ganiyu Sopeyin; and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Odeyemi Sina, at the commissioning of Yaba Model Nursery and Primary School, Lagos, which was adopted and renovated by the foundation in Lagos.

TECHNO CAMON: From left— Guest of Honour/ CEO, VJ Adams Fashion, Mr. Abiodun Adams; special Guest of Honour, Miss Green-andWhite Nigeria, Mariam Adeniyi; Deputy Marketing Manager, PR/Event Sponsorship, TECHNO Mobile, Mr. Attai Oguche, and Head, Lagos Office, Consumer Protection Council, CPC, of Nigeria, Mr. Joshua Nggada, at the unveiling/launch of the New Techno Camon C9 phone in Lagos.

FCMB'S MILLIONAIRE PROMO: From left—Zonal Head, Awka, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Limited, Mr. Chike Okeke; winner of N1 million at the South-East/South-South regional draw of the FCMB millionaire promo, Season 3, Mr. Tochukwu Onwuamaegbu, and the bank's Retail Head, South-East/South-South, Mrs. Christiana Ibe, during the presentation of cheque to the winner in Awka, Anambra State.

DIAMOND BANK'S SME 100: From left— Executive Director, SME 100 Nigeria, Charles Odi; MD/CEO, Diamond Bank Plc, Uzoma Dozie; Executive Director, Otres Restaurant, Lekki, Orode Okpu, and Co-Founder, Enzocrypton Company, Emmanuel Tarfa, at the Diamond Bank SME 100 business launch in Lagos. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

BRISTOW: From left— Director, Aerodrome & Airspace Standards, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolam; Chairman, Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Lawrence Fubara-Anga; President/Chief Executive Officer, Bristow Group, Mr. Jonathan Baliff; MD, Bristow Nigeria, and Interim Regional Director, Africa, Captain Akin Oni; and Captain Alex Oshomah, at the launch of the Bristow's Rescue and Recovery Service, RRS.

SAGAMU FGGC: Students and officials of Federal Government Girls College, FGGC, Sagamu, with the scholarship-winning student, Ibukun Ogunbanjo (middle), during the school's 30th anniversary celebration in Sagamu, Ogun State.

RCCG WOMEN: From left—President, Women of Honour, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victory Chapel, Magodo, Deaconess Doyin Odumirin; Assistant Pastor, Adejoke Taiwo; Gospel artiste, Aduke Gold; host Pastor, Aderonke Olowoyo, and Pastor Kunle Taiwo, at Tehila Praise event of the Chapel's Women of Honour Convention 2016 in Lagos.

ASTYMIN BRILLIANCE: From left— Product Manager, OTC, Mr. Femi Ajala; Astymin School Programme Coordinator, Mrs Yetunde Adesola; Marketing Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Friday Enaholo, and Corporate Services Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Oladimeji Oduyebo, during the briefing on the 2016 edition of Astymin Brilliance Reward in Lagos.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016—37

APC Youths demand Ize-Iyamu’s prosecution N700 MILLION CAMPAIGN FUND: •Defend Obaseki against N5bn scam

By Simon Ebegbulem

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) youths in Edo state have appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the PDP governorship candidate over the N700million allegedly disbursed for the 2015 presidential campaign in the state.

The youths have equally challenged the PDP in the state to come up with evidence linking the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to the alleged N5.5billion shares misappropriation deal presently being investigated by the House of Representatives.

APC youth leader, Comrade Osakpanwa Eriyo in a statement issued in Benin said that “the delay in prosecuting him is suspicious, and it is not in the interest of the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government. We are also going to compile IzeIyamu’s activities during the Igbinediona administration to the EFCC because all those who destroyed the economy of Edo state for ten years that PDP was in power must pay dearly for it” it stated.

In defending Obaseki against involvement in the N5 billion share misappropriation allegation now being investigated by the House of Representatives, the APC Youths said: “ we also read an attempt to malign the name of our governorship

•Ize-Iyamu: PDP gov candidate

•Obaseki: APC gov candidate candidate Godwin Obaseki; we are calling on the PDP to come up with evidence

against him, and if it is true we will equally call on the EFCC to prosecute him. But

we are aware that Obaseki has been in the public sector and has worked hard for all he owns today.

Why we're holding fresh gov primaries — SHERIFF GROUP

By Simon Ebegbulem

Alabi narrated that “the leadership of our party under Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, invoked section 31, sub section 2E of the Constitution of PDP by suspending the state executive members of the PDP in Edo State led by Chief Dan Orbih, for three months and appointed a seven-man committee to superintend the affairs of the PDP in Edo State.

“We are holding our

T

HE PDP state leadership constituted by the former national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday vowed to go ahead with a fresh governorship primary today irrespective of penultimate Monday ’s primary where Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu emerged candidate of the party.

The insistence of the Sheriff aligned executive is irrespective of the assertions by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC that it would not be monitoring it.

Addressing journalists in Benin City yesterday, Ebenezer Alabi, a former

•Sheriff: Ex-PDP interim chairman chairman of the party in Ondo State who was appointed state chairman by Sheriff, insisted that Chief Dan Orbih’ s led

PDP stands dissolved.

Flanked by the secretary of the caretaker committee, Chief Edmund Zealiwe and others,

I'm a landlord; Orbih can't suspend me — Iduoriyekemwen

By Simon Ebegbulem

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UNNER-UP in the penultimate Monday ’s governorship primaries of the PDP, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, has described his purported suspension by the party in the state as laughable.

He said, “how can an illegal body suspend me; Orbih led PDP has been dissolved by the national leadership of the party so how can such a dissolved body suspend me?”

Iduoriyekemwen asked.

Iduoriyekemwen, after some initial hesitation had rejected the result of the exercise and decided to pitch tenth with C M Y K

•Iduoriyekemwen: Aligns with Sheriff the Modu Sheriff led faction of the party whose governorship primaries is

scheduled for tomorrow.

The party described his action as indiscipline and announced the suspension of the PDP leader. However, Iduoriyekemwen, who reacted yesterday, said “Orbih, Ize-Iyamu and all of them met me in PDP. I have been in the PDP since the creation of the party while they have all frolicked from APP to PDP, from PDP to APC then from APC they are now back to PDP to reap where they did not sow.

“I am a landlord in PDP and a tenant cannot suspend a landlord. They are jokers as far as I am concerned.”

governorship primaries on Wednesday, and the purpose of the primaries is to conform with the ruling of the court.

You are aware that a lot of our members are in court as to who is the authentic leader of PDP in Nigeria because of the aborted convention we had in Port Harcourt. The court has made pronouncements. We are a democratic party, and I believe we must follow the law.

Edo Assembly calls for extension of Voters Registration exercise for one week

By Simon Ebegbulem

T

HE Edo State House of Assembly resumed plenary yesterday calling for the extension of the continuous voters’ registration exercise in the State for another one week so as to capture more voters in the State.

The House passed the resolution after the Deputy Speaker of the House, Justin Okonoboh, raised the issue under matters of urgent public importance, lamenting that they are still many Edo indigenes who are willing to vote in the forthcoming governorship election, but they are yet to register due to several problems.

The House urged INEC to make more machines and other registration materials available within the period, urging further that they

should embark on sensitization tour of the communities regretting that most people in the rural communities are still not aware that the exercise was going on.

The House also called for necessary modalities to distribute the uncollected 400,000 Permanent Voters Cards so as to limit the incident of double registration during the exercise. Speaker of the House, Elizabeth Ativie, directed the House Committee on Education to liaise with the INEC to ensure compliance with the resolution.

Speaker Ativie, who stressed the need for the exercise to be extended for another one week pointed out that the incidence of the voters who were not captured in the exercise cuts across all council areas of the State.

38 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (M) French President Francois Hollande (L) and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi(R) at an event hosted by the German leader in Berlin where they took defiant stance ahead of a Brexit crisis summit today.

EU leaders reject informal talks “new impulse” to strength- ly have the largest econowith UK mies in the EU. en the EU.

T

HE European Union will not hold informal talks with the UK until it triggers Article 50 to leave, Germany, France and Italy have insisted.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted talks with French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Berlin.

The leaders called for a

Last Thursday, British citizens voted 52-48 in favour of leaving the EU in a historic referendum.

UK financial markets remain volatile in the wake of the vote, with sterling plunging to a 31-year low against the dollar, and some share trading temporarily halted.

Together with the UK, Germany, France and Ita-

All three leaders voiced regret at the UK’s vote to leave, with Mrs Merkel calling it a “very painful and regrettable decision”.

“We are in agreement that Article 50 of the European treaties is very clear - a member state that wishes to leave the European Union has to notify the European Council,” Mrs Merkel told the joint news conference at the German chancellery.

Brexit turmoil hits sterling and shares

U

K financial markets remain volatile in the wake of the Brexit vote, with sterling plunging to a 31-year low against the dollar, and some share trading temporarily halted.

Yields on 10-year government bonds sank below 1% for the first time as investors bet on an interest rate cut.

Shares in airlines, housebuilders and banks were worst hit, with sharp falls

causing a momentary halt in trading.

The falls came after Chancellor George Osborne tried to calm the markets.

In a statement before the financial markets opened, his first since the referendum result, the chancellor said the UK was ready to face the future “from a position of strength”.

He also indicated there would be no immediate

emergency Budget.

But the upheaval on the financial markets continued.

The pound fell 3.2% to $1.32260, having earlier hit a fresh 31-year low of $1.3151, sinking below the level it had fallen to on Friday when it recorded its biggest one-day fall ever against the dollar. Against the euro, it was down 2.6% at €1.19990.

France opens manslaughter inquiry into Egyptair crash

F

RENCH authorities opened a manslaughter inquiry Monday into the May crash of an EgyptAir plane that killed 66 people, saying there is no evidence so far to link it to terrorism.

Prosecutor ’s office spokesman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said the inquiry was launched as an accident investigation, not a terrorism investigation.

She said French authorities are “not at all” favoring the theory that the plane was downed deliberately, though the status of the inquiry could eventually change if evidence emerges to that effect.

Investigators decided to start the probe before

waiting to analyze the plane’s flight data and voice recorders, based

on evidence gathered so far, she said, without elaborating.

Turkish President apologises for downing of Russian jet

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URKEY’s president has apologized for the downing of a Russian military jet at the Syrian border, the Kremlin said Monday, an unexpected move that could open the way for easing a bitter strain in Russia-Turkey ties.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin comes seven months after the incident, which has triggered a slew of Russian sanctions that have dealt a severe blow to the Turkish economy.

The formal apology, which the Kremlin had requested, came hours after Turkey and Israel announced details of an agreement to repair their strained relations.

The Kremlin quoted the Turkish leader as offering his condolences to the killed pilot’s family and saying: “I’m sorry.”

“I share their pain with all my heart,” Erdogan said in the letter, according to the Kremlin. “We are ready to take any incentive to help ease the pain and the burden of inflicted damage.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016—39

Gathering storm: Leadership crisis threatens to tear Anambra community apart •Monarch, others worried as govt delays appointment of new caretakers

By Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

T

HE age-long town union leadership crisis in Nkpor community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State seem headed for another violent showdown with a faction in the community led by its traditional ruler, Igwe Christopher Ibegbunam 11 (Eze Nkpor) and a one-time President-General of Nkpor Development Union, NDU, Dr. Christian Okeke, threatening to assert its right over the matter. The faction is particularly complaining about the alleged delay by the state government in dissolving the incumbent Interim Management Committee, IMC, to pave way for the appointment of a newcaretakercommitteetomanage theaffairsofNDUbeforeanelection is conducted.

The crisis dates back to 2004 when the community split into two factions of NDU with Senator Orjiakor leading one faction as its own President-General, while Chief Adibe led the other. It was a development that did not go down well with well-meaning stake holders in the state who before the then Governor of the state Chris Ngige flaggedofftheconstructionofUmusiome village road, warned the two factional leaders and their followers against fomenting trouble and causing the Governor to suspend the project.

tration and Legal Adviser, respectively.

But the joy engendered by the coming of the IMC was short-lived.

This is because by 2011 when it called for an election of NDU executive, the election was disrupted midway into the accreditation stage by some aggrieved persons who felt that the exercise was not being carried out according to the

*Faces on uncertainty...Waiting government action on IMC constitution of NDU. Consequently, the state government asked the IMC to continue in office until the coast becomes clear for another election.

That was the beginning of trouble for Eze Nkpor and other stakeholders. At a stage, the monarch and others summoned a meeting of stakeholders and announced that they had passed a vote of no

Violence and litigation However, when the crisis degenerated into violence and litigation, Igwe Ibegbunam and other stakeholders resolved that the best option was to shove both parties aside and constitute an IMC that would broker peace and conduct an election within few months.

Consequently, in December 2007, Eze Nkpor and the stakeholders drew a 10-man IMC list and presented same to the then Governor Peter Obi which the state government ratified and recognised as such. The major terms of reference for the IMC was to take steps to soothe frayed nerves, reconcile both factions and within few months, conduct an election that will usher in democratically elected officers to pilot the affairs of the NDU. The 10-man IMC had Chief Ngozi Anyakorah, an educationist and Registrar of Paul University, Awka as its chairman, while Chief Okey Enekebe, Chief Raphael Asha Nnabuife and Justice Pete Obiora were the Secretary, Director of Finance/Adminis-

•Igwe Ibegbunam 11(2nd left) and some stakeholders during the meeting in his palace

The election was disrupted midway into the accreditation stage by some aggrieved persons

confidence on the IMC because, according to them, it has overstayed its welcome, no longer convene a meeting to brief the masses on the state of affairs in the community and above all used the community funds without recourse to transparency and proper accountability.

When by December 2015, the state government wanted to conduct an election, both parties could not agree with certain terms set out for the election. As a result, gov-

for

*Some members of the women wing at the meeting

ernment suspended the election and decided to set up a new caretaker committee to run the affairs of NDU for at least three months within which an election would be conducted. Both parties accepted the caretaker committee condition and Eze Nkpor quickly drew an 11-man list and submitted same to the state government for recognition and announcement.

But in a letter to the Chairman of IMC, dated December 29, 2015, the state government said the NDU electionscheduledforDecember30, would no longer hold, adding that government would constitute a caretaker committee which would take over from the present IMC, pending when a new election would be held.

Worried that five months after government was yet to announced the constitution of the committee as agreed, Igwe Ibegbunam summoned the stakeholders, including the women wing, to deliberate on the situation which he described as unpalatable. In a communique issued at the end of the meeting held in his Palace, Eze Nkpor called on the state government to expedite action in ratifying the list of the caretaker members he submitted.

Flanked by the former NDU PG, Dr. Okeke, a member of the IMC, Tony Onuorah who had renounced his membership; former chairman of Umusiome village, Chief Augustine Udo, among others, Eze Nkpor contended that he heard that the IMC leadership had equally submitted another list to the government, implying that some of them still want to join or even become leaders of the new caretaker.

He added that government should nottinkerwiththeoriginallistdrawn

by himself as they don’t want any infiltration.

Eze Nkpor also advised the general public to stop dealing with the IMC leadership in anything concerning Nkpor lands and markets as the vote of no confidence passed on them was still subsisting and that they are no longer holding any official position in Nkpor, adding that any person or persons dealing with them are doing so at their own risk.

Also in a letter to the state government dated August 3, 2015, the secretary of IMC, Enekebe accused Anyakorah and Nnabuife of not only failing to convene meetings but have also been parading themselves as sole administrators by receiving, keeping and disbursing revenues that accrued to the community without reference to other members of the IMC.

Democratically elected executive Enekebe, therefore, advised government to dissolve the IMC and conduct an election that would usher in a democratically elected executive.

But in a reaction, the IMC, through its Director of Finance/ Administration, Asha Nnabuife, told newsmen that it is the responsibility of the state government which constituted the IMC to dissolve and replace it with a new caretaker committee or conduct an election. Nnabuife who described the opposition as mere land speculators who are fighting to cling to power so as to legalise land grabbing “whichistheirstock-in-trade”, said they were furious about IMC leadership because it refused to

give them the necessary backing to revoke peoples lands and resell them, adding that the monarch is supporting them because they give him a percentage of the proceeds from the illegal land deal. According to Nnabuife: “This IMC has achieved more than what all the past P-Gs achieved put together. During their regime as P-Gs, they sold lands, collected development levies and shared everything among themselves, and at the end of the day, they had nothing positive to show for their leadership.

Tricycles and motorcycles But since IMC came into power, we transformed our town union hall from a hut to a multimillion naira ultra-modern hall, celebrated Ofala festival for Eze Nkpor, paid him and his cabinet members weekly stipend, gave scholarships to our youths, gave out vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles as empowerment programmes. The records are there for anybody who cares to see for himself”.

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Greg Obi who spoke to newsmen in his office, said the Nkpor town union crisis started many years before he came into office, adding that they had made consultations with both parties and agreed to appoint a new caretaker committee that will conduct an election on a neutral ground in few months time.

Flanked by Chief Ikechukwu Onyeabo, Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters, Obi noted that since government has not yet dissolved the IMC to avoid creating a vacuum in the leadership of the town union and to avoid creating room for more crisis, the IMC will remain in power until the announcement of a new caretaker committee to take over from the IMC.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Preventing birth defect during pregnancy

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XPERTS say eating well balanced and nutritional meals, and taking multivitamin daily that includes the recommended 400 mcg of folic acid and the B vitamins is necessary.

Avoid all activities that could potentially lead to birth defects, including alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs and caffeine Seek an annual gynaecological and wellness examination. Obtain genetic counselling and birth defect screening.

Apply caution when taking certain medications and getting vaccinated. Make sure to tell your doctor about any HEART DEFECT: Studies show that 35 percent of pregnant smokers risk baby heart defect

To prevent heart defects in your baby, plan your pregnancy I

N recent times, hospital statistics has revealed a rise in congenital heart disease among Nigerian children. Consultant Cardiologist and Head, Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Professor Christy Okoroma, speaks to Chioma Obinna about the burden of congenital heart disease. She says to check the trend, pregnancies must be planned.

What it is: Congenital heart disease is a major birth defect. It is the most dangerous because it can kill a child. For every 1,000 live births, you have 8 to 10 children with congenital defects.

The commonest is specifically the one known as hole-in-the-heart.

The burden is huge if for every 1000 live births between 8 and 10 are affected, it is a major problem. For instance, if you put it in the context of the population of Nigeria, that makes it more serious because it means one child per 100 live births.

Prevention The place to start is the risk factors but with the things that could predispose the babies to heart defects. What can predispose a born child to congenital heart disease? Some are inherited and combine with the environmental factors.

The environment is a little bit of a problem, but for genetics you can do a bit but not about the environment. You can talk about the diseases that afflict mothers.

Nowadays people get pregnant without planning for it or without knowing. Unfortunately, the heart begins to form early in pregnancy, sometimes even before the mother knows that she is pregnant. You can imagine while the heart is forming and the mother is already consuming alcohol with herbs and other concoctions or inhaling cigarette

smoke? The most important part of preventing congenital heart disease and other types of disease is to make sure that pregnancy is planned. You wouldn't have problems if the pregnancy is planned.

Planning pregnancy: A couple should agree that they want to have a baby and they should go see the doctor. The doctor will now carry out medical examinations on them. And part of the things the doctor will look at includes

those risk factors that can predispose babies to congenital heart disease, like diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

Obese mothers are more likely

Obese mothers are more likely to deliver big children.

If a child is big the child is at risk of having heart defects or other birth defects to deliver big children from 4kg and above. If a child is really big the child is at risk of having heart

defects or other births defects. It is surprising that some women now take concoctions in the belief that they do not want their babies to be big. If a baby is too small, that baby is at risk. It is during the planning the gynaecologist will be able to pick some of those risk factors that would predispose the mother. Another example is Rubella that can predispose babies to heart disease.

Drug abuse: Apart from alcohol, diabetes and hypertension, drugs are also important. When you abuse drugs like cocaine even antibiotics and analgesics, they can cause heart defects. It is a long list but the take home message is that people have to plan pregnancies.

Experts say Omega-3 helps children's eye, brain develop properly

By Gabriel Olawale

O

MEGA-3 fatty acid also known as DHA is a major structural component of the retina of the eye and helps macular degeneration, which can cause vision impairment and blindness.

In the views of a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, "Omega-3s contains a powerhouse of nutrients to ensure that babies develop properly and reach their highest potential. These nutrients help to maximize the intelligence of the child, and protect them from brain injuries such as autism.

Omega-3 fatty acid is essential

to the child's development such that, if a pregnant mother is deficient in it, the child's nervous system and immune system may never fully develop, and it can cause a lifetime unexplainable emotional, learning, and immune system disorders.

At the unveiling of Peak 456, the Marketing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Tarang Gupta said ages 4 and 6 are period of rapid skeletal and muscular development, as well as continuing brain growth, hence the need to ensure children get adequate nutrition.

"Studies have revealed that 90 percent of brain growth occurs during the first five years of life and this is a critical period when

adequate nutrition is particularly important."

Gupta stressed the need for parents to feed children with appropriate nutrients for their development.

According to him, "Peak 456 is fortified with DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid which is a major structural fat found in the brain and retina of the eyes.

DHA influences a child's developmental milestones such as motor skills, speech, learning, thinking, and visual development. Peak 456 also provides essential vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrate to meet the nutritional requirements of those vital years after a child's third birthday."

medications (including overthe-counter drugs and supplements you may be taking.

Maintaining a healthy weight also helps reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy. If you have preexisting conditions, such as diabetes, take special care to manage your health.

It's extremely important to attend regular prenatal appointments.

Additional prenatal screening can be done to identify defects if your pregnancy is considered high risk.

Depending on the type of defect, it may be able to be treated before the baby is born.

When we were in school, we were told that older mothers are more prone to having babies with birth defect but now we are seeing teenage mothers having babies with birth defects, not only that but other birth defects.

Pregnancy has to be planned if a woman truly needs additional babies. Some women have four to six children and they still need more. They need to go for family planning.

Congenital heart disorders If they must get pregnant again, they must see their doctors who will now identify those conditions and offer advice.

Detection: Congenital heart disorders can be detected in the womb with ultrasound or foetal echo-cardiography, (a scan of the heart). This can be done through the mother's abdomen and heart defect can be picked up. This is why we need good spirited individuals, Foundations and organisations, to support hospitals like LUTH. We are doing well to even pick them up before they are born. With that we will plan their delivery because some of them will have problem as soon as they are born and some will be in the future.

Role of diet: There are things that can predispose a baby to be big even before birth. If you are obese the risk of having a big baby is there and if you have diabetes the risk of having a big baby is there but you can discuss with a nutritionist who can counsel you on what to eat. If you are on the big side a dietician can advise you on what to eat. You need to work with your doctor and dietician to know the balance diet you will need to eat in pregnancy to reduce chances of having a big baby and weight gain during pregnancy as well as ensure that your diabetes is controlled.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016—41

BRIEFLY Health professionals move to tackle healthcare emergencies

By Victoria Ojeme

H

EALTH professionals in Public health across Africa have called for the strengthening of healthcare emergency system in order to prevent epidemic in the continent.

This was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the two-day seminar on emergency health system in Africa.

In her submission at the programme supported by Pfizer as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, the President of the Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria, AGCPN, and Professor of Radiation Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, an effective and efficient health emergency system is sacrosanct to the overall healthcare service delivery.

Mortality and morbidity Okoye posited that continuous neglect of health emergencies by African countries would have negative effect across broad spectrum in the health sector.

Continuing, she urged health workers on the need to improve the Healthcare Emergency System She added that “there is the need for capacity development both human and infrastructural, with clinical trial as a fulcrum towards addressing future public health emergencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“There is the need for close collaboration between public and private establishments/sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa towards combating and reducing mortality and morbidity.

On his part, Prof.

Maurice Iwu harped on the need to enhance modulation in tracking diseases as well as the introduction of microbiota system. Iwu stressed the need for concerted efforts in improving healthcare emergency in the sector for optimum results.

The participants harped on the need for deliberate efforts by all tiers of Governments, NGO and private partners to support clinical trials and research generally across SubSaharan Africa.

VIRUS CIRCLE:The inoculation of viruses into mosquito bite sites is an important and common stage of arbovirus infections. This visual abstract depicts the findings of McKimmie and colleagues, who show that inflammation at bite sites aids viral replication and dissemination in vivo, resulting in more severe infection. These findings define additional targets for post-exposure prophylactic intervention.

Itchy swelling of mosquito bites help viruses replicate — Scientists

By Chioma Obinna

M

ORE revelations about the nature of mosquitoes have emerged as scientists have found that mosquito bite sites are not just itchy or irritating nuisances but they also make viral infections spread far more.

Mosquitoes are small, midge-like flies which constitute the family Culicidae. Females of most species are ectoparasites, whose tube-like mouthparts pierce the hosts’ skin to consume blood. The word “mosquito” is Spanish for “little fly”.

There are more than 3,500 species of mosquitoes. About 175 of them are found in the United States, with the Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Culex pipiens, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus In Asian, among the most common.

Malaria carrier The Anopheles is a malaria carrier, and the other three are known to spread various forms of encephalitis. Nigeria is one of the countries where Anopheles mosquito, a malaria carrier, is found.

In the study, led by the University of Leeds, the researchers found that inflammation where the insect has bitten not only helps a virus such as Zika or dengue establish an infection in the body more quickly, but that it also helps it to spread around the body, increasing the likelihood of severe illness.

According to a research fellow at the School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Dr Clive McKimmie, mosquito bites are not just annoying,

they are key for how these viruses spread around the body and cause disease.

McKimmie, who is also the Senior author of the study, said the team want to look at whether medications such as anti-inflammatory creams can stop the virus establishing an infection if used quickly enough after the bite inflammation appears.

In the new research, published in the journal Immunity, the investigators used mouse models to study

Despite the enormous disease burden of mosquito-borne viral infections they are responsible for hundreds of millions of cases across the world the bites of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species that spreads infections such as Zika, dengue and Chikungunya.

When a mosquito bites, it injects saliva into the skin. The saliva triggers an immune response in which white blood cells called neutrophils and myeloid cells rush to the site.

But instead of helping, some of these cells get infected and inadvertently replicate the virus, the researchers found.

The team injected viruses into the skin of the mice with or without the presence of a mosquito bite at the injection site

and compared the reaction.

In the absence of mosquito bites and their accompanying inflammation, the viruses failed to replicate well, whereas the presence of a bite resulted in a high virus level in the skin.

McKimmie also admitted that the finding was a big surprise they never expected.

The team also worked alongside their counterparts at the University of Glasgow.

“These viruses are not known for infecting immune cells. And sure enough, when we stopped these immune cells coming in, the bite did not enhance the infection anymore.”

Despite the enormous disease burden of mosquito-borne viral infections they are responsible for hundreds of millions of cases across the worl, unfortunately, there are few specific therapies or vaccines.

“This research could be the first step in repurposing commonly available antiinflammatory drugs to treat bite inflammation before any symptoms set in.

McKimmie, whose study was funded by the Medical Research Council, also noted that “We think creams might act as an effective way to stop these viruses before they can cause disease.”

He added that if it is proven to be effective, this approach could work against a multitude of other viruses. Nobody expected Zika, and before that nobody expected Chikungunya,” he said.

“There are estimated to be hundreds of other mosquitoborne viruses out there and it’s hard to predict what’s going to start the next outbreak.”

How to avoid mosquito bites

W

HY do mosquito bites itch? Experts say mosquito saliva contains an anesthetic property that minimalises sensation in the area. This property later irritates the skin and elicits a histamine response. Do not scratch it as it irritates the skin even further.

Instead, apply Calamine lotion, mosquito relief spray or spread an antihistamine cream on the area.

Wear mosquito repellent. A variety of speciallyformulated insect repellents are available for sale.

Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when

outdoors. One of the best ways to keep mosquitoes from biting you is to simply cover your skin.

Sleep with a mosquito net over your bed. The mosquito netting has fine holes big enough to allow breezes to easily pass through but small enough to keep mosquitoes and other biting insects out.

Avoid parts of the world where mosquitoes are common.

Unfortunately, mosquitoes live on every continent except Antarctica.

Avoid standing water.

Mosquitoes are often attracted to water, especially standing water, so lakes, stagnant creeks, bogs, marshes, and swamps are mosquito havens, especially during hot months.

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

How autism affects your child — EXPERTS

By Chioma Obinna

I

MAGINE having a child that was normal at birth, but suddenly after 24 months the child's skills begin to regress?

Imagine having to take care of a child with disability without knowing what to do or where to go? If you can imagine these, then, you will appreciate what a number of Nigerian parents who have children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, are going through.

Children with ASD develop at a different rate and don't necessarily develop skills in the same order as typically developing children. For example, a child with ASD might start to use a few single words around 12 months of age, but might not have the explosion of language typically seen in other children, perhaps learning only a couple of new words each month. It might take him until he's three years old to start combining these words together into short phrases.

Experts say children with ASD have difficulties that can affect their learning and development.

Unfortunately, children with ASD in Nigeria and their parents carry a huge burden in the absence of a comprehensive incountry platform for timely diagnosis, management and support. The financially enabled travel overseas to seek help, but not so for the less privileged who may not know the cause of their child's condition and attribute it

1 5 0 children around t h e world and is a lifelong developmental disability t h a t affects how a person communicates w i t h others.

Lamikara s a i d there are a number o f medical • GTBank’s face of Autism. She is only special because tests that can be she lives with autism but not different. to other cultural and spiritual factors. But there is hope as experts who gathered at the Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank, plc 6th edition of the bank’s Annual Autism programme say with appropriate management children with the disorder can live a fulfilled life.

In the views of Dr. Anne Lamikara, Blazing Trails International, one unique thing about autism is that it appears about 24 months after birth. "You have a normal child all of a sudden his skills start regressing and you end up having a child with autism."

She said ASD affects 1 in every

done to determine which child will have autism. "A regular outpatient follow-up and monitoring of children/caregivers on recommended interventions will enhance compliance and make it possible to ascertain the response of target conditions such as seizure, hyperactivity, communication problems among others.

She said the GTBank awareness programme has raised awareness in Nigeria and is creating new ideas on how to manage autism.

There is need for people to understand that children with disability can live a meaningful life. "

Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr. Seguin Agbaje, said: "We believe that children, irrespective of developmental disorders can rise to the highest levels in the pursuit of their dreams when given a chance to cultivate their innate skills and maximize their potentials."

Agbaje stressed that society on the other hand has a role to play in providing an atmosphere for

children living with ASD to thrive.

"As a bank, we will continue to provide support for parents, teachers and care givers of children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder through our annual Autism programme.

The free conference, featured different classes focusing on diverse areas of the management of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

International Professionals such as Nutritionists, Psychologists, Educationists and Medical Practitioners facilitated the various sessions.

Fidson holds 5th Astymin Brilliance Reward

F

IDSON Healthcare Plc. is rewarding outstanding children under the 5th edition of its flagship children academic reward programmeAstymin Brilliance Reward.

Billed to hold July 9, 2016 at the Grange School, Ikeja, Lagos, the programme, which berthed in 2010, is aimed at developing the mental and academic performance, while rewarding hard work and academic excellence amongst primary school pupils, through special acknowledgment and provision of educational materials.

The best graduating pupils from over 200 private and public schools across the SouthWest and South-Eastern regions, as well as parents, teachers and stakeholders in Nigerian educational system.

"The ABR is our attempt to

bring back the glory days of our education by throwing our weight behind the children's drive for academic excellence. This is another season of delight for the kids who have worked so hard and perform exceptionally in their academics; but for us, it is another day of celebrating excellence", said General Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc., Mr. Ola Ijimakin.

He said Astymin Brilliance Reward is one of the ways the company is helping to develop the country's educational system.

"Astymin is also presently running a consumer appreciation promo, called 'Get Alert Promo' running February to December 2016. Three monthly Star Winners of N100, 000 prize for the months of February, March, April and May respectively, and over 1400 daily winners have emerged in the promo.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 43

Buhari, Saraki in war of words Continues from page 5

counter-affidavit from the DPP, Justice Halilu ruled that he would allow the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to go home today (yesterday).

The judge also asked the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants to provide two reasonable sureties each, maintaining that the sureties must be owners of landed property in the high-brow areas of Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse II or Garki in Abuja.

The court subsequently fixed July 11 to commence full trial of the defendants.

Heavy security in court precincts

Meanwhile, there was heavy security presence in the court’s precincts which shares the same perimeter with the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, where Saraki is also answering to another 16-count charge bordering on alleged false/ anticipatory declaration of assets.

Supporters of the embattled lawmakers thronged the court premises in their numbers to observe the proceedings.

Whereas Saraki, who appeared calm all through the proceeding, wore his usual white caftan with a cap to match, Ekweremadu, on the other hand, was dressed in traditional Igbo attire.

Earlier, armed security operatives barred photojournalists from gaining entrance into the court premises, a development that led to protest by the journalists.

It took the intervention of lawyers to persuade the mobile policemen to grant the cameramen entry into the premises.

Saraki’s allegations ridiculous —Presidency

Meanwhile, the Presidency has described Saraki’s allegations as not only ridiculous, but also preposterous.

The Presidency in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, called on Senator Saraki to come forward with more information on those who hijacked Buhari's Presidency.

The statement, entitled: “Senator Saraki and the fictive cabal,” read: “President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, claims there is 'now a government within the government of President Buhari,' which has allegedly seized the apparatus of executive powers to pursue

a nefarious agenda.

"This claim by Senator Saraki would have been more worth the while if it had been backed with more information.

“If he had proceeded to identify those who constitute the government within the government, it would have taken the issue beyond the realm of fiction and mere conjecture. But as it stands, the allegation is not even worth the paper on which it was written, as anybody can wake from a troubled sleep and say anything.

“The Attorney-General of the Federation is the chief law officer of the state. It is within his constitutional powers to determine who has infringed upon the law, and who has not.

Pretending to carry an imaginary cross is mere obfuscation, if, indeed, a criminal act has been committed.

"But we leave the courts to judge. To claim that President Buhari is anybody’s stooge is not only ridiculous, but also preposterous. It is not in the character of our President.”

Courts being used for vendetta — Ekweremadu

Also reacting, Senator Ekweremadu, in a statement affirming his innocence, regretted that the case was a vindictive use of the courts to achieve personal vendetta against individuals, who some people in authority were peeved against.

Warning that such use of state powers must not be allowed for personal goals in a democracy, Ekweremadu said he was not the one on trial but the institutions of the nation’s democracy.

According to him, he found solace in God and in the words of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe that the truth shall vindicate the just.

He said: “I presented myself to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court today as an ordinary citizen of this great nation to plead not guilty to charges I did not and could not have committed.

“It is deeply troubling to note that people in high places, who swore to uphold the law, have dwindled into purveyors of falsehood and rumours who seek to smear and tarnish the reputation of lawabiding and responsible citizens as well as cripple the hallowed institutions of democracy.

"It is all the more disheartening that people, who should know better use the colour of their office to pursue private vendetta against people they

disagree with.

“This grotesque display of vindictiveness, arrogance, and mindless targeting of innocent citizens should find no sanctuary in our democracy.

"Using the machinery of justice to create disorder is a dangerous and invidious scheme that ultimately will lead Nigeria down the road to perdition. It is Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu today, who knows whose turn it will be next?

“I am a law-abiding citizen and believe in the rule of law and all the rights and privileges it advertises.

But, even at that, it is only in my place not to commit crime, but way out of my reach not to be accused of one, especially when instruments of power become apparatuses for oppression of the innocent and voices of opposition.

“Indeed, I, in no way or fashion, claim to be above the law, just that I believe that the law should not be used as an instrument to bludgeon innocent citizens into submitting to the untamed wishes and caprices of witch-hunters.

“However, I put my trust in God, the court, and the overwhelming solidarity of the good people of Nigeria.

When the dust settles, Nigerians will see clearly that this charge is nothing but meretricious thrash.

Time, occasions, and provocations like this will teach their own lessons.

"I hope that one chief lesson will be that democracy differs markedly from military rule and that public officers should never subvert the foundations of democracy by prioritizing the rule of man over the rule of law.

“Let us make no mistake about this: it is not Senator Ike Ekweremadu or Senator Bukola Saraki or the other accused persons that are on trial; rather the hallowed democratic principles of separation of powers, rule of law, the legislature itself, and, indeed, democracy are on a ridiculous trial.

“Mere anarchy is unleashed upon the land, but our courage must not fall apart. No condition is permanent and nothing lasts forever.

“For me, I find great comfort in the immortal words of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who said that history will vindicate the just and the wicked will not go unpunished."

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Chile ‘re S/America’s most dangerous team F

OOTBALL is strange. Chile are Copa América champions for the second time in their history ... and for the second time in the space of 12 months. And they beat Argentina in successive finals without scoring a goal. It was enough to force Lionel Messi’s shocking resignation from the national team.

But while much of the focus will now turn to Messi’s decision to quit, we should acknowledge Chile’s achievements.

Both finals showcased a team who imposed their pace on the game and deserved to win: the games in Santiago and in New Jersey were played exactly as Chile wanted – with hard-fought, extremely intense football with no open space and no chance for some of the world’s most dangerous strikers to play freely.

More importantly, it’s Argentina who changed their style in order to face Chile, not the other way around. Argentina were still cautious despite the 2-1 win over Chile in the group stages.

For Argentina, finals of major tournaments are clearly something of a problem: they’ve now lost seven consecutive finals: at the Copa América in 2004, 2007, 2015 and 2016, the Confederations Cup in 1995 and 2005, and the World Cup in 2014.

the Stade de France.

Spain defeated Italy at Euro 2008, as well as thrashing them 4-0 in the 2012 final, but this time they had no answer to Antonio Conte’s men, who recorded a deserved victory.

Defender Giorgio Chiellini tapped in Italy’s opener in the first half and only an impressive goalkeeping performance from David de Gea kept Vicente del Bosque’s men in with a chance.

Alvaro Morata headed straight at Gianluigi Buffon as they looked to keep their hopes of a record third consecutive title alive, but wave after C M Y K

E

NYIMBA of Aba are in Pretoria, South Africa with the aim of taking all three points from Memalodi Sundowns and launch themselves back into reckoning for the CAF Champions League.

Having fell 1-0 in Port Harcourt to Zamalek, Enyimba need to pick up the pieces on Wednesday, when they clash with the South African champions.

Enyimba defender, Idris Aloma was optimistic that

games and qualify for the semi-final.

“It’s unfortunate that Enyimba FC lost at home to Zamalek SC in their first match in the group stage but it’s now important for us to win when they play against Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday,” Aloma told Goal.

“If they secure a win away and at home against Sundowns then a semi final birth might be insight for Enyimba FC.

Zambia can spring surprise – Bwalya Group B. Nevertheless, the SMILES: Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez displays his Golden Ball as Chile win Copa America

WHAT A MESS-I! Aguero, Mascherano set to follow Messi

A

GENTINA stars J a v i e r Mascherano and Sergio Aguero look set to follow Lionel Messi in retiring from international football following their penalty heartbreak to Chile in the Copa America.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was the first to go after his miss in the shootout, emotionally bidding farewell to the international scene after another high-profile failure.

And now Mascherano and Aguero appear to have followed suit, with reports in Argentina suggesting that Angel Di

2 painful goals Continued from back page

Enyimba seek Sundowns’ the Nigerian champions downfall will win the rest of their

wave of Spain attack crashed against the rocksolid Italian defence.

Buffon made a wondrous save to deny Gerard Pique in the last minute of normal time and Graziano Pelle struck the final blow in stoppage time as Italy ’s slick counter-attack claimed another victim.

After beating Spain at a major competition for the first time since 1994, the prize for the Azzurri is a quarter-final tie against world champions Germany, who they beat en route to the final four years ago, in Bordeaux on Saturday.

Italy were totally dominant in the first half, with De Gea getting down sharply early on to

Maria, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gonzalo Higuain and Lucas Biglia could ALL be poised to quit.

The exodus comes after a harrowing defeat on penalties yet again, with Chile holding their nerve to secure a second straight Copa America.

The 29-year-old Barca star said: “For me the national team is over. I’ve done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion.

“My thinking right now and thinking about it in the locker room, I’m done playing with the national team.”

Speaking after the game, Aguero said: “”There are several

push away Pelle’s accurate header from eight yards.

A few moments later, De Gea superbly tipped an Emanuele Giaccherini overhead kick onto the post having not realised the playmaker had been penalised for a foul as he attempted to shoot.

Sergio Ramos had a penalty claim denied after tangling with Chiellini, but Italy continued to look the more likely and Marco Parolo headed just wide.

Italy got the breakthrough in the 33rd minute after Ramos had fouled Pelle just outside the area. Eder’s free-kick was parried by De Gea and then kept alive by Giaccherini, allowing Chiellini to prod home from close range.

players who are evaluating not continuing with the national team.

K

ALUSHA Bwalya believes that Zambia could surprise in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and make their debut in Russia 2018 after all.

The 2012 African champions begin their qualifying campaign against Nigeria before taking on Cameroon and Algeria in

Chipolopolo legend fancies hiscountry’schancesagainst the heavyweights insisting anything is possible.

“Zambia always plays better against big teams. World Cup draw is always difficult.

[Friday’s] draw no exception for every team and every group,” Bwalya told Football Association of Zambia website.

Laurent Blanc sacked by PSG

L

AURENT BLANC has been sacked

by French league champions Paris SaintGermain after three years at the club.

Despite signing a new two-year deal in February and leading the Parisians to a 31-point title win, the club’s board have decided a new face is needed to fire them to Champions League glory.

The Frenchman will receive an £18.2million pay-off after his dismissal.

Despite dominating domestically during his time at the Parc des Princes, Blanc received heavy criticism for his team’s early exits from European competition.

And after another defeat

in the quarter-final stage of the Champions League, Club president

Djokovic Continued from back page it about right.

The first set was a blitz, a gentle jog to 6-0 for the best player of his time and perhaps any other. Then he led 3-0 in the second, nine straight games won, 15 points dropped. Easy. The taxi driver ’s son was heading for home.

But credit to Ward. The inevitable was slowed down, the unflappable object was briefly inconvenienced and that,

Nigeria’s World Cup foe Continued from back page Rajevac is best known in Africa for coaching Ghana’s national team, guiding them to within a penalty kick of the 2010 World Cup q-finals in South Africa.

The Serbian coach also previously managed Qatar’s national team.

The Algerian Federation confirmed Rajevac had signed a contract.

The Federation also stated he would be in Algeria in mid-July,

when he is set to be officially introduced to the world’s press.

Algeria were drawn in a challenging group for the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, featuring alongside Nigeria, Cameroon and Zambia in Group B. The group matches kick off in October.

Rajevac will also guide Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon next year.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi looked set to swing the axe.

more often than not, is the best to be hoped for.

Ward won his first game of the match to a huge ovation and a prolonged, two-fist celebration and then broke Djokovic for 23 before holding for 3-3. He had three break points at 5-5 and with it a glimpse.

But that is all it was.

Djokovic, the 12-time Grand Slam winner, held and ultimately took the tiebreak. There were no more backward looks.

He broke for 2-1 in the third and cantered to the line, winning the third 64, claiming his place in the second round with an ace after two hours and three minutes, For Ward, who has been marketing Wimble-Bum shorts this week, it was not the kick in the backside it might have been. Far from it. At times he was wonderfully competitive in the rallies.

But far better players than Ward have learned that Djokovic is the wall that never tires. The ball will always come back; only clean winners can beat him and there are rarely enough clean winners in the arsenal of Andy Murray, let alone the British No 5, to beat this kind of talent.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 45

Zambia’s Lungu defends decision to shut down newspaper to do this?” ber states last week said in

Michelle Obama, daughters in Africa to push girls’ education

F

IRST lady Michelle Obama visited a leadership camp for girls in Liberia to launch her latest Africa visit Monday, urging the teens in one of the world’s poorest countries to keep fighting to stay in school.

With her own teenage daughters joining her, Obama told the girls she was “just so thrilled to be here with you.”

“I’m here to shine a big bright light on you,” she said.

Education for girls is the central theme of the first lady ’s trip, which also includes stops in Morocco and Spain.

She was welcomed on her arrival in Liberia with a red carpet and traditional dancers.

In connection with the first lady’s visit, USAID announced up to $27 million in funding in Liberia programming for Let Girls Learn, an

initiative launched by Mrs. Obama and President Barack Obama last year.

The first lady is trav-

eling with her mother and daughters Malia, 18, who recently graduated from high school, and Sasha, 15.

“T

HE decision by the Zambia Revenue Authority to take over assets of the Post newspaper was indeed an independent action to recover tax debt,” Lungu said an address to his diplomats.

“Some of you are saying that the timing of the court’s decision is awkward. Tell me when is the right time

President Zuma ‘must repay $500,000 in public funds’ In March, the Consti-

S

OUTH Africa’s trea sury has recommended President Jacob Zuma pay back $509,000 (£385,000) to the government for upgrades made to his private home.

This comes after the country’s highest court ruled earlier this year that Mr Zuma repay some of the $23m of public funds spent on his house in 2009.

The upgrades included an amphitheatre, pool, chicken run and cattle enclosure.

Mr Zuma must now repay the money - about 3% of the total spent within 45 days.

An anti-corruption

body, known as the public protector, ruled in 2014 that Mr Zuma had “unduly benefited” from the non-security renovations to his rural home in Nkandla in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.

tutional Court then ruled that he had violated the constitution when he failed to repay some of the money.

It gave the treasury two months to come up with a figure for Mr Zuma to repay.

The European Union delegation and the heads of mission of the EU mem-

a statement that they were concerned by the closure of the newspaper.

Egypt bans activist from travelling to women’s rights conference

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N Egyptian activist was prevented from flying to Beirut for a women’s rights conference on Monday after passport control officials told her she was banned from travelling, her organisation said.

Mozn Hassan, director of a group called Nazra for Feminist Studies, was barred from flying due to her alleged involvement in a high-profile case in which authorities have accused non-governmental organisations of receiving foreign funds with the aim of sowing

chaos, Nazra said in a statement.

Nazra said it condemned the action against her and the inclusion of the organisation in the NGO funding case. The case has been revived in recent months, with many activists being summoned for questioning, banned from travel or having their assets frozen.

In March, Nazra saw three employees questioned, including Hassan. “They want to stigmatise us,” she told Reuters at the time.

Shina Peters, Nwa Aba, others storm Malaysia

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IR Shina Peters, Ruffcoin Nwa Aba, Digidi Dunhill and other musicians will be in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia for the Africa Music Festival (AMF) slated for July 24, 2016.

It is scheduled to hold at the popular “The

Club Ballroom”, Bukit Utama, Damansara in Kuala Lumpur.

The event, which is being sponsored by Ofuobi Progressive International Club (OPIC), a leading social club in Malaysia is one of the most trending news

among Nigerians and foreigners residing in Malaysia.

President of the club, King Evans noted that the decision to bring the top artistes to Malaysia was based on popular demands by Africans residing in the country.

According to the chair-

man of the event, Comrade Biafra Diboh, who doubles as President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Malaysia, It will also afford the African communities in Malaysia the opportunity to come together and relax with their family under one roof.

46— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Messi’s miss helped underdogs Chile win their second consecutive Copa America title after an identical final last season when Argentina again fell short

•Messi had the chance to give his side a crucial advantage but his effort sailed high and over the crossbar

Messi

with the national team,” the Manchester City striker told South American media.

He added: “It is the worst defeat ever, worse than the two other finals. So the thinking is it might •Lionel Messi has retired from be time to make room international duty for other players.”

Argentine newspaper after missing in a La Nacion thinks penalty shootout in the Copa Aguero, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo America final Higuain are also set to retire, while ESPN ionel Messi has •Messi trudges Deportes reported Angel retired from back to the di Maria, Lucas Biglia, international duty half-way line Ezequiel Lavezzi and after missing in a after missing a g his Ever Banega could in v o m e penalty shootout as Argentina red r llowing the penalty kick tu ic follow suit. p i s Messi reacts after he lost a fourth major final in nine •Mes -up medal fo lties during the After leaving a s r n missed his penalty, e e n p n years.“For me, the national ru ile on 2016 Copa h C Argentina for Barcelona y blazing his shot over the b t team is over,” he said after defeat defea America crossbar against Chile when he was 13, it has

by Chile in the Copa America Centenario been suggested there is final. “I’ve done all I can. final at MetLife “less room for It hurts not to be a Stadium forgiveness” for Messi in champion.” his native country.

Messi, 29, has won eight But following defeat by La Liga titles and four Chile, there was more 113 - Caps for A Champions Leagues with rg criticism of Napoli striker en tin a.

Debut: vs Hunga Spanish side Barcelona. ry Higuain, who missed the 20 05 .

55 - Goals for Arg But his only major en game’s best chance when tin a.

His fiv 2016 Copa Am international honour is erica saw him e goals in the firing wide in a one-on-one Ba Olympic gold at the 2008 pass Gabriel tistuta as his na with Chile keeper tio n’ s all-time lead scorer.

Games. ing Claudio Bravo after 20 As well as losing two Finals: Copa A m minutes. er ic a 2007, 2015, 20 World Cup 2014 Copa America finals on 16; .

Higuain missed a Messi was left heartbroken penalties to Chile, 170 - Messi’s he ig key chance in the ht in ce ntimetres (5ft 6i after the penalty shoot-out Messi was in the 72 - Messi’s wei n). gh World Cup final t in ki lo defeat with team-mate Sergio gr am Argentina side beaten 47 - Seconds into s (11st 5lbs). against Germany hi s Ar ge Aguero saying it was the ntina debut befo he was sent off, 1-0 by Germany in the re ag in Brazil, too, ai ns t H worst he had ever seen him un ga ag 2014 World Cup final. ry in 2005, ed 18, after com in and also missed g on as a substitute.

The forward, who was 2008 - Olympi a penalty in only major internc gold in Beijing is Messi’s been awarded the at the shootout io na l ho nour.

Ballon d’Or five times, 453 - Goals for w o u l d Ba when Chile rc el on a, and there will be no in in was also on the losing cluding a Prim 531 games, “ reflect” on er b e a t a D iv is ion record of 31 going back.” Messi goals. side against Brazil in his decision and 2 Argentina had scored five times 8 - Primera Divis the 2007 Copa America reconsider. io in last n tit le s with Barcelon at this year’s Copa 4 - Champions Le final. “It’s been four a.

“I think he spoke year ’s ag ue w in s America, including a w ith 5 - Times he has finals, I tried,” added Barca. while he was heated, because a w Copa final. on th e FIFA Ballon d’O superb free-kick in the beautiful opportunity escaped as the world’s be Messi, who made his r, Argentina are already six semi-final win over us,” said Romero. “I can’t 2012 and 2015). st player (in 2009, 2010, 2011, debut for Argentina in games into their qualification hosts the USA. 2005 and has played imagine a national team without campaign for the 2018 World That goal made him 113 times for his Messi.”

Cup. They are third in the table, his country ’s record country. “It was the thing I w h o Sergio Aguero described the two points behind leaders scorer with 55 goals, want this, who obviously are not wanted the most, but I couldn’t mood in the Argentina dressing satisfied, as we are not satisfied eclipsing the 54-goal mark of room as “the worst I’ve ever been Uruguay. get it, so I think it’s over.

The top four teams progress to “I think this is best for everyone. reaching a final and not winning striker Gabriel Batistuta. in” and suggested others may the finals in Russia, while the Argentina and Manchester follow Messi’s lead.

First of all for me, then for it. team finishing fifth qualifies for “It’s very hard, but the decision United goalkeeper Sergio everyone.

“There are several players who a two-legged play-off against the “I think there’s a lot of people is taken. Now I will not try more Romero said he hoped Messi are evaluating not continuing best team from Oceania.

dumps Argentina!

•Copa America heartache

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MESSI’S CAREE R STATS

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 — 47

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Chile ‘re S/America’s— P.44 most dangerous team •Copa America heartache

Messi dumps 6 4 .

Argentina! — P WHAT A MESS-I! Aguero, Mascherano set to follow Messi •Messi

Euro 2016

2 painful goals send Spain crashing out

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TALY ended their run of heartbreak against Spain at major tournaments by knocking the holders out of Euro 2016 with a 2-0 last-16 victory at

Continues on Page 44 Euro 2016 Result England 1 Iceland 2

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

Chile players celebrate

Nigeria’s World Cup foe fires warning shots •Appoints new Coach

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igeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group Stage opponent, Algeria have appointed former Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac as their new national coach.The Algeria Football Federation announced it appointed the 62-year- old as a long-term replacement for Christian Gourcuff who stood down from the position in April.

Continues on Page 44

Djokovic begins Wimbledon in winning fashion

Laurent Blanc sacked by PSG — P.44 •Pockets £18.2million pay-off

W

•Milovan

HEN James Ward saw the draw he said ‘oh ****’. For 37 minutes, as Novak Djokovic slapped him around without mercy, it seemed as though the world No 177 had called Continues on Page 44

•Laurent Blanc

QUICK CROSSWORD

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Suit (6) 5 Multitude (4) 8 Dwelling (5) 9 Donkey (3) 10 Stupefy (4) 11 Employer (4) 12 Happening (5) 13 Poured (6) 16 Expensive (4) 18 Border (4) 20 Through (3) 22 Pose (3) 23 Cereal (3) 24 Naked (4) 25 Gang (4) 28 Harm (6) 30 Weird (5) 32 Rip (4) 33 Crooked (4) 34 Wrath (3) 35 Revolt (5) 36 Grasp (4)

DOWN 1 Loveliness (6) 2 Pampered (8) 3 Overlooked (6) 4 Changed (9) 5 Apart (7) 6 Repose (4) 7 Story (4) 8 Colour (3) 14 Drew (9) 15 Era (3) 17 Tune (3) 19 Explosive (8) 20 Whelp (3) 21 Venerated (7) 26 Spendthrift (6) 27 Disclose (6) 29 Irritation (4) 30 Nobleman (4) 31 Fish (3)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Peace 9, Proved 10, Oyster 11, Title 12, Ewer 15, Else 17, Delayed 20, Kin 21, Defer 23, Tier 25, Sang 26, Dozen 28, Fed 30, Recover 33, Oral 35, Rate 36, Night 38, Called 39, Ermine 40, Weary.

DOWN: 1, Speed 2, Hotel 3, Pet 4, Edited 5, Cold 6, Eye 7, Stalk 8, Green 13, Weather 14, Raped 16, Singlet 18, Deter 19, Yes 23, Razor 24, Rot 27, Neither 28, Force 29, Dally 31, Valid 32, Refer 34, Side 36, New 37, Try.

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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