Friday telegraph friday, june 17, 2016 by Newtelegraphonline

New forex policy: Stock market records best global performance

lGains N500bn in two days lNEC backs CBN on flexible rate Chris Ugwu

fter recording massive loss in recent times, there seems

to be a ray of hope for investors, as the stock market reacted positively with a gain of N500 billion or 5.38 per cent in the last two trading days following the release

of framework for flexible forex policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). According to Bloomberg News, stocks climbed 2.6 per cent yesterday, the best

performance worldwide, after jumping 3.2 per cent the previous day (Wednesday). The news agency further reported that Nigeria’s 2023 dollar bonds slipped, send-

ing the yield up 15 basis points to 7.21 per cent, following the biggest gain since 2014 the previous day. Analysts said banks and consumer goods companies led the charge, driven by expectations that a more flex-

ible foreign exchange policy will boost dollar supply and lure back foreign investors. Stocks climbed 2.14 per cent after the close of trading yesterday, as the All-Share Index (NSE-ASI) CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 849

Friday, June 17, 2016

PDP: Sheriff recreating Boko Haram in Abuja }4

Libya deports 162 Nigerians

Robbers storm Lagos, kill two, injure policemen }8

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com @newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Police raid RCCG Camp, arrest 236 }9

N150

Sex scandal: US revokes lawmakers’ visas Sheriff

}10

The deportees

lHouse begins probe of indicted Reps lLegislators reply ambassador, threaten legal action }2 EFCC quizzes ex-Customs CG, Dikko, over alleged N40bn fraud

Owoseni

Adeboye

Buhari extends London trip, returns on Sunday }4

lEx-gov detained, envoy quizzed over N450m campaign funds }3

Dikko

Ngilari

Working long hours raises cancer risk in women }39

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in London...yesterday

NEWS

FRIday, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sex scandal: US revokes lawmakers’ visas

Philip Nyam Abuja

ollowing allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against three members of the House of Representatives by the United States Embassy in Nigeria, the US Government has revoked the visas of the affected lawmakers. This is just as the leadership of the lower chamber has resolved to commence investigation into the matter. One of the accused lawmakers, Hon. Mark Gbillah, who confirmed this, said they “received correspondence from the US Embassy on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 indicating the denial of their US visas and requesting that they bring their international passports with current US visas to the Embassy.” New Telegraph had, yesterday, reported exclusively a letter written to Speaker Yakubu Dogara by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, alleging that three out of 10 members of the House had, on an official trip to the US, indulged in attempted rape and soliciting for prostitutes from staff of a Cleveland hotel in Ohio. The three members, according to the Ambassador in a letter dated June 9, 2016, are: Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue). The Ambassador alleged that: “Mohammed Garba Gololo allegedly grabbed a housekeeper in his hotel room and solicited for sex. While the housekeeper reported this to her management, this incident could have involved local law enforcement and resulted in legal consequences for Representative Gololo. “Mark Terseer Gbillah and Samuel Ikon allegedly requested hotel parking attendants assist them to solicit for prostitutes.” The US Ambassador had, in the letter to Dogara, given a hint about the planned revocation of the lawmakers’ visas. “… Such conduct could affect some participants’ ability to travel to the United States in the future. U.S. visa holders are expected to observe U.S. law while in the United States. If it is determined visitors have violated U.S. law, their visas can be revoked, even if their behaviour did not result in arrests or convictions,” Entwistle had said. Efforts to get official confirmation from the US Embassy proved abortive.

An official of the US Embassy told New Telegraph that the Embassy does not make comments on a private diplomatic correspondence with an institution. However, Mohammed Sani, Public Affairs Specialist of the Embassy, advised that any further inquiries could be made through a media request form and routed through the Embassy's website. Ten lawmakers were invited by the US government for the International Visitor Leadership Program held between April 7 and 13, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The remaining lawmakers who were on the controversial trip include: Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (PDP-Nasarawa State), Danburam Abubakar Nuhu (APC-Kano State), Nkole Uko Ndukwe (PDPAbia State), Rita Orji (PDPLagos State), Ayo Huliyat Omidiran (APC-Osun). But, reacting to the scandal at a briefing, chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas, confirmed that the leadership of the House was investigating the allegations to deter-

99%

The percentage of the urban population of Puerto Rico in 2012. Source: Un.org

108.66

The mobile teledensity of Nigeria in November 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

mine its authenticity or otherwise. He said: “Ten of our members went to Cleveland, Ohio, US to participate in an International Visitor Leadership Programme on good governance in April. However, we are in receipt of a letter from the Ambassador of US where he alleged that some of the members were involved in misconduct. “As a responsible parliament, the leadership has received this letter and is doing its own investigation. When investigations are concluded, we will brief you further.” The House spokesman insisted that the members under investigation were not guilty and must not be treated so until proven otherwise, adding that they have not been convicted by any court of law. “Nobody has been convicted; none of them is before any court of law and once it’s an allegation, it

remains an allegation until investigations are over,” Namdas stated. The spokesman, however, could not disclose the mode of the investigation, who constitute the panel and when it will commence. Meanwhile, two of the indicted lawmakers have written to the ambassador in response to the allegations. In his letter to the Ambassador dated June 15, 2016 and copied to the speaker, Gbillah who allegedly requested hotel parking attendants to assist him to solicit for prostitutes, threatened legal action against the US government. Gbillah’s letter titled: “Allegations of impropriety against honourable members of the Nigerian House of Representatives by the US Embassy in Nigeria and the US State Department” was copied to Dogara, the United

States Secretary of State, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Cleveland Council of World Affairs and the President and CEO of Marriott International. He wrote: “It has come to my attention that via correspondence from your good self to His Excellency, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (a copy of which I also received) you made very serious allegations against me and other members of the House of Representatives’ group that visited the United States in April 2016 as part of the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). “In your letter, you claimed that I was identified as one of the members of the aforementioned group who asked for the assistance of a hotel parking attendant to solicit for prostitutes at the Residence Inn Downtown Cleveland Ohio. I am ex-

tremely shocked, upset, irked and embarrassed by your letter and want to categorically state that these allegations are completely false, unfounded, malicious and a calculated attempt to malign and cast aspersion on my reputation and character as a Nigerian citizen and honourable member of the House of Representatives and to bring disrepute to the hallowed institution of the National Assembly and the entire nation of Nigeria.” Gbillah noted that: “I have visited the US and several countries in the world countless times over the last several years and have stayed at countless hotels all over the world and want to dare the US government to find any instance where I have previously solicited for prostitutes from a hotel employee even when I was not a married man. “…I am a member of CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (left), with the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, during the ambassador's visit to the minister in Abuja… yesterday

Sex scandal: Lawmakers can prove their innocence in court –Lawyers Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

awyers yesterday said that the three members of the House of Representatives who were accused of attempted rape and soliciting for prostitutes in the United States have the constitutional right to defend themselves before the court of law. The legal practitioners said the accused have the legal rights to sue the US Ambassador and the government of US as they have threatened. The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, had in a petition to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, accused some Nigerian lawmakers of improper conduct, attempted rape and soliciting for prostitutes while on official trip to the US. The affected lawmakers

are Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue). The three lawmakers have, however, denied the allegation and threatened to sue the Ambassador alongside the US government for character assassination. Speaking to New Telegraph on the threat, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, noted that any allegation of immorality is a brush of shame. According to him, “The members should strive mightily to wash themselves off the allegation. That is the minimum they can do. I don’t see it as impacting on the whole of National Assembly. After all, when the former president of World Bank was alleged to have done something in New York, nobody said that it affected the whole of France.” A constitutional lawyer,

Dr. Tunji Abayomi, told New Telegraph that the lawmakers can neither sue the Ambassador, nor the US government. “You are talking about a civil suit. An Ambassador is not subjected to civil suit. What they should do is go back to America and face the charge against them. If the American Ambassador alleged that Nigeria lawmakers attempted to rape somebody in hotel in America, that is a very serious allegation, because an Ambassador is speaking on behalf of the nation; he is the representative of the President of America in Nigeria. “What it means is that the US government is accusing our legislators of impropriety on something bothering on attempted crime. They should go back and deal with the issue,” Abayomi stated. Another lawyer and rights activist, Festus Okoye, noted that both the

constitution of Nigeria and that of US presume an accused to be innocent until proven guilty before a court of law. “So, what is important is that if they suspected to have breached the law of Nigeria or US, they should be investigated. If there is prima facie case against them, they should be charged to court and then it is only after those issues are put through in a forensic examination and they are convicted that we can say conclusively that they have been found guilty. “As at today, everything remains at the level of allegation and the law is that he who alleges must prove,” he added. Also reacting, the President of Public Interest Lawyers’ League, Abdul Mahmud, expressed surprise that the US Ambassador to Nigeria wrote a petition to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“When these legislators visited America, they have no sovereign immunity; they ought to have been arrested when they supposedly or allegedly committed the crime. Since they were not arrested, there is no issue there. The Ambassador is not the prosecuting agency in the US; he is not a member of the policing agency in the US. If there is any case against them, there are channels; it should not come from the US Ambassador to Nigeria. “The presumption of innocence should be on their side, as far as they were not arrested by any authority in the US. Except the allegations were made after they left US, then the policing authority should know the internal channel they can use, perhaps lay a formal complaint against them in the US in the jurisdiction where the crime was committed and the Interpol can now begin their investigation,” Mahmud submitted.

NEWS

FRIday, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EFCC quizzes ex-Customs CG, Dikko, over alleged N40bn fraud

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed a former Comptroller-General (CG) of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, over alleged diversion of N40 billion. This was as EFCC operatives also interrogated a former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. James Ngilari, as well as a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Alhaji Hassan Adamu. A highly placed source at the EFCC, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph yesterday, said the ex-Customs CG, who arrived the commission’s headquarters about 10a.m. yesterday, was still being grilled as at last night.

It was not clear if Dikko was granted administrative bail last night. It was gathered that the N40 billion was allegedly diverted from the proceeds of the seven per cent cost of collection, as well as one per cent comprehensive import supervision scheme of the Service. New Telegraph further learnt that Dikko would answer questions on the source of money he used to acquire his Jabi, Abuja mansion, which is said to be estimated at N2 billion. It will be recalled that operatives of the anti-graft agency had, on January 8, raided the Abuja home of Dikko, in search of suspicious items. The dependable source said: “A former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, has been arrested by the Economic and Finan-

cial Crimes Commission.” He added that the former Customs boss was “being quizzed over two key allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds, theft, abuse of office and living above legitimate means. “Inde is being grilled over the source of the funds with which he acquired the palatial mansion valued at over N2 billion and located at 1, Audu Ogbe Street, Jabi Abuja. “There is also a further allegation that he diverted over N40 billion from Customs coffers. The funds were allegedly drawn from proceeds of the seven per cent cost of collection and one per cent comprehensive import supervision scheme,” the source. Meanwhile, both Ngilari and Adamu were interrogated over N450 million campaign funds that were

One of the deportees from Libya on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos …yesterday

PHOTO: Tony Eguaye

said to have been sent to Adamawa State, as part of the N23 billion allegedly meant to facilitate victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the 2015 presidential election. A highly placed source who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph yesterday, said the duo's interrogation took place at the Gombe zonal office of the anti-graft agency. "The EFCC quizzed Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Wakilin Adamawa at its zonal office in Gombe on the role he played in the collection and distribution of N450 million campaign

Abuja

he Senate has abolished the power of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to award contracts, as it now cedes the power to the National Council on Public Procurement (NCPP). The upper chamber, yesterday, reflected this in the report of its Committee on Public Procurement on the Bill to amend the Public Procurement Act, 2007, which it adopted during plenary session. The Senate had, in fulfillment of its promise to boost local content by encouraging local producers, resolved to amend some sections of the 2007 Procurement Act, to make it more Nigerian people-oriented and to help remove existing impediments in

the procurement processes. The amendment intends to, among other things, give priority to locally made goods in all government procurements, as a means of encouraging local entrepreneurs and also promote exportation. The Senate passed the bill when it went into clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, which had earlier gone through public hearing. The Bill is entitled "A bill for an act to amend the public procurement act to provide for and adopt a local content policy and timely completion of procurement processes and other related matter.” Presenting the report to the Senate for consideration, the Chairman of the Senate Committee

on Public Procurement, Joshua Dariye (PDP, Plateau Central), said that the Bill, when signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, would favour local manufacturers and also ensure speedy completion of projects. He explained that part of the amendment carried out in the bill was to increase contract mobilisation fee from the current 15 per cent to 25 per cent, noting that it would facilitate timely completion of procurement processes at various phases. The Senate also approved the inclusion of Nigerian Institute of Architects and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors as members of the National Council on Public Procurement. On the decision of the committee to withdraw

taken to the government house in a bullion van. "The former Ambassador added that the Chief of Staff to the Acting Governor, Mr. James Ngilari, Alhaji Hamman and the accountant to the government house, Mrs. Aisha Waziri, counted the money and confirmed the figure. The duo became custodians of the fund based on the directive of their boss, the governor.” The source further stated that “Adamu said he left at that point and did not know how the money was shared, neither did he personally benefit from it.”

Stock market records best global performance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

closed at 28,489.89 basis points, up from 27,891.96 points the previous day, while market capitalisation added N205 billion to close higher at N9.784 trillion from N9.579 trillion recorded the previous day, becoming the best performance worldwide, after jumping 3.17 per cent or N295 billion the previous day. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had, on Wednesday, unveiled the new guidelines for the Nigeria Interbank Foreign Exchange (NIFEX) Market, allowing the exchange rate of the naira to be determined by the market forces of demand and supply. Analysts believe that the new guidelines, which came after weeks of expectations, will reduce pressure on the local currency and attract foreign investors. CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the bank had resolved to, henceforth, deal with FX Primary Dealers (FXPDs) under the new arrangement.

Senate strips FEC power to award contracts Chukwu David

funds for the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan," the source said. The source said Adamu, who arrived the zonal office about 9:30a.m., was allowed to go after interrogation, while Ngilari may likely spend the night at the commission, as a detention order had already been signed to that effect. Adamu was abroad when he was named as cosignatory to the campaign funds sent to the state. According to the source, "He (allegedly) admitted his involvement at that level, but that the money was

power to award contract from the FEC, Dariye said that the federal cabinet had no business approving contracts, noting that the Procurement Council would now take full charge of that responsibility. "In the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Permanent Secretaries as accounting officers will take responsibilities. In the National Assembly, the Clerk to the National Assembly will take responsibility of the aspect of procurement. Then in the various courts up to the Supreme Court, the accounting officer is the Chief Registrar," he said. In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said that the amendments to the Procurement Act would help stimulate the nation’s economy.

He, however, stated that the existing ban on 41 items from accessing forex from the official window would remain in place. Reacting to this development, Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mr. Mike Eze, said the liberalisation of the exchange rate is expected to impact positively on the economy, adding that the policy will attract foreign direct investment into the country. He said: “The liberalisation is going to make the economy buoyant and since the capital market is the engine room of the economy, it will also help to revive the market, as foreigners will like to mop-up stocks that have good fundamentals. “The cheering news is that the Central Bank has come to realise that we need a flexible exchange rate regime rather than the fixed regime. “The introduction of a flexible interbank market from a de facto peg of around N197 would boost investors' confidence and create more dollar liquidity.” Also, analysts at Cowry Asset Management Limited said that capital market activities were expected to witness gradual recovery, as foreign exchange risk diminishes with the adoption of a more flexible exchange rate regime. The decision surpassed many analysts’ expectations of a managed float or two-tier foreign-exchange system, and may draw back foreign investors who sold Nigerian assets; concerned that devaluation would erode their returns. A free float was “one option we didn’t see coming,” said Nema RamkhelawanBhana, an analyst at Rand Merchant Bank in Johannesburg. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction. It’s long overdue and it will go a long way toward an economic re-balancing. But it’s just the first step. “A free-floating and weaker naira won’t be just good news. It may also fuel

inflation, already at a sixyear high, and force the Central Bank to raise borrowing costs, hurting those who can least afford it: the poor,” he added. “The economy is going to struggle for the rest of the year partly owing to the delay in implementing a floating exchange rate,” said Adewale Okunrinboye, an analyst at Lagosbased Asset & Resource Management Co. “The nation has suffered from the delay. Prices are going to come under pressure.” Also, the National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the new foreign exchange policy. Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom said this in Abuja while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the NEC meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. “Certainly, it is a welcome development. (There are) two areas that we needed to really take headlong. One is this flexible foreign exchange policy. And to make it a little bit more flexible right now, I think it is a welcome development. “That is the opinion of almost everybody today who knows the advantages of having a flexible exchange policy. It is going to help the economy; it is going to help ease of access. “And if you also listen to the details of what he (the CBN Governor) gave, so that I don’t actually repeat what he has said, I am sure at the end of the day, head or tail, we should be better off for it.’’

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving civilians in 2008. Source: Satp.org

43.47%

The percentage of international football players in Spain in 2011-2012 season. Source: Football-observatory.com

NEWS

FRIday, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Makarfi: Sheriff recreating Boko Haram in Abuja

lI’ll respond appropriately, says ex-gov Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

hairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has accused the former National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff of trying to recreate Boko Haram in Abuja. This is as the struggle

over the control of the party's secretariat by supporters of the two claimants, yesterday, left at least one person with a broken head. Makarfi, who spoke at the end of a meeting between his committee, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and PDP governors on Wednesday, said the party elders reviewed all that have been going on in the party since Monday. "You are all witnesses

to the thuggery that took place. Actually, those who remembered how Boko Haram was born, that is how it started. How thugs were brought into Abuja and some people forced themselves into the secretariat. In the process, documents and some property belonging to be party cannot be accounted for. This cannot be without some supports from some quarters, definitely not from PDP," he said.

But, Sheriff who spoke through his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, said he would respond to the allegations today. "His Excellency wanted to address a press conference today (Thursday) but the situation at the secretariat is not conducive for that. The press conference is fixed for tomorrow and we will appropriately respond to all these allegations," Bwala said. Makarfi recalled that he heard Sheriff saying that he was going to go beyond

Buhari extends London trip, returns on Sunday lPresident in good health, Osinbajo insists

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari has extended his vacation in London by four days. The president will now return to the country on Sunday and resume work on Monday next week as against an earlier programme for the 10-day vacation. Buhari departed Nigeria penultimate Monday and commenced a 10-day holiday in London for medical attention over an ear infection.

He had transmitted a letter to both leadership of the National Assembly, informing them of his trip and handed over the instrument of power to his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in acting capacity to perform the duties of the president. Speaking to State House Correspondents shortly before the commencement of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the presidential villa, Osinbajo said that Buhari was in perfect health in the United Kingdom (UK) and will return to Nigeria on Sunday.

The vice president said he had spoken to the president and confirmed that he will be back to the country on Sunday. "He will be back on Sunday. I spoke with him yesterday (Wednesday) evening and I think it is just the best that he takes the weekend off. He will certainly be back on Sunday. "I think the most straightforward thing is when he will be back. He will be back on Sunday. There is no point rushing back on Friday or something like that. "He will just take the weekend off and be back

In your refreshing

on Sunday. He is in perfect health and ready to resume work on Monday morning," Osinbajo added. On Buhari’s state of health, the vice president said: "Mr. President is in good condition, he is fine, he is very well. "He should take a day or two off in London and rest a bit and come back hale and hearty on Sunday and be ready for work on Monday. So, we expect him back on Sunday." Buhari has, so far, embarked on holiday twice this year. The president had earlier embarked on a six-day holiday between February 5 and 10.

the Inspector-General Police in order for him to gain access into the PDP secretariat. He said: "We don't know what he means beyond the IG, but all of you are sensible enough to decide who is 'beyond IG’ could actually mean". The former Kaduna State governor disclosed that the meeting deliberated on the issue and had taken a position to stand by democracy. He called on security agencies to maintain peace and order in the country and to bring any illegal action of politicians, no matter how highly placed, to book. His words: "And those elements that may be interfering in our internal affairs, whether they belong to any particular party or they do not belong to any at all, they should allow us to be, as we are not interfering in anybody's affairs. "We have it on record that the former chairman, Sheriff, a day or two before he forced himself into the secretariat, had a meeting with one of the governors with the party in power and then the next day this event took place, therefore creating suspicion. "If he claimed to be chairman of PDP, what meeting could he have had with the governor? Did he

get any encouragement, facilitation, any guarantee for him to go ahead and do what he did? This is for Nigerians to think on and take a position on. "But we are confident that at the end of the day, justice will be done. We are confident that with all the issues before the judiciary that justice will be done." Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, expressed confidence that what is happening in the party would soon be over. Fayose noted that Nigeria needs a virile opposition party, adding that any attempt to destroy opposition in the country is not going to be in the interest of democracy. "We stand as a party to cThe clash between the Makarfi and Sheriff's supporters started following altercations between them. The Makarfi supporters had arrived the Wadata Plaza, the PDP headquarters, at 6a.m. chanting proMakarfi songs with placards describing Sheriff as a traitor and APC agent. Sheriff supporters arrived about 11a.m. and after one of them was matcheted, they retreated. Sheriff had planned to address a press conference at the PDP secretariat by 1p.m., but put it off at the last minute.

SATURDAY

OJB's unfulfilled dreams

Why I hid tattoo on my waist

– Dakore Egbuson-Akande

7 years after he was blinded, police victim awaits compensation Seun Kuti:

Buhari better than Jonathan, but still evil –Balarabe Musa

Tight schedule keeps me from playing in Nigeria

My fiancee helps take away pressure from football –Sone Aluko

FRIday, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED. CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED. CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED. CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED. CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED. CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED. CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED. CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED. MIKANO INTERNATIONAL LTD NIGERIA MACHINE TOOLS LTD NCR NIGERIA PLC CUTIX PLC RELIANCE CHEMICAL PRODUCTS LIMITED DAILY NEEDS IND. LTD. TODSEN ENTERPRISES LTD SMAC ENGINEERING PRODUCTS LTD SIMS NIG LTD AKOD AGENCIES AND MANUFACTURING CO. LTD J.UDEAGBALA AND SONS HAFFER INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LTD FIRST ALUMINIUM NIG PLC JMG LIMITED PREMIUM ALUMINIUM LIMITED METOXIDE NIGERIA LTD METOXIDE NIGERIA LTD METOXIDE NIGERIA LTD MIDDLE POINT LTD/MF20160009402 APPLE AND PEARS LIMITED HOLBORN (NIGERIA) LTD. EDO CEMENT COMPANY LTD EVANS INDUSTRIES LTD PETROCAM AA RANO STALLIONAIRE INEGBEDON PIUS ULU UCHECHUKWU KELVIN AGHAGBA ADURA HELEN ESIM ERNESTR EGBE OGUNBAMIGBERU OLUWASEYI MUSTAPHA BABA ABDULMUIZ LAWAL OLALEKAN NURUDEEN EKANEM EKEMINI EKWERE ADELAIYE MARY OLUFUNMILAYO AMAECHI ANGELA NKECHINYERE EDET GLORY BASSEY OKE-OSANYINTOLU OLAYEMI SHAMANG TAKAI AGANG KALAT SHAMANG TAKAI AGANG KALAT IGBUDU AGINA CHRISTOPHER UCHE ROBERT AJUZIE (HAN PETROLEUM NIG LTD) OKORO ANN OBIANUJU DANLADI ADAMU M JULIA OLUREMILEKUN ADEKUNLE JULIA OLUREMILEKUN ADEKUNLE AJULO YEMISI FOLAKE ABDULLAHI MUSA OGUZIE IFEANYI OPIA AHERETE BENSON UBANATU SAMUEL ABUCHI ADEGITE GABRIEL OLUWATAYO NJOKU GOODNESS IJEOMA OGUNYIPE ADESUYI MUSTAPHA BABA ABDULMUIZ SAYYID RUKAYAT APINKE OKONGWU PATRICK CHUKWUDI UDOKA CHUKWUNOSO AKINTILO S. OLUWATOYIN UMAR LAWAL ALIYU KEGBEYALE SAMSON OYEYIOLA AGUNBIADE OLUWOLE ALPHONSUS TUOYO SAMUEL O EKEFRE C ANITA EMEFIELE ESTHER ADAOBI ONUOHA ONYEAHIALAM FABIAN DIMAS ABIMBOLA ADE SUNDAY AJIBOLA ASIPADE ADIBE JUSTINA EZINWANNE IZIBILI-OSHODIN EUNICE FOLAKE AKOGU WILLIAM AKPA IZA FIDELIS OLISEMEKE OCHOGA OTOKPA GODWIN AKOGU WILLIAM AKPA OKONOFUA SYLVESTER IRIA SAMUEL O JEMISEYE IZAH OLISEMEKE FIDELIS NWANKWO NDUBUISI AZEBAMWAN LUKE UWUMAGBE GOLDEN SCEPTER LIMITED OGBUKA COSMAS UCHENNA OGBUKA COSMAS UCHENNA NDUKA TAMUNOMIEBAKA OKPUE MUSA LAWAL JIBIA IFEANYI JONATHAN IKE UDEH TOCHUKWU JOHNPAUL LADIPO ADEREMI TOKUNBO UMAR ALIYU ABUBAKAR OSENI NAJEEM AYOOLA CHIEDOZIE JOSEPH CHUKWUMA ONI OLUWADAMILOLA AYOBAMIDELE ENE TRAVIS NNAMDI EDO OSERHULIMEN ANTHONY BALOGUN MABEL ODUGBA ONENE EDNA OPALEYE ABOLADE MAGREGOR ADEBIMPE ANITA AMODE KAYODE RAFIU AWANI ASHIMEDUA ABIMBOLA OCHAI AKOH MPYET CATHERINE CALEB IDJENUGHWA BEATRICE OLALEYE BOLA MARY ENANG EZEKIEL OKON OZOEMENAM ONYEKACHI DAVID OHAM ALPHONSUS OKEGBEMIRO SUNDAY ADEKUNLE ADEOLA OGUNADE IBUKUN LYDIA OMOPE EDEH NWAFOR CAROLINE ADETUTU IDOWU CHRISTOPHER AKAH FRANCIS ENYERIBE OLAPOJU OLUSEGUN OLAREWAJU OLAYIWOLA EZE EMMANUEL IGWE CHUKWU EDMUND EZEKWEM OKONGWU PATRICK CHUKWUDI ALALIBO MIEBAKA SOLON ABIGAIL DUOPAMA-OBOMANU OKOYE GABRIEL OSITA MEDESSOU FRANCIS BOLAJI OMOYINMI ELIZABETH MONWUBA NGOZI HELEN ONONIWU DICKSON INNOCENT AKINBODUNDE FELIX ORIOLA SAMAILA YAKUBU RAJAB AKWAZIE BRIDGET TAIWO OWOLABI MURTALA OGUNDEJI S ADEYEMI INEGBEDON PIUS ADENIRAN COMFORT FOLASHADE ADEBAYO KAYODE ISMAIL AKAFA VIKA TENSABA KANU PEARL EBIGBO LINDA ONYINYE AKINYOSOYE AYOYINKA OKORO JAMES MIRI-DASHIE TYEM OJO IJATOYE KAYODE BELLO FATAI WOLE NWOSU CHRISTOPHER OBI SULE TAYE FRANCIS WILLIAMS THERESA UCHECHUKWU CAULCRICK ABOSEDE FOLUSO UGAH THEOPHILUS AKU BOLARINWA SABIU OLADEPO OKOROAFOR OSONDU AGWOIKE ESANGBEDO STEPHEN EHIZE ADENIJI MUSEDIQ ATOTUOMAH PETER ESAN ADEGBENGA OLUWAFEMI EFUNBOTE O SAMUEL EDEM ANIETIE AMOS JOEZ PHARMACEUTICAL (EZE JAMES CHUKWUJEKWU) IBIDUN PAUL OTITOJU AWONUSI EDILEOLA MOTUNRAYO UGBURO SHANOMI PETER ONUM PETER NDUKWE AJULO YEMISI FOLAKE ESIM ERNEST EGBE ANNA AKUBOR ONANUGA YETUNDE A OLAWUNMI OGUNTIMEHIN AHERETE ENIGHENO ANTHONIAL JOEL ABRAHAM LAWRENCE MIYEN SWOMEN YOMI IGBIN OMIYERA OLUWAFEMI J OLATUNJI OLUMIDE M OLATUNJI OLASHILE O OLUSANYA OLUSEGUN OLUSANYA BEATRICE B EGONMWAN ROSEMARY I NEBEOLISA ADAOBI A PETER ADAGHA OSIADE OLAYINKA OWOLABI OLAJIDE FRANCIS OJEAHERE ADERONKE OJEAHERE ADEYEMI REGINA O AHANA MICHAEL CHIBUIKEM AHANA IHESIABA CHIEF EZE AJIBOYE WALE TIMOTHY ILUPEJU ADEPEJU M NWASOR CHUKWUMA A NWASOR MABEL E MRS JOHNSON MARION SHEILA OLADOKUN OLAWALE O OLADOKUN MUFTAU A HUGBO EDIRIN V OMOTORO OLUSEGUN G OMOTORO OLAIDE A ABDULLAHI ILIYASU UMAR ABUBAKAR AMEENA PINDAR MUHAMMED MUHAMMED ALH PROF. OLAOFE ISAAC ADETUNJI CHARLES BEKE OMEREONYE OLAOCHA OZEHOR BENSON Y BENSON-OZEHOR ESTHER E ORENUGA FOLATUNDE FEMI-PEARSE OLUMUYIWA TEMI-ONABOTE OMOWUNMI OLUGBENGA FAKOYEJO OLUWATOYIN FAKOYEJO ISHAYA AYUBA E

Mf20160026609 MF20160031987 MF20160023535 MF20160047564 MF20160029803 MF20160024826 MF20160023539 MF20160039613 MF20160052857 MF20160067376 MF20160036116 MF20160002160 MF20160060163 MF20160013701 MF20160045353 MF20160009538 MF20160031614 MF20150090401 MF20150113706 MF20160033775 MF20160049142 MF20160029993 MF20160009595 MF20160031912 MF20160062700 MF20160062718 MF20160009402 MF20160062161 MF20160055039 MF20160072306 MF20160049967 MF20150073716 MF20150017007 MF20150100689 AA2434309 AA2441207 AA1863013 AA2786993 AA2786811 AA1327067 AA2825008 AA1863011 AA2610866 AA2825009 AA2825010 AA1293688 AA2773149 AA2825961 AA2501069 AA0955385 AA2813973 AA1294999 AA1734399 AA1734400 AA2833703 AA2773594 AA2501447 AA2813664 AA2813804 AA2823791 AA2825542 AA2786529 AA1327069 AA2815148 AA2825960A AA2434933 AA2885606 AA2727387 AA2815718 AA2794033B AA1863012 AA2787000 AA2813971 AA2833999 AA2813974 AA2786011 AA2727446 AA1106733 AA2813034 AA1878930 AA2800275 AA2813033 AA2825228 AA2825001 AA1878950 AA2833985 AA2706799 AA2833504 AA2727769 AA2727770 AA1277100 AA2813265 AA2434557 AA2501167 AA2833825 AA2727345 AA2766312 AA2825523 AA1074650 AA2825889 AA2833709 AA2706899 AA2833003 AA2773660 AA2825068A AA2825102 AA2815689 AA2833112 AA2794299 AA2818670 AA2422011 AA2422797 AA2706317 AA2833708 AA2833701 AA2800940 AA1858845 AA2825901 AA2813998 AA2825065 AA2564525 AA2805060B AA2815660 AA2833707 AA2825960 AA2813965 AA2800162 AA2706016 AA1878176 AA2815715 AA2825517B AA2825230 AA2813451 AA2434006 AA2833848 AA1861097 AA2422980 AA2434308 AA2833945 AA2833628 AA2706279 AA2825603 AA2773399 AA1861095 AA2727822 AA1878144 AA2794046 AA2813025 AA2813553A AA2727824 AA2825004 AA2501685B AA1878967 AA2825544 AA2797024 AA2833510 AA1861094 AA2813672 AA2825538 AA2501650 AA2786990 AA2727447 AA2833642 AA2823913 AA2695793B AA2815391 AA2813995 AA2786989B AA1878177 AA2885945 AA2885552 AA1861705 AA2885956 AA2823506 AA2885953 AA2885952 AA2885922 AA2635574 AA2635575 AA2885936 AA2885935 AA2885938 AA2885960 AA2885946 AA2885947 AA2885967 AA2885948 AA2885949 AA2815347 AA2815348 AA2902816 AA2800938 AA2750581 AA2833813 AA2833812 AA2813122 AA2885914 AA2885915 AA2885975 AA2885556 AA2885557 AA1914924 AA2800324 A04640353 A07418271 AA2815347 AA2885985 AA2815603 AA2885997 AA2885976 AA2885993 AA2885627 AA2434903 AA2727560 AA2823015

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POLYPROPYLENE HOMOPOLYMER INJECTION HNR100 GENERAL PURPOSE POLYSTYRENE-EXPANSIBLE-GRADE GP150 POLYPROPYLENE COPOLYMER INJECTION CMR348 POLYPROPYLENE OFF-SPECS HPB020_P& POLYPROPYLENE OFF-SPECS HPB015_P SPARES FOR MACHINERY: CORE PIN FOR BARREL, BRAND: KIMS, PRODUCTION: 2016 ETC POLYPROPYLENE OFF- SPECS HPB015_P & POLYPROPYLENE OFF-SPECS HPB020_P POLYPROPYLENE OFF-SPECS HPB020_P& POLYPROPYLENE OFF-SPECS HPB010_P BALL POINTS(TIPS) 64 UNITS OF CKD GENERATORS - CONSISTING OF PERKINS ENGINE/SPARES VARIOUS ITEMS AS PER PFI NCR SELFSERV 6634 AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIAL FOR CABLE MANUFACTURING SODIUM SULFATE PHARMACEUTICAL PACKING MATERIAL - 150ML BOTTLES PACKED IN SHRINK WRAPPED TRAYS SAKURA INDUSTRIAL AIR, OIL, FUEL FILTERS EGG LAYER MACHINE* MIC 10000* FOR CONCRETE BLOCK PRODUCTION BRAND NEW ROYAL AIR CONDITIONER IN CKD MALTODEXTRIN INEDIBLE TALLOW SINGLE YARN OF SYNTHETIC STAPLE PLAIN ALUMINIUM COILS(UNCORRUGATED HIGH CONDUCTIVITY COPPER BUS BAR OC-ETP PLAIN ALUMINIUM COIL ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS AND COATINGS ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS AND COATINGS ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS AND COATINGS MOTOR VEHICLE BATERIES MACHINERY / ACCESSORIES FOR EDIBLE OIL EXTRACTION HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE RESIN H100PC 25,000 MTS OF GYPSUM SODIUM SALT OF PALMITIC ACID GAS OIL UNLEADED GASOLINE JET A1 PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA

14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16 14-Jun-16

197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.20 197.20 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50

49,980.00 53,200.00 52,275.00 53,212.50 62,645.00 122,400.00 48,960.00 49,730.00 100,000.00 42,964.65 50,000.00 40,520.00 65,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 30,000.00 40,000.00 43,968.22 40,435.30 25,000.00 107,508.37 25,871.66 25,000.00 123,600.00 84,960.00 33,180.00 342,040.64 75,000.00 82,650.00 500,000.00 100,000.00 1,000,000.00 500,000.00 55,041.71 133.29 506.24 609.00 648.23 700.00 723.20 755.02 880.00 947.39 1,050.00 1,050.00 1,136.30 1,176.28 1,176.28 1,209.19 1,257.17 1,301.76 1,320.00 1,327.20 1,327.20 1,397.64 1,496.35 1,570.00 1,571.46 1,571.46 1,571.46 1,571.46 1,689.56 1,764.61 1,847.05 2,000.00 2,016.12 2,020.00 2,202.00 2,248.08 2,332.05 2,511.77 2,965.48 2,977.89 3,285.00 3,463.25 3,748.36 3,767.87 3,928.66 4,000.00 4,017.87 4,026.09 4,300.00 4,400.09 4,628.48 4,714.39 4,799.10 4,890.64 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,050.00 5,161.95 5,673.53 5,755.48 5,987.70 6,000.00 6,052.49 6,180.12 6,199.00 6,200.00 6,223.29 6,921.02 7,037.66 7,087.36 7,100.00 7,232.00 7,236.10 7,385.95 7,436.95 7,471.94 7,521.28 7,550.00 7,647.30 7,690.00 7,857.31 8,316.80 8,321.68 8,389.12 8,390.00 8,465.00 8,637.00 8,823.04 8,839.48 8,846.00 8,850.00 9,035.91 9,040.90 9,043.37 9,044.45 9,059.17 9,063.88 9,067.17 9,090.40 9,092.48 9,132.60 9,135.85 9,135.85 9,135.85 9,135.85 9,147.22 9,199.68 9,257.41 9,275.40 9,341.50 9,455.16 9,470.97 9,489.17 9,500.00 9,500.00 9,550.00 9,571.20 9,571.70 9,571.93 9,702.40 9,707.82 9,714.62 9,715.84 9,746.68 9,788.00 9,812.37 9,827.34 9,858.08 9,944.61 9,967.00 7,874.52 7,214.50 5,500.12 3,175.75 2,000.00 3,000.00 4,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 4,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 4,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00

FRIday, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

RETURNS ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS PURCHASED FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON WEDNESDAY, 15TH JUNE 2016.

SN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

CUSTOMER ARUWAN MARY SIMON IWUNNA KELECHI OMOLOLA ODIASE CHARLES OSARIEMEN OLUPONA OLUDAYO IDOWU ALHAJI IBRAHIM ISMAIL FOLUKE OLAMIDE NWOKOLO ABIMBOLA OLUFUNKE ADEYEYE AJIBAYO JOHN TABAJA SALIM HASSAN HUGHES JOHN ENEYO WINIFRED SILAS ADJARHO PHILOMINA ADANLAWO GOODLUCK HARRY CHRISTIANA AGBANI ATINUKE GBORIGI ONWUZO VIOLA NGOZI ISMAIL MUSA ODUSOLA ADEWUNMI OKEBANJO BOLAJI TEMITAYO IDOWU YEMI AKINLEYE OLUFISAYO BELLO TEMITOPE ADAMSON ADEWUNMI ABURIME ESELE WALTER OMINIABOHS AMAKA ANGELA ARAGA OMEIZA JULIUS POPOOLA OLATUNJI MOHAMMED AKINGBEHIN OMOTOLA AYOKUNLE FADAIRO LASUKANMI FATAI KAYODE AKINWANDE GABRIEL ONWUKA NWANNEKA EJIM BASIL NCHEKWUBE ORAGU SEMAKO ADENIKE OLUSOLA PRIMERO TRANSPORT SERVICES LTD AARTI ROLLING MILLS LTD PRIMERO TRANSPORT SERVICES LTD VINE OIL AND GAS FRESH SYNERGY LIMITED THE MUSTARDSEED AGR. IND BOVAS AND CO. PANAR LIMITED SWIFT OIL LTD MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD BEAUMONT AROMATICS UNIGROW IND. LTD UNIGROW IND. LTD SANCOMEX LTD GLOBAL ORGANICS LTD SAM PHARMACEUTICAL LTD ETERNA PLC GENESIS CHEMICALS LTD PRIMUS HEALTHCARE CHEHAB NIG LTD GLOMOBILE CHANCO IMPEX LTD KURU ZANGO INT'L LTD KURU ZANGO INT'L LTD KURU ZANGO INT'L LTD KURU ZANGO INT'L LTD KURU ZANGO INT'L LTD KURU ZANGO INT'L LTD INTRACHEM LTD NEW HEALTHWAY CO. LTD TRISA NIG LTD ADIREJE WEST AFRICA LTD ANNIE PHARMA LTD WANDEL INT'L NIG LTD PANAR LIMITED AKRON NIGERIA LTD SANKIL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD CELPLAS IND. LTD WOOLEN & SYNTHETIC TEXTILE JUBAILI AGROTEC LTD UNIGROW IND. LTD TUYIL PHARM IND. LTD HORIVAC CO. LTD SOCIETE DE COMPOUNDAGE NIG. LTD ABIOLA OJO ADAMS KAMORUDEEN ADEBAYO ADEBAJO EBENEZER ADENIYI-ADEOGO

FORM M/A NUMBER AA0534242 AA1434299 AA1585729 AA1675618 AA1919636 AA2503248 AA2503549 AA2503560 AA2552247 AA2561479 AA2561717 AA2571484 AA2571524 AA2571618 AA2784201 AA2784252 AA2784323 AA2784336 AA2784364 AA2784387 AA2784446 AA2784484 AA2784494 AA2784508 AA2784712 AA2784726 AA2784786 AA2784792 AA2784808 AA2784831 AA2784878 AA2784882 AA2790417 MF20140177693 MF20150007170 MF20150018540 MF20150032580 MF20150036354 MF20150082447 MF20150083251 MF20150091722 MF20150094493 MF20150103549 MF20150105059 MF20150113455 MF20150116592 MF20150119523 MF20150122142 MF20150123881 MF20150123894 MF20150134166 MF20150134217 MF20150135519 MF20150138132 MF20150140664 MF20150144728 MF20150144728 MF20150144728 MF20150144728 MF20150144728 MF20150144728 MF20160002004 MF20160016856 MF20160019525 MF20160021587 MF20160022657 MF20160029997 MF20160035854 MF20160036657 MF20160037834 MF20160039852 MF20160040173 MF20160043348 MF20160045852 MF20160050846 MF20160055932 MF20160063273 N/A N/A N/A

LC NUMBER INV/16/EDU/1218 INV/16/EDU/1229 INV/16/EDU/1232 INV/16/EDU/1235 INV/16/EDU/1216 INV/16/EDU/1227 INV/16/EDU/1231 INV/16/EDU/1212 INV/16/EDU/1241 INV/16/EDU/1225 INV/16/EDU/1222 INV/16/EDU/1213 INV/16/EDU/1242 INV/16/EDU/1224 INV/16/EDU/1219 INV/16/EDU/1238 INV/16/EDU/1228 INV/16/EDU/1233 INV/16/EDU/1234 INV/16/EDU/1226 INV/16/EDU/1215 INV/16/EDU/1221 INV/16/EDU/1211 INV/16/EDU/1210 INV/16/EDU/1236 INV/16/EDU/1217 INV/16/EDU/1239 INV/16/EDU/1214 INV/16/EDU/1223 INV/16/EDU/1230 INV/16/EDU/1237 INV/16/EDU/1220 INV/16/EDU/1240 SB/ILC150073U SB/ILC150052CL SB/ILC150135U SB/ILC150260CL SB/ILC150207CL STBC/2015/0635 SB/ILC150461CL STBC/2015/0559 SB/ILC150494CL STBC/2015/0568 STBC/2015/0597 STBC/2015/0641 STBC/2015/0724 SB/ILC150593CL STBC/2016/0111 STBC/2015/0710 STBC/2015/0687 STBC/2016/0030 STBC/2016/0042 STBC/2016/0046 SB/ILC150623CL STBC/2016/0023 STBC/2016/0053 STBC/2016/0053 STBC/2016/0053 STBC/2016/0053 STBC/2016/0053 STBC/2016/0053 STBC/2016/0144 SB/ILC160450C STBC/2016/0175 SB/ILC160454C SB/ILC160452C SB/ILC160455C SB/ILC160453C SB/ILC160459C SB/ILC160460C SB/ILC160297U SB/ILC160456C SB/ILC160461C SB/ILC160457C SB/ILC160458C SB/ILC160462C SB/ILC160451C N/A N/A N/A

ITEM OF IMPORT SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES SCHOOL FEES TRANSPORT BUSES CAPITAL MACHINERY -VARIOUS COMPONENTS TRANSPORT BUSES UNLEADED GASOLINE UNLEADED GASOLINE CLOTHE DRYER RACK UNLEADED GASOLINE INDUSTRIAL MACHINES AND ACCESSORIES UNLEADED GASOLINE HDPE FILM - ARTIFICIAL RESIN INDUSTRIAL MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT S ISO PROPYL ALCOHOL POLYESTER TEXTURED YARN LATTICE TOWERS AND ACCESSARIES HARMLESS VETERINARY MEDICINES ESSENTIAL DRUGS BASE OIL COLOUR MASTERBATCHES HOSPITAL MEDICINE STEEL FABRICATION MACHINE SIM CARDS TALC- CRUSHED RAW MATERIAL AGRO CHEMICALS - PENTAGON AGRO CHEMICALS - PENTAGON AGRO CHEMICALS - PENTAGON AGRO CHEMICALS - PENTAGON AGRO CHEMICALS - PENTAGON AGRO CHEMICALS - PENTAGON SPECIALITY POLY FILM INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL RAW MATERIAL FOR PLASTIC INDUSTRY GAZPROMINEFT STANDARD DRUGS AND PHARMACEUTICALS TVS MOTORCYCLES IN CKD CALCIUM CARBONATE MILEX FULL CREAM MILK POWDER PARACETAMOL POWDER POLYPROPYLENE POLYESTER TEXTURED YARN POULTRY KEEPING EQUIPMENT POLYESTER FILM MULTIVITAMIN AND MINERAL CAPSULES ELECTRIC LIFT ORONA BRAND ORGANIC PIGMENT PTA PTA PTA

DATE OF FUND PURCHASE EXCHANGE RATE AMOUNT 15-Jun-16 197.50 5,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 1,222.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 8,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 6,117.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 3,500.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 6,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 2,161.91 15-Jun-16 197.50 7,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 3,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 8,697.76 15-Jun-16 197.50 2,132.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 1,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 1,789.48 15-Jun-16 197.50 8,794.20 15-Jun-16 197.50 5,500.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 2,200.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 7,170.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 2,587.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 1,033.32 15-Jun-16 197.50 8,134.64 15-Jun-16 197.50 8,794.20 15-Jun-16 197.50 10,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 7,773.75 15-Jun-16 197.50 8,325.96 15-Jun-16 197.50 9,490.41 15-Jun-16 197.50 600.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 5,936.09 15-Jun-16 197.50 2,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 8,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 6,675.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 6,517.49 15-Jun-16 197.50 9,966.76 15-Jun-16 197.50 9,120.25 15-Jun-16 197.50 171,553.88 15-Jun-16 197.50 68,500.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 345,649.70 15-Jun-16 197.50 150,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 200,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 29,086.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 130,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 50,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 103,530.37 15-Jun-16 197.50 51,137.97 15-Jun-16 197.50 42,900.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 15,104.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 41,508.20 15-Jun-16 197.50 100,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 28,876.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 34,125.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 31,633.11 15-Jun-16 197.50 40,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 5,479.48 15-Jun-16 197.50 30,221.85 15-Jun-16 197.50 50,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 26,660.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 100,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 154,133.71 15-Jun-16 197.50 100,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 93,626.16 15-Jun-16 197.50 100,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 51,695.23 15-Jun-16 197.50 32,887.41 15-Jun-16 197.50 43,159.68 15-Jun-16 197.50 44,540.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 34,638.64 15-Jun-16 197.50 44,214.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 284,800.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 21,330.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 77,740.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 89,150.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 47,940.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 29,440.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 389,960.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 84,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 68,736.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 40,546.12 15-Jun-16 197.50 97,500.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 4,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 2,000.00 15-Jun-16 197.50 2,000.00

NEWS

FRIday, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari’s certificate trial stalled, case adjourned indefinitely

Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

earing in the suit challenging the academic credentials of President Muhammadu Buhari before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was yesterday stalled due to a pending appeal before the Court

of Appeal. An Abuja-based lawyer, Nnamdi NwokochaAhaaiwe, had approached the court seeking Buhari’s disqualification to contest the 2015 presidential elections on ground that the president was not qualified to run for president because he did not possess the minimum qualification to run for the office.

Buhari, however, filed a preliminary objection seeking the court to dismiss the suit. The president, in his objection, had challenged the mode of service of the originating summons on him on ground that he ought to have been served at an address in Kaduna instead of substituted means at the national

secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja. Ruling in the preliminary objection, the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, on May 26, dismissed the objection as being incompetent. He, however, upheld the service of the court processes on Buhari, adding that the service

of the court’s processes on the president through the secretariat of the APC was proper. The court held that it was satisfied that if the process were served on a senior officer of the APC at the national headquarters, it would be brought to the president’s attention. Not satisfied, the president had approached the

Sex Scandal: Lawmakers reply ambassador, threaten legal action CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

two of the rewards programmes of the parent hotel brand of the Residence Inn (Marriott Rewards and Ritz Carlton Rewards) and the record of my previous stays at all the hotel brands can be obtained to ascertain whether or not I have ever solicited for prostitutes from any hotel employee. “Although it is very easy to obtain the previous travel history and track record of accused members, it is obvious the US State Department and the US Embassy have presumed our guilt without proper investigation because of the disdain and disrespect they have towards the average Nigerian citizen, even when such citizens are members of the Nigerian House of Representatives,

a treatment they will never mete out to an ordinary American citizen who is not even a member of the US Congress.” He informed that “a member of our group made a formal complaint to the organisers of the programme about his being defrauded to the tune of about $100 at the Renaissance Hotel Dupont Circle Washington DC, but neither the US State Department nor the US Embassy in Nigeria has deemed it fit to take any action or initiate any investigation in this regard.” He said in view of the damage done to him, he intends to “institute legal action in the United States against the Marriot Hotel Brand, the Cleveland Council of World Affairs and the US State Depart-

ment requesting for damages, comprehensive investigation of these allegations to exonerate myself and a formal globally publicised apology. His words: “I will institute legal action in Nigeria against the US Embassy in Nigeria requesting for damages, comprehensive investigation of these allegations and a formal globally publicised apology. “I demand that the US Embassy and the US State Department (regardless of your revocation of my US visa) allow me to travel to Cleveland even at my own expense to confront my accuser and confirm my innocence. I otherwise have no desire to travel to a country that appears to pay only lip service to the ideals they claim to uphold. “Also, I demand for the

full video/CCTV footage covering the period of our entire stay at the hotel; this should clearly show the movements and activities of every member of the group throughout the hotel.” Also, Gololo, who was alleged to have grabbed a housekeeper, in his letter to the ambassador, which was copied to the speaker, warned the US Ambassador of the consequences of his petition. He said: “There is the example of Mr. Strauss, the former Managing Director of the IMF, who was involved in similar allegations, but the evidence was clearly brought showing what he did in the hotel room. So, I demand video or any similar evidence of my alleged misbehaviour.” Gololo, in the letter dat-

ed June 13, 2016 and titled: Re: Allegations over troubling behaviour at Cleveland, Ohio, said: “May I remind your excellency of the recent case in your country where the great wrestler, Hulk Hogan, was similarly falsely accused and he went to court and got $140 million in damages. Gawker has applied for bankruptcy because of the case.” In his reaction, Ikon, who was also accused of soliciting for prostitutes, said in a short message that: "I wish to state unequivocally that this is false and definitely not me. "This, to me, is a case of mistaken identity and I have already instituted measures both legally and diplomatically to clear my name and the institution I represent."

Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the lower court. To argue his case at the Court of Appeal, the president had assembled about 13 SANs and 10 other counsels, led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun (SAN). When the matter came up before the Federal High Court yesterday, Justice Ademola noted that there was a pending appeal by the president before the Court of Appeal. He, however, adjourned indefinitely for the Court of Appeal to hear the appeal. The plaintiff, in his amended originating summons, alleged that Buhari was unqualified to aspire to the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because he did not sit for the Cambridge West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961 as he claimed. The plaintiff is also praying for the nullification of the election of the president on ground that he was not qualified ab initio to contest the election, having contravened the Electoral Act and committed perjury in claiming to have had a WASC when he never even sat for the examination.

RETURNS ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS PURCHASED FROM THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON WEDNESDAY, 15TH JUNE 2016. Contd. 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126

ADEWOLE OLUWATOBILOBA. E AHMED AISHATU NUHU AIMIENWANU GLORIA ILEMONA AIMIENWANU IGHODALO ITAMA AISHA BASHIR KARYE AKINOLA TAIWO ALIU OLANREWAJU OLUSEYI AMINU MUSA KAFARDA ARABI NUHU AHMED AROJOJOY E OLUBIMPE RUTH AROJOY E OLADELE JACOB AYOOLA COMFORT OLUFUNKE AYOOLA MICHAEL BAYODE BHAMBHANI ISHWAR NANIKRAM BHAMBHANI MOHAN BHAMBHANI PUJA ISHWAR AKINTOLA ADETUTU OLUKEMI DAIRO TIWALADE ESTHER DOROTHY ELOHO ODIASE ELIZABETH ASHABI ADEOLA OSARUONAME OMORUYI FAJOBI RAHMAN ADEMOLA AKINTOLA OLUBUNMI AFOLAKE KANABE SUNNY ILUGBEKHA MONILOLA AGBEKE FAFIADE NGOZI KEZIAH OKONGWU NSA PAULINE WANDOO AKENGER NSA SUNDAY UDO ODEDIRAN FOLAKE RACHAEL OGUN IBITAYO BABATUNDE OGUNBAYODE FLORENCE IWEGHO OGUNGBAMILA OLAKUNLE OLANIYAN BUSHIRAT ABIOLA OLANIYAN IBRAHEEM OMOTAYO OLAWALE OLUGBENGA BANJO OLURONKE ADELORE MODUPE OLUSANMI OLABISI ESTHER OMORUYI TITILAYO ONYANTA FAITH BANJO OPEODU GBOLAHAN AYODEJI OSHO BOLANLE OTUSAJO BENEDICTA FUNMI TOKUNBO OLUFELA MUMUNEY

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA

15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16 15-Jun-16

197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50 197.50

1,500.00 2,000.00 2,500.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 4,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 3,000.00 1,500.00 4,000.00 4,000.00 1,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 4,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Juliana Francis

fter what seems to be a lull, armed robbers yesterday went on the rampage at Amukoko area of the Lagos metropolis. The six dare-devil armed robbers killed two people and injured two policemen. The robbers, who were operating on motorcycles, opened fire on a man who just emerged from a bank with huge sums of money. The man died instantly while the robbers carted away his money. They also wounded two policemen, among them a mobile police inspector, during an exchange of gunfire at Odun-Ade market in Amukoko area. The incident occurred about 9:30am near a second generation bank from where the victim withdrew the money. It was learnt that immediately the robbers saw the man come out of the bank, they opened fire on him, killed him and carted away his money. In an ensuing gun duel with the mobile policeman guiding the bank, one of the robbers sustained gunshot wounds in the leg while the policeman was shot in the hand. In order not to leave their injured colleague, the robbers ferried him on their motorcycle and fled. But the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Amukoko Police Division, SP Frank Abba, was alerted and in turn, he sent signals to all the stations in the area to be on the lookout for the robbers. According to a police source, the DPO in charge of Ajegunle Police Division, CSP Aminu Gusau, led the anti-robbery squad to lay an ambush for the fleeing robbers. But when they got to Oregie area, the robbers got the wounded robber off the motorcycle and tried to shoot him. A witness, Adetunji Bakare, said the robbers were afraid the injured colleague, later identified as Monday Ohobor, might implicate them if arrested as he was slowing down their escape. He said: “While they wanted to shoot him, the robbers shot and killed an innocent mechanic apprentice, Idris Taiwo, at Kola

File: Suspected robbers

Robbers storm Lagos, kill two, injure policemen bus stop, Ajegunle. Taiwo was rushed to the Ajeromi General Hospital, Oregie, where he was pronounced dead. “The robbers collected a gun from their colleague who identified himself as Monday Ohobor, a Republic of Benin national. They started to shoot sporadically and indiscriminately but

some brave policemen led by CSP Gusau engaged the robbers in exchange of gun duel. “While three of the robbers with the money and guns escaped, the police apprehended three others including Ohobor.” According to Bakare, one of the robbers, who rode the motorcycle, attempted to escape but he

ran into the waiting hands of a policeman attached to Ajegunle Police Division. The witness said the policeman arrested and handcuffed the suspected robber, while Gusau and others arrested two others, one of who was Ohobor. A police source said the police found three live bullets on

Businessman loses $86,000, gets six months jail

Federal High Court in Enugu yesterday sentenced a businessman, Samuel Duru to six months imprisonment for failing to declare $96,000 at the airport. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared amount to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Counsel to the anti-graft agency, Mr. Michael Oni, according to the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN), told the court that Duru was arrested in December 2015 at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu as he was to board a flight to China. Oni said that the accused had declared to the airport officials that he had only $10,000 with him but upon a search, $96,000 was found on him which prompted them to invite the EFCC. He said that the convict was later arraigned for money laun-

dering and false declaration of his cash. Duru pleaded guilty to both charges. The defence counsel, Mr. Ikuka Kennedy, appealed to the court to tamper justice with mercy as his client had pleaded guilty to the offences. He said: “My client is a businessman at Ariariah International Market, Aba and his business is registered with the

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He is a genuine businessman as well as a first-time offender.” Ruling on the matter, Justice M. N. Yunusa, said under the Criminal Administration of Justice Act, he was not under compulsion to make use of the plea bargain option as the evidence produced by the prosecution counsel was sufficient to convict the accused.

Ohobor. “But initially, Ohobor denied being a robber. He claimed he was a victim of the robbers who carried him on the motorcycle after shooting him and dispossessing him of his N600,000 and a handset. “He also claimed that the robbers put the three bullets in his pocket, while he thought they were his house keys. “Ohobor also claimed to be a car agent in Cotonou, in the Republic of Benin. He said he had never robbed in his life. But when the police asked him who owned the gun the other robbers collected from him, he started weeping,” the source added. According to the source, when the suspect who rode the motorcycle and claimed to be a commercial motorcyclist was brought out for Ohobor to identify, he gave the injured accomplice a sign. The source added that witnesses shouted that “he is giving him sign with his eyes and head”. Meanwhile, angry youths wanted to attack the Ajeromi General Hospital, because of Taiwo’s death. The mob was, however, dispersed by men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and policemen from Ajegunle Division. The three suspects were later transferred to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Ikeja, for further investigation. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed that three of the robbers were arrested. She said: “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three armed robbers who operated in the early hours of today (yesterday) around Amukoko area of Lagos. “The men, after their operations while trying to escape through Ajegunle, were spotted by a policeman attached to a bank and after a hot chase they opened fire and in cross firing one of them was shot on the leg, while a stray bullet from the robbers hit a road side mechanic. The robbers were later arrested. Ammunition were recovered along with a motorcycle. Case transferred to SARS for further investigation.”

Duru

METRO

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Lagos-Ibadan Expressway shanties’ demolition will check crime’

The scene of the demolition

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

gun State government yesterday vowed to sustain the demolition of shanties and illegal structures on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other parts of the state. The Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Chief Adebola Adeife, who said this in Abeokuta, disclosed that the government’s task force had demolished over 120 illegal structures erected on the expressway during the week. Adeife noted that most of the demolished structures at the Isheri-Kara end of the expressway had constituted a menace to residents. According to him, government has received several distress calls from the area about alleged cases of sex for slavery, robbery and sundry crimes. The commissioner declared

Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

housands of residents of AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital have been rendered home less after flood which followed a down pour on Wednesday wreak havoc on the ancient town. Mostly are places around Adeun-Ilokun, Nova Road, AgricOlope and Adere on Ilawe Road in the capital. Household items destroyed by include electronic gadgets such as freezers, generators, TV sets,

that government would not condone criminal activities under any guise. Adeife added that the task force also cleared some illegal structures erected on Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway in accordance with the urban renewal programme of the state. He said: “We received a lot of distress calls concerning the issue of sex for slavery, robbery and a lot of unnecessary crimes in the area. As a result, we moved in to ensure sanity in the state and to enforce the law that governs urban renewal programme of Governor Ibikunle Amosun. “Shanties are not good for the state and investment drive of government. But we are going to sustain the demolition of illegal structures for a very long time. We have commissioned a task force to go out and look at what needed to be done.” Adeife restated government’s commitment towards the permanent relocation of traders at the Kara market to Ogere end of the expressway. He added: “The government has a wonderful plan for the Kara market area. We are spending a lot of money to put in place infrastructure there. When there was a crisis at Mile 12, the traders relocated to Kara but government secured an expansive location at Ogere to accommodate them.”

Six die, 23 injured in auto crashes Muritala Ayinla

t least six persons were feared dead while 23 others were injured in two separate auto accidents in Lagos. It was learnt that one of the accidents occurred on Third Mainland Bridge, inward Oworonshoki, on Wednesday night and claimed five lives while six others were seriously injured. The accident involved a Mazda commercial bus with registration number AKD 292 XL coming from Ajah-Lekki en-route to Oshodi and rammed into a broken down MAN Diesel truck about 10:24pm on Wednesday. An official of Emergency Response Team (ERT) of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), who pleaded anonymity, said the crash occurred when the commercial bus rammed into the broken down truck. He said: “Five victims, adult males, were trapped and the vehicle extricated by the agency Emergency Response Team and their bodies recovered while six other victims, adult males, were rescued with severe injuries and were taken to the Accident and Emergency Centre (Trauma Centre) and Gbagada General Hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).” On his part, the LASEMA General Manager, Michael Akindele, told our correspondent that the body of the bus driver was

The scene of one of the crashes

later released at the request of the family members and friends through the intervention of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni. According to him, bodies of all the remaining victims had been evacuated and taken to the mortuary by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU). He said: “The bodies were evacuated by SEHMU to Mainland Hospital Mortuary, except the commercial bus driver whose body was released at the request of the family members and friends through the intervention of the Lagos State Commissioner

Tears as flood sacks Ado-Ekiti computer sets, as well as clothing among others. The heavy rain, which started around 2pm, lasted for almost four hours, forcing businesses to close early. A man, whose house was flooded at Adere area around Falegan Estate, Pastor Abioye Emmanuel, expressed sadness over the level of destruction by the flood. He said: “This is the first time we will experience something like this here. We find it strange.”

Another victim said the channel for the passage of flood was too narrow to ensure unfettered flow of rainwater. He said: “The water coming from NTA, Aba-Iyamedi, Egbewa and Falegan all met here at this particular point. This channel is too narrow for the volume of water flowing through this river. The only solution is for government to expand the channel that passes through this bridge for easy flow Some residents of water.” packing their property

of Police who was present at the scene of the accident.” The LASEMA boss added that the truck, which caused the accident, was set ablaze by angry mob upset that it was abandoned on the road. The second accident, according to Akindele, occurred about 3:35a.m. yesterday at Alapere, inward Toll Gate involving a Volkswagen commercial bus with 18 passengers, coming from Lagos Island en-route Mile 12. The bus, he added, somersaulted with 17 persons injured with various degrees of injury and were taken to the Trauma Centre at Toll Gate by LASEMA’s ERT and LASAMBUS. He said that a female adult, identified as Iya Ewe, died on the spot while her body was conveyed by SEHMU to the Mainland General Hospital mortuary. While commiserating with the families of the victims, Akindele commended the quick intervention of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and Commander of the RRS for their quick intervention and presence at the scene of the incident.

City Briefs

Police raid RCCG Camp, arrest 236 ‘Ritualists’ kill pregnant woman, Camillus Nnaji

olice in Ogun State yesterday invaded the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Kilometre 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and arrested 236 people inside the auditorium. When our correspondent visited the camp yesterday, the auditorium, which is usually a beehive of activities, was almost empty. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the report. According to him, the exercise followed series of report and intelligence gathering on how people with questionable character use the auditorium as refuge after committing crime. Adejobi said among the 236 arrested, 165 were males while 71 were females. He said: “Our men carried out the raid in the early hours of today (yesterday) after a series of report that criminals have taken the RCCG Auditorium

as hideout. As early as 2am, they arrested 236 persons, 165 are males while 71 are females.” The PPRO said the suspects were being screened; those who had genuine reason to be at the auditorium for prayer would be released while those who could not identify themselves would be prosecuted. A fortnight ago, New Telegraph reported the rising criminal cases of stealing, rape, kidnapping and prostitution taking place in the auditorium by those who claimed to have gone there for prayers.

A woman in the auditorium

remove foetus

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

pregnant woman, Roheemat Akata, was murdered and dismembered by people suspected to be ritual killers at Gboroko village near Alapa in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The suspected ritual killers, according to reliable sources, removed the victim’s eight-month foetus. They also killed a 12-year-old girl who was with her at the time of the incident. The incident, according to sources, occurred on Saturday about 4:30pm while Akata and the girl, said to be the daughter of her neighbour, were on their way to a nearby village. The deceased hailed from Akata’s compound in Isale-Bani Alore area of

Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. It was gathered that the deceased was a popular patent medicine dealer in the area and was going to the next village when the suspected ‘ritualists’ ambushed and later murdered her. The 12-year old girl was also said to have been slaughtered along with the woman at the same spot. It was learnt that the case was immediately reported at Alapa police Divisional Headquarters for further investigation while the remains of the deceased were deposited at an undisclosed mortuary in Ilorin. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview yesterday. He, however, said he needed time to confirm if there had been any arrest in connection with the gruesome murder.

10 News|NATIONAL

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG shuts NERFUND as labour, management’s crisis deepens

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he crisis of confidence rocking the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) worsened yesterday as the Federal Government, wielding the bid stick, shut down the institution indefinitely. Management and staff of the fund had been embroiled in crisis for a long time, culminating in this latest development. The decision by the

supervising Ministry of Finance to shut down the fund has been communicated to the protesting staff and executive management in a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse. A top official within the ministry, who confirmed the latest development via a telephone conversation with our correspondent, said the letter had been dispatched accordingly to the affected parties. Reading from an excerpt from the letter, he said: “Following the re-

Reps threaten to sanction erring firms over rail contracts Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of some company executives that fails to appear before the ad-hoc committee investigating rail contracts between 2010 and 2014. The companies are Costain West Africa, Ansaldo, Gear Holdings, Ansaldo South Africa, Eser Contracting and Industry,

Eser Nigeria Contracting Company Limited and Eser West Africa Limited. Chairman of the adhoc committee, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma, while briefing journalists in Abuja, said the companies listed above have either failed to appear to respond to the ad-hoc committee. “The companies named above are hereby ordered to appear before this ad-hoc committee or it shall apply that a bench warrant be issued against them.

cent development in your establishment and failure to resolve the differences after intervention by the ministry, the Minister of Finance has directed all the staff to proceed on indefinite leave pending when a lasting solution would be found to all the issues in contention.” Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Finance, Festus Akanbi, confirmed the shutdown on the order of the Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adesoun, to our correspondent. Before the Minister’s ultimate directive yesterday,

the protest by NERFUND workers had escalated in early hours of yesterday. The workers seized the official vehicles attached to the Managing Director (MD), Mohammed Kollere and that of the Executive Director (ED), Mr. Elenwor Inua. As early as 8am, the staff barricaded the main entrance to NERFUND headquarters with two Hilux buses. When New Telegraph correspondent visited the headquarters located at Wuse Zone 4, the MD was sighted loitering around the gate making

The total number of matches played by Ghana at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

Wole Shadare

he Libyan government, in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian embassy in Libya, yesterday repatriated 162 Nigerians, who were stranded in the North African country. Some of the returnees told reporters that they attempted to cross from the Arab country to Eu-

frantic phone calls. A detachment of policemen was also sighted close to the premises. However, an insider, who did not want his name in print, attributed the crisis to lack of a serious disposition by the Finance Ministry to resolve the issue. He said the ministry officials failed in keeping to their promise of resolving the issue in a matter of days, a commitment given by the ministry officials that mediated on the issue two weeks ago. “Precisely two Mon-

1.7%

The annual population growth rate of Philippines in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

day’s ago when the ministry summoned us for a meeting; there was a firm commitment that we would get a feed back in a matter of days. At that meeting, the Hon. Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adosun, was not available, she was confirmed to be attending a conference in London, but the Permanent Secretary chaired the meeting. He constituted a committee which had Director, Home Finance, Director, International Economic Relations and other senior directors.

N122.74bn

The total amount of Imports from India for the 2014 Q4. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Libya deports 162 Nigerians rope, but they could not accomplish their mission for various reasons. The aircraft that brought the returnees, an Airbus 320, with the registration number 5A-WAT belonging to Ghadames Air, touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos at 2:45pm. No fewer than three of the returnees came back into Nigeria with health issues and were stretched out of the aircraft into a waiting ambulance. The returnees composed of 132 males, 27 females and three children,

who had entered Libya through different means. While some were happy to return to Nigeria, others wore sombre looks. The three children were from a family. After going through immigration processes at the airport, they were driven to the hajj and cargo terminal of the airport, where they would be given N10,000 stipends to re-unite with their families. Their feeding and stipends were sponsored by the Swiss Government. The Voluntary Returnee and Integration Consultant with IOM in

Lagos, Sara Hamo, in an interview with journalists, said the returnees were camped at Tripoli for some time before they were returned to the country. Hamo declared that none of the returnees was compelled to return to Nigeria, but indicated their willingness to return to Nigeria through the Nigerian embassy in Libya. Also, the IOM official from Libya, Mr. Juma Hassan, informed that this was the second time Nigerians from Libya would be returned to the country.

Johnchuks Onuayim

of gas supply. He took assessment of the consequences of the vandalization of gas pipelines to power supply and said, “they could have been concentrated in area of gas production”. He, however, expressed the Federal Government’s willingness to wind down the electricity debts of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the Distribution Companies before the end of the year. According to him, the his ministry had met with the Ministry of Defence,

the Debt Management Office and other key stakeholders on measures to clear the huge electricity debts by various MDAs to power firms. Reacting to a question on the indebtedness by MDAs to the DISCOs, Fashola said, “We are in the process of winding down those debts, I’m speaking with the Debt Management Office, for we met just two days ago and we are proposing options for winding down those inherited debts.

Fashola faults scattering of gas power plants

Abuja

he Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday faulted the Federal Government’s policy of scattering gas power plants all over the country. The Minister, who spoke at the Kukah Centre for leadership on “Fixing Nigeria”, stated that the power plants would have been more productive if they were concentrated in the area

PDP crisis: Northern youths berate Makarfi Wale Elegbede

political group, Northern Youths United Against Impunity, in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has faulted a report credited to the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP that the dejure National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, was being used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the PDP, stating that the statement amounted to

propaganda and a cheap blackmail against the former governor of Borno State. In a statement issued yesterday and signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Alhaji Tanko Yunusa, the youths said the view by the Senator Ahmed Makarfiled panel lacks the facts and adequate information to address the contending issues. “If they say it is the APC that is using Sheriff to destabilise our party, shall we

also say it was the APC that used Governor Ayo Fayose and others who brought him and sold him to other stakeholders as the ‘messiah’ the party needed?” Speaking on the alleged complicity leveled against the police by the caretaker committee, the group said security agents at the party’s national secretariat are acting within their constitutionally guaranteed powers to maintain law and order.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview Eradiri: Govt must dialogue to resolve N’Delta crisis

Politics The Lagos State Government and some right activists in the state, last Sunday, joined other Nigerians to mark the 23rd anniversary of the annulment of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election won by late business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola, with a renewed call for adoption of true federalism. MURITALA AYINLA reports.

Legislative session Enugu Assemby takes stock

13 16

True federalism: A renewed song by progressives

he event was to mark the 23rd anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election supposedly won by the late Moshood Kashimao Olawale (MKO) Abiola but it eventually turned out to be an avenue to agitate for the adoption of true federalism by the Nigerian government. As early as 8:30am Lagos residents, especially students' unions, activists, top government officials, democrats and other gladiators of the June 12 debacle gathered at the LTV Blue Roof, Agindingbi, Ikeja to remember the man, Abiola , who many believe paid the supreme prize for the democracy being enjoyed by Nigerian at the moment. As usual, they renewed their clamour for the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day as against May 29 which the Federal Government recognises, arguing that June 12, 1993 was the day the true foundation of democracy was laid in the country. They stressed that the annulled election marked the nation's most credible election, where Nigerians put aside their religious, ethnic, tribal and other differences to vote for a Muslim/Muslim ticket in the election with the Abiola’s defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) winning by a landslide. Against the backdrop, they appealed to the presidency to not only to declare Abiola winner of that election but accord him the recognition of a duly elected president though neither ruled nor lived in the presidential villa.

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Obasa, Bello, Abdul Abiola, Joseph and Jamiu Abiola during the 23rd anniversary of June 12 in Lagos...recently.

But beyond, these agitations which are becoming the ritual of the June12 Remembrance Day, the renewed call for the adoption of true federalism dominated the discourse, as the activists as well Governor Akinwunmi Ambode called on the leadership of the country to consider true federalism as way out of the myriad of problems bedevelling the nation. At the event organised by the Office of Civic Engagement were former Lagos Military Administrator, Rear Adniral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd); Convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Ayo Opadokun; Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye; Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashir Obasa; Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello; Son of late M.K.O Abiola, Abdul; Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Civic Engagement, Mr. Kehinde Joseph and Mr. Jamiu Abiola. Speaking on the theme: "Democracy And Inclusiveness: Basis For Good Governance," Governor Ambode, who was represented by Bello, said what the leadership of the nation owe Nigerians today is nothing but true federalism, saying: " For us to be able to achieve true federalism, we have to work hard for it." He added that while June 12 would continue to be remembered, the country must be prepared to embark on the journey of ensuring the right things are done in proper ways. His words: "This is a day we must continue to remember because we have been practising democracy and at the end of the day,

We will continue to grope in the dark... until restructuring takes place

we are not actually doing what we should be doing. If you look at the topic of today, it says ‘Democracy and Its Inclusiveness,’ but with what we have today, we still have a long way to go and that is to say that we are not practising true federalism. "We still have a long way to go. If you want to live by Abiola’s memory, if you want to honour him, we owe him a duty to ensure that we install a viable democracy and that viable democracy can only be installed if we have true federalism which we are presently not practising, and that is very important." The governor added that the federating units of the country must be allowed to develop at their own pace, saying that it is important for the country to address the very evident wrongs of the past. He said: "For us in Lagos here, Lagos as it is today has everything to stand by its own. We run the police, we have the most viable infrastructure in the whole country, yet we are not given what we deserve. "Look at the number of local Ggovernments we have, if we run true federalism, we would not be having 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and 20 local governments. We should be able to create the number of local governments that we desire." Chairman of the occasion and General Secretary of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Pa Ayo Opadokun, in his remarks, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently recognise Abiola as a former president of Nigeria and name a national monument after him.

Opadokun said that it was unfortunate that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who he described as a major beneficiary of the June 12 struggle, failed to accord Abiola the due recognition throughout his eight year-tenure, but urged the Federal Government to right the wrongs did to Abiola by paying his family for the crippling of his businesses during the struggle. The NADECO scribe, who said that it is sad that the country which is the eight largest exporter of crude oil in the world has the largest number of poorest people in the world, pointed out that Nigeria will never get out of the wood "until we restructure this skewed, warped, lopsided national structure. We will continue to grope in the dark. We will never find our bearing until restructuring takes place". He also called for an urgent address of injustice in the system, saying the federation must be reconfigured to make every Nigerian equal and totally remove the traces of injustice and unfairness. His words: "For instance, in 1960, there were four political divisions in Lagos and two in Kano. As we speak, Jigawa State has been created out of Kano with 27 local government areas, while Kano itself has 44, making a total of 71.” Opadokun also called on President Buhari to sum up the courage to ask the electoral body to make a final pronouncement that MKO won the June 12, 1993 presidential election and then proceed to CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

politics

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oshiomhole assures on violence-free primaries Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, made a last minute move to reach out to aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. He also assured the governorship aspirants of the party that the exercise would be free, fair and credible. Speaking at a meeting with the aspirants at the Government House, Benin, Oshiomhole said: “As the Chief Security Officer of the state, ev-

ery step will be taken to ensure that there is no violence and there will be no violence by the special grace of God because our party does not include violence in its method. “There will be enough security, and anybody going into the arena will not be able to carry any offensive weapon by however defined. That I can assure you and it is not a place for supporters’ club." "It is a venue for delegates polling. Perhaps, the only exemption I understand will be those who are not delegates, but who are aspirants."

Obaseki: I’ll not disappoint Edo people Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

ll Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant for the September 10 election in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured the party’s delegates of his commitment to fulfill all campaign promises to the people of the state if elected as the party’s flag bearer. Obaseki, who made the pledge during a thank you visit to delegates in Ovia South West Local Govern-

ment Area of the state, charged his supporters to see votes for him as votes for the APC in the September 10 election. The chairman of the state’s Economic and Strategy Team (EST) said he is abreast with the intricacies of governance and prepared to reposition the state for more development, adding that due to dwindling revenue from oil, he would create a viable alternative to shore up the revenue base of the state and ensure employment opportunities for the people through agriculture.

APC inaugurates committees on primaries, appeals Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, inaugurated its Governorship Primaries and Appeals committees for Edo State with Katsina State governor, Bello Masari and former governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele heading the respective committees. The committees were inaugurated by the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Engr. Segun Oni. The governorship primaries with 2,873 delegates

would hold on Saturday, while the appeals committee would sit on Monday next week to etertain any appeal the would arise. Masari in his speech assured the party, Edo people and Nigerians that they would be thorough with their assignment. Accord-

ing to him, as a victim of a rigged governorship primaries, he would not want any of the aspirants to experience such injustice. His words: “On behalf of members of my committee, I want to assure you that we will follow the guidelines given to us by the party. I want to also assure you that we will do our best to produce the best and we hope that there will be no work for the appeal committee. “We are going to do a thorough job. I also want to use this opportunity to assure those who are not here that we will do Justice to all. We have no preferred candidate, we have

no friends and what we will be doing in Edo, we will be doing for APC, for Nigeria and for Edo people. What is most important is that we have gone through this process. I have a bitter experience of this process and I know how a party can lose election through an unfair and unjust primary. “It has happened in my state and in so many states. This is a very critical and important assignment considering the number of candidates and the strength of our party and that of the opposition in the state. That will make us do what is right for the people of Edo State and for APC as a political party."

L-R: Deputy National Chairman (South), All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Segun Oni; Katsina State Governor/ Chairman, Edo Election Primary Committee, Bello Masari and APC National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Isunazo, during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Nigerians react to alleged sexual misconduct of lawmakers Felix Nwaneri, Wale Elegbede and Temitope Ogunbanke

minent Nigerians have reacted to the allegations of sexual misconduct and attempted rape against Nigerian lawmakers raised by the United States government, described the conduct of the members of the House of Representatives as an embarrassment to Nigeria. The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, had in a letter sent to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on June 9, and exclusively obtained by New Telegraph, accused Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom), Mohammed Gololo (APC, Bauchi) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue), of an attempt to commit rape and soliciting sex from prostitutes during their recent trip to Cleveland, United States, for the International Visitor Leadership Program. Its an embarrassment to Nigeria- Rafsanjani Speaking with New Telegraph, the Executive Director Civil Society Leg-

islative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwual Rafsanjani, described the action of the lawmakers as embarrassing, adding that the National Assembly should take punitive measures against them. “As responsible legislators, they are not expected to engage in unethical things as these. That is why CISLAC has always been talking about issues of values and ethics in the legislative work, that members must conduct themselves professionally as responsible representative of the people. If they can go to another country to do this kind of a thing, you can imagine what they will be doing in their own country. “Definitely, this is not a good image to Nigeria because we already have a lot of bad image as a country and for the perceived honourable members to go and commit this kind of stuff in another country shows that they are actually not conducting themselves in a manner that is expected of them as representatives and leaders of the people as well as ambassadors of Nigeria. We think that this is an embarrassment

to the country, embarrassment to the legislature and therefore these lawmakers don't deserve any kind of immunity.

They should be suspendedOkorie Similarly, the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said the House of Representatives should set up a panel of inquiry because it will reveal what actually transpired, adding that the action has caused a big dent on the image of the country; hence the lawmakers should be investigated. “It would be premature for the accused members of the House of Representatives to sue the United States government because the petition against them is weighty and it is like a statement of fact as it is coming from such an important personality in the person of an ambassador of the United States. Nobody is likely to associate him with frivolous comments. “Their actions have brought a disgrace that should be visited with a recall, and I also think that the House leadership

can suspend them from office and look for appropriate sanctions that the law permits to serve as a deterrent to others in future.”

Dogara should get to the root of it- Okwu According to Chief Maxi Okwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the act is a disgraceful one and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, should get to the root of it. He said: “I hope the allegation is not true. It is a grave allegation and the Speaker of the House of Representatives must rise to the occasion so that we don’t get our country embarrassed. The Speaker must not just brood over it. He must really get to the root of it and find the truth about the matter. “This is part of the problems we have with some lawmakers about their level of ethics and etiquettes. They feel they are on rampage and they don’t know that they can do and cannot do. It is very disappointing-Tsav Also speaking on the issue, former Lagos State

Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, said the action will have a bad consequence on Nigeria’s relationship with other countries. “The sex scandal allegation is not good enough. It shows the bad picture of the lawmakers involved. That is what they do in Nigeria and they think they can do it in other countries. It is bad. It is very disappointing. “This incident is going to have bad consequence on Nigeria’s foreign relationship because lawmakers are expected to behave themselves well. They should behave with decorum. But to behave the way they have behaved will give a very bad image of this country. It shows that this is how we behave in Nigeria,” he said. They are lucky to have escaped from US law- Aduwo For the National Coordinator of the Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, the lawmakers should thank their stars for being able to make it to Nigeria without being arrested by the United States law enforcement agencies. He said: “It shows the

type of people we have as leaders in Nigeria, these are people who should not be anywhere around leadership at all. I think that one called Gololo was lucky to have escaped because he could have been jailed for 10 years. “If the United States is accusing people over such a issue, there is no way they can deny it." It's worrisome –OkeiOdumakin The President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said: “The incident is worrisome not only because Nigerians are involved but because people who are saddled with responsibility of making laws for the country are involved in such ignoble act of sexual immoralities and indiscipline. “These men have only succeeded in exporting what perhaps in their daily lifestyle into far away United States of America. It is therefore my opinion that this act of sexual immorality and what I can further describe as sexual violence, is thoroughly investigated and perpetrators are accordingly punished if found guilty.”

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

National President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, believes that the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government must ensure equity and justice to ensure lasting peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta. He speaks with FELIX NWANERI on the renewed crisis in the region and other issues What do you make of the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta? I will blame it on the present leadership in the country because it created the conditions that led to break down of order in the oil-rich region. A situation, where a president from the Niger Delta, lost an election but willfuly handed over power to the opposition, we had expected the new administrtaion to reciprocate such gesture. But unfortunately, the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari started with a witch-hunt and that saw him closing a university that was a product of a peace process started by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and continued by late President Umaru Yar’adua before Goodluck Jonathan came in. Peace is a process, it is not what you achieve overnight but we what saw is that President Buhari built a brickwall, cancelled the Maritime University, cut the budgets of the Amnesty Office, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta. These actions suggested that there would be no economic activity in the Niger Delta this year even when the bulk of the funds for the country’s budget comes from the region. We are however not surprised about this because the President had on assumption of office said he won’t treat those who gave him 95 per cent votes equally with those that him gave him five per cent. He actually acted out that position within the first 30 days of his administration and that started building up, leading to where we have found ourselves today. As a group, we warned at that time, wrote letters to the President warning that there is bound to be distrust with the way he is going. So, for me, witch-hunting of Niger Delta people with agencies of government such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and remanding them in detention, while granting northerners bails on self recognition does not speak well of the present government. When you keep hounding Niger Deltans and supporters of the last administration, no matter how fierce you may be, people will resist you. Nigerians resisted military rule, at the height of military dictatorship not to talk of now that democracy is in place. Some people may reason that the President’s action on the budget of the varios agencies and the ministry you listed may have been informed by the nation’s dwindling resources due to the fall in oil prices

POLITICS

Eradiri: Govt must dialogue to resolve N’Delta crisis

peace process. It is only when this is done that we will know that the government is ready for discussion. Government must stop intimidating our people and allow the rule of law to prevail. When you keep threatening that you will treat them like Boko Haram, they are bound to lose confidence in the system. So, you are of the view that military option as being advocated in some quarters is not the best approach? We have condenmed the seige on some Ijaw communities by the military and they said that there is a two-weeks ceasefire but the question that we asked, is: Ceasefire with who? Are they fighting war with the communities. There is Avengers that they claim are destroying pipelines just as there are killer-herdsmen, who the government claim are from Libya. In that line, may be the Niger Delta Avengers are from Somali, who are very good in piracy because Ijaw people are not Niger Delta Avengers, they are not militants and they not criminals. The government knows who the avengers are and they should go after them.

Eradiri

Despite the same dwindling resources, there is over N40 billion to explore oil in the Chad Basin, when we all know that there is war in the North-East and nobody would want to go there. Is that not wastage? We saw the billions earmarked for the Villa despite claims of dwindling resources. You cannot say dwindling resources when we have a budget of N6 trillion. I would have expected a lean budget because of dwindling resources but this is the first time that we are having a budget of N6 trillion and the Niger Delta was not reflected even when we are the ones who provide the resources. So, it is more of a vendetta mission. Even the recent employments and appointments by the Federal Government were skewed to favour the North even when the Federal Character Principle is enshrined in the constitution. To be precise, I will say that this president has a penchant of abusing the constitution. When you hold a man against the order of the court, you are contravening the law. Former Director Deneral of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, is harassed everyday. When they arrested him and promoted the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, we ask thequestion: Could the Director General be fraudlent without the collaboration of Executive Director of Finance and Administration. But because the executive director is from the North, he was promoted and we know what tranpired with the period he acted as the agency’s boss. Don’t you see the National Assembly, which would have served as a check on the executive abdicating on its duties given these excesses that you have mentioned?

We have seen that the National Assembly has been reduced to a toothless bulldog and there is no doubt that there is an ethnic agenda playing out since the inception of the Buhari government. The North believes that it should be the winner takes all now that is in power. That is what is playing out even in the National assembly because the Petroleum Industry Bill, which had already passed the House of Representatives found its way back to the House just to expunge the 10 per cent equity meant for community participation.

President Buhari should come out and face the issues by himself and not working through proxies

What is the way out of the insecurity in the Niger Delta? It is unfortunate that several pseudo organisations have sprang up claiming to speak for the people of the Niger Delta, while pipelines are being destroyed everyday. The way out is for the President to take charge. He must take responsibility. While Obasanjo was there, he enetered into dialogue with the people. Yar’adua, despite failing health, addressed issues affecting the people of Niger Delta. So, President Buhari should come out and face the issues by himself and not working through proxies, who don’t express the leadership we expect. But most leaders in the Niger Delta seem to be indifferent to the peace process given the claim that are yet to get over the outcome of the 2015 presidential election The Federal Government must first show that it is serious with the peace process because what is on ground at the moment doesn’t portray that it is committed to the process. The Federal Government must announce the resumption of the Maritime University to demonstrate its commitment to the

What is the way forward for Nigeria given the various agitations for selfdetermination across the country? There was a National Conference in 2014, where Nigerians discussed and agreed on how they will live as one. We have always advocated that government should implement the recommendations of that conference but we know that because the President’s party did not participate in the confab, he is not going to heed to the call. Whether the President likes it or not, Nigeria must be restructured for us to move forward. If he doesn’t believe in the discussions that had been held in the past, he should the begin his own process. But there is the fear that such restructuring could lead to the disntegration of Nigeria Our almagamation in the first place was a fraudulent one that brought two different people together, so it won’t be the first time it is happening in the world if we disintegrate. The truth is that if we love this country and we have to be one, there has to be entrenchment of true federalism. The issue of non-payment of workers salaries by the states, especially the oil-rich states. What does this portend for the polity? That is an indication of a failed system and reiterates the call for restructuring because the unitary system that we are operating in the guise of federalism is not working. The states are lazy. The just sit down and wait for allocation from the Federal Government. Now that oil money is no longer coming, you can see that the country is collapsing. It is not about Niger Delta Avengers; it is not about the Indigenous People of Biafra or Shiites, it is about Nigeria’s faulty foundation, which needs to be restructured for every region to explore its potential. You can see that the local government system has collapsed a long time ago, now it is the turn of the states.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Optimising Amodu’s modus operandi Emissary EMEKA OBASI emobas2003@yahoo.com 0809-445-7557 (sms only)

e got to know ourselves better at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on November 25 1991. BCC lions were on their way to Lusaka to defend the Mandela [Africa Winners] Cup which they won in 1991. Coach Amodu Shuaibu and I got talking after he opened up. ‘You are a different kind of journalist’, he said as he extended his hand for a shake. Until that moment, I had chosen to ignore him. I felt he was so full of himself . My business was with the players especially Amir Angwe whom I had known as one of Clemens Westerhof ’s home based Eagles at the Obasanjo Farms Otta in 1989. Our Ghana Airways flight commanded by Captain Spencer was supposed to depart at 6.25 am for Harare through Accra. Good guess. President Robert Mugabe’s wife Sally [ originally Sarah Francescsa Hayfrom ] hailed from the former Gold Coast. Both had met as teachers in 1961 at the Takoradi Teachers’ Training College. The Harare route was lucrative for the Ghanaians. Sally died in 1992. We were indeed travelling to Zambia. There was going to be a connecting Air Zimbabwe flight to Lusaka. We flew to Kotoka Airport Accra, then journeyed five hours to Harare before hitting the Zambian capital. After sizing up ourselves we had all the time to chat and he felt so free with me. Young and well suited, his eyes were on a successful defence of the trophy. We parted ways in Harare. The team checked into Park Lane Hotel. I moved to Kentucky, in the Hatfield Area. It was just for a day. NFA official, Chief Bolaji Ojo-Oba and I could not miss one young Zimbabwean Air force officer who met a Nigerian lady at the

hotel and fell head over heels in love. He said he was trained in Nigeria. Proud Nigerians, we felt on top of the world. The fighter pilot pleaded with us to soften the ground. The Air Zimbabwe pilot that flew us to Lusaka jolted all of us. We later learnt that they were inexperienced. Thank God we made it. I could re-unite with Shuaibu. All of us checked into Hotel Inter Continental on Haile Selassie Avenue, Long Acres. The Nigerian Embassy was on the same street. But the BCC coach was focused on the match. He concentrated on his players. Opponents, Power Dynamos from Kitwe in the Zambian Copperbelt also lodged in the same hotel. I noticed they were relaxed but held Shuaibu in awe. They had an expatriate coach, one Briton called Bone. All eyes were on the Cement Boys. Zambia’s version of Ernest Okonkwo, Denis Liwewe, South African giant journalist, Mark Gleeson [he later exchanged his John Players T-shirt with my BCC top] faced the Nigerians. There was also Segun Adeyemi of the News Agency of Nigeria who was joined by their Southern Africa correspondent ,Anyadike. Amodu enjoyed all the attention but did not give out much. He looked serious and had eyes on the coming tie. I mingled with Power Dynamos players especially Wedson Nyirenda, who scored one of their two goals in the Lagos 3-2 first leg loss. He wanted to move over to Udoji United and thought I could facilitate that. It was in the process that I spoke to Skipper Wisdom Chansa, Linos Makwaza, Robert Watiyakeni and John Soko. They were afraid of just two men: Amodu and John Zaki. We all met again at the Senegal ‘92 Nations Cup. They were part of the Chipolopolo and wondered how on earth Nigeria could come to Senegal without Zaki. Unfortunately, Chansa, Soko and Watiyakeni perished with the team April 27, 1993, in an air crash off the Gabonese Coast. Back to Lusaka. The Nigerian High Commissioner, Lawrence Okoli Chikezie [LOC] Agubuzu asked the squad to join him in his office. There, he took all to a classroom. I thought Shuaibu would overrule him. No, he sat with

I noticed they were relaxed but held Shuaibu in awe. They had an expatriate coach, one Briton called Bone

the players and listened. “The team you are going to play is a very strong one,” the Ambassador began. “ But I believe you can beat them if you are determined. There is one illusion I want you to cancel in your mind. Because you scored more goals in Nigeria, you go and defend. Please go all out in the first half and score at least two more goals” He continued,” I have watched these people play since I came here, they are faster than you are because of their climate. If you don’t score in the first half, you are running a risk.” As Agubuzu spoke, he was writing as well. Everyone took note. HT means Hard Tackling. CP, Correct Passes. HK for Hard Kicking, C and M: Concentration and Marking and GT for Goal Targeting. Leader of Delegation, Tony Omoera responded on behalf of the team. “I think it is correct to say this is the first Technical Ambassador we have met.” Amodu nodded. Some other coaches would have seen that as interference. Amodu swallowed it all and on match day his boys went out for early goals. They got one in the 27th minute, though an own goal by Webby Chilufya in response to Angwe’s dangerous move. That goal almost’killed’ President Frederick Chiluba. He had entered the Independence Stadium with two fingers raised. The President first shook hands with the Ball Boys. The manneeded to show the people that he came with some luck. Under his predecessor, Keneth Kaunda, Zambia lost in a couple of grand finale. A year earlier in the Sekou Toure Cup, Nkana Red Devils had lost to JSK Algeria in same stadium. When BCC got the goal, the man detractors called Titus Mpundu, the Bemba from Luapula Province, close to the border with Malawi held his neck. I was there in the state box, sitting right behind him. Ambassador Agubuzu and his wife went wild with joy just like other Nigerian diplomats, Peter Emuze, Akin Soetan, Idowu and even Osagiede Enahoro from faraway Harare. Shuaibu was expecting more than a goal as advised by Agubuzu. Then Dynamos woke up. Centreback Watiyakeni equalized in the 41st. Two more goals in the second half , the cup was lost. Amodu remained a friend from that trip.

Obama, the umbrella and our leaders’ arrogance Isa Ismail Jalingo

et me first of all be quick to say that, I know two things that may come to many minds while reading this piece; firstly, the choice of the heading, and secondly what is new about the subject matter? Indeed, there is nothing new about Barack Obama holding an umbrella and certainly our political leaders arrogance in display of power is not new to us, but the point is; when are we going to change? Sitting in my room with the remote control in my hand, I watch with keen interest on TV, president Obama’s historic visit to Cuba on the 21th march, 2016 to be precise. Though not new to me, but seeing the most powerful man in the world coming down from a plane, holding an umbrella for his wife Mitchell and walking some fifty (50) meters in the rain to where other dignitaries, including the Cuban president were waiting for him truly strikes me

and left me imagining if our leaders in Nigeria do not see this. The TV pictures remind me of my sordid encounter with a convoy of my local government chairman who nearly sent my car tumbling in a drainage simply because I didn’t park by the road side to give way to the over speeding convoy of about twenty cars while coming from a wedding ceremony. It was truly a horrible and scary incident. The thugs, Civil Defence Corps and the Police were all aggressive. That also quickly reminds me of the story we read of how a particular lady and her family were molested by Governor Almakura’s convoy for what the governor’s press secretary described as “being rude and disrespectful” by not parking aside the dangerous road to give way to the governor’s convoy. Then the story of Kogi Governors convoy’s brutality to ASUU members in December 2013, and many more similar cases. Obama, as many leaders of the developed world, was seen doing almost everything on his own, being a

husband, a father simple and down to earths. Hmmm! Imagine if a governor in Nigeria will hold even his file in his hand at the airport, talk less of an umbrella in the rain? I guess his armoured car will have to be brought close to the plane. Just of recent, Prof. Umaru Pate, of Bayero University Kano, just coming back from an academic conference in Finland, narrated to us how the prime minister of that country who was the special guest of honour came to the event with just a single car which he drove himself, and walked to the stage alone without any security aide, brought out his paper from his pocket and presented his speech and quietly left the way he come. These type, of stories are numerous, countless and surely very obvious for all our leader to see and they have been seeing. But their attitude of “big manism and arrogance” (sorry for the choice of word) never change. I keep wondering when they will change. Our leaders from councilors up to the president copy the whiteman’s language, dressing, means of transport home and in fact even how

to eat, but failed to copy these important elements; humility, simplicity and leadership by example. Yesterday, today and probably tomorrow, Nigerian leaders from even the lowest ranks love demonstration of power. They need aides to hold their speech papers, umbrella, handkerchiefs, and writing pens and even clean their shoes while sitting at public functions. In most cases, even ward councillors go around events in convoys, local government chairman with multiple security, not to talk to state and federal legislators and our state governors. The case of the president is left to be imagined. My article is not aimed at ridiculing our leaders (make no mistake, I hold my leader in higher esteem and respect), but a patriotic call to our leaders to show compassion, respect and humility to their subject, for we all came with nothing and certainly shall leave this deceitful world with nothing except, of course, our deed. •Jalingo is a level Four student of Mass Communication. Bayero University, Kano.

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Onitsha: Abuse of the gun

he massacre penultimate week of members of the Independent People of Biafra and Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra at a church service to mark the 49th anniversary of the declaration of State of Biafra, was one violent action too many on the part of the military. Indeed, it underscored the growing culture of impunity and abuse of state power Given the nature of the latest gathering of these groups and their sympathisers at a Roman Catholic Church, one could only imagine that their only weapon was the Bible, more so as they were attending the memorial of compatriots who lost their lives in the Nigerian Civil War. It is inconceivable that those citzens could carry offensive weapons to attend a church where four prominent and respected priests including Cardinal Francis Arinze and the Catholic Arch-Bishop of Owerri, Anthony Obinna were to minister. Pathetic enough, about 50 of them were killed in the encounter. Like the previous activities of the groups, the commemoration was carried mainly in the form of religious event and was strategically planned hence it held

simultaneously on that day throughout the South-East. The crux of their agitation is the continued marginalization of the South-East in several fronts especially by the current administration. This, of course is very logical. However, there is no denying the fact that appointment into various offices in the country in the past one year of the current administration have not only be lopsided, they are manifestly skewed in favour of the North to the detriment of other sections of the country. The same thing goes

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shrined in the constitution. One undeniable fact is that secessionist tendencies and agitations by the IPOB and MOSSOB have been on for many years. And by these agitations manifested in Radio Biafra and demonstrations on the streets, the groups have created apprehension, disturbed public peace and accompanying inciting statements have denigrated the

The last bloody incident by soldiers from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu State, is most barbaric

for the distribution of infrastructural amenities- an action which belies the tenets of one Nigeria and commitment to nationhood. While we stand for one indivisible Nigeria, suffice is to say that governance of the nation must be done on the principles of justice, equity and fair play. Every section of the country should be given a great sense of belonging in the distribution of the commonwealth in tandem with the principle of National Character which is en-

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country’s leadership. Their actions in recent times have disrupted business and social activities, leaving many people dead. Often, the

streets of Asaba and the Niger Bridge in Onitsha have been grounded, leading to the death of many and destruction of vehicles and other property – those of MOSSOB and IPOB members inclusive. Whereas these protest-related killings have been most unacceptable, the last bloody incident by soldiers from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu State, is most barbaric, condemnable and uncalled. Not only did it smack of unimaginable highhandedness, it runs foul of

all universally acceptable means of handling protests. Coming at a time when the founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu is standing trial for treason, it was presupposed that the Federal Government would deal with the group within the confines of the law, especially when there have been no independent confirmation to substantiate claims that they were bearing arms as at the time of the massacre. On the part of IPOB and MASOOB, we make bold to say it is high time they adopted legal and internationally acceptable methods to achieve their goals in a civil manner. Sometime last year, Scotland went into a referendum in expression of their determination to leave Britain as done by several countries worldwide and in most cases without any bloodshed. Above all, this military crush them mentality, as done in Zaria, would only record fleeting success. Only equitable distribution of offices and infrastructure as well as according every section of the country a sense of belonging will elicit patriotism by all citizens and stave off a recurrence of secessionist tendencies.

POLITICS

KENNETH OFOMA reports on the special session that marked the end of the first legislative session of the 6th Enugu State House of Assembly, a sitting which the lawmakers also used to launch their legislative agenda

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Enugu Assemby takes stock

he Enugu State House of Assembly recently rolled out drums to celebrate one year of intensive legislative activities. The legislators among other things held a valedictory session to formally end the first session and begin the second session of the 6th Assembly. The current House was inaugurated on June 7, 2015. The 24 member Assembly has nine new members, while the remaining 15 are returning members of the 5th Assembly. The special session was customary, as it was usually a period of stock taking and agenda setting for the next legislative session. A legislative session is actually one calendar year and there are four sessions corresponding to one legislative/electoral term of four years. The year under review, according to the legislators, saw a lot of activities, including oversight functions, passage of motions, resolutions and laws as well as holding of public hearings. The activities came at most opportune times as part of their legislative interventions in governance of the state. The one year anniversary also came on the heels of recent one year anniversary of the state executive led by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who came on board on May 29, 2015. Thus aside from the milestones they achieved, the legislators are also thumping their chest for the legislative-executive harmony witnessed in the state and which has brought about peace, coordinated planning and measured socio-economic development as witnessed in the state within the period under review. In an emotion laden speech during the special session, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Edward Ubosi, commended the commitment, hard-work and dedication exhibited by the House members in the last one year. Ubosi explained that the 6th Assembly has received 16 Bills out of which nine were passed into law. The Speaker explained further that the House under his leadership had passed 22 high impact resolutions, adding that it had also received, scrutinized and adopted the State's Auditor General's 2013 and 2014 Annual Report. He noted that the House passed a resolution authorising the state government to obtain loans to facilitate the development agenda of the Ugwuanyi administration. According to him, the 6th Assembly also scrutinised and adopted the State Auditor-General’s Annual Reports for 2013 and 2014 respectively as well as

Ugwuanyi

condemned the deliberate killing of the good people of Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani LGA of the state by herdsmen, among other things. His words: “It may have been too difficult for the Hon. members to go this far without the complementary effort of the staff of Enugu State House of Assembly. I thank you for your diligence. I also thank the press in a special way; they have been of great assistance. “The achievements above mentioned could be difficult without the synergy that exists among the legislative arm and other arms of government in the state. I also thank the Hon. Members for their cooperation in sustaining the synergy. “The task ahead is huge and still demanding for a greater and better Enugu State. As we step into the 2nd session of the 6th Assembly, I urge you all to be cooperative more than before and be people-oriented for a better legacy to be printed behind us and in our favour.” Also during the plenary, the member representing Isi Uzo State Constituency and chairman, House Committee on Health, Dr. Emeka Ogbuabor, presented the House four-year

Ubosi

The task ahead is huge and still demanding for a greater and better Enugu State

Legislative Term Agenda. Dr. Ogbuabor said that the plan will cover 2015 to 2019 legislative period and is anchored on the state government's Four-Point Agenda. He stressed that it is expected to be reviewed on yearly basis in order to ensure that it reflects the purpose for which it is meant for. It will be recalled that Governor Ugwuanyi had at inception unveiled a Four-Point Agenda of his administration. He had listed the agenda to include employment generation, social services and good governance, rural development, security and social justice. Ogbuabor in presenting the Legislative Term Agenda stated: “Whereas the agenda, which is divided into four sections (comprising background, situational analysis, overview of objectives and strategies, implementation, monitoring and evaluation), is estimated to cost about N2.2 billion to implement. The agenda is very realistic with about 90 per cent of funds expected from the state and about 10 per cent from development partners and other sources. “And whereas annual budgets and work plans of the House will derive from this strategic plan,

there will be need to monitor, evaluate, review and revise the LTA annually and as new priorities emerge.” Contributing to the valedictory sitting, the legislators commended the leadership style of the speaker. They noted that he had brought peace amongst the members of the House. They attributed the synergy existing between the House and other arms of government to the leadership style of the speaker. The highlight of the session was the vote of confidence passed on the speaker and the principal officers of the House. The motion to that effect was moved by the member representing Awgu South State Constituency, Hon. Nelson Uduji and seconded by Hon. Matthew Ugwueze, representing Igboeze South Constituency. It will be recalled that the Enugu State House of Assembly has been involved in efforts to generally improve the capacity of both the staff and the lawmakers themselves to give maximum output. To this end, the lawmakers themselves have embarked on so many workshops within and are planning several others outside the country aimed at also achieving capacity building.

A renewed song by progressives C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 1

confer on him, the status of a president, posthumously . Rear Admiral Kanu (rtd) painted a gloomy picture when he said: "We are at this time struggling to build and we may still have the chance to build the country but it is a dwindling chance. Whatever is happening now in the country either militancy, Independent People Of Biafra (IPOB) and others will not stop until we go back to the Nigeria that we are expected to build; a federal Nigeria. “We should brace up and be prepared. Prayer will not solve the problem. We have

to get back to a federal Nigeria. If not, we should be prepared because what we are seeing is just a child's play. I have not lost faith in the country's old anthem.” Kanu attributed the agitation of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and other groups to failure to practice true federalism, saying: "Whatever is happening now in the country, either militancy, IPOB and others will not stop until we go back to the Nigeria that we are expected to build – a federal Nigeria." He added: “We should brace up and be prepared and not be afraid. Prayer will not solve the problem. We have to get back to a federal Nigeria. If not, we should be prepared because what we are seeing is just

a child's play. I have not lost faith in the country's old anthem.” In his welcome address, Special Adviser to the Lagos Governor on Civic Engagement, Joseph, said June 12 was the day the masses of Nigerians overlooked factors that had continually been militating against the unity of the nation and embraced common hope and aspiration by voting massively for Abiola. He posited that the June 12 poll would have changed the political culture of the country for the better, as entrenched cleavages of ethnicity and religious affiliations and mistrust, would most probably have lost their grip on the polity if not for the poll’s annulment.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

CULTURE

Grammy award winner, Arie, for Aremu’s Sax Appeal 5

A scene in Dance On His Grave

Students stage Dance On His Grave Tony Okuyeme

inal year students of the Department of Performing Arts of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, last Saturday, staged the epic play, Dance on his Grave, as part of their academic project (PFA 499). Written by the Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, the production of Dance on his Grave, an action-packed play on gender equality, which was directed by Faderera Ajibulu, took place at the Performing Arts Theatre of the University of Ilorin and drew a large crowd of theatre enthusiasts. Dance on his Grave revolves

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

around the notion that, social relevance and political influence should be clearly divorced from gender categorisation. “The play centres on the people of Okpokunu area of Delta-Ijaw, whose women have gathered to form a union to kick against the manner in which men of Okpokunu infringe on their right in decision-making in their homes and in general communal affairs,” says Shina Ogunkunle, stage manager of the show. He added: “Hence, a war ensues between the men and the women. The two ideological blocs experience series of peculiar and intriguing as well as comic actions and reactions;” and asks further: “How far will the women go in providing their point? Will the men be able to extinguish the fire blazing in them or look on helplessly as the perceived weaker vessels take over?” Head of Administration and Human Resources, NICO NorthCentral Zonal Office, Ilorin, Kwara State, Mrs. Bolaji Abolarin, who had participated in a production of the play while in NICO Training School, Lagos, said the play was “intriguing, full of suspense and a timely piece,

The play... is a timely piece, especially in this era of women agitation for gender equality.

especially in this era of women agitation for gender equality. It teaches that one can know the beginning of a war but the end, no one can determine”. For Wasilat Ibrahim, a Theatre Arts graduate from the University of Calabar, Calabar in the Orientation and Cultural Affairs Department of NICO Ilorin, who also acted in the same play at NICO Training School, Lagos, it was a commendable performance and gave kudos to the production crew for making the play a viewing delight to the audience. She noted that the actors exhibited their talents in the production, adding that a lot of humour was displayed in the play. It was indeed an evening of rich array of artistic entertainment to remember with a commendable cast of Amiwero Hector (King Olotu), Adeladan Oluwatosin (Queen Alaere), Jaiyeoba Fumilayo (Princess Beke), Ukpabia Francis (Erebu), Farounbi Damilola (Dude), and Saminu Sodiq (Odibo). Others were Oba Abiola (Interpreter), Teslim Temitope (White man), Ogunmodede Tosin (Palace Maid), Nwachuku Solomon (Chief Atuaba), Adewunmi Temitope

(Chief Apodi), Bankole Temitope (Chief Biriala), Kolawole Goodness (Chief Mowei), Aderogha Adeyemi (Chief Ekwesola) and Oladepo Precious (Chief Osima). Special guests at the play included Prof. Abdulrasheed Adeoye, Head of Department of Performing Arts of the University and Mr. and Mrs. Ajibulu, parents of the Artistic Director of the play. The delegation from NICO North-Central that attended the play were: Mrs. Bolaji Abolarin, Head of Administration and Human Resources; Samuel Hedima, Head of Corporate Affairs/ICT; Levi Aladeitan, Head of Orientation and Cultural Affairs, as well as Moshood Dagbo and Wasilat Ibrahim of the same Unit. It will be recalled that the playwright, Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, is a theatre and cultural administrator; he is a Visiting Associate Professor at the Department of Theatre Arts and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi and is the author of A Matter of Honour, A Chance to Survive and Other Plays, Castle in the Air, Once Upon a Dream and A Scar for Life, among other plays.

ART

Grammy award winner, Arie, for Aremu’s Sax Appeal 5

merican singer, songwriter, actress and record producer, India Arie and chart topping Nigerian musicians including Timi Dakolo and Praiz will headline the 5th edition of award winning Jazz Saxophonist, Mike Aremu’s show Sax Appeal 5 scheduled to hold on Sunday June 26, in Lagos. An accomplished four time Grammy Award winner from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album, Arie has sold over 3.3 million records in the US and 10 million worldwide. Arie was born in Denver, Colorado, USA and her musical skills were encouraged by both parents in her younger years. Her mother was a former singer and her father a former NBA basketball player. An accomplished multiinstrumentalist India attended the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah which led to a personal revelation about songwriting and performing. She is quoted to have said: “When I started tapping into my own sensitivity, I started to understand people better. It was a direct result of writing songs”. Her debut album ‘Acoustic Soul’ released on March 27, 2001 was met with positive reviews and commercial success. ‘Acoustic Soul’ debuted at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Within months ‘Acoustic Soul’ was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling 2,180,000 copies in the U.S. and 3,000,000 copies worldwide. The album was also certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry and platinum by Music Canada. Arie followed the success of her debut on September 24, 2002 with the release of Voyage to India. It debuted at num-

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Afropolitan Vibes

Tizzle, St. Janet, Tall, Bantu ignite stage

Arie performing

ber six on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 109,000 copies and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with the RIAA certifying it Platinum. At the 2003 Grammy Awards, it won Best R&B Album, and the single ‘Little Things’ won Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Arie has collaborated

with musicians too numerous to mention including Cassandra Wilson, Stevie, Akon, Anthony David, Sezen Aksu, Keb Mo, Gramps Morgan, Musiq Soulchild, Adele, Herbie Hancock, Seal, Pink, Jeff Beck, Konono N°1, Oumou Sangare, Carlos Santana’s, Yo-Yo Ma among others.

t the 38th edition of Afropolitan Vibes, contemporary Afropop beats will be performed on the same main stage as Afro-beat and Juju music when the 13-piece Bantu collective welcome guest artists, Sean Tizzle, Niki Tall & St. Janet, today at Freedom Park, Lagos. Afropolitan Vibes is a monthly live music concert created as as a platform for alternative music; a place where music lovers congregate to watch contemporary singer-songwriters and musicians perform mostly original works that are firmly rooted in African musical origins of Afro-beat, Afro-funk, Afro-hip-hop, Afro-pop and Highlife music. A host of talented artists gather each month to rehearse and then perform with Bantucrew on stage at Freedom Park’s Amphitheatre in Lagos, Nigeria. The show is held every third Friday of each month. Bantu aka Brotherhood Alliance Navigating Towards Unity is a 13-piece Afrofunk/Afrohiphop/Afrobeat musical collective founded by Nigerian-German brothers Adé Bantu and Abiodun. Bantu’s music is an eclectic fusion of the rich cultural heritage of the Yorubas and the hybrid sounds of urban Africa and the diaspora; their Afropean origin is reflected in the band’s lyr-

ics. Social consciousness and the daily personal and political struggles of the disenfranchised constitute an essential element of their message and music which they use to mobilize, motivate and inspire both the minds and hips of their listeners. Bantu emerged on the Nigerian musical scene in 1999 with their catchy dance single, “Nzogbu”. Since then, the collective has had a string of radio hits which earned them a loyal following and fan base both within and outside Nigeria. They where awarded the Pan African Kora Award in 2005 for their album “Fuji Satisfaction”. Their last CD release was in 2011 -“No Man Stands Alone” -an album of duets and a tour de force of Nigeria’s contemporary urban music soundscape. Bantu are currently in the studio putting finishing touches to their fifth studio album. Their latest single release is “Oya Oya”. Bantu has collaborated with UB40, Gentleman, Patrice, Nneka, Harry Belafonte, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Orlando Julius, Asa, Soundsultan and many others. Bantu’s live performances merge the energy and vitality of Afrofunk, Hiphop and Afrobeat with universal sounds and styles to create an exciting listening and dancing experience.

80th birthday: COSON to host Idonije

Idonije

he Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) will this Saturday, hosts the broadcast icon, music man and art critic, Benson Idonije who turns 80 this week. The event which will hold front garden of the Opebi Lagos Headquarters of COSON will have in attendance, Nigeria’s top artistes, journalists, art lovers and critics. Idonije was a prime mover of NBC 2, the first FM Stereo station in Nigeria which later became FRCN 2 and later RN2, thrilling millions of people across Lagos with first class music and other forms of fine entertainment. His was one of the first voices to be heard on any FM Stereo broadcast in Nigeria. Idonije who is fondly known as Benjay was producer and presenter of such famous radio programmes as The Big Beat and Stereo Jazz Club which made a lot of waves in the 70s and 80s. He was one of the creators of the Top Ten, Nigeria’s first ever publicly

recognized music chart show which was shaped by RN2 in association with a major Lagos based marketing firm, Research & Marketing Services. Idonije was indeed at some point Manager of Afro Beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He also participated actively in developing the Nigerian Music Awards, Africa’s first truly celebrated music award show which played host to stars of all types, Heads of State, Governors, Ministers and ambassadors. Later in his public career, Mr. Idonije became Chief Training Officer, Programme Production at the FRCN Training School in Lagos where he nurtured the careers of many budding broadcasters who today practice their craft across the country. In later years, Benson Idonije became one of Nigeria’s most read writers on the creative arts contributing critiques, opinions and commentaries to major Artsrelated journals in Nigeria

and other parts of the world. He was eventually invited by Nigeria’s flagship newspaper, The Guardian to write for the newspaper and he maintained three columns every week – Evergreen(Wednesdays), Sound and Screen (Fridays) and All That Jazz (Sundays). No newspaper columnist in Nigerian history is known to have maintained such frequency and resourcefulness. A 2012 recipient of the Life Time Award for Journalism Excellence from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Idonije is also a Fellow of the Adam Fiberesima School of Music and Conservatory, University of Port Harcourt. COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji has assured everyone attending the Saturday afternoon event at COSON that every effort is being made to ensure that the event is very interactive and matches the high standard of the great Idonije.

FRIday, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sex and Marriage Counselor Infertility and sex

Feminique As a member of the Nigerian Vision 20:2020. River Basin Development Study Group and other technical committees of the economy, Lizzy Igbine says she knows what it will take to catapult Nigeria into the league of the first global 20 economies by the year 2020. EBERE AMEH spoke with her

fter leaving her banking job and venturing into agriculture several years ago, Lizzy Igbine is now a force to be reckoned with as far as the agricultural and other related sectors are concerned. A go getter by nature, she believes that whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well and is set to turn agriculture in Nigeria around for good. Now the National President of Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association (NIWAAFA), and first National Vice President of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA) Nigeria, Lizzy is grieved that the noble vision of Vision 20:2020 of 2009 is still very far from being actualized and proffers possible solution to achieving it. “The Vision 20:2020 is a vision with a target of moving Nigeria to the top 20th ladder in the committee of Nations. The vision has a blue print, with set targets and set dates that made us to draft a road map to the vision. Currently, there is improvement in the development of agriculture in Nigeria and the question is, ‘where are we’? Can we scale our achievements to targets that must be achieved to get to where we want to be in the committee of Nations? Indeed Vision 20:2020 should be revisited to actualize our goals.” The Vision 20:2020 study used the critical research method to analyze and compare recent development indicators for Nigeria with those of advanced countries, the first 20 of which Nigeria aspires to join in four years’ time. According to Lizzy, one of the cross cutting issues in the development of the vision, which she said is key to its achievement is synergy. “This synergy cuts across the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Farmers associations, Private sectors and civil society or-

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

Diary of a dating mom All mothers-in-law are the same after all

20 20

How to move Nigerian economy to global 20, by Igbine

ganizations. The ministries of Agriculture, Water resources, Health, Environment and Nimet Agency are expected to work together to achieve food security and safety. Other Countries of the world have moved from food security to food safety.” On the issue of food safety, Lizzy said that we cannot say we have covered all aspect of Agriculture without dealing with the issue of Aflatoxin. “Aflatoxin is a health factor where synergy with Ministry of Health is required. Budgets are to be set aside for the study and control of Aflatoxins, which Ministry of Health is currently undergoing with Ministry of Agriculture and farmer associations even to African Union level. Other Countries in Africa have started setting aside part of their annual budgets to its study and control. In Nigeria however, though we have started meetings with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, not much has been achieved.” Aflatoxin has been fingered as one of the major reasons we cannot export and sell our farm produce outside the shores of Nigeria. A typical example is Groundnut, formerly the mainstay of our economy that is affected by the poison. A monitoring and Evaluation expert, Lizzy also spoke on the issue of budgeting and agriculture, which she said is now a child’s play. “It has always been said that the budget for agriculture in Nigeria is in the concurrent list, but the truth and the main concern is that the budgets are simply not executed, and where executed, are not properly accounted for. The too many leakages, pilfering and corruption that are enshrined in the system have made budgeting a child’s play. These have left farmers at the mercy of operators who do not deliver dividends of democracy.” Lizzy insists that Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is the key to achieving optimal service delivery. “M&E is a tool for management decision making. It gives accurate statistics and information on quantity and quality of delivery, compared to set standards and actual expenditures. It exposes the shortcomings and gives a yardstick to measure successes and achievements. This must be encouraged and a certain percentage of the Budgets should be set aside yearly to actualize this in all MDAs,” she said, adding that Independent Monitors should be engaged for a free and honest reporting.” She said that as a matter of urgency, there is a need to start the distributions of Improved seedlings, herbicides and farm equipment to farmers, as the rains are already here,

The vision has a blueprint, with set targets and set dates that made us to draft a road map to the vision

Igbine

else, agricultural production will drop. Paying glowing tributes to NIWAAFA, Lizzy said that the women are in Agriculture to ensure food security and safety for their children and Nigerians. “Women have contributed immensely to the growth of Agriculture in Nigeria and indeed Africa, as the major chunk of food consumed are produced by women, popularly called Small Scale Farmers, whose population is 75% of the farmers in Africa? We deem it fit to make our voices heard in this season of change as we expect a better commitment to Agriculture growth, poverty reduction and equality in the system.” As the president of the association, Lizzy said that there are strategies that will make Agriculture a profitable business for women and indeed everyone. According to her, they include the passage into law of the Land Acquisition Policy, where land is made available to farmers especially the women who traditionally have no right to land but ironically feed the Na-

tion. “Women farmers’ empowerment, which we are suggesting should be done without corruption tendencies or favouritism and must be group based for accountability. Making loans accessible for farmers to upscale their production with single digit interests; creating enabling environment for value addition and processing to commence on a large scale by conglomerating farmers produce by farmer associations and industries; increasing infrastructure availability in rural communities for accessibility of farms, to off take farm produce and support for the creation of farmers markets with unitary and horizontal marketing strategies are some of the strategies that would help Nigerian farmers.” According to her, “every entrepreneur is expected to make profits in other to survive. Agriculture must be made profitable to encourage more educated folks to venture into the business. A few of us who are educated and currently in the business cannot make headway due to poor policies and weak implementation. Farmers expect Monitoring and Evaluation to expose lapses in program implementation.” She reiterates that the strength of a nation is measured by her level of “independence in her ability to feed its citizens, with decent meals and still be able to export some; her ability to create jobs and wealth using available natural resources; and her ability to defend its citizens and creation of a conducive and peaceful atmosphere. “This Government should concentrate on these three and expand its scope to cover all areas of development, if Nigeria will come out of its woos and take the lead like India, Malaysia, China, Brazil, and South Africa.” She called on the government to ensure that Nigeria embarks on Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Mathematics (STEM), insisting that universities should be a breeding place for STEM prioritization.

20 FEMINIQUE

t is a known fact that infertility or searching for the fruit of the womb as it is normally called is on the increase in Nigeria now. There are various reasons for this. There is generally the belief that the woman is at fault. Let me say right away that this is not true. The man can be as guilty as the woman. Or even more so. As the saying goes it takes two to Tango. That is why both the husband and the wife must see the doctor and be investigated. There are so many causes of infertility that it will take more than this write up to talk about them all. But there is one issue that I know is very important. This is the issue of sex. I have had to correct so many misconceptions about this that I have decided to write about it for wider circulation. The first is about frequency. How frequent should sex be. Sex should be at least thrice a week. There is the belief that frequent sex leads to weak and watery sperm. This is only true if the man already has issues with sperm production. This is one of the reasons for the man to do semen analysis. A man with low

FRIday, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Infertility and sex Sex and Marriage Counselor drtaiwofadeyi@gmail.com

08033148899

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi quality sperm will not benefit from sex abstention. Even if you have sex just once a month, your production will still be weak and watery. Unless you see your doctor for treatment. Even if you have quality sperm, you need to have frequent sex. Why? Because, you don't really know when ovulation will occur. Why should a man be living in Sokoto and the wife in Lagos and both be lamenting about infertility? Please don't get me wrong? It only takes one round of sex for pregnancy to occur. That is if all the conditions for conception are satisfied. Such as ovulation, fertile period etc. After all women get pregnant after being raped just once. Or even the very first time

when they lose their virginity. But the billion naira (because naira is on her knees now) challenge is to know when this will happen. There are only 5 days or so in a woman's menstrual cycle for fertility. Take it or leave it. The second issue is about timing. When should you have sex? Is it only during the woman's fertile period? The answer to that is a definite No!!!. Why? Forget all you have been told about calculating ovulation/ fertile period. The accuracy is never 100%. Not even 80%. Even with Billings method, thermometers, Menstrual cycle, mucus stretch, various gadgets being sold on the internet and the shops etc. Most people are not even

That is why both the husband and the wife must see the doctor and be investigated

qualified enough to help you calculate. Especially in Nigeria where quacks outnumber doctors by over one million to one (laugh). Now let me tell you a true life story from a couple I was treating for infertility of six years duration. The couple had been told to have sex only during the woman's fertile period. So anytime the poor guy had an erection outside that period, he was on his own. He could either masturbate, catch fun outside or ko fi mora and bear it. He chose the last option and kept on suffering and smiling. Sex was no longer enjoyable for both of them. It became a duty that must be done. Then after some time, the poor guy started having erectile dysfunction. He could no longer get it up when it mattered. Initially, they were both depressed. Then the wife noticed he was having erections at the wrong time. Either before or after the so called fertile period. She became furious. Sorry, my time is up. Send me an email if you want to know how it all ended. Meanwhile, sex should be natural and fun. Even if you are looking for the fruit of the womb. Chao!!!.

Ego: Diary of a happening mom

All mothers-in-law are the same after all Ebere Ameh

could have swor n that Danny's mum was a special breed of mother-in-law, but how mistaken I was. She is totally different from the sweet mum I met when I visited them with Danny the first time. Even though he told me that his mum could be annoying sometimes, I took it with a pinch of salt as I saw no sign of that in her. Ben's fiancé also said a similar thing but I took that she was the crazy one and not my amiable motherin-law. Anyways, she was lonely and almost getting into depression after the burial of her husband when I advised Danny that she could be persuaded to visit us and spend some time with us before we travel. As a matter of fact, I wanted the children to cheer her up and all things being equal, I could still persuade her to stay with them while we travelled. All that is in the past now as I am ready to deport her as soon as possible, before she ruins my marriage. Everything I knew about her changed the first day she stepped her feet into my house. “Oh, my dear Lilly, you are all grown up and beautiful. Ron, come and hug Granny. What are you looking for up there, you want to be taller than your Dad?” she said excitedly when after her arrival, I introduced the children one after the other to her. “It’s been a long time, I was there when you were both very

little. I’m happy you are doing fine,” she added. “Who are these ones?” She asked scornfully as Tobi and Tosin stood, waiting eagerly for their turn to hug Granny. “Your neighbours children?” she asked again.” “Nope, they are our children, my children from my first marriage. This is Tobi and this is Tosi…” “Okay, okay” she interrupted, waving angrily. “They are

visitors. Or, are they living here with you? They should be with your parents, you know,” she said without giving a hoot about how I or the children might feel. At that point, Tobi angrily dragged his sister away to their room upstairs, leaving me and the now horrible mother-in-law. I needed to give her a response that she would have as a food for thought. “That’s good to know ma. If they don’t have a place here, then Ron and Lilly do not have a place here

too. They are supposed to be with you, you know,” I said sarcastically. “I will get them ready to go with you when you are leaving tomorrow, while I take my children to my parents too.” “You are a joker,” she said, pushing her grandchildren aside to stand up. They saw it as an opportunity to run away, sensing that more trouble was brewing. “This is their father’s house and they are going nowhere. Get that clear. As for me, this is my sons house and I go when I want to go.” ‘Okay, this is it,’ I thought. I never imagined I would be exchanging words with Danny’s Mum, or any other elderly person for that matter. Has she forgotten that this is Ego, the lady she practically begged to take care of her son? Has she forgotten that the children were almost lost to the world if I had not brought them in, nurtured and encouraged them? Why has she chosen to forget all I have done? I remember vividly that I did not hide my status as a single mom when his son came knocking and pestering me to marry him. Anyways, she has spoken and I need to respond to her. “I understand that it is your son’s house ma. But it is my house and I determine who stays in my house and who does not. As for my children, this is their mother’s house and they have as much right here as Ron and Lilly. Hope you got that clearly. If my children should not be with me, then his children shouldn’t be with him either. It’s as simple as that Mama,” I said, turning to leave, when Danny walked in.

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Entertainment “He’ll Take America to A ‘Dark Place” – John Legend on Donald Trump

Another entertainer, Felix Ochuko, dies

Lisa Niemi Blasts Shocking Reports She Beat Husband While He Battled Cancer

Living

Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom: How she dealt with their toxic home life

Azeezat

I didn’t sacrifice my career for marriage Seasoned singer, composer and energetic performer, Azeezat Allen, who is known for her unique African hairstyle, came into the Nigerian music scene 17 years ago. She’s been on a hiatus for a while and will be announcing her grand return with a hit song soon. ABIOLA ALABA PETERS had a brief chat with the COSON executive

What has been happening to you. Where have you been? I have been around; you don’t stay in one spot for 20 years you have to continue to move forward or else you will be erased. I have been expanding my brand I published a magazine called Hair-Volution magazine. It is the first hair and entertainment magazine in Nigeria, Anyone who knows me knows that I love hairs. I get inspiration from seeing fantastic hairstyles, and then, I am also a director at the Copyrights Society of Nigeria, the managing director of the way to happiness a non-government organization.

LANRE ODUKOYA COORDINATOR

lanreodukoya@gmail.com

How is your music business doing? The music thing is there and it’s doing pretty fine, I still continue to work, but as you know, we all wish and pray that God blesses the works of our hands. Have you packed it up? Oh no! That’s not possible, if it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood, nothing whatsoever C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 2

entertainment

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘I believe in equal rights’

MTN Project Fame West Africa 9 auditions begin T

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

can take it away, you continue to have that urge to want to sing, do stuffs and all that, and sometimes, those stuffs that you don’t get noticed, not because they are not good enough. But because things continue to revolved. Even in the industries, I continue to go into the studio to express myself. Why did you delve into publishing? I am a graduate of Mass Communication, and back in the days, I was known for my hair. So, I just combined those two to publish my hair magazine. Music business compared to when you started, do you think it is growing? That’s an understatement. We have grown to that level where we have become a force to be reckon with in the world music industry, I mean where ever you go, you hear Nigerian music, anywhere in the world, the Nigerian music gets noticed, gets used, I hear there is no clubs you enter in Africa, and you don’t hear Nigerian music, there are some countries, like Kenya, when you visit any of their club, fifty percent of the music you hear are Nigerian music, and you know what that means, and coming from a point where even in our own Nigerian society, they didn’t give us a chance, they told us, it is either we are doing charms or any of those stuffs before they give us a chance, we have grown, we are growing and we will continue to grow. How is married life? Fine, lovely, wonderful, we are all doing great, myself, my husband and the lovely twin God gave us are all doing great Has marriage stopped you from anything? Why would it, why? So what would you say marriage has helped you achieve? You see, the truth is that, I am a woman. I am also aware of the fact some people do have the right to make a choice never to get married. So for me, my fulfillment as a woman is being married and I thank God that I am married to someone who understands my talent, my

gifts, even more than I do, a man that’s willing to help and watch me grow. What would you say has helped you achieve a successful marriage considering your celebrity status? To God be all the glory, thanks to the almighty for his grace upon my marriage. He is such a caring, loving and wonderful father, mother and a mentor. He continues to talk to you, and if you are willing to listen, He will continue to be faithful in your marriage. You have ups and downs in your marriage, just relate to him, God is the owner of marriage himself. He is the one that said go and marry. So, He is able, if you allow him, he would be the care-taker of your marriage and make it work. What do you have to say about the new generation of artistes who have sprung up in the shortest of time, especially, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Seyi Shay and the like? They are not new school again o. Between Tiwa and Yemi, ok maybe, Yemi is still quiet new compared to

Tiwa, they are not new at all, or what do you have to say about Simi, Toby Grey and co. I can go on and on, they are fantastic. When you hear those names, there is this electricity that comes through you, their talents, their energy, their creativity, their hard-work and everything is something to be respected, they continue to help push us forward and make us proud in the world stage. What is your take on gender equity? Do you think husband and wife deserves to have equal rights in marriage and everything? A man and woman deserves equal right in everything, because I had equal right, that’s why I have been available to do what I am able to do. If somebody had told me to shut up and sit down, I won’t be able to do anything, I mean, I won’t have done all the things I have been able to do, especially, during our time when there are very females, you know, compare to the male counterpart, nobody told me shut up, nobody told me sit down, or sit at home or

anything, if somebody had stand tall and said, look, you are a woman, go away, like I said earlier, I won’t have been able to do all the things I have been able to do today. What is next, what is new from Azeezat? I am releasing a single very soon; it’s actually a secret and even if I give you the title, the title is going to reveal the secret, so good music lovers should just watch out for it. Why not give us the exclusive right to give your fans the details of the song, who produced it? LAUGHS! Well the song was produced by Jiggy Jeggs, he is a very good music producer who has worked with successful artiste, such as 2face Idibia, Timaya and the likes, LAUGHS! I thinks that’s all I can give for now.

he Award winning music talent discovery and grooming competition, MTN Project Fame West Africa is back for the ninth straight season with the tag: Fame Lives Here. Looking for raw talents, the annual show will commence auditions on Saturday June 18, 2016 in some West African major cities (Ibadan and Accra), while youths in Port Harcourt and Abuja will have the chance to showcase their talent on Saturday, June 25, 2016 and the auditions will climax in Lagos on the 1st and 2nd July, 2016. According to Olumide Akinlabi, spokesperson for Ultima Limited, producers of the show, “thousands of young talents will fight to get into the prestigious Project Fame Academy this year, where superstars are made, to be tutoured by the best in the music and entertainment industry”. Previous superstars that have graduated from the ‘Fame Academy’ amongst others are Iyanya Mbuk, whose Kukere, with the famous Etighi dance won the best pop single on the 2012 Headies Award in Lagos; Mike Anyasodo, who by virtue of his Fine Fine Lady video won the 2010 Sound City’s Best R&B Video Award; Kesse Frimpong, who was voted the Ghanaian’s Best Male Vocalist of the year 2012 and of course the Kedike crooner, Chidinma Ekile who won the Best Female Act (West Africa) of the prestigious Kora Award in 2012.

entertainment

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Story of ‘76’: Why we partnered with Nollywood – Army

he filmmaking industry in Nigeria awaits the premiere of a game-changing film rooted in the events of the botched 1976 coup. One of the most arduous tasks in the production of the movie, according to its Executive Director, Prince Tonye Princewill, was the effort to secure a working relationship with the Nigerian Army. Meticulously executed, the preproduction period took two years, including eight months of trying to secure all necessary permission from the Nigerian Army and seven months of shooting. The script was scrutinised and an officer appointed to supervise and monitor each step of the filming process, from beginning to the end. The movie sailed through three Chiefs of Army Staff. Fortunately, each one of them, who took over after the other, sustained interest in the film. Determined to make it work, the production crew and cast patiently followed every instruction and met every demand from the military authorities. A letter from the Headquarters, Nigeria Army, Department of CivilMilitary Affairs, signed by Major General R. I. Nicholas for the Chief of Army Staff, disclosed why the military

Another entertainer, Felix Ochuko, dies

t’s been one death too many these past weeks. While still mourning the passage of OJB Jezreel, Felix Ochuko, popularly known as ATOLATOL, is dead. The comedian-cum-radio presenter was said to have died on Monday, June 13, after a brief illness. A statement signed by the management of Rainbow 94.1 FM station disclosed this to newsmen. Ochuko anchored Fresh SharpSharp Tori and E-Concern Me on Rainbow 94.1FM and was outstanding as an On Air Personality and M.C. The radio station management has since released a condolence message; “For us at Rainbow 94.1FM, we take solace in the knowledge that he left bold impressions in the sands of time and contributed immensely to the beauty of our Rainbow. We appreciate the condolences from members of the public and as we continue to sympathise with the Ochuko family during this trying time, we pray for the repose of his gentle soul.” Recall that Nigerian entertainment industry lost legendary producer and singer, OJB Jezreel, on Tuesday, June 14 after his kidney transplant failed completely.

Dominic and Noah

institution desires a collaboration with the creative industry. “This is in furtherance to a need to build a collaborative relationship between the Nigeria Army and the movie industry. We believe that the movie will assist in shaping the current effort at improving the civil-military relations and also educate our people on some of the historic values of the Nigeria Army.” A large part of the action was shot at the Mokola Barracks in Ibadan, Oyo State. As the 200-member cast and crew stayed together for about seven months, bonding as a family was inevitable. Some of the striking human-interest events that happened in the course of production were birthdays, weddings and passages. Chidi Mokeme and Debo Oguns literarily got married on set (they just excused themselves for the weekened of their marriage and came right back to work, after the ceremony). Princewill thinks ’76 is watershed of sorts in Nollywood, being the first time the Nigerian Army would encourage that level of involvement in a movie that comments on military history and an epoch in the Nigerian Army. Having opened the door, he is sure the imagination of other moviemakers would be fired to follow the precedence of ’76. ’76 followed a painstaking process uncommon in Nollywood. “It took seven years to make this movie. We were not in a hurry at all. We avoided all the errors possible because we set our mind on a global audience from the first day. For close to one year, we were pursuing approval from the authorities of the Nigerian Army. The movie was shot at Mokola Barracks in Ibadan and the story of how the actors were made to fit into the environment should be reserved for another day. “At the end of the day, some of them had become so used to the character set in 1976 that it was difficult to bring them back to the present. Set

designer, Pat Nebo, who also acted in the film, did a marvelous job on set. You can see a One Naira note without it being copiously displayed. The table utensils, the walls, the cars were all set in 1976. This was not easy to achieve, but we did not settle for a substitute. For instance, it was difficult to get a 1976 Black Maria, but we persevered and, finally, we were able to get it.” The big budget movie, which costs about N100 million, promises to earn more accolades for Izu Ojukwu as director. The award-winning director is known for his work in flicks like Mirror Boy and Last Flight to Abuja. ’76 features layers of sub-themes revolving on hope, honesty, trust and undying commitment, which run, like strong under-currents to highlight the tragic end of the main characters. ’76 is a love story that challenges the myopia of ethnicity and bigotry. It brings to the fore the suffering and tenacity of the average Nigerian woman, mother and wife. This is one movie, Princewill bets, that will stir emotions not only because it is based on reality, but also for its careful combination of acted scenes with real life footage and archival material. “At the end of the movie, when the coup plotters were about to be executed at the Bar Beach in Lagos, we moved from a shot scene to a real life scene of when they were being executed. These were some of the tweaks done to give it more authenticity. We actually showed them being executed. We linked a shot scene that was acted to what actually happened. We delivered a smooth transition.” ’76 is the story of a young officer from the Middle Belt who gets into a romantic relationship with an Olevel student from the South-Eastern region. However, their relationship is strained by constant military postings. The soldier gets accused of being involved in the 1976 unsuccessful military coup and assassination

of then Nigeria’s late Head of State General Murtala Mohammed; and the heavily pregnant wife, gets entangled in an emotional dilemma.

Toyin Alo out with debut album, Esteban Praise

Camillus Nnaji

anker and talented gospel act, Toyin Alo, has revealed how she straddles music with a towering banking career. A member of Holiness Chapel Ministry choir, Alo, recently released her debut album titled Esteban Praise. Speaking during the official presentation of the album, which attracted eminent dignitaries, Alo, expressed joy that the album presentation was a dream come true for her. According to her: “Despite my tight schedule as a banker, I vowed that I will never allow anything to bury my talent for singing and it was my heart desire to be waxing albums, singing praises of the Almighty God. The title of my album, Esteban, a Spanish word means that one has been crowned with victory through praises.” For over 30 years, I have been expressing my talent for music through singing praises to God and will continue to do so as long as I live,” she declared.

entertainment

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom: How she dealt with toxic home life

o sad! Khloe Kardashian is finally opening up about how difficult it was to hide her failing marriage to Lamar Odom from the rest of the world. She’s now sharing her one sacred place where she was able go to escape their “toxic” home life. Khloe Kardashian, 31, tried hard to put on a brave face to the rest of the world while her marriage to Lamar Odom, 36, was falling apart, and she desperately needed to find a place away from him. Obviously she couldn’t have checked into a hotel because that would have tipped off her marriage woes to the world. “My home [with Lamar] was dark and toxic,” she says. “At the time, my family didn’t know what I was going through. It was the biggest secret I’ve kept. I

just needed a place to go,” Khloe reveals in the new edition of Harper’s Bazaar. She couldn’t escape to any of her famous family’s homes, especially that of her mom, Kris Jenner, 60, because, “she would start asking too many questions,” and checking into a hotel to get away from her horrible home life really wasn’t an option. “The paparazzi would see me and it would look shady,” if she did that, so she went to one place that would seem normal and would get her away from Lamar and that was the gym! “They had a TV and I could watch The Real Housewives on an elliptical,” Khloé laughed while recalling the decision. “No one talked to me. I loved that solitude.” Then things started to change for the

better as she started dropping weight as a result of her constant gym escapes. She sought out the services of trainer to the stars Gunnar Peterson, whose workouts have helped shape the incredible figures of Jennifer Lopez, 46, and Sofia Vergara, 43, and her body really started to get slamming. She’s so dedicated to fitness that she works out up to five days a week, and credits changing her overall health and diet in dropping 40 unwanted pounds. “When I started seeing that I could lose weight — because I just thought my body would never change — I started taking it more seriously and eating better.” Now after all that hard work and dedication, she got the most enviable body of all the Kardashian sisters.

Lisa Niemi: I didn’t beat my husband while he battled cancer

Niemi and Swayze

o outrageous! Patrick Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, has had to come out and defend herself against shocking allegations that she cruelly beat her husband while he was dying from cancer nearly seven years ago. Keep reading for what she had to say about the horrific claims. This is just crazy. Lisa Niemi, 60, has had to battle back against bombshell claims that she beat her dying husband Patrick Swayze, left him to wallow in his own waste, and banned his own mother from seeing him. Even though the Ghost star passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 57 in 2009, the wild allegations are

just now being made. ‘It is categorically untrue. It is that simple.” Lisa’s rep said in a statement following Radar‘s bombshell claims on June 13 that she left the Dirty Dancing star “imprisoned in a house of horrors – deserted by his cheating, abusive wife, who left the dying star to wallow in his own filth!” Wow, those are some pretty bold accusations that were made by a supposed ”friend” of Patrick’s. The couple was married for 34 years and was widely believed to have one of the most stable marriages in Hollywood, which makes these allegations so shocking. Especially since why now are these claims being made nearly seven years after his passing? When asked if Lisa would hit her hubby during his 21-month cancer battle, the friend told the site, “Oh yeah, it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t hit him with stuff — she would claw at his arms and neck. She would punch and slap him.” The pal added, “As he got sick, he was defenseless.” Another family friend also alleged that Lisa wouldn’t allow his mom Patsy to see him in the two months prior to his death, and wouldn’t let Patrick leave their house. “She wouldn’t even let him go outside the ranch… She pretty much kept him prisoner,” the pal told Radar. You’d think if this “friend” was so concerned about Patrick, he would have come forward sooner if these claims were really true. Patrick’s mom died in 2013 so there’s no one left to confirm or refute the crazy allegations against Lisa. How convenient.

Khloe and Lamar

Legend

“He’ll take America to a ‘Dark Place” – John Legend on Donald Trump

ohn Legend has always been one to speak his mind, especially on politics, and he’s really letting Donald Trump have it big time. He’s comparing the presumed Republican nominee to a slave owner. John Legend, 37, is sending out a dire warning that if America elects Donald Trump, 70, as her president, it could throw back the progress of minorities by decades. He’s calling out the presumptive Republican presidential nominee as racist, divisive, and someone who could bring dark days to America. “We are in a moment now where we have a major candidate for office who is being very racist and divisive in a very public way. I feel the need to call that out all the time because I don’t want us to feel like it’s impossible for our nation to go back to another dark place. I think we can slip into that if we let the wrong person take over and impose the wrong regime on this country,” John told the Variety TV Summit in Beverly Hills June 14. Hmmm, it sure doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the “wrong person” is obviously The Donald. John was there to discuss

his WGN America series, Underground, a period drama about the Underground Railroad, so the issue of slavery is close to his heart right now. As for the topic – which is key to Underground‘s plot, “I’m sure people in 1800’s didn’t think they were evil people, but they allowed an evil institution to last for quite a long time.” John added, “We, as people who believe in equality and diversity believe that every human being in this life matters, we need to be vigilant in making sure that we don’t elect leaders who are contradicting that belief.” You don’t have to say the words “Donald Trump” out loud to know exactly who he directed that comment at.

Trump

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Labour Skills devt: Uganda petroleum agency understudies ITF

Business What's news Road construction workers: We resumed to safe economy

Environment Watch Lagos water scarcity worsens

27 28

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE April 2016...................................13.7% March 2016...............................12.8% February 2016............................11.4%

LENDING RATE Interbank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at June 10 )

(Interbank as at June 10)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N358 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N515 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N405

l Foreign Reserves – $26.401bn as at 8/6/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N224

Source: CBN

p.28

Nigeria’s real estate vacancies rise to 71% -Report p.28

L-R: Former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, and Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, during the assessment tour of the Anchor Borrowers Programme in Kebbi State.

Dayo Ayeyemi

Multiple levies : Estate surveyors kick

xcept urgent measures are taken to nip the issues raised in the bud, crisis seems to be brewing between practitioners under the auspices of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) and its regulatory body, the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Council of Nigeria (ESVARBON). The fresh grievance stemmed from the alleged imposition of high development levies and other charges on NIEVS members by ESVARBON. Nigeria has a total of 3,723 practising estate surveyors. The figure, experts said, was grossly inadequate considering the 140 million nation’s population. Already, Chairman of NIESV, Lagos Branch, Mr. Samuel Effiong Ukpong, has written a letter of objection to the National President of the Institution, Dr. Bolarinwa Patunola-Ajayi, informing him of what he described as “imposition of levies” on members. In the letter written on May 27 on behalf of members and titled: “Objection to the imposition of development levies (fees) and high cost of adhesive stamps by the Estate

Surveyors and Valuers Registration Council of Nigeria,” Ukpong said that after critical examination, review and considerations of the imposed development levy, the Lagos branch of NIESV has vehemently objected to the levy or any other fees. Ukpong and General Secretary of the branch, Mr. Yemi Onikan, jointly signed the letter. Ukpong said the decision to oppose the multiple levies was arrived at during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association held in Lagos. He objected to the basis of levies, fees and charges that members paid, including branch dues, saying they are too much. Some of the fees and charges, he said, included branch dues, processing fee, donations, annual subscriptions at the national, annual renewal fees for both individual and firms by registration board, taxes and Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Mandatory fees. Besides, he stated that the requirement to register and annual renewal fee with Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, amongst others, in the period of dwindling patronage and income was hard to

OBJECTION ESVARBON urged to seek additional fund from FG

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Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

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3,723 Being the total number of practising estate surveyors in Nigeria

cope with. Ukpong pointed out that ESVABON as a Federal Government agency does not need money from NIESV members to perform her regulatory functions let alone charge any fee for development of property from members who it is meant to regulate. “The building of properties in every region of the country is unnecessary because there are Federal Government secretariats in every state of the nation and most of the spaces are vacant,” Ukpong said. He urged ESVARBON to seek the corporation of the Federal Government to be given offices in any of the federal secretariat across the nation. The Lagos NIEVS boss alleged that ESVARBON had never accounted to stakeholders all the fees it had been receiving before imposing additional payment on members. These additional fees, he said, would amount to more burdens on his members. Ukpong urged members of his branch not to be party to the deciCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

business |NEWS

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Road construction workers: We resumed to safe economy CAPITAL PROJECTS FG confirmed the release of N280 billion as part of the N350 billion budgetted for 2016

Dayo Ayeyemi

oad contractors under the auspices of the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) have said that their mobilisation to sites was to safe the economy from stagnation and total collapse. Speaking exclusively to New Telegraph by phone yesterday, Director of FOCI, Fidelis Imoisilli, said his members were yet to receive payment for works already completed and ongoing but abandoned projects totaling N600 billion. FOCI is the umbrella body for all construction companies in Nigeria. Its members

Say N600bn debts still unpaid include Julius Berger Plc, Reynoid Construction Company, Dantata and Sawoe, CCECC, Cappa De’berto and other 120 major construction firms. Imoisilli said the N350 billion that government planned to inject into capital projects is not enough to pay the N600 billion debt owed contractors. He stated that a few contractors that had been gradually mobilising to sites were doing that based on discussions and agreements they had with the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to return to sites to

galvanise the nation’s economy. Imoisilli said that works minister had expressed the willingness of the Federal Government to pay them as soon as possible. Already, Julius Berger and Reynolds Construction companies have returned to their sites on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, while a few others have also gone back to sites, expecting government to fulfill its part of the deal. Projects worth N169 billion had been awarded to Julius Berger and Reynolds Construction Company by Nigeria’s for-

mer President, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2013, to repair Section 1 of the highway, which spans Lagos to the Sagamu Interchange and Section II that begins from Sagamu Interchange to Ibadan. The project was initially scheduled for completion within 48 months. However, hope rose for the contractors last Wednesday, as the Federal Government confirmed the release of N280 billion as part of the N350 billion earmarked for the implementation of capital projects captured in the 2016 budget. The N280 billion released, government said, was for execution of capital projects that had been scrutinised as ongo-

ing. FOCI President, Solomon Ogunbusola, had recently alleged that the federal and state governments owed his members over N600 billion. He said that the refusal by governments at the two tiers to pay the debts was affecting the construction industry. He added that no payment had been received from the Federal Government since August 2014. The FOCI president said that 80 per cent of construction workers had been sacked in the last one year, blaming it on the refusal of governments to award contracts and engage in talks with construction companies.

Multiple levies : Estate surveyors kick CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

sion to develop regional properties, urging ESVARBON not to bother members with additional burden. He said: “It was observed that the board asked for 50 per cent discount on the rent they are paying on branch property they are staying as Ikeja and the national body gave the waiver without the approval, consent and concurrent of the owner (Lagos State branch of NIESV), yet other levies are being imposed on her members,” he said. On the newly-introduced adhesive stamp by ESVARBON, Ukpong queried the necessity of the stamp and reason for charging N5,000 each from members. He said: “Members observed that even from other professional bodies, which the board is trying to emulate, those bodies do not charge more than N4,000 per 100 stamps and below.” Due to this, the Lagos NIESV boss said his members decided that if the stamp is adopted, it should not cost more than N2,000 per 100 stamps. Ukpong wants Patunola-Ajayi to take the matter up with ESVARBON, adding that he should consider the yearnings of members on the issues raised.

L-R Member of the American Business Council (ABC) and Managing Director, Coca-Cola, Adeola Adetunji; ABC Consultant, Kunle Olumide; Director, US Chamber of Commerce, Leila Ndiaye; President, ABC and President GE, Lazarus Angbazo; ABC member and Managing Director, Dow Chemical, Tony Grossman and ABC Member, Ralph Osoude, during the presentation of the Report of Pipeline to Power (Gas) in West Africa by the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Business Council Nigeria, a blueprint for the development of gas in West Africa with focus on Nigeria.

Nigeria’s real estate vacancies rise to 71% –Report SLEAZE Oversupply in real estate market was fuelled with corruption proceeds Dayo Ayeyemi

he prevailing macro-economic challenges facing Nigerian economy has raised the vacancy factor in real estate to 71 per cent in the last one and half years, New Telegraph has learnt. According to the latest reports from FBI Capital and Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), numbers of vacant properties have been on the increase in the last 17 months. This scenario, according to the reports, has reflected a continued deterioration in

the real estate market. The reports blamed high vacancy factor in the property market on prevailing economic challenges, which analysts said have put immense strain on the country’s real estate sector and have affected property market, as sales dipped significantly. “Several completed residential buildings (particularly in Lagos and Abuja) have remained vacant,” the report stated. It noted that despite the fact that national demand for houses remained very strong, affordability has been eroded on the back of economic slowdown, squeeze in consumers’ purchasing power and rising cost of imported building materials, ‘which account for a considerable proportion of the final sales price of residential units.’

The Bismarck Rewane -led FDC report noted an oversupply of houses in the premium market streets of Oniru, Alfred Rewane and Admiralty Way in Lekki, Lagos. According to the study, oversupply in real estate market was fuelled with the proceeds from corruption, adding that tenants were pushing for lower rents, as living costs rise and wage cuts of workers persist. However, the latest national accounts from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that in first quarter of 2016, real estate sector contracted by -4.9 per cent year on year (y/y), compared with growth of 0.8 per cent recorded in the previous quarter. The FBI capital report said that despite the fact that 2016 budget had been approved and signed off, funds for ex-

isting housing projects have not yet been released. It said: “Based on our channel checks, there has been mass retrenchment in the construction sector due to the economic downturn. The construction sector contracted by -5.0 per cent y/y in first quarter of 2016. “The inflation data for April show that housing, water, electricity and gas segment prices rose by 13.7 per cent y/y, compared with 12.8 per cent recorded in March. This component has a 14.7 per cent weighting in the index.” “We gather that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) recently stopped its estate developers’ loans scheme due to paucity of funds. Recapitalisation of the FMBN may be required to meet estate developers’ needs,” the study said.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

MANPOWER Uganda has absolute believe in Nigerian’s technical capability

labour Skills devt: Uganda petroleum agency understudies ITF

he Ugandan Directorate of Petroleum in the Ministry of Education and Mineral Development has taken a tour of Nigeria’s Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) to understudy its human capital development programmes. Speaking in Abuja during the tour, the leader of the delegation and Acting Head of the Uganda High Commission, Mr Nuru Byarur, according to a statement from ITF, said his country had absolute belief in Nigeria’s vocational and technical development capabilities. Byarur said the directorate of petroleum in the Ugandan ministry of education and mineral development decided to undertake the study tour to the ITF in order to see first-hand how technical and vocational education is implemented, knowing that Nigeria has years of experience in developing manpower for the petroleum sector in particular and other sectors. The acting high commissioner also called for more cooperation in the areas of technical and vocational skills development between the two nations, adding that Nigeria had made great strides in developing reliable manpower for the continent’s economic growth. On his part, the Acting Director General of ITF, Mr Dickson Onuoha, said the agency was leveraging on the support of the Federal Government to remain one of the foremost human capital development organisations in the world.

L-R; Senators Olamilekan Adeola, Babajide Omoworare, ‘Gbenga Ashafa; Senate President, Bukola Saraki; MD Volkswagen Nigeria, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran; Senators Jeremiah Useni and Ali Wakili, during the visit of Volkswagen Nigeria to the National Assembly.

He said from all indications the cardinal goals of the Federal Government, which includes job creation, security, economic diversification and industrialisation, were on course, noting that the ITF had become more invigorated in its quest to drive the nation’s industrialisation and economic diversification programmes. According to him, loss of jobs to expatriates due to inadequate manpower capacity and the inability of Nigerians to fill highly technical vacancies in multinational companies were now being addressed, as ITF has expanded its areas of technical and vocational trainings to include

Bodies to Labour leaders: Shun flamboyant lifestyle

ollowing some labour leaders penchant for ostentatious lifestyle amidst harsh economy and growing unemployment, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and Community Building and Development Initiative (CBDI) have advised those involved in such display of flamboyance to shun it, if their campaign for an equitable society must be taken seriously. The advice was part of the resolutions reached at a workshop held in Enugu by both associations. A statement made available from the meeting, advised such leaders to be more open and accountable to members while devoting more union resources to the massive political education of members as well as ensure mass participatory meetings. The statement jointly signed by the Secretary General, Nige-

ria Union of Railway Workers (NUR), Comrade Segun Esan and the Executive Director, CBDI, Comrade Gbenga Komolafe, also frowned at the Pensions Act as amended in 2014, as being grossly incapable of meeting the minimum threshold of basic security at old age due to the effect of rampaging inflation and ridiculously low pay out. It noted that the Nigerian trade union movement must rapidly build an inclusive social movement unionism with the collective mission that will benefit all working people and their families. It added that such a movement must encompass all working people across formal/informal, casual/regular workers, men/ women workers, private/public sector etc in order to forge working people’s power for change and development.

new areas of emerging economic growth opportunities. He disclosed that the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), which is currently being implemented in the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had trained thousands of young Nigerians in various technical areas, thereby creating thousands of jobs through its multiplier effects. He added that the ITF in collaboration with the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria had recently trained 350 artisans per state in various skills in construction and housing industries. The Fund, he explained, was also col-

laborating with the CTIN for the training of additional 350 youths per state in construction and housing sectors. The aim of these training is to stem the tide of importing artisans for construction needs from neighboring countries. Onuoha attributed the rising profile of the Fund to the exemplary supervisory leadership being provided by its parent ministry, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, under the guidance of the Minister, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah. He commended the Ugandan delegation for the visit, adding that it was important for African countries to come together and leverage on their

Nasarawa teachers embark on strike

he Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has embarked on an indefinite strike action over payment of its salaries in ‘decreasing’ percentages by the various Local Government Areas in the State. “Government started paying 80 per cent salaries, later they moved to 50 per cent salaries and now we are receiving 25 per cent of our salaries. This is wickedness”, the state Chairman of the union Comrade Jatau Francis disclosed during a peaceful rally in Lafia to mark the commencement of the industrial action. The state chairman, who stressed that the strike was long overdue, explained that since January 2015, teachers in the state had been receiv-

ing salaries on percentages, thereby making it difficult to fend for their needs. Francis bewailed that previous payments made in percentages did not service the needs of teachers in the state, hence, the need for government to clear all outstanding payments of salaries. The chairman also sought for the immediate return of teachers salaries to the State’s Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), for onward payment to teachers as spelt out in the Universal Basic Education Law 2005 and not Local Government Councils. Speaking on the matter, the Acting Chairman of SUBEB, Yakubu Ahmed Ubangari, said he would relay their complaint to the state governor.

comparative advantages, in order to drive the continent’s economic growth agenda.

Computer Professionals induct 300 members

he Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) has inducted 300 new members into its fold just as it has concluded moves to flush out quack practitioners in the country. Speaking at the induction in Kaduna State the CPN President, Prof. Vincent Asor, said that the Council was determined to get rid of those practicing without appropriate registration. He recalled that Act 49 of 1993 that established CPN makes it mandatory for all persons and organisations seeking to engage in the sale and/ or use of computing facilities, and/or the provision of professional services in computing in the country to be registered by the Council and licensed to carry out such activities. Asor said: “It is definitely illegal to engage in computing professional practice without satisfying the above conditions registration and possession of a current valid. “By the nature of the profession, which makes it possible for a lot of people to use IT tool in their daily day to day operations, some people are now claiming to be what they are not. Also, those who are not qualified to execute IT jobs are the ones getting it. This is quite absurd and unacceptable to us. Therefore, as professionals, you have to join forces with us in fighting the scourge.”

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

agric

Last week, the European Union (EU) extended the ban on Nigeria’s beans exports to Europe by three years. TAIWO HASSAN evaluates the implications on the nation’s economy

arely a year after the European Union (EU) banned Nigeria’s agricultural produce, especially beans exports to any of its affiliate countries, it was shocking that it had again extended the ban on the same produce by three years over non-improvement in the reduction of high level of pesticide in the country’s beans. Specifically, the EU had banned the importation of Nigeria’s dried beans in June last year on the ground that the produce contained high level of pesticide considered dangerous to human health. The European Food Safety Authority said the extension of the ban became necessary after the discovery that the rejected beans were found to contain between 0.03mg per kilogramme to 4.6mg/ kg of dichlorvos pesticide, when the acceptable maximum residue limit was 0.01mg/kg. In addition, the EU also gave Nigeria another one-year deadline (June 2016) to look inward and reduce the high level of pesticide in the country’s beans. But, the EU’s ban extension on the country’s agricultural produce has further shown that the Federal Government and its relevant agencies in the country’s agric sector still has a long way to go in standardising food consumption, in line with global best practice. Curiously, the Federal Government and its relevant agencies, which are saddled with the responsibility of testing the components of food items meant for exports, are not up to date with current happenings at the international trade. Specifically, the Federal Government had assured agricultural exporters of beans that it was making concerted effort to see that the country complied with the EU’s laid down procedures so that the its beans exports would have a breakthrough by complying with the conditions and requirements of the EU to get more penetrations into the international market. Extended ban on Nigeria’s beans The EU disclosed that it was extending its ban on importation of dried beans from Nigeria by three years, after further discovery of pesticide in the commodity. The Coordinating Director of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Vincent Isegbe, disclosed this in Abuja last week. The EU had banned importation of Nigeria’s dried beans last June on the ground that the produce contains high level of pesticide considered dangerous to

Beans

EU’s beans ban: Blessing in disguise for Nigeria human health. Isegbe, however, lamented that the extension came when the Federal Government and its relevant agencies were working to ensure that the June deadline to lift the ban was met. He quoted the official journal of the EU, as accusing Nigeria of not doing enough to lift the ban during the period of suspension. “The continued presence of dichlorvos (pesticide) in dried beans imported from Nigeria and maximum residue levels of pesticides shows that compliance with food law requirement as regards pesticide residual cannot be achieved in the short term,” he said. “The duration of the importation prohibition should therefore be extended for an additional period of three years to allow Nigeria implement the appropriate risk-management measure and provide required guarantees. “The measures provided for in this regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the standing committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,’’ Isegbe further quoted the journal as saying. He, however, said the extension should serve as opportunity for all to put their hands together to correct the mistake. Isegbe called for sensitisation of farmers to do the needful from the farming stage and ensure that this embarrassment do not repeat itself. FG’s inter-agency committee After last year’s ban on beans export from Nigeria by the EU, the Federal Government swung into action and constituted an inter-agency committee with the objective of achieving zero rejection of the country’s non-oil export products and improved revenue earnings for government. The committee comprised of trade information, export procedures and documentation, and capacity building, quality standards and compliance. They were tasked to recommend ways to tackle the issue of rejects associated with Nigeria’s produce. Members of the committees were drawn from government agencies such as the NEPC, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Standards Organisation of Nigeria,

Agriculture dominated Nigeria’s non-oil exports in 2014 by contributing $1.4bn

Nigeria Custom Service, Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control. Speaking at the inauguration of the inter-agency committee in Abuja, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo, mandated the committee to ensure that the country’s image at the international scene was revitalised. He said that the committee would ensure a consistent longterm effort on ensuring zero rejects of Nigeria’s products in EU markets and other parts of the world. Awolowo said that government was committed to ensure that Nigerian agricultural produce was internationally recognised, adding that it now behoves the committee to come out with a blueprint for the agric sector, which will finally nip in bud Nigeria’s food items rejection at the international markets. His words: “Agriculture domi-

nated our non-oil exports in 2014 by contributing $1.4 billion, representing 53.99 per cent of non-oil exports. The committee has the target of ensuring our goods don’t suffer rejects again to appreciate further our non-oil earnings. “Nigeria could borrow a leaf from a country like India, whose mango export to the EU was banned for two years but was lifted in April 2015, after advocacy and strict adherence and compliance to food safety and quality measures were implemented,” Awolowo said. Conclusion It is the responsibility of the Federal Government and its relevant agencies to ensure that Nigeria takes adequate steps to get out of the EU’s three-year ban on her beans exports as soon as possible. This becomes even more compelling now given the fact that it can earn more foreign exchange for the country.

World Bank boosts Fadama projects with $39m Taiwo Hassan

he World Bank has spent about N7.78 billion ($39 million) on the third National Fadama Development Project Additional Financing. This was contained in a statement by the World Bank’s Task Team Leader, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe. He said the gesture was is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s agenda of supporting the country’s agriculture and economic diversification drive. Oredipe said that the global bank would commence its Fadama Implementation Support Mission from the 10th to 27th of this month across eight states of the coun-

try in conjunction with the Federal Ministries of Finance and Agriculture. “The board of the bank had approved additional IDA credit of $200 million on June 28, 2014, to assist the Federal Government of Nigeria to scale up the impact on the ground and strengthen the development effectiveness of the Third National Fadama Development Project by aligning it more closely with government’s agricultural programmes,” the bank stated. It added that the additional financing would support clusters of farmers in six selected states with comparative advantage and high potential to increase production and productivity of cas-

sava, rice and sorghum, as well as horticulture value chains and link them to better organised markets. According to the bank, as of the last mission in January 2016, 930 business plans have been prepared across the states, out of which 424 business plans have been approved and disbursed. T he bank added: “These business plans covered 5,088 hectares of farms across the four value chains across the core and production cluster states. Also, harvesting of rice cultivated during the rainy season has been completed in Kano, Lagos, Niger and Enugu states, while cassava has been harvested in Kogi State.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

TARGETS In 2006, African governments agreed to a fertilizer consumption target of 50Kg/ha to be achieved by 2015

businesS \ agric

W’African stakeholders set to harmonise fertilizer policies L-R: President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Professor Ngozi Nnam; Corporate Director, Global Categories/CMD FrieslandCampina, Mr. Aj van Triest, Dr. Adegboyega Ogunwale, Director Child Development Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo and Marketing Director, Friesland Campina WAMCO, Mr. Tarang Gupta, at the launching of 456,Nigeria’s growing-up milk for children age 4-6 years old, in Lagos .

Caleb Onwe Abuja

est African stakeholders in the fertilizer sector have taken practical steps to prevent fulfillment of a forecast by some reports that the region may be unable to feed its ever growing population, projected to hit 500 million in the year 2050, due to the continued scanty harvests by farmers, arising from unreliable fertilizer policies. There were indications from the recently-concluded 2nd West African Fertilizer Stakeholders Forum in Abuja that the regional stakeholders have identified major encumbrances that over the years have hampered the development of the sector and are ready to take the bull by the horn in harmonising the policies that will in turn reposition the sector. Speaking during the event, with the theme “Scaling up Quality and Adapted Fertilizer Supply in West Africa,” ECOWAS Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alian Traore, said the regional governments have demonstrated commitments towards enforcing the needed regulatory framework required to make fertilizer production and distribution more efficient in the region. He also reiterated the resolve of the region to expand the fertil-

izer market so that farmers can take full advantage of the yield potential on current agricultural lands. To underscore the important role the region plays in global economy, there were torrents of solidarity towards the efforts to charting a new path for the harmonisation of the West African fertilizer. USAID Nigeria Mission Director, Michael Harvey, did not mince words when he assured the stakeholders that increasing agriculture productivity in the region was a cornerstone of the US Government’s Feed the Future strategy. He also noted that USAID in

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat Spring Wheat

Price 485-0 435-6 1171-2 409.0 32.52 207-0 11.315 458-6 532-6

Change -2-6 -4-0 -11-0 +1.8 -0.65 +0-4 +0.190 +1-6 -0-4

Contract Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16

Time(ET) 11:46 11:46 11:46 11:46 11:46 11:46 11:42 11:46 11:46

Price 63.22 163.40 134.70 19.34 3150 298.20 0.0000 0.1924 3115.00 0.0000

Change -0.22 -2.50 +3.00 +0.40 +27 +1.20 -0.0220 -0.0020 +12.00 -0.0075

Contract Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 May 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16

Time(ET) 11:46 11:17 11:46 11:46 11:46 11:37 06/14/16 06/14/16 08:17 06/14/16

Price

Change

Contract

Time(ET)

Softs Commodity Cotton #2 Orange Juice Coffee Sugar #11 Cocoa Lumber CME Coffee CME Sugar #11 CME Cocoa CME Cotton #2

Meats Commodity

Live Cattle

121.400

-1.800

Jun 16

11:46

Feeder Cattle

145.425

-1.825

Aug 16

11:46

Lean Hogs

86.725

-0.325

Jun 16

11:46

Class III Milk

13.12

unch

Jun 16

11:31

Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price. Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

order to match words with actions, the US, through its West Africa Fertilizer Programme, has partnered with the regional institutions and national governments of West Africa to tackle factors limiting the effectiveness of the fertilizer sector. The International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) presence in the stakeholders’ forum in Abuja un-

doubtedly enforced the confidence that implementation of evolving and harmonised fertilizer policies will not be compromised. IFDC Director, North and West Africa, Rob Groot, who was present at the forum, made it clear that unless the region’s consumption of fertilizer is raised from the present 12 kilograms per hectare to the global average of 107

Kg/ha, the worrisome level of farmers’ low yields may not improve. Groot, who also deployed his expertise in proffering solution to the lingering challenge of soil poisoning attributed to fertilizer in some parts of the region, said that farmers need to be educated on how to apply fertilizer to their crops according to the soil type.

Firm inaugurates new water project to enhance agriculture

he British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has commissioned a new water project in Akparabong Community, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State. The project, which is in line with government’s efforts at bringing succour to rural communities across Nigeria, according to a statement, is expected to avail residents of Akparabong steady access to potable water and boost agricultural produce processing in the area. The water facility, which

includes a 17,500 waterstorage capacity tank, solar panels, a solar submersible pump, water management kiosk, improved sewage management, among others, was hinged on the constructive dialogue with various stakeholders in the community. General Manager, BATNF, Abimbola Okoya, who represented Chief Kola Jamodu, Chairman of the Foundation, said the gesture was in furtherance of the Foundation’s commitment to improving the quality of lives in rural communities through the provision of potable water.

The Akparabong water project donated to the community, according to the statement, was the third solar-powered water facility to be donated to communities in the South-South geo-political zone of the country and the first in Cross River State. “I am confident that with the provision of this water project, the challenge of inadequate supply of safe-drinking water that was confronting residents in Akparabong community and indeed other adjourning communities will become a thing of the past,” stated Okoya.

ACAI begins trials of agronomy cassava in Nigeria, Tanzania Stanley Ihedigbo

frican Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) Project has established 137 limiting nutrient trials and 70 intercrop trials in a bid to crack the agronomy of cassava in Nigeria and Tanzania. According to statement from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), a 5-month progress report of the project, which was breakdown of the work

done so far, indicates that 20 limiting nutrient trials have been established in Nigeria and 117 in Tanzania. Speaking on the development, Project Leader for ACAI, Dr Abdulai Jalloh, said that for the intercrop trials, 29 cassava/maize trials have been established in Nigeria, and 41 cassava/sweet potato trials in Tanzania. He added that the trials would help researchers answer key questions relating to cassava agronomy.

“Understanding the agronomy of cassava is a crucial step towards maximising the genetic gain of the root crop,” Jalloh said. He noted that the ACAI project plans 667 trials in both Nigeria and Tanzania across the four use cases directly associated with field experimentation. These are as follows, fertilizer recommendation (295); best planting practices (150); intercropping (202), and staggered planting (20).

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Environment Watch

Lagos water scarcity worsens The perennial water scarcity in Lagos metropolis is taking a toll on residents as many of them now carry empty kegs in search of water. DAYO AYEYEMI reports

evere scarcity of safe drinking water in Lagos metropolis has become a serious concern for residents in the last two months. While government’s promise to alleviate the challenge by putting in place water kiosks in selected locations has not materialised, residents have resorted to self-help by renovating their abandoned wells and boreholes to bail themselves out of their present predicament. Also, residents of houses without boreholes now depend on neighbours and commercial water vendors popularly known as Mairuwa for supply. Residents’ agony Narrating his ordeal when interviewed by New Telegraph, Joshua Adamolekun, 40, tenant, father of two and a banker, who lives in one of the streets in Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos, described the current water scarcity in Lagos as ‘pathetic.’ He said that the situation has made living condition worse for residents whose consumption power had already been battered by the prevailing economic challenges. The most challenging thing, according to him, is the fear of looming epidemic, as residents could no longer ascertain the hygienic condition of sources of water they use. “We now rely on Mairuwa and shallow boreholes around us for water to drink, cook and bath. We don’t even bother whether the water is fit for drinking or not.” For drinking water, Adamolekun said: “I have just bought two new kegs, which I take to office every day to fetch water from borehole. All I have to do is to keep those kegs in the boost of my car.” He stated that colleagues in office also told him that the water crises have also affected residents at Magodo and Ikeja GRAs. Another resident from Agege, Mr. Tomiloye Joseph, said the coming of rains has helped residents a lot, pointing out that residents now wait for rain water for drinking. Others, he said, would have to buy water from vendors. In Yaba, a resident who

Residents queue for commercial boreholes for water supply

identified himself simply as Wole, said that his neighborhood always gets water from Lagos Water Corporation every Thursday, while residents rely on water from boreholes for other usage. In locations such as Alimosho, Egbeda, Ikotun, Agbado,Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikorodu, most residents rely on borehole and water trucks from Lagos State Water Corporation. Government’s defense While the Lagos State government has blamed water scarcity in the metropolis on shortage of gas supply, Bread of Life Development Foundation (BLF), a Lagos-based NGO, has predicted severe scarcity of safe drinking water in Nigeria following the increase in the price of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) or petrol from N86.50 to N145.00. Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, while appealing to residents recently, acknowledged that some parts of the state have been experiencing disruption in public water supply due to shortage in gas supply to the Akute Independent Power Plant (IPP) and other facilities. Inadequate supply of gas to water installations in the state, he said, could be attributed to vandalism of gas pipelines in the Niger Delta region of the country. The commissioner noted that the main concern of government is to increase the supply of water due to the ever increasing population of Lagos. He said: “As at 2010, the daily water demand by residents was 500 million gallons per day, while daily supply was 210 million gallons per day. There is therefore a short fall of 290 million gallons per day.” Meanwhile, members of the Lagos State House of Assem-

bly have decried the shortage of water supply in the state. They, however, resolved to summon the Managing Director of Lagos State Water Corporation, LSWC, Mr. Mumuni Badmus and his Ministry of Budget counterpart, Mr. Ashade, to work together in order to curb the lingering water shortage in the state. LWC’s managing director had blamed inaccessibility of approved funds as provided for in the 2016 budget as major obstacle in tackling the problem. Water privatisation It was gathered that Lagos State government may reinforce involvement of the private sector through publicprivate partnership (PPP) option to meet the existing gap and projected water demand of the populace by 2020.

According to New Telegraph’s investigation, some private investors have indicated interests to partner in the project, but the state government is still critically weighing the option and also trying to scrutinise the process and framework for successful implementation. Adejare said recently that PPP option had become imperative considering the huge investment required to develop water infrastructure. He added that the low resources of government to meet water needs of over 15 million Lagosians have made it compulsory. World Bank’s concern Also, the World Bank said that water shortage, exacerbated by climate change, could hinder economic growth in Africa and East Asia, leading to

declining of up to six per cent of Gross Domestic Products ( GDP) of the region by 2050. The new report from World Bank pointed out that most countries could neutralise the adverse impacts of water scarcity by taking action to allocate and use water resources more efficiently. Key findings of the study revealed that combined effects of growing populations, rising incomes and expanding cities would see demand for water rising exponentially, while supply would become more erratic and uncertain. Conclusion Government and all stakeholders must come together to develop robust water infrastructure in the state so that residents can have access to safe drinking water

Group seeks biosafety mgt’s sack Dayo Ayeyemi

he Global Prolife Alliance (GPA) has urged President Mohammadu Buhari to sack the management and board of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) over alleged issuance of two permits for genetically modified organisms crops (GMOs). In a statement by the Chairman, Global Prolife Alliance (GPA), Professor Philip C. Njemanze, he said that the two GMOs allegedly issued by NBMA board include: “Permit for Commercial Release/Placing on Market of Cotton (MON 15985) genetically modified for lepidopteran insect pest resistance” with Permit No: NBMA/ CM/IM/001; and Permit for Confined Field Trial (CFT) of maize (NK603

and MON 89034 x NK603) genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance with Permit No: NBMA/CFT/001.” These two permits, the group said, have been posted on the NBMA website, signed by DirectorGeneral of NBMA, Mr. Rufus Ebegba, since May 1, 2016 and issued to Monsanto Africulture Nigeria Limited. Condemning the issuance of these two permits, the group said it was in total disregard for the food safety concerns regarding GMOs crops expressed by leading governments around the world, who have had first-hand experience with genetically modified maize. These governments, which include eight EU members states (France, Germany, Poland, Italy,

Luxemburg, Austria, Hungary and Greece), Njemanze said, have banned the same insect-resistant corn variety, citing environmental concerns. He said that German Agricultural Minister, Ilse Aigner, had announced she was banning not only the cultivation of GMO corn but also the sale of its seeds on the condition that MON 810 posed a danger to the environment. The recklessness in approval of use of pesticides and GMO crops in Nigeria, the group said, has led to dangerous contamination of food in Nigeria. The recent actions of the management of the NBMA, it said, were clear manifestations of undue interference by biotechnology firms who dictate the actions of their government regulators.

FRIDAY, June 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AutoBeat

Here comes Mercedes-Benz GLA Paul Ogbuokiri

he much anticipated Mercedes-Benz GLA is now physically on ground and ready for immediate delivery. The new GLA falls under the new generation compact cars (NGCC) - It is a premium sports utility vehicle from Mercedes-Benz and its progressive, sporty character and agile handling differentiate it significantly from the competition. The expressive design and the high everyday practicality as well as comfort and safety features to the high Mercedes-Benz standards are strong points setting it apart from the competition. The GLA is serene in day-today motoring and has good off road capability - interpreting the SUV segment in convincing style; and of course compact size cannot shrink the shine of the ‘Three-Pointed Star’ as the bold GLA fuses authentic SUV versatility with the pure passion that defines every Mercedes-Benz”. Mirko Plath “Its nimble size delivers an ideal mix of flexibility, fuelefficiency and fun. Its advanced engineering delivers genuine capability, true luxury and classleading innovation. The GLA is indeed a Sport Utility Vehicle with cutting edge drive systems and dynamic design, based on the A-class hatchback, lovers can now enjoy even more comfort both with the standard suspension, and the slightly firmer setup that’s fitted to AMG Line versions”. The GLA has an interior with sporty character with meticulously finished high quality materials. It is pleasure for all senses and distraction for none of them as its freestanding color

screen and intuitive central controller put a world of entertainment and information within reach. A larger 7-inch display and Bluetooth® audio streaming are standard. Innovative multimedia options for navigation, music and online features, including an even bigger 8-inch screen, make going anywhere easier and more fun. The Available GLA 180 features a four cyclinder engine with a 1.6 litre engine delivering 80kW and 260Nm of torque and is equipped with 7G-DCT. The GLA 45 AMG still holds the

pole position in relations to driving dynamics: it accelates from 0 to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250km/h. We sum up this approach in one word: BlueEFFICIENCY, which means with the GLA you are only burning fuel when necessary. In addition, every GLA is fitted standard with ECO start/ stop function which temporarily shuts down the engine when the vehicle is motionless. The GLA Turbo power is a boost for torque, and efficiency as the "power domes" in the GLA hood are a Mercedes-Benz tradition. So is the prog ressive power b e n e at h . A 122hp

– 360hp turbo inline-4 teams 3rd-generation Direct Injection with advanced rapid-multispark ignition. ECO Start/Stop automatically shuts off the engine at red lights to save fuel, and then restarts the instant you're ready to move out. The GLA boasts generosity with space, style and substance, from its winglike dash to its power liftgate and the power driver seat adjusts in14 ways. The split rear seats make way for 43.6 cubic feet of cargo. Truth is, the more you get into the GLA, and the more you'll get out of it, as the Mercedes-Benz cabin is where the most rigid standards are the most rewarding to touch. From the road to the roof, the GLA shines on every surface as it is made to carve up the corners, not to cut them. So it comes stan-

Mercedes-Benz GLA interior

Mercedes-Benz GLA

NAMA tasks FG on Diversification

he Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) under the aegis of Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has cautioned the Federal Government not to succumb to detractors and naysayers seeking to circumvent renewed efforts to resuscitate domestic production of automobile in the country. NAMA tasks government to urgently demonstrate its conviction that support of the auto policy is good for the country by reassuring investors that government is a continuum that would not dump policies for the

dard with beefy 18-inch wheels and an agile 4-wheel independent suspension engineered to shine on any surface and for even more sparkle, there are standard chrome roof rails, as well as a choice of 19-inch wheel options and accessory racks and carriers for the roof. The Mercedes-Benz GLA looks sleeker than its rivals, comes loaded with safety kit and promises lower running costs. “The GLA puts you at your ease, it is indeed a true ray of sunshine in your life” – making it A perfect fit for today, for tomorrow, and for you. The available option at Weststar Associates is the GLA 180. Nevertheless, genuine parts and excellent vehicle servicing are offered at our fully equipped workshops.

sake of ‘Change.’ Chairman, NAMA, Tokunbo Aromolaran gave this charge in Lagos during a recent appraisal of President Mohammadu Buhari led-government contributions to the nascent automotive industry one-year after. He said: “We are forced to believe that government is being distracted by naysayers and interested parties who wish to slowdown the progress in the sector. And these are people who have benefited from trading and are now feeding government with negative reports and holding back the pace of develop-

ment of the industry.” The National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) was inaugurated three years ago and has paved the way for foreign direct investments with more than 12 entrepreneurs injecting funds estimated at several billions of naira vehicle manufacturing in the country. Mr. Aromolaran urged the Federal Government to determine the strategic industries going by the National Industrial Revolution Plan and work-out incentives and strategy to accelerate the successful take-off of the

companies. He said such incentives should take into account the peculiar challenges investors face in the course of operation such as inadequate infrastructure, adding, “a viable manufacturing industry is capable of creating huge multiplier effects for the Nigerian economy and society.” He also said that the previous administration may have scratched the surface by putting in place the auto policy, but the present government should take the credit for giving it a bite by introducing attractive incentives to woo major OEMs.

“This is the way to reawaken our productive capacity and create a future for the children of the poor and downtrodden,” the NAMA chairman said. He said despite unobtrusive situation in the automotive sector, NAMA is convinced the Federal Government is conscious of the multiplier effects of a vibrant auto sector on the country’s economy. This conviction, according to him has inspired tremendous activity in the automotive sector despite very difficult operating environment; policy uncertainty, dearth of skilled manpower, poor infrastructure and scarce foreign exchange, the association boss lamented.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EXHORTATION “Every soul will taste death and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.” .” (Quran 2:185)

Islam

12 RAMADAN, 1437

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

Dos and Don’ts during Ramadan QUESTION

What are the dos and don’ts during fasting in the month of Ramadan? ANSWER CONTINUE FROM LAST WEEK

(Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi) Since the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Ramadan, now is the perfect time to read it, understand its meanings, and memorize its verses. The Holy Qur’an is a mercy, guide, blessing, and gift from the Creator to mankind. The companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Ibn Abbas, said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous during the month of Ramadan because Angel Jibril used to meet him every night in the month of Ramadan until it ended. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to review the Qur’an with Jibril; and he was more generous with good than the blowing wind.” In addition to not eating, drinking, smoking, and having sexual relations, there are other practices, which we should not be doing during this blessed month. Avoid blood cupping, blood withdrawal, and using ear drops or inhalers while fasting. Some scholars are of the opinion that, ideally, you should use siwak or a toothbrush and water for cleaning teeth, rather than toothpaste. Do not listen to music because your heart should be occupied with supplication, remembrance of Allah, and the Holy Qur’an, not with songs. Do not waste your time. The days and nights of Ramadan are too precious to be wasted away watching TV, going on shopping sprees, oversleeping, and cooking extravagant feasts. Do not engage in idle talk, gossip, lying, quarreling, cursing, or any form of speech that is unnecessary and has no benefit, especially if it is hurtful to someone else. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also said, “The true fast is not to merely abstain from food and drink, rather true fast is to abstain from futile activities and obscene talk.” Stressing the importance of a refined and gracious code of conduct, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “When one of you is fasting, make sure not to use obscene language and not to be foolish and irresponsible in your speech. And if someone provokes you, have control over yourself and say, ‘I am fasting’.” This Ramadan, make it a true fast, a fast from all that will interfere with your spiritual growth.

L-R: Deputy Governor, Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Chief Imam, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Fu’ad Adeyemi and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, during the 2016/1437 of AlHabibiyyah Islamic Society Ramadhan Lecture in Abuja… recently PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Hijab: MURIC tasks Soyinka, Falana to speak out on Osun Court judgement, CAN reaction CALM Group urges Muslim parents and Islamic organizations in Osun to remain proactive, calm and law abiding Adeola Yusuf

he Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to both Mr. Femi Falana and Professor Wole Soyinka to speak out on the court’s judgement on hijab in Osun state and the reaction of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN). Justice Oyedeji Falola of the Osun State High Court, Oshogbo, gave the ruling on 3rd June, 2016. The Osun state chapter of CAN had in a reaction to the Court judgement, ordered christians students in public schools to wear church garments to schools if Governor Rauf Aregbesola goes ahead to implement the judgement of the state’s High Court giving legal

backing to the wearing of hijab to school. Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola who called on the two human right activists to speak out in the manner they spoke out during the Ese Oruru saga, also urged Muslim parents and Islamic organizations in the State of Osun to remain proactive, calm and law abiding. “We appeal to them to cooperate with the state government and the schools in ensuring that female Muslim students start using hijab made in the colour and design of their schools’ uniforms. Muslims must eschew all forms of lawlessness or the temptation to react to provocation from Osun CAN,” Akintola said in a statement made available to New Telegraph. “We call on all well-meaning citizens within and outside the State of Osun to call the state’s chapter of CAN back to the path of reason. In particular we appeal to both Mr. Femi Falana and Professor Wole

Soyinka to speak out on the court’s judgement on hijab and CAN’s reaction in the same way that they intervened recently in the case of Ese Oruru of Bayelsa State. We are interested in seeing how objective the two respected social critics can be,” he added. Alleging that the reaction of the Osun State chapter of CAN urging Christian students in public schools to wear church garments to school, MURIC declared that it is igh time Nigerians admitted that there are fanatics and extremists among both Christians and Muslims. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said that it was worried by this show of collective arrogance. Osun CAN’s threat is a manifestation of poverty of ideas. CAN is at the end of its tethers. The decision to go public with this kind of threat is short in logic, long in mediocrity. “It is sad to note that Nigeria is currently sandwiched between fanatical Christians and extrem-

ist Muslims. The provocative and neo-colonialist propensities of the fanatical Christians often goad extremist Muslims to violence. “In this particular scenario, Osun CAN has simply upgraded collective fanaticism to officialdom and demonstrated the fact that it has no respect for the rule of law. It should be noted that the threat coming from CAN is tantamount to contempt of court. “A competent court of law gives judgement, then the executive body of a religious group which is supposed to know better, starts issuing threats. “Yet in its characteristic manner as an unrepentant anarchist, a confusionist and advocatus diaboli, Osun CAN has appealed against the judgement of the court. Is it therefore not highly hypocritical to still turn around issuing threats? If Osun CAN knew the civilized way to reject a court judgement, why has it also chosen to take the barbaric path parri passu? Why not wait for the outcome of its appeal?”

Cleric condemns Kaduna attack on Christian man for not fasting Muritala Ayinla

cleric who doubles as the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, has described as ignorant the act of accusing or attacking anyone for failing to observe Ramadan fast, even as he urged all Nigerians to be selfless in the spirit of the Ramadan season. Speaking at Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ramadan Lecture, held at Combo Hall, LTV, Ag-

...Says, It’s ignorant to attack anyone over fasting

inddingbi, Ikeja, AbdulLateef urged Lagos Muslims not to go the way of extremists, saying God has compelled anyone to fast neither does God command anyone to fight for Him. According to him, “For those who are attacking those who are nor fasting, the ignorant Muslims are the enemies of Islam because Allah has not compelled anybody to fast. Fasting should be done my Muslims and it’s not all Muslims. It is Muslims who are

able,who are strong and able to observe the fast. Because if you are sick and you observe the fast, you don’t really have reward because you are killing yourselve gradually. “For anybody to now take it upon himself to be a fighter for God, such a person is an ignorant person and we must avoid all forms of violence an anything that will constitute man inhumanity to man.” AbdulLateef, who spoke on the theme of lecture titled:”

The Islamic Perspective on Good Governance and Citizens Welfare”, said the wealthy Nigerians,especially those in position of authority must remember the poor people and prioritise their welfare always. According to him, “Leaders must restrain themselves from the wealth of the nation so that the redistribution of wealth according to Almighty Allah can be achieved in achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.”

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dirty habit

Crime

Bizarre: School where pupils smell others’ buttocks

Defilment He sexually abused me, gave me N1,000, says seven-year-old victim

Divorce Marriage dissolved over wife’s constant rape of husband

35 36

Life has been hell

... says woman whose husband died rescuing drowning man A year after a firefighter died trying to rescue a victim from inside a well, his wife and children are now finding life very tough. The wife is wondering what the heck has happened to her husband’s benefits.

Juliana Francis

hirty-four-year-old Mr. Ogunnubi Olumide Olugbenga was one of the Lagos State Government’s fire-fighters. He was attached to the Ikotun Fire Station. In May 2015, he died. He died after he fell into a well, trying to rescue a plumber who fell into the well. According to his wife, Modupe Ogunnubi, 31, the deceased was a hero, both at home and workplace. Ogunnubi left two children for his young wife to cater for. They are Oluyemi, 8 and Darasimi, 4. She said his kids used to look up to him. He was their world. Today, whenever their fouryear-old kid asked of their dad, she would simply give a wobbling smile and say: “Daddy travel;led he would soon come back home.” She doesn’t know how to explain to a four-year-old that their daddy was gone forever. She said the eight-year-old has come to realise that their daddy was never coming home. As the Chief Fire-fighter, Ogunnubi could have ordered any of his men to go into the well to rescue the plumber who fell into the well, but he was always known for reserving the dirtiest and most toughest tasks for himself. On that fateful day, Ogunnubi

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

Ogunnubi with his children

stared into the well and reassured the frightened plumber that he would soon be rescued. The firefighter, in the usual fire-fighter style, tied a rope around his waist and was gingerly lowered down into the well by his colleagues. After he got safely down into the well, he untied the rope and tied it around himself and the victim. They were both being pulled up, when the rope suddenly snapped! The rescuer and rescued, plummeted back into the dark pit. Both men would later die. Nigerians would later rage and question the sorts of working tools approved for essential government workers like Ogunnubi. When Ogunnubi was given a state burial, there had been lots of

He died in May and his salary for that month wasn’t paid. Since his death, the Fire Service hadn’t come to ask how we’ve been coping

promises from the Lagos State Government and Fire Service. The promises that Modupe still remembered vividly were assurances that she and the kids would be given accommodation and some money. The children were further promised scholarship. These were supposed to be part of Ogunnubi’s benefits. Perhaps, the most galling, was the fact that Ogunnubi died in May and his salary for that month wasn’t paid! Modupe felt the salary would have helped her and her kids in a lot of ways. Modupe said that she knew her late husband’s gratuity could take time, she however couldn’t understand why the benefits were taking too long. She said that since her hus-

band died and was buried, nobody had ever bothered to ask how she and her kids were faring. Modupe, who still finds it difficult to reveal details of how her husband died without breaking into tears, said: “The incident happened on a Sunday. It was May 9, 2015. I was called the following day. I was told that my husband was rushed to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. When I got there, he was in oxygen mask. I was scared. He died on May 12. He had already rescued the plumber and they were being dragged up when the rope snapped. My kids and I were made to understand that we would be given his benefits, but CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

CRIME

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Iche

Bizarre: School where pupils smell others’ buttocks l It’s a lie–Proprietor

Juliana Francis

igerian parents have heard of myriad of punishments meted out to pupils in schools, but making them to smell one another’s buttocks appears to be taking punishment level to the limit. But this is what an angry parent, Mr. Saviour Iche, alleged said happened in his children’s school. He urged the Lagos State Government to investigate Premier Fountain College, located at Ijegun Lagos. His words: “A teacher in that school once flogged my sevenyear-old son and inflicted bruises on him. Anytime I drew the attention of the management to the torture, they would beg. Torture and brutality of children are going on in the school; other students have complained. A particular teacher forced pupils to smell one another’s buttocks. I want the teacher responsible for brutalising my son to be investigated and made to face the wrath of the law.” He further said: “It happened last year. My kid was three year plus. One of the kids in the class farted. The teacher ordered them to start smelling one another’s buttocks, to know who farted. My daughterrefused. She was punished.” Iche, who described himself as the National President of Citizens

Protection and Enlightenment Initiative, a human rights organisation, further said he had heard of so many atrocious acts happening in the school, especially child brutality. He said that whenever he goes to the school to confront the school over the insensitive punishment meted out to pupils, the school management would plead with him. He, however, now finally decided to jettison their pleas, after he returned home one fateful day and saw cane welts over the body of his 11-year-old son, a Junior Secondary School 1 student. Iche was infuriated after he asked his son who caned him and learned that it was a teacher in the school. He claimed that but for the quick medical attention given by his wife, the boy would probably have died. The management of Premier Fountain College however, denied the allegations. The school insisted that Iche’s son was disciplined because he and his sister teamed up to fight another student. Iche, who had already lodged a complaint at the Isheri Ijegun Police Station, Lagos State, said he decided to report the matter because this was the second time he would be seeing signs of torture on his kid’s bodies. He said: “My son who is a Junior Secondary School 1 student of

the school, came home on Tuesday with bruises all over his body. I asked him about the bruises. He said one of his teachers flogged and inflicted injures on him. Af-

ter flogging him, the teacher dared him to go and report to his father. “I tried to find out from my son what led to such flogging. He told me that he and other students were rehearsing their end of year songs, when he started drumming. A senior student walked over and hit him for drumming. My son ran out of the school, but the senior pursued him and further punched his stomach. He also hit my son close to his eye. While the senior was beating my son, my daughter, who is also a student in the school, came to her brother’s defence. This led to a fight between my daughter and the senior. When the teacher intervened and stopped the fight, he went on to flog the three of them. The teacher refused to give my son a fair hearing. My son came home crying and his mother had to give him First Aid.” When Iche saw the welts on the boy’s body, he called the proprietor of the school, registered his displeasure and later went to the police station to report. The proprietor of the school, Mr. Femi Martins denied that Iche’s son was brutalised. He also denied that pupils were ever compelled to smell one another’s buttocks after one of them farts. He said any teacher who does that would be sacked. He further said: “It’s not true that his son was brutalised. The teacher in question only disciplined the boy and others for fighting. As I’m speaking with you, the boy has resumed in his class. Two of his children, Esther and Emmanuel, fought with a student called Bolade. Prefects tried to move them to staff room, but they continued to fight. What is the teacher supposed to do? He used cane to stop them. Mr. Saviour came, said he saw a mark on his son, Emmanuel. The parents of the other boy didn’t come to complain. We apologised to him. Even in our homes, nobody would order anyone to smell others’ buttocks, let alone in school and in this age because someone farted! Children can say anything, but parents should not act on everything they say. Parents should listen to other sides of the incident.”

‘... life has been tough’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

One of the kids in the class farted. The teacher ordered them to start smelling one another’s buttocks, to know who farted

till date, nothing had been given to us. Nobody is even asking us how we had been coping since my husband died.” Modupe said that she was called last month by the Lagos State Fire Fighter Service and told that Ogunnubi’s gratuity was still being processed, but nothing was said on his benefits. The widow said she was a full housewife when her husband was alive. According to her, her greatest challenge today is payment of the children’s school fees. She said that for long now, her mother-in-law, had been running from pillar to post, to raise money for school fees and feeding. She said: “We are surviving simply by God’s grace. I was fully dependent on my husband when he was alive. My greatest worry is paying the kids’ school fees and feeding them. My motherin-law had been struggling to meet up with these demands. It

hadn’t been easy. He died in May and his salary for that month wasn’t paid. Since his death, the Fire Service hadn’t come to ask how we’ve been coping. Since they didn’t pay his salary, they could at least have made it possible for his benefits to be paid quickly.” Modupe said she doesn’t under what was going on, but she wished the Lagos State Government would look into the matter. She further wishes to know what was delaying payment of the benefits. Reacting to Modupe’s claims, the Lagos State Fire Service Director, Mr. Rasak Fadipe said: “She’s a friend of the house and right now, we’re trying to assist her to secure a job with us. I’m sure by now; she must have received an alert to come for a job interview, scheduled for Wednesday. We’re not folding our arms on her issue. She came for the enlistment and we gave her concession. She must have received the alert.” Modupe, however confirmed receiving alert, inviting her for a job interview, she said it was true. She added that she got it Monday afternoon.

CRIME

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Okeke and Mohammed

He sexually abused me, gave me N1,000, says seven-year-old victim Emmanuel Uti

“H

e closed the door. He knelt down. I was standing. He put his fingers into me. I screamed. He used his hands to cover my mouth. He gave me money. He gave me two N500 notes and told me not to tell my mummy.” These were the distressing words of seven-year-old Dupe. The little girl said she was sexually violated by her mother’s customer, Moruf Mohammed. The girl’s mum, Kubura, said she found her daughter bleeding. The alleged suspect, Mohammed, is said to be in his 40s. He allegedly defiled the little girl when her mother went to the market. When Mohammed was arrested by detectives attached to the Lagos State Police Command, he denied ever touching Dupe. According to him, he is Dupe’s mother’s lover. He said the woman framed him because he refused to give her some money she requested for. Dupe explained that she was sexually violated around 1pm, after she returned from school. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, presented Mohammed and another suspected rapist, Kingsley Okeke, 27, to journalists. Owoseni said: “Okeke, who lives at No. 26, Aroloya Street, Lagos Island, was arrested for

defiling a 10-year-old girl on May 23, 2016. Similarly, Mohammed, residing at Philip Street, Ibeshe Ikorodu, allegedly defiled a seven-year-old girl at Ayanbandejo Street, Ikorodu. The victims are traumatised and are being medically attended to at Mirabel Medical Centre, Ikeja.” Dupe’s mum, Kubura, debunked Mohammed’s claim that they were lovers. According to her, Mohammed was a customer who used to come to her shop to buy herbs. She insisted that Mohammed had visited her shop only twice. The second time was when he defiled her daughter. Kubura said: “I went out, leaving Dupe with her older siblings. The oldest among them was 20 years. I returned home around 2pm and found Dupe was sleeping. I asked her what was wrong with her. She said she wasn’t feeling well. She said a man gave her money. She said the man asked her where her mother was, she told him that her mum wasn’t around. “He then took her to a back door. She said he put his fingers into her and later his manhood. He told her not to tell anyone. When I found her in bed, she was bleeding. I initially thought it happened at school. I went to school, but they said it wasn’t at school.” Asked if she knew Mohammed

and if they were lovers, Kubura said: “Yes, I know him. I used to prepare herbal medicine for him. But I’m not his lover. I didn’t ask him for any money.” Mohammed however insisted that he didn’t do anything to Dupe; he said he only gave her money because he felt like it. Kubura said that despite Dupe’s explanation of what transpired between her and a stranger, they didn’t know who raped the girl until Mohammed came. When Mohammed came to collect his herbal medicine, Dupe saw him and became frightened. “When he came, Dupe saw him and ran away. She said that was the man,” recounted Kubura. “I reported him to the police. Police brought him to the scene of the crime and he started telling people that I was his lover; that Dupe was his daughter. He claimed to know all my children.” Just like Mohammed, Okeke, a chemist, also denied defiling a 10-year-old girl. Okeke said he had never set his eyes on the little girl until the fateful day of the alleged incident. He insisted that he never touched the girl in anyway. Recollecting the event of that day, Okeke said: “I went out to get something leaving the door to my shop open. When I came back, I saw a tattered little girl in my shop. She was attempting to steal something. I rushed inside

to interrogate her. I asked her gently what she wanted because she was a little girl.” According to him, she replied that she wanted to buy confectionaries. Okeke then told her to leave his shop because he doesn’t sell such items. He said: “As she was about to leave, my instinct told me to search her thoroughly. As I searched her, I found N4, 000 and N20 notes.” Okeke, who became furious, asked her how she got such an amount of money, but she didn’t reply. He collected the money, saying that the N4000 was his income for Sunday and Monday. He added: “I wanted to beat her, but she started begging me. Even though I was still angry, I left her alone considering she was just a child.” He said he was shocked to see policemen at his shop the following day. He was further stunned when they told him that he was being arrested for defiling a 10-year-old girl. When Okeke got to the police station, he saw a woman who claimed that the girl was her daughter. The little girl had apparently told her mother that Okeke sexually violated her. Okeke said if he had known the event would turn out this way, he would have raised the alarm when he found the girl stealing in his shop.

DIVORCE COURT

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Marriage dissolved over wife’s constant rape of husband

he president of an Igando Customary Court, Lagos State, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, has dissolved a 20-year-old marriage over wife’s incessant rape of her husband. Omilola, after listening to the couple, said that he was convinced they could no longer live together as husband and wife. Omilola said that he had to dissolve the union after the petitioner, Durojaiye Rodoye insisted on the divorce. Omilola added that several interventions made by him to reconcile the couple fell on deaf ears. Omilola said: “This court has no choice than to dissolve the union in spite of the fact that the woman still claims she loves her husband. Both parties are no longer husband and wife, as the marriage has broken down totally, they are free to go their separate ways.” The husband, Durojaiye Rodoye, 56, had earlier told the court that his 44-year-old wife, Adenike Rodoye, was always tearing his boxers to rape him. He said: “My wife has turned my boxers to rags as she always tears them to rape me.” Durojaiye alleged that his wife was always threatening his life through beating and that he was afraid she might kill him one day. He further said: “I had to run away from my 22-flat building to rent an apartment elsewhere just to avoid her frequent beatings. But she trailed me to my new apartment to fight me. I had reported her in the past to different police stations, but it did not yield any positive result.” Durojaiye, also alleged that Adenike poured hot water on another woman, his family married for him. He begged the court to end their 20-year-old marriage, saying he was no longer in love with his wife whose actions had continued to endanger his life.

“Please, separate us before my wife kills me! My life is not safe with her. I am a pensioner. I need to enjoy the fruits of my labour,” he said. Adenike denied all the allegations levelled against her by her husband. She alleged that her husband was a womaniser. She added: “My husband runs after anything in skirts; he always sends me packing from the house whenever he wants to bring in another woman. He once sent me out with the children for three years. After sending me out, he had married six different women, but none stayed long with him. He always begged me to return to my matrimonial home later.” The mother of five said she never raped her husband, adding that it was normal for husband and wife to make love. The respondent also denied ever beating-up her husband but alleged that her husband was always beating her. Adenike said that her husband removed the plasma television set, the air conditioner and disconnected the electricity supply from her flat, leaving her and the children in the dark. She said that Durojaiye also fought with her pastor on several occasions and even arrested him with police. Adenike said that the development led the church’s leadership to ban her from further worshipping with them.

He refused to allow me to work, says wife

34-year-old housewife, Thomas Arike, has urged an Ado-Ekiti Customary Court, to dissolve her 14-year-old marriage to her husband, Bayo, because he refused to allow her to work. Arike told the court that ever since she left her husband’s house with the children, he did not border to give them feeding allowance. She said: “I deserted my husband because he married another woman and because he beats me incessantly. My husband did not allow me to work, which was affecting our home and children.” According to her, Bayo’s parents were not happy with the bad treatment meted out on her by him. She, however, prayed the court to dissolve the marriage and award her custody of their children, Busola, 14, Olamide, 11 and Bukunmi, six.

Bayo, 40, denied all the allegations. He however admitted using abusive words during quarrels, but denied ever beating her. He urged the court to award him custody of the female children because he was not ready to marry another woman, so that they could help him to cook. The President of the court, Mr. Joseph Ogunsemi, observed that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved it. Ogunsemi awarded custody of the two female children to the wife and the male child to the husband. He also ordered that the man should pay monthly upkeep allowance of N5, 000 for each of the female children, while he remains responsible for their education. Access was granted to both parties to see their children.

‘My wife says she’s head of the family’ Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

Medical Doctor, Philip Osuagwu, has prayed an Abakaliki High Court, Ebonyi State, to dissolve his marriage to his wife because she was always claiming to be the head of the family. Osuagwu also told the court that his wife was quarrelsome. Osuagwu said that his wife’s quarrelsome attitude, which usually disturbs neighbours, led to them being ejected from the Doctor’s Quarters in the hospital where they had earlier resided. According to Osuagwu, his wife used to insult him over some items she brought into the marriage. Some of the items are a car, electronics, cushion and others. He also accused his wife of calling him a thief. He said his wife once got police to arrest him, claiming that he robbed her of $500dollars and over

one million naira which, after investigation by the police, was found to be false. The Presiding judge, Justice B.A.N Ogbu, dissolved the marriage. He said that the respondent did not, at any time, oppose/objected to the eight allegations leveled against her by her ex-husband. She also didn’t show any remorse nor accused him of any misbehaviour. Rather, she demanded to know if there was any marriage void of quarrels. Justice Ogbu directed that the only child of the marriage, David Osuagwu, remains under the respondent’s custody. Osuagwu is to pay N25, 000 monthly for his upkeep and additionally pay 65% of his school fees, when he gains admission into secondary school. He said the child must be allowed to see his father at Abakaliki Amusement Park for three hours on 3rd Sunday of every month and to decide whom to live with when he attains the age of 18.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Money Line

CBN unveils rules on non-oil exports facility Caveat

Facility will have a tenor of up to 10 years Tony Chukwunyem

s part of efforts to boost non-exports and diversification of the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday released operating guidelines on the Non-Oil Exports Stimulation Facility (ESF). According to the apex

bank, “the facility is essentially designed to redress the declining export credit and reposition the sector to increase its contribution to revenue generation and economic development.” In the document posted on its website, the CBN said the facility, which is also aimed at increasing access of exporters to low interest credit and offer additional opportunities for them to upscale and expand their businesses, will be managed by the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM). The regulator further

stated that to implement the facility, it will invest in a N500 billion debenture to be issued by NEXIM, adding that eligible borrowers and beneficiaries will include only export-oriented enterprises and firms with verifiable export offtake contract (s) coupled with possessing satisfactory credit reports from at least two credit bureaus. Also qualified to benefit from the facility, according to the CBN, are Eligible Bank Asset (EBA) purchased by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) that are of national economic im-

portance and have proven potentials to export. Similarly, the banking watchdog stated that eligible transactions that qualify for funding under the ESF will include, export of goods wholly or partly processed or manufactured in Nigeria; export of commodities and services, which are permissible and excluded under existing export prohibition list and importation of plant & machinery, spare parts and packaging materials, required for export oriented production that cannot be produced locally.

by 2.14 per cent each. The local bourse recorded more than two gainers for every stock that lost value, resulting in an increase of the growth of twin market performance measures, NSE ASI and market capitalisation, while all sectored gauges increased – with banking, consumer goods and industrial stocks largely influencing the increase in the NSE All Shares Index. Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’S) clarification on its flexible foreign exchange policy, which reduced uncertainty in the financial markets,

was attributed by market analysts, as the major factor that contributed to the bullish activities. Consequently, the AllShare Index gained 597.93 basis points or 2.14 per cent to close at 28,489.89 basis points as against 27,891.96 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N205 billion or 2.14 per cent to close at N9.784 trillion from N9.579 trillion. Meanwhile, a turnover of 618.2 million shares exchanged in 6,757 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. Banking subsector of

the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 354.3 million shares exchanged by investors in 2.373 deals. Volume in the subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of UBA Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc. Premium subsector boosted by activities in the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc followed with a turnover of 119.9 million shares in 1.500 deals. The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 32, while decliners closed at 15.

Others include, export value chain support services such as resuscitation, expansion, modernisation and technology upgrade of non-oil exports industries, transportation, warehousing and quality assurance infrastructure. According to the apex bank, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), except NEXIM, are eligible to participate in the scheme. It also stated that the ESF will have a tenor of up to 10 years - will not exceed

the 28th of December, 2025 and with regard to lending limit, “will not exceed 70 per cent of the total cost of the project or transaction subject to a maximum of five billion naira”. In addition, the apex bank stated that the structure of interest computation under the ESF will be as follows: “Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) – maximum spread of 6 per cent per annum, NEXIM – 1per cent per annum and CBN –2per cent per annum.

Forex policy: Bankers, Stock market advances on sustained bargain hunting dealers meet CBN today CONFIDENCE Investors gain N205billion, as new flexible foreign exchange policy boost activities

Chris Ugwu

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday maintained its winning ways, as trading activities on the floor of the local bourse further closed in the green territory, pushing the NSE All Share Index and market capitalisation higher

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 15.6 12 10.77 US$47.61 US$26,447,628,906

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2016 23/03/2016 Mar 2015 15/6/2016 15/6/2016

Source:CBN

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

Change (%) -2.50 ▼ -0.74 ▼ -0.65 ▼ -0.68 ▼

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 30-Jun-16 7.92 8.08 -0.51 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.59 8.34 8.71 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.33 8.99 -0.31 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.36 10.28 -0.07 ▼ 9.11 9.98 -0.07 ▼

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.57 ▲

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

urrency dealers and bank chiefs will meet the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials today to discuss trading under the new interbank foreign exchange regime, Reuters yesterday reported a treasury source as saying. The apex bank last Wednesday said it would begin a market-driven foreign currency trading next Monday, abandoning its 16-month peg, which overvalued the naira and harmed investments. An association of currency dealers, called Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA), met last Thursday to evaluate the new policy and determine how trading will work, the treasury source said. Meanwhile, Bloomberg has reported that investors may remain wary of buying naira assets given that Nigeria’s oil production, which accounts for the vast bulk of export earn-

ings, has plummeted since last February to an almost 30-year low amid an upsurge of militant attacks on crude and gas pipelines. The news agency reported Gaimin Nonyane, an economist at Ecobank Transnational Inc. in London as saying that naira will probably trade in a range of N280 to N350 against the dollar from next week. “The speed of economic contraction probably surprised” the central bank, said Ayodele Salami, who manages about $500 million of African equities as chief investment officer at Duet Asset Management Ltd. in London. His company has reduced the proportion of its assets invested in Nigeria to 20 per cent from 40 per cent in the past 18 months. “If it turns out that the new system does what it says a free float with occasional central-bank intervention - then it would it encourage us to come back into the market.”

Yields on local-currency bonds rise at auction -DMO

ields on Nigeria’s naira-denominated bonds rose across the board at an auction last Wednesday where about N112 billion worth of paper maturing in 2036, 2026 and 2020 was sold, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said yesterday. The DMO said it had sold N50 billion of 2036 paper at 14.98 per cent at Wednesday’s auction, compared with 13.90 per cent at the previous auction last month. It also sold N40 billion of 2026 debt at 14.40 per cent, against 13.74 per cent and N22 billion of the 2020 debt at 14.20 per cent against 13.24 per cent. Dealers said the yields reflected a rise in inflation, which hit a six-year high of 15.58 per cent in May. “Many investors were pushing for higher yields

at the auction to reflect the higher inflation figure released recently, which was above the prevailing interest rate in the market,” Reuters quoted a trader as saying. Investors’ bids had demanded yields ranging between 10 and 17 per cent for all the debt on offer. Subscriptions from investors stood at N171.87 billion naira compared with N159.60 billion at the last auction. Africa’s biggest economy issues local bonds as part of measures to finance the government budget deficit and also help to manage liquidity in the banking system. The Federal Government said it would borrow about N900 billion locally to finance part of the N2.2 trillion deficit foreseen in its 2016 budget.

NEWS | national

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Police kick as militants attack NNPC pipeline Adeola Yusuf and Tony Anichebe

he Nigerian Police and the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) yesterday bickered over claims of bombing of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) Pipeline in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. While the NDA claimed on its Twitter handle that it blew up the NNPC Pipeline, the police dismissed the claim, saying what happened was

an accident occasioned by leakage of gas pipelines sited in the area. The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani, said the rumoured bomb attack was not a militant attack. But a highly placed source at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the attack on the NNPC pipeline. He said: “Yes, there was an attack on the pipeline. The pipeline is between Akwa Ibom and

Rivers States boundary along Ikot Abasi – Port Harcourt Road. Mani said that it was a technical problem and that some engineers from Port Harcourt were working to rectify the leakage. Mani said that the state was safe from the activities of the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers. New Telegraph gathered after a tour of the affected area that the gas pipelines are properties of Seven Energy company, the operator of Ibom

Gas Power Plant in Uquo, Esit-Eket Local Government Area of the state. The community, Ikot Osutek, where the leakage of the gas pipelines was identified, is along Ikot Abasi-Ogoni-Port Harcourt axis of the East West Road in Akwa Ibom. New Telegraph observed that many residents of the area were disturbed by the rumour of the attack, given the revelation that NDA had vandalised over 23 gas pipelines since February 14 when it started attacks.

Meanwhile, a secessionist group, Utorogun Liberation Movement, ULM, surfaced in Delta State yesterday, vowing to destroy the Utorogun Gas Plant, Ughelli. The plant supplies gas to the biggest thermal power plant in Nigeriathe Egbin power plant in Lagos, and other facilities under Oil Mining Lease, OML 34 in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state. The agitators, who said that they were operating in alliance with

another group, “Outgas Force,” declared the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and ND Western as common enemies in a statement by its leader, Gen K Omoudu.

UNTH performs 175 heart surgeries in three years Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

United States Consul General F. John Bray (seventh left); Political Officer, U.S. Consulate Lagos, Jessica Tesoriero (right); Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa (eigth left); Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni (sixth left); Pop singer and Nigeria Police Force Youth Ambassador Korede Bello (third right); with key civil society representatives, police officers, and road transport union leaders, during a roundtable discussion on crime and violence prevention hosted by the U.S. Consul General in Lagos

Alleged N5.1bn fraud: Dudafa knows fate June 20 Presidency, Atiku mourn Ehirim, Akeem Nafiu former Abuja NUJ chairman

ustice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos will on Monday rule on bail application initiated by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, Emmanuel Dudafa. He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) over an alleged N5.1billion fraud. Also, the court will on Monday determine a bail application by Joseph Nna (a.k.a Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) who was arraigned alongside Dudafa. Arguing Dudafa’s bail application yesterday, his lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole, informed the court that his client had been in the EFCC's custody for 60 days before he was charged to court. He said no one has

come forward to lodge any complaints of being a victim of the offence allegedly committed by his client. He also urged the court to discountenance the EFCC’s argument that if his client was admitted to bail, he will interfere with the witness and evidence in matter. He added that his client is a man of substance, who was once a member of Bayelsa House of Assembly, a Special Adviser to Balyesa State Government and Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan. Oyewole, while maintaining that the charge against his client was a bailable one with a maximum punishment of five years, urged the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms.

Lawyer to the second accused person, Sunday Abumere, in his submissions aligned himself with Oyewole’s arguments and urged the court to admit his client to bail. However, in his opposition to the accused persons’ bail applications, EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the there was a likelihood that the first accused will jump bail because he was arrested by men of the Department of State Security(DSS), at the departure Hall of Murtala Muhammad International Airport, where he was to board an Arik Air to London.

The total number of goals scored by Spain at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

enior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of the former FCT NUJ chairman, Mr. Chucks Ehirim. Ehirim died yesterday in Abuja at the age of 50. Garba, in a statement, described the veteran journalist as "one the of the most committed change agents that had identified with President Muhammadu Buhari's struggle for a better Nigeria." In a speech he made during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased at their Pegi home in Kuje area of the FCT on behalf of the President.

Court adjourns as PDP insists Sheriff stands removed Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, has adjourned to July 4, 2016 to hear the case brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenging the position of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, that he remains the party's na-

tional chairman. In a suit brought before Justice Abdullahi Liman, the PDP insists that Sheriff ceased to function in that capacity after Sen. Ahmed Makarfi was appointed during its national convention in Port Harcourt on May 21, 2016. PDP counsel, Oladejo Laminkanra (SAN) in an originating summons

stated that Modu-Sheriff hurriedly postponed the PDP national convention upon realising that he would be dropped and replaced with another candidate, claiming that the former Borno Governor did not inform the National Executive Committee of the party when he took the decision. But Sheriff, through his counsel, Ajibola

Oluyide, urged the court to disregard the summons, saying that his purported removal was not done in line with the party's laid down constitution. He said that Sheriff remains the only national chairman of the party, and urged the court to dismiss any appeal for him not to act in that capacity until his tenure expires.

, Malam Garba said he was always amazed by the incredible zeal and energy with which the late Ehirim stood by Buhari steadfastly throughput the campaign period. According to him, the late Ehirim's passion for a better Nigeria was no less remarkable, adding that "he pursued this noble cause with unflagging zeal and sincerity." Mallam Garba said he had respect for men like the late Ehirim, who believed in a cause without expectations of pecuniary rewards. While condoling with the NUJ over the death, the presidential spokesman also prayed to God to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased and reward his good deeds with heaven. According to the PDP counsel: "Sheriff submitted himself for screening at the Port Harcourt National Convention. Realising that he has lost his bid to be national chairman, Sheriff alone without consent and consultations with the National Executive Committee claimed he postponed the convention. Modu Sheriff had no such powers to postpone a convention approved by the National Executive Committee. "

n its bid to end foreign trip for medical solution especially heart surgery, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH),Ituku, Ozalla, Enugu State disclosed that it has successfully performed open heart surgeries on 175 persons in the last three years. The management also added that the exercise which entered its 14th time since May 2013, has recorded over 98 per cent success. Disclosing this yesterday to newsmen, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Christian Amah, said that 22 patients would be operated for various heart diseases by the team of surgeons led by Dr. Onyekachi Nzewi from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Bedfast United States. Out of the 22 patients, he said they included 10 adults and 12 children.

Court admits confessional statement against Okah

Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday admitted in evidence the alleged confessional statement made by Obi Nwabueze, in the ongoing trial of alleged mastermind of Abuja 2010 Independence Day bomb blast, Charles Okah. Obi, the second defendant, allegedly made an extra-judicial statement while in Department of State Services linking Charles Okah to the bomb blast. He later denied making the statement, saying that it was obtained under duress. Justice Gabriel Kolawole, while ruling in the application, held that the defendant failed to prove the involuntariness of the statement he made in the DSS custody. Kolawole said that the statement was earlier admitted in evidence during the trial of Edmond Ibiware.

news

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Alleged forgery: Police summon Mark, Ekweremadu, Enang, others

Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

he last may not have been heard on the alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules 2015 by some lawmakers last year as the Nigeria Police yesterday summoned the presiding officers of the 7th Senate and other individuals to provide more information on the issue. The document was allegedly forged to alter the rules guiding the election of the presiding offi-

cers from the usual open ballot system to a secret ballot mode. Controversy arose over the document after it was used at the inauguration of the eight Senate on June 9, 2015. In a letter dated June 6, 2016 and signed by an Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police, James Caulcrick, the Police invited the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark; incumbent Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba. Others on the list in-

cluded a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa; former Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, as well as the Clerk of the Committee, Dr. Nma Ogozy. The letter read as follows: "I refer to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police's letter No. CR:3000/X/FHQ/ABJ/ VOL. 186/98 dated 1st July, 2015, requesting the under-listed officials of the seventh Senate to report to the Force Criminal Intelligence and Inves-

Dasuki heads for Supreme Court over denial of freedom

Tunde Oyesina

tigation Department for the purpose of conducting investigation on the above subject matter: Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Majority Leader of the Senate, Clerk of the National Assembly, Clerk of the Senate, Chairman, Business and Rules; Secretary, Business and Rules. "As at the time of writing this letter, none of the officials in the above seventh Senate list honoured the invitation to respond to the allegations, except the clerks of the National Assembly."

Working long hours raises cancer risk in women Appolonia Adeyemi

or many employees, working long hours could mean promotion or a pay rise. But it has been shown that it could as well reduce the life expectancy of affected persons. This is the findings in the study published in the ‘Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine’. Earlier studies have shown overwork results

in stress, sleep and digestive problems - but this is the first to find a conclusive link between long hours and serious, life threatening illness. A team from Ohio State University analysed statistics from 7,500 people over a 32 year period. A report in the mailonline stated that men did not seem to face such a marked increase in the risk of disease. In fact, those who worked 41 to 50 hours per

week actually had a lower risk of heart and lung disease and depression than those who worked 40 or fewer. However, men did see a rise in arthritis cases the more hours they worked. Previous studies suggest that this could be because women are more likely to have more family responsibilities, and may face more pressure and stress than men when they work long hours. Lead author, Professor

Allard Dembe, of Ohio State University, suggested that in addition, work for women may be less satisfying because of the need to balance work demands with family obligations. “People don't think that much about how their early work experiences affect them down the road,” he said. “Women in their 20s, 30s and 40s are setting themselves up for problems later in life.”

Abuja

he embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) yesterday said he would approach the Supreme Court to challenge the denial of his freedom by the Federal Government after being admitted to bail by three different courts. Dasuki is standing trial over alleged illegal possession of firearms and diversion of $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of fire arms. Two different courts,

the Federal High Court and the Abuja High Court had at different times admitted Dasuki to bail, but the Federal Government is still keeping him in custody. The Court of Appeal, Abuja division had on Wednesday dismissed an application filed by Dasuki seeking to stop his trial. Counsel to Dasuki, Ahmed Raji, yesterday in Abuja indicated the intention to his client to approach the apex court. He stated that the appeal papers have been put together to be filed at the Apex Court to challenge the judgment.

Late filing of defence’s statement stalls Umar's trial Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he late filing of the defence’s statement by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Mohammed Dikko Umar (rtd) yesterday stalled his trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Umar is standing trial over allegations bordering on financial misappropriation and laundering of funds belonging to

the Nigerian Air Force between 2010 and 2012. At the resumed sitting yesterday, which was for Umar's trial to begin, EFCC counsel, Mrs. I.S Azegbeobor, told the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, that the defence had just served the EFCC their statement of defence last Tuesday. According to the antigraft agency, they would need days to respond to the defendant's statement of defence.

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EFFECTIVE FROM MAY 1, 2016

NEWS | south-west

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fayose’s aide to ex- Commissioner: You presided over Ekiti looting Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

pecial Assistant to Governor Ayo Fayose on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has described claims by the former Commissioner for Finance in the state, under former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, that the state could afford to pay work-

ers three months salaries as “an attempt to cover up the mismanagement of the state finances during the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state. Olayinka said: “It is only in the world of miracle that a state that was plunged into debt and is losing over N1 billion to loan deductions monthly can sustain regular payment of salaries.” He said despite that un-

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME Ogban: This is to confirm that Ogban Gift Usetu and Benedict Usetu refer to one and same person and now wish to be known and addressed as Ogban Gift Usetu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Uchey

I, formerly known and addressed as Nwabugo Evan Uchechukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Nwabugo Evan Uchey. All former documents remain valid. ACCESS BANK and general public take note.

Iyoha

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oriade Oladunjoye Ajike now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iyoha Oladunjoye Ajike. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

Osarr

Amaefuna

I, formerly known and addressed as Amaefuna Obum Joseph now wish to be known and addressed as Amaefuna Osita Joseph. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHITA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omabe Catherine Uzoamaka Judith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chita Judith Uzoamaka. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Federal Ministry of Interior, NHIS, Banks and general public should please take note.

Njikeonye

I, formerly known as Omachi Loveth Elle now wish to be known as Anthony Loveth Osarr. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

I, formerly known as Adanne Godwin now wish to be known as Adanne Njikeonye. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank and general public take note.

Godwin

Idebaose

I, Adanne Njikeonye is also the same person as Adanne Godwin. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Zenith Registrar and general public take note.

Olofi

I formerly known as Ekeoba Blessing Patience now wish to correct my name as Vincent Patience Idebaose. All former documents remain valid. FCMB and general public take note.

Ogbonna

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Florence Ebere Uwadieke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Florence Ebere Olofi. all document bearing my former names remain valid. Diamond Bank and the general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Obi Elekwachi now wish to be known and addressed as Ogbonna Isaac Donald. All former documents remain valid. Zenith bank Plc, Ecobank Plc and the general public should take note.

Ananwu

Ikpinyang

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ihejirika Uche Celestina or Ihejirika Uche Godwin now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ananwu Uche Celestina. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Alfred

I, formerly known and addressed as Orubu James Koso now wish to be known and addressed as Alfred James. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, Zenith bank Plc and the general public should take note.

Ogio

I, formerly known and addressed as Frank Parker Amadi now wish to be known and addressed as Willie Frank Ogio. All former documents remain valid. Keystone bank Plc and the general public should take note.

Salvation

I, formerly known and addressed as Soso Gerekumo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ebianga Favour Salvation. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity bank Plc, UBA Plc and the general public should take note.

Onyechi

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyechi Jane Chizoba Blessing Chidubem now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Onyechi Jane Chizoba. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lizzy Mac now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elizabeth Ikpinyang. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

Daniel

I, formerly known and addressed as Dakolo Oyinkuro Daniel now wish to be known and addressed as Daniel Oyinkuro Daniel. All former documents remain valid. Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Council for Legal Education in Nigeria, Baylesa State Judiciary and the general public should take note.

Winner

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoi Boboyilayifa Okoya now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Boboyilayifa Winner. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

Joshua

I, formerly known and addressed as Inime Joshua Akpan now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Inime Okon Joshua. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, Zenith bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC, UBA bank Plc, Diamond bank Plc and general public should take note.

Okosi

I formerly known and addressed as Patricia Unoaku Okarol, now wish to be known and addressed as Patricia Unoaku Okosi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

der the APC government of Fayemi, Ekiti State received N46.4 billion from the Excess Crude Account; N25 billion bond along with a N31 billion commercial bank loan obtained, adding that; “In sane climes, the likes of Dapo Kolawole would cover their faces in shame, having presided over the unprecedented looting of Ekiti State treasury and plunged the state into unwarranted debt.” He said: “It is on record that Ekiti State total allocation for the month of December 2015 was N1, 375,829,004.08 after N883, 008,554.30 was deducted as loans repayment. Allocation for January 2016 was N1, 663,173,328.66 after N883, 008,554.30 was deducted."

Hijab crisis: Security agents broker peace between Muslim, Christain leaders

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

ecurity agents in Osun State yesterday summoned an emergency meeting of religious representatives in the state to avert an imminent Muslims/Christians clash in the state. The meeting which was held at the office of the state Director of Security Services,(DSS), Mr. Ike Madagwana, had in attendance the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Olanipekun, representatives of the state government led by the immediate past commis-

PUBLIC NOTICE

SAVE THE AKWA IBOM CHILD INITIATIVE INT'L

The general public is hereby informed that the above named Initiative has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Mrs. Ide, Ini Sunday 2. Mr. Omoregie Ide Sunday AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To Promote safety and education among girl child of Akwa Ibom State Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

PUBLIC NOTICE

WORD OF LIFE AND SOLUTION MINISTRY

The general public is hereby inform that the above named MINISTRY has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Decree No. 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Ann Ngozi Iloh - President 2. Benson Maduka Iloh 3. Samuel Ebere Chukwu Iloh 4. Okonta Carey Don Johnson AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ 2. To minister hope and courage both spiritually and to the body and soul of many Christians 3. To promote the spirit of oneness among members 4. To share in one another’s joy and sorrow as the case may be

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

AKANKPO FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby informed that the above named Foundation has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. John, Bassey Effiong - President 2. Akankpo, Imo Etim 3. Akankpo, Udom 4. Akankpo, Akaninyene Okon - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To encourage girl child education. 2. To assist in the provision of academic materials to exceptional students in our schools Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: JOHN, BASSEY EFFIONG PRESIDENT

sioners for Information and Strategy, Hon.Sunday Akere and the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney general of the state, Mr. Wale Afolabi. Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other relevant security agencies in the state and representative of Baptist Church in the state. The meeting, which lasted for several hours generated heated arguments between security personnel and officials of the Baptist Church, who were not acknowledged as officials of the Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state. The Baptist representatives wanted to leave the venue on the ground that they were not informed of any meeting until they got to the venue after re-

ceiving a call from the Director of the DSS that he wanted to see them. Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Olanipekun, told newsmen that there was a peaceful meeting between the Christian body and the security agencies in the state to restore peace between Christians and Muslims. He said the parties were charged to live in harmony in the state and assured that the security agencies would not rest on its oars to ensure law and order in the state. Earlier on Wednesday, representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and government officials held a meeting with the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to find solution to the hijab wearing crisis in the state.

‘Osuwon Omoluabi’, another rip-off of Osun –PDP

sun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday said the recently launched "food weighing machine" by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration was another initiative to rip off the state and was meant to reward some Lagos based cronies of the governor. The party also said over N200 million was said to have been spent on the launch of the initiative, adding that an Ondo-born former aide of Governor Aregbesola, who ran for the governorship race in the state, collected N150 million for supplying marque and public address system used for the ceremony.

Governor Aregbesola on Monday, June 13 had launched the standardised weigh for use in markets across the state at an elaborate ceremony in Osogbo. But the PDP in a statement issued in Osogbo yesterday by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said the new scale was "another product of a confused mind, meant to rip off Osun people and was designed to fail." "Like the ‘Opon Imo’, common school uniforms and other similar white elephant projects executed by the present administration, this Osuwon project is never designed to succeed because Osun does not need such", the party said.

Ikeja youths to govt: Subvert kingmakers’choice, risk crisis

keja youths in Lagos State, under the aegis of Orile Ikeja Indigenes Association, have warned that any attempt by the government to appoint a traditional ruler for the community without the input of kingmakers would be an open invitation to crisis. The group, in a release signed by its Coordinator, Alhaji Adeshina Balogun, and Secretary, Mr. Olushola Alade, said it had got wind of a plan to set aside the kingmakers’ decision and make the state government appointed monarch designate the preferred

Oba of Ikeja. The kingmakers, led by the late Chief Rafiu Jafojo, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, had in December 2014 forwarded the name of Prince Shamshedeen Adeleye as the new Oba-elect of Ikeja. The youths, however, in the release titled, ‘Ikeja youths to Govt: Subvert kingmakers’ Choice, Risk Crisis’, accused a cabal within the community, the immediate past Executive Secretary of Ikeja Local Council and a Secretary to the state education board as sponsors of the agenda.

south-east | news

friday, june 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FRSC launches campaign against imported tyres Pamela Eboh Awka

he Anambra State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has mounted a campaign against the use of imported tyre, popularly known as ‘Tokunboh tyres’, describing it as death trap to motorists. The sector commander, Mr. Sunday Ajayi gave the advice at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area of the state during a public awareness programme on expired tyres. The programme which was organised by the Nteje Unit of the FRSC, had the theme “Know Your Tyre”. Ajayi stated that vulcanizers had contributed to the untimely deaths of many road users because of their lack of knowledge about expired tyres, or the correct volume of air needed to inflate a tyre.

He said: “You depend on the vulcanizer who does not know much about tyre’s life span. Just like we created awareness on safety belt, that same way we want to inform you on tyres and in order to save lives". The sector Commandant who was represented by the sector's head of operations, Mr. A. K. Okere, stressed that tyre had a life span of four years whether used or not, adding that the expiry dates were usually inscripted on tyre in four digits. He pointed out that the first two numbers wereweek of manufacture while the rest two connote month and year of manufacture. On the importation of expired tyres, he said that arrangement were in high gear between FRSC and the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON to stop the importation of expired tyres into the country.

Don urges stakeholders to save PDP from extinction Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

Don Prof. Jonah Onuoha of the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka, has urged stakeholders in the People Democratic party (PDP) to save the party from collapse by amicably resolving the leadership crisis rocking it. Onuoha, told newsmen in Nsukka yesterday that there appeared to be an invisible handy work of tireless moles within the fold of the party to destroy, saying if nothing serious was done, the party may be heading for extinction. “Stakeholders of the party should act fast to resolve the leadership

tussle in the national leadership involving the Senator Modu Ali Sheriff led faction and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who was elected the Caretaker National chairman at Rivers State national convection of the PDP. “Since the Rivers state convention,it appears there is invisible hand trying to put the party in disarray.“It’s unfortunate some PDP members are dancing to the tune of the drum of the invisible hand that wants to destroy the party, “he said. He said PDP as a party was very important in the present democracy in the country since without PDP there would be no viable and effective opposition, to APC that is the ruling party.

Abia to rebuild Ariara market Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

bia State Government has allayed the fears of traders of Ariaria International market Aba, stating that the original occupants of the market would be allotted their stalls after the renovation of the market. To this end, a committee made up of members of the state executive council including the Commissioner for Lands, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Trade, Works, Industries and Environment, had been set up to ensure the

realization of the objective. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha gave the assurance yesterday as part of the resolutions of the executive council meeting presided over by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. He said that the government aim was to lift the market to international standard with modern market facilities. He said that the committee had secured the approval of the governor to commence the renovation and assured that whatever the committee said regarding the duration of the renovation can be trusted.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State,(left) with Manchester City of England/Super Eagles of Nigeria's striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, when the latter paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital yesterday commenced hearing on a petition filed by former Governor of Abia State and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidate Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, challenging the declaration of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa as winner of the March 5 election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ohuabunwa winner of the rerun, but Kalu, had approached the tribunal to upturn the declaration, praying the tribunal to declare him as the winner

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate an alleged assault perpetrated by the Imo State Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu against pensioners during a protest rally organized by Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) to press home the demand for the payment of the pensioners’ 71 months outstanding arrears. The Program Director of NOPRIN, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma expressed dismay that such unpalatable assault could be unleashed on elderly members of the public by the Commissioner of Police. He called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately institute a probe into the actions of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, on the said clash with the pensioners. An eye witnesses had revealed that trouble started when Lakanu tried to forcefully remove the barricade put in place by the protesting pensioners at the Govern-

Abia rerun: Tribunal commences hearing of the rerun poll having scored majority of the lawful votes cast. Kalu, yesterday presented four witnesses who affirmed that no election took place in their areas. The first witness, Mike Ndu, PPA ward collation agent for Ututu Ward in Arochukwu Local Government Area, under cross examination said there was neither accreditation nor voting in the area. He told the tribunal that what happened was that the respondent’s thugs snatched ballot papers and boxes,

thumb printed and stuffed them into the boxes. The witness was corroborated by the second witness from Nkporo in Ohafia Local Government Area. The tribunal could not take the three other witnesses because counsel to INEC, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu objected to the witnesses saying that he was only served in the court and needed time to study the depositions. Counsel to Kalu, Kelvin Nwufo, had earlier prayed the tribunal to order the

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Umeh Kalu to leave the tribunal because some of the witnesses were not comfortable testifying in his presence. Speaking after the sitting, counsel to the petitioner, said that the petitioner wanted the tribunal to re- compute the result, saying that they (petitioners) already had the results which he said was wrongly allotted to the respondent. He expressed confidence that the tribunal would give them justice.

Assault on pensioners: NOPRIN demands probe of Imo CP

ment House Roundabout so as to resolve the traffic gridlock caused by the protest met but was resisted by the aggrieved pensioners who insisted that the barricade must not be removed. The pensioners resisted him and their resistance led the infuriated the CP to resort to force against the pensioners. According to a female pensioners whose voice

was relayed on a live radio programme, she said, "the CP pushed me and slapped another of our members who retaliated." The NUP Chairman said at that point the CP's orderlies cocked their guns and were asking for teargas before a woman police officer whose name tag read Mary Obasi advised against such action. In a recorded interview, the CP denied the

claims of the pensioners, saying that his status and training would not allow him to attack any elderly person. He added that he was actually attacked by the pensioners. Police spokesman, Andrew Enwerem said: "The altercation was exaggerated." He argued that the CP couldn't have raised his hand against the elderly people.

Enugu Assembly passes bill on N14.16bn bond Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he Enugu State House of Assembly has passed an executive bill, authorising the state government to raise internal loans of N15 billion from the capital market through bonds for specific development projects as approved by the state executive council. The Assembly listed the specific development projects to include urban and rural roads as well as the completion of the new Secre-

tariat Complex and the completion of the Medical Diagnostic Centre among others. The bill which had gone through second and third reading was passed on the merit of the debt instrument by members of the Assembly. Before the passage of the bill, the House had earlier passed a resolution on a motion brought before it by a member representing Udenu constituency and the House leader, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu and 22 others. In giving approval for the bond, the House au-

thorised that its payment would be by deductions from the monthly statutory federal allocations accruing to the state. "That the House of Assembly hereby authorises monthly deductions from the monthly statutory allocations accruing to the state from the federation account into an account(s) established for the purposes of servicing the state's debt obligations under the Note Issue(the 'Sinking Fund or any other account as may be designated by the subscriber to cover interest payments."

News|SOUTh-SOUTH

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari orders Kachikwu to visit maritime varsity site

...Says Nigeria to save N1.4trn from subsidy Adeola Yusuf

inister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu yesterday, paid an unscheduled visit to the site of the controversial Maritime University at Okerenkoko, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The minister was reportedly directed by the president, Muhammadu Buhari to embark on the trip. That came barely four days after Kachikwu and Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, openly disagreed over the propriety or otherwise of the institution and a few hours after another pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum

2.576m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions in Algeria in 2009. Source: Itu.int

Corporation ( NNPC) was breached in Akwa-Ibom state. ‘’We can’t take further chances anymore. Mr President directed the minister to embark on the trip to have an on-the-spot assessment of things’’, a source told our correspondent. The source further disclosed that the minister was considering a bill

N4,714.6bn The annual actual collection of taxes of Nigeria in 2014. Source: Firs.gov.ng

to the National Assembly for the conversion of the school to the Nigerian National Petroleum Academy. But the bill will come in form of an executive bill to be presented by President Buhari. Although those on the minister’s delegation were sketchy as at press time, a prominent Gbaramatu leader, Chief Daniel Ekpebide led him

349

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving civilians in 2006. Source: Satp.org

to the embattled university’s temporary site at Kurutie as well as the ongoing permanent site at Okerenkoko. Meanwhile, Kachikwu, has declared that the Federal Government’s savings from removal of subsidy from Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) would hit N1.4 trillion in one year. With the fall in crude oil prices and reduced

NAPIMS boss gets clean bill of health Gabriel Efeduku Ughelli

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole (fourth right), with seven gubernatorial aspirants of the All Progressives Congress after a meeting with the aspirants in Benin City

Children to N’Delta Avengers: Save us from becoming refugees Dominic Adewole ASABA

wing to the incessant attack on oil pipelines, hundreds of African children converged yesterday in Asaba, Delta state, with a call on the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace. This came barely few hours after Governor Ifeanyi Okowa employed the South-South branch of

the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to seek the face of God over the current crisis rocking the Niger Delta region. Okowa spoke in Warri at a special prayer session for God’s intervention in the Niger Delta crisis organised by the branch in conjunction with the state chapter of the Christian body. In the last four months, the group had destroyed oil installations belonging to Chevron, Shell, Agip and NNPC. At their gathering, the

children begged the group to consider their vulnerability in the event of a full-blown war in the Niger Delta region. Speaking at a forum organised to mark 2016 Day of African Child, tagged “Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting All Children’s Right”, the children said they may soon be forced to live as refugees in their own land. In their appeal, the participating children, drawn from various schools re-

viewed the impacts of war on the civilian populace particularly on children in some African countries. “We beg the Niger Delta Avengers to think about the plight of children in conflict situations. We need to see laughter of children but how can this be a reality when they are forced to live in refugee camps. We need government to enforce our rights and guarantee our welfare”, the leader of the children pleaded.

Bayelsa PDP decries exclusion from federal appointments Chris Ejim Yenagoa

he Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed dismay at what it described as the continuous unpleasant attitude of the All Progressive Congress (APC) led government at the center, in short-changing the state in federal appointments.

The party also frowned at the way and manner the Federal Government has been managing the nation’s economy which it noted was responsible for the inability of many states to meet their salary and other financial obligations to workers and the states in general. The party in a statement by its chairman, Deacon Cleopas Moses, cited the anomaly in the recent list of Ambas-

sador Nominees sent to the Senate, where no slot was given to Bayelsa. This he said was a clear indication of the personal grudge the APC led Federal Government had for the state. Moses queried the action and reason behind the decision, wondering if Bayelsa State does not had any career diplomat eligible to become an Ambassador and blasted the once “noisy” Bayelsa

APC for partly being responsible for the development because of the pain of losing woefully the last governorship election. He recalled that Governor Seriake Dickson had raised similar issue recently when he received the Head of Service of the Federation, where he decried the absence of a Bayelsan as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.

investment in the sector, the Minister, who spoke during a visit to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), charged the agency to re-strategize and transit from its role of just propagating local content and local participation to one of finding commonality with industry stakeholders to encourage investment.

he Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) yesterday gave the Group General Manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr. Dafe Sejebor, a clean bill of health over alleged fraud in contract award, with a call on a serving APC Governor in the South South to call his UK based son to order. An online report had accused the NAPIMS boss of a fraud of $260 Million “illegal” contracts. He was also accused of engaging in shady acts by frustrating the development of the local content act and doing things in favour of his mediocre cronies who were incompetent to handle jobs.

According to the online report, “by engaging in such shady acts, Dafe allegedly acquired stupendous wealth comprising expensive properties in Sugarland Texas, (US). However, in a press statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, the group said that the $260million contract followed due process and that some elements, including a son of a serving APC Governor in the South-South region were just out to tarnish the good image of the NAPIMS boss. According to the group; “Those behind the sponsored online report of June 14, 2015 are not telling the whole world the truth. The award of this said contract followed due process.

Don’t blackmail Kachikwu over pipeline security – Group Gabriel Efeduku Ughelli

n oil monitoring group, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) yesterday warned against any blackmail of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu, over Pipeline Security Contract. An online report had accused the Minister of squandering millions of dollars on pipeline security through the award of security contracts to incompetent friends and family members. The report also alleged that the Minister abandoned his wife and children for another woman. However, in a swift reaction, NDIMRC in a statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Of-

ficer (PRO), Stanley Mukoro, absolved Kachikwu of all allegations leveled against him. The Minister, according to the group was working with relevant Stakeholders in the Niger Delta Region to end vandalization of oil Pipelines, adding that he would soon deploy modern technology to bury pipelines out of the reach of vandals. The group said that; “We are surprised that some Stakeholders in the Oil and Gas Industry are at it again, they have refused to see anything good in the Petroleum Resources Minister. We should allow the Minister to remain focused on his national assignment.” These unnecessary distractions from some disgruntled Stakeholders in the Oil and Gas Industry are not healthy in our present situation in the country.”

News|NORTH

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Women leader to Melaye: Stop creating crises in Kogi Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

ogi State Deputy Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Deborah Oyiza, yesterday warned Senator Dino Melaye and his group to desist from creating crises in the state. The APC chieftain, who spoke in Lokoja while addressing journalists, said Melaye was only out to distract the governor from pursuing his agenda of developing the state, adding that Melaye could not be the judge in his own case. She said the section of the party’s constitution which the group was always quoting to back its action was at variance with the provision of

Article 21 of the party’s constitution in dealing with party members. The deputy women leader debunked the allegation that the governor appointed non-APC members as commissioners and his personal aides. “The governor should be commended for his large-hearted policy of inclusive government rather than the archaic policy of winner takes all,” she added. Oyiza berated the senator, being the spokesman of the group, for not understanding what constitutes anti-party activities, alleging that he was the first person to nominate Dr. Bukola Saraki on the floor of senate for the Senate President’s position against the decision of the party. Deborah said the sena-

tor was single-handedly given the opportunity to nominate the Secretary to the State Government despite the fact that the governor had never had an encounter with the woman. She therefore appealed to the group to embrace peace, having lost out in all their evil plots and manipulations against the governor. Meanwhile, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Samuel Madaki Usman, yesterday said the commission will partner with politicians in the state towards ensuring a violence-free rerun election schedule to hold on a date to be announced. The INEC boss also advised stakeholders to play politics without bitterness, saying contestants in the forthcoming

re-run election should play the game by the rules. The REC while addressing stakeholders, members of registered political parties, security operatives and others at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja, spoke about his mission and INEC’s preparation towards the re-run poll. He said the commission is determined to conduct free, fair and credible election in the Kogi East senatorial district. He said the onus for a conducive atmosphere for the election lies with the politicians. Usman also charged the stakeholders to go home and collaborate with the electorate towards ensuring a credible and acceptable re-run election in the concerned district.

Reduce prices of foodstuffs, Niger gov tells traders Dan Atori MINNA

iger State government yesterday appealed to market men and women to reduce the prices of their commodities, especially food items, in this holy month of Ramadan. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, made the plea when members of a concerned Muslim group

paid him a courtesy call in his office. Vatsa said reducing the prices of foodstuffs by traders during Ramadan will attract rich rewards from the Almighty Allah. He decried the current high prices in the market, saying “a recent market survey showed that prices of staple foodstuffs, especially in Minna, are higher than any other market in the North Central zone of the country.

180 aspirants purchase forms to contest Benue council poll Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

t least 180 aspirants across the different political parties in Benue State have purchased forms to contest the forthcoming local government elections in the state. The state’s Independent Electoral Commission has fixed September 3 for the conduct of the poll. New Telegraph gathered that of that figure, 178 were of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while seven were

on the ticket of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). APC Director of Publicity, Mr. John Ikwulono, told New Telegraph yesterday that 134 aspirants bought forms for councillorship positions and 34 aspirants for chairmanship positions. Similarly, the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, also confirmed that five aspirants have purchased forms for councillorship and two for chairmanship positions.

Kebbi, donor agencies parley to fight killer diseases Abubakar Abdul Birnin Keebbi

L-R: Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Silas Agara discussing with the DirectorGeneral, National Boundary Commission, Dr. Muhammad Ahmad in Abuja...recently

49.1%

The percentage of the urban population of Philippines in 2012. Source: Un.org

0.11%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Albania in 2000. Source: Itu.int

The number of listed FGN bonds of Nigeria as of December 31, 2015. Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

Nigerians’re dying of hunger, says Archbishop Musa Pam Jos

resident of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria and Archbishop, Catholic Diocese of Jos, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, yesterday appealed to President Muhammadu Bihari and the state governors to settle the salaries of civil servants and allowances of pensioners to enable them take care of their families. He said Nigerians

were dying of hunger and that government at all levels needed to do something to arrest the hardship in the country. Kaigama spoke during a meeting between religious and ethnic/ community leaders held at the Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace Centre (DREP) Kwang, Jos South Local Government Area of the state. The Archbishop, represented by Rev. Cletus Gotan and Chairman, Jamma’atu Nasir Islam, Alhaji Yusuf Sarumi,

both observed that Nigerians are dying of hunger. The leaders at the end of the meeting appealed to the government to come to the aid of Nigerians to end the hardship being experienced by the people. They said:“We call on both state and Federal Governments to try and reduce the hardship on the citizens by paying the salaries and pension of civil servants, especially school teachers. This is because civil servants

are not only bread winners, but have many dependants to care for.” The group also observed that the current grazing reserve bill before the national assembly should be debated with caution. “We observe that the issue of grazing reserve is a very sensitive issue among our communities. We need to do our best to first douse the tension and urge our members to apply caution in our comments and actions, it said.”

ebbi State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Hon. Hassan Kalgo, has assured international donor agencies that the state government was ready to partner with them and the media on the dangers of killer diseases and efforts being made to contain them in the state. The government said its partnership with the media will be in form of advocacy and enlighten-

ment of the masses. Kalgo spoke yesterday during a one-day workshop to develop the capacity of media practitioners on implementing media advocacy campaigns for affirmative action in protecting the right of people with disabilities and vulnerable groups with a clear understanding of leprosy and other killer diseases, the stigma and discrimination that goes with them, held at the premises of the Ministry of Women Affairs in the state capital.

Nasarawa varsity VC urges striking lecturers to resume work Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

ice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Mohammed Akaro Mainoma, yesterday appealed to striking lecturers of the institution to resume normal academic activities in the interest of the students. He particularly appealed to the leadership of ASUU in the university to engage government in dialogue for

amicable resolution of the issues. Mainoma made the appeal when he played host to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nasarawa State council in his office. The vice-chancellor expressed worry over the ultimatum given to the state government by members of the academic staff union of the university to meet their demands by Monday next week or be prepared for more action.

NEWS

WORLD \ NEWS

NULGE accuses Amosun of diverting N9.1bn bailout fund Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) yesterday accused Governor Ibikunle Amosun o0f Ogun State of allegedly diverting the N9.1billion bailout fund meant for the 20 local government areas of the state. The state President of NULGE, Comrade Ayuba Olatunji, who spoke at a news conference in Abeokuta, said the arrears of local government workers were not cleared with the bailout fund. But in a swift reaction,

the chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Rotimi Ramon, denied the allegation, saying the state government disbursed the fund accordingly. Ramon, a former chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, said the local government workers were not privy to the disbursement of the bailout fund. The disagreement over the alleged diversion of bailout fund came amidst report of a fresh financial support facility from the Federal Government to enable states to cushion the effects of current economic crisis.

It would be recalled that the Amosun administration said it received over N18.9billion as bailout to clear the arrears of salaries owed workers, out of which N9.1billion was meant for local governments in the state. But NULGE declared yesterday that the money was not administered to clear the backlogs of salaries owed staff of the local governments. Olatunji said the administration of local governments had been crippled in the last five years to the extent that the councils cannot perform their statutory functions.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

British lawmaker shot dead, EU referendum campaigns suspended

British Member of Parliament was shot dead in the street in northern England yesterday, causing deep shock across Britain and the suspension of campaigning for next week’s referendum on the country’s EU membership. Jo Cox, 41, a lawmaker for the opposition Labor Party and vocal supporter of Britain remaining in the European Union, was attacked as she pre-

Cox

pared to hold a meeting with constituents in Birstall near Leeds. Me-

dia reports said she had been shot and stabbed. West Yorkshire Police said a 52-year-old man was arrested by officers nearby and weapons including a firearm recovered. The motive for the attack was not immediately known. “The whole of the Labor Party and Labor family - and indeed the whole country - will be in shock at the horrific murder of Jo Cox today,” Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn said in a statement.

Caleb emerges best secondary school in Lagos

aleb International College, Magodo Lagos, once again shone like galaxy of stars on Tuesday, bagging the prestigious Award of “The Best Private Secondary School in Lagos State in 2015”. The award was yet another monumental feat added to the string of previous meritorious recognitions given to the College for academic, moral and spiritual excellence. The Award Ceremony held at Classic Event

Centre, Oregun, Lagos was presented to Caleb International College by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Kassim Mufutau. Speaking moments after the presentation of the Award to Caleb International College, the Project Manager of the Zunongene Ltd, the organizer of the event, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oluwatoyin, said the College got the award based on

the painstaking efforts of the no-nonsense research team of Lagos State Ministry of Education. Oluwatoyin said the findings of the research team proved beyond reasonable doubt that Caleb International College was truly committed to academic, moral and spiritual excellence. Responding to the Award, the Principal, Caleb International College, Magodo, Mrs. Linda Olumese, described it as the marvelous doings of God.

Executive, legislative arms working in tandem –Minister

he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says contrary to the belief in certain quarters, the Executive and Legislative Arms of Government are working harmoniously to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the citizenry.

The Minister made the remarks in Abuja on Wednesday when he received the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, led by its Chairman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, on a courtesy visit to his office. “If the spokesman of the Senate wants to meet the spokesman of Govern-

ment, that says a lot about the trust, understanding and also the confidence between the two arms of government. This visit will also show the world that the so-called feud between the Executive Arm of Government and the Legislative Arm is only the figment of their own imagination,” he said.

Niger Delta: Imo lawmakers kick over exclusion from dialogue Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

embers of Imo State House of Assembly has kicked against the exclusion of the state in the dialogue between the Federal Government and Oil producing states in the Niger Delta in a bid to end the renewed militancy in the oil producing areas.  The l aw m a ke r s warned that the peaceful disposition of youths from the state should not be a reason to undermine the interests of the state and deny it of its rightful place in the

scheme of things. They noted that as a result of the prevailing peace in the state, Imo contributes significantly to the volume of crude oil produced per day in the region.  The lawmaker representing Oguta state constituency, one of the oil producing Council Areas of the state, Hon Henry Ezediaro, who made the observation during the plenary to mark one year anniversary of the House, lamented that the state has been repeatedly shortchanged by the Federal Government on issues relating to the oil sector, despite having the highest

gas deposit in the country.  Also, member representing Aboh Mbaise constituency, Hon Mike Iheanetu, maintained that the decision to exclude the state from the planned dialogue was in bad fate and intended to further marginalize the state. He queried, “Is it when our youths take up arms and start blowing up pipelines that the state will be accorded its rights. What is happening now, especially the decision to exclude the state from the dialogue, shows that only those states that blow up pipelines and destroy oil installations that are regarded as stakeholders”

The atrocity has left the community shattered.

Obama consoles Orlando victims

S P re s i d e n t Barack Obama met yesterday in Orlando with survivors of the massacre at a gay nightclub and relatives of the 49 people killed, as the attack prompted the US Senate to move toward voting on gun control measures. Reprising the role of consoler in chief that he has played following periodic mass shootings that have shaken the country since he took office in 2009, Obama was flying to Orlando with Vice President Joe Biden. Sunday’s attack, in which 53 people were also wounded, ranks as

the worst mass shooting in modern US history. Gunman Omar Mateen, 29, a US citizen born in New York to Afghan immigrants, pledged allegiance during his rampage to Islamic State and other Islamist militant groups. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack but US officials have said they do not believe Mateen was assisted from abroad. Reiterating this, CIA Director John Brennan told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing yesterday that the agency had “not been able to uncover any direct link”

between Mateen, who was shot dead by police, and foreign militants. Orlando began to mourn the dead after what was also the worst attack in America on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Wakes were under way for at least three victims: Kimberly Morris, Anthony Luis Laureano Disla and Roy Fernandez. Some 23 of the wounded remained hospitalized, with six in critical condition, according to Orlando Regional Medical Center. During his attack, Mateen also posted messages on Facebook.

EgyptAir MS804 crash: Voice recorder recovered from sea

he cockpit voice recorder from the EgyptAir plane that crashed last month has been found in the Mediterranean, Egyptian investigators say. The “black box” was damaged and had to be pulled out in several stages but its memory unit was intact, they said. A search vessel with an underwater robot has been scouring the crash site and has sent

back images of wreckage. Flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo crashed May 19, killing all 66 people on board. It is not clear yet what caused the aircraft to go down. In a statement, investigators said: “The vessel’s equipment was able to salvage the part [of the recorder] that contains the memory unit, which is considered the most important part of the recording device.” The recorder will now be

taken to the Egyptian city of Alexandria to be studied. The plane’s manufacturer, Airbus, previously said that finding the black boxes was crucial to understanding what happened when radar lost track of MS804. Electronic messages sent by the plane revealed that smoke detectors went off in the toilet and the aircraft’s electrics, minutes before the radar signal was lost.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport

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Did you know?

Zamalek top players to miss Enyimba match

That Manchester United, Marcus Rashford became the youngest player at Euro 2016.

International England beat wales with last-minutes winner

46 47

Siasia picks Akpeyi as first choice for Olympics Tobi Emmanuel

igeria’s U-23 coach Samson Siasia has listed South Africa-based Daniel Akpeyi as first choice goalkeeper ahead of Emmanuel Daniel thereby picking the slot of one of the over-aged players for Nigeria squad to the Rio Olympics. Akpeyi, who plays for Chippa United in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, was initially not in contention for a place in the squad, as Siasia had listed only outfield players as possible over-aged for the Games, but appears to have had a change of heart. “Dan (Akpeyi) was not on the list before but coach (Siasia) realised he needed an experienced goalkeeper in the squad especially after the Korea tournament,” a source within the team informed. “He (Akpeyi) is not new to coach and that’s why he has been selected and I can tell you that he will make the team except any last minute change like his club refusing to release him, which we don’t think will happen,” the source added.

Akpeyi

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan

he situation at the Abuja secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation is dire as staff members are going three months without salary, a development that represents how financially incapable the federation has become, New Telegraph has learnt. That the federation has been grappling with acute funds shortage is no longer news but the situation has now become almost unbearable as the body can no longer fulfil its financial obligations to employees and contractors. A source who is a member of staff told our correspondent that many of his colleagues had found life so tough because they were yet to be paid their wages. “Things are tough in Abuja,” the NFF staff member began. “There is no money in the NFF at the moment; I even pity the President, Amaju Pinnick, because the thing is getting worse. Securing approval for other little overheads have been so tough now, that is how bad our situation has become. We thought that things would improve after the budget was passed but up till now we are yet to see any changes. I heard the General Secretary Dr Muhammed Sanusi had written a lot of memo to the Sport Ministry for bailout but nothing has come, it is like situation in the ministry is not significantly different from what is happening here” It is said that the federation owed its late Technical Director, Shaibu Amodu, about seven months salary arrears even though the Secretary General, had debunked the figure, insisting they owed the former Super Eagles coach two months arrears. Our correspondent also learnt that up till now the federation was yet to pay the Super Eagles winning bonuses

Ighalo (left)

NFF’s cash crunch bites harder Unable to pay salary, meet financial obligations

for the last two international friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg. Our correspondent learnt from another source that the appearance fees the federation collected from the agents that organised the two friendly matches had been

converted into another use. The source also informed our correspondent that the Flying Eagles too were yet to get both camping allowance and their winning bonuses for their home and away victories over Burundi in the CAF U-20

Nations Cup qualifiers. “I can confirm to you that the NFF is yet to pay them the bonuses. They told the Eagles the money would be paid into their domiciliary account but up till now they are yet to do so,” the source said.

I’m tired of being Eagles’ assistant coach –Yusuf Says it’s Eagles’ top job or nothing

igeria caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf has urged the Nigeria Football Federation to give him the Super Eagles job on a permanent basis insisting that he has paid his dues and would not consider another position in the team. In the past one year, Yusuf, a former El Kanemi and Ranchers Bees midfielder, has assisted

Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh and Samson Siasia in the Super Eagles. He has also assisted Siasia on two other occasions – between 2010-11 with the Super Eagles and at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. Last month, he was temporarily in charge of the country’s team for two friendlies against Mali and Luxem-

bourg last month. “I am through with assisting any coach because I believe I can do the job now after assisting Keshi, Oliseh and Siasia,” declared the 54-year-old Yusuf, who has received support from players and officials to be appointed the country’s next coach. “I have a good idea of the country’s players both at home and

abroad and I believe with a group of willing experienced players and youngsters we can go on to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.”

Yusuf

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Zamalek top players to miss Enyimba match

Emmanuel Tobi

amalek will miss the services of Mahmoud Abdel-Razek ‘Shikabala’ and Ayman Hefny-two of the side’s key players-when they

travel to Nigeria to face Enyimba in the first round of the CAF Champions League group stage. The Cairo giants are scheduled to launch their CAF Champions League group

stage campaign when they face Enyimba on June 19. Zamalek’s coach, Mohamed Helmy, has all together excluded five regular players from his squad for the Enyimba clash for different reasons.

Excel School lifts 18th NNPC/Shell Cup Bamaiyi, Ejeh for Netherland trip

The Excel Education Centre boys celebrating their victory at the 18th edition of the NNPC/Shell Cup after defeating Fosla Academy, Abuja 3-2.

were selected by the coaching crew from Feyenoord Academy, as the two best players of the 2016 tournament and would be sponsored for a training tour to The Netherlands. A large crowd cheered the two teams. They included the Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor; the Group General Manager CSR of NNPC, Mr.

Ahmed Laminu who represented the Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS); and President of the Nigeria Schools Sports Federation, Mallam Ibahim Mohammed. Earlier, Government Science Secondary School, Bauchi defeated Asegun Comprehensive High School, Ibadan by 4-3 in the third place match.

orld football governing body FIFA has said it will release new seedings for 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament African zone on June 21 following complaints from several of the teams. Egypt are among the countries who have complained about the seedings which put them in Pot 2 along with Nigeria. They have argued they should be in Pot 1 which is reserved for the top seeds. According to a memo to

sadors. According to Shola Olaogun, a student of Onitolo Grammar School, Surulere Lagos, “By identifying with the Principals’ Cup, Chivita fruit juice encourages us to excel and not settle for less than the best.” According to Chi Limited’s Head of Marketing, Probal Bhattacharya, “We recognise the power of sports for social good. Our support for sports in Nigeria is based on its hugely positive impact on development goals including improving health, education and community cohesion. It also helps to communicate important messages to a range of different audiences.”

Olusegun Giwa

for mer member of the Nigeria Football Federation and Deputy Head House Committee on Sports, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, has sympathised with the families of late Super Eagles

Abuja Football College team

Coaches, Shaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi. Keshi died on June 8 in Benin while Amodu also passed on in the ancient city on June 11. The lawmaker who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone from the United States of America expressed shock over the two incidents that happened within three days. Omidiran said: “I feel so sad that we are losing these two people at a time we need to reposition football in the country. That Amodu was working at the secretariat of the NFF was a big plus for football development but now he is no more. “Keshi did well as a coach and a player for Nigeria. I still remember he was at the National Assembly to meet us at a time we were trying to solve a problem for the Super Eagles. We have indeed lost two football legends in the country.” “We cannot forget them in a hurry. They were both great ambassadors of Nigeria.”

Victory over Real Madrid excites Abuja Football College ... As team arrive Nigeria amidst reception

Queens team of Cote d’ Ivoire’s Lago Likpia (left) battling to take a shot against Flowers team of Benin Republic at the Sam Ocheho/InnJoo handball tourney in Lagos

the 20 teams in the final rounds of the qualifiers signed by FIFA deputy secretary general Marco Villiger, a new special ranking will be released on June 21, which is three days before the draw for the World Cup qualifiers. The 20 teams will be drawn into five groups of four teams with the overall group winners qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The qualifiers are from October to November 2017.

Omidiran mourns Amodu, Keshi

Chivita boosts Lagos Principals Cup n furtherance of its continued support for sports and commitment to youth development in Nigeria, Chi Limited recently participated in the finals of the just concluded Lagos State Principal’s Cup. Renowned to be one of the biggest grassroots football competitions in Nigeria, the tournament comprises inter-secondary school soccer amongst schools in Lagos. Thousands of students across the state who thronged the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos to witness the final match were entertained with delightful football skills and refreshed with Chivita 100% fruit juice by brand ambas-

Hefny

FIFA announces new World Cup seeds for Africa

xcel Education Centre, Port Harcourt on Thursday clinched the 18th edition of the NNPC/Shell Cup with a 3-2 victory over FOSLA Academy, Abuja. In the match played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos, Joseph Tari of Excel opened the goals in the 13th minute but Solomon Abraham of Fosla Academy registered the equaliser in the 14th minute. Jacob Bamaiyi shot the Excel boys back to the lead in the 33rd minute. The second half saw Tari finding the net again to increase the tally. In a brilliant show of resilience and determination, Solomon converted a penalty to score the second goal for his side. All the final four teams winners smiled home with a total of N8.2million – N3.5m for the 1st position; N2.3m for the 2nd position; N1.3m and N1.1 for the 3rd and the 4th positions respectively. Also, Kelvin Amadi of Excel School and Joseph Ejeh of Fosla

“Mohamed Koffi has been sidelined for disciplinary reasons, while Ayman Hefny and Ahmed Hamoudi are out with injuries,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

ootball College Abuja broke records and made history at the weekend by defeating Real Madrid in the finals of U-19 Mladen Ramljak tournament. The Abuja football college had participated in the tour nament three times – got bronze twice and trophy-less once. It is annual event, since 2003, organized by GNK Dinamo in the honour of their deceased legend – Mladen Ramljak. The U-19 competition witnessed clubs like Maribor FC, Dinamo Zagreb, Copen-

praised the efforts and deter mination of both hagen FC, Maccabi Haifa, the players and coaches Sarajevo, Real Madrid, Foot- and charged them to ball College Abuja and Had- keep up the spirit. juk Split of Croatia Abdullahi Suleiman was THURSDAY RESULTS named the “best player” and EURO 2016 “highest goal scorer” of the tour nament while Maribor England 2-1 Wales keeper, Nino Irgoli, and Ja0-2 N.Ireland vier Har nandez, from Real Ukraine Madrid, were named best FRIDAY FIXTURES goalkeeper and defender respectively. EURO 2016 Speaking on the success vs Sweden 2pm recorded by the Soccer Acad- Italy emy while receiving the team Czech vs Croatia 5pm in Abuja, the college Adminvs Turkey 8pm istrator Mr Kumbi Titiloye Spain

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Immortalising our fallen football legends

or how long shall we continue to the fact that “the labour of our heroes be an ungrateful nation? How long past shall never be in vain.” Unfortushall we remain unappreciative of nately, the reverse is the case. our fallen football heroes who offered Ironically, the case of Uche Okafor their services with selfless love? And and Rashidi Yekini, both products how long shall we jettison our lip service of the victorious 1994 African Cup of of love after these men have gone into Nations and the second best entertaintheir untimely graves with sad faces? ing team in the world at USA 1994 World Many of these fallen legends have Cup remain highly pathetic. They died been left in unmarked graves having unsung and till date nothing significant lived in penury. How many can we count has been done to immortalise them. It that have faced this shameful exit? And shows that our sportsmen and women the list is becoming endless and so are are only unnerving scoring abilities the woes piling. n almost resorted to begging due to ill The natural question that readily health before his death, yet nothing tancomes to mind is whether it is a crime gible was done by the federation in his for these heroes to have put their talents, memory. Now that the towering Irokos, their special gifts and services to the glo- what a combination, have fallen in quick ry of the nation? It is unfortunate that successions, talking of the untimely our sports administrators are portray- deaths of Stephen Okechuckwu Keshi ing this nation as conglomeration and Amodu Shuaibu, of ingrates. It is high time concertin the prime of their ed efforts were made to change this carrier; the question ugly perception, which has dealt a on the lips of all is what great blow on our national psyche will government do It is rather and also serves as a great de-motito immortalize these unfortunate vating factor. heroes, who through It is rather unfortunate that that there is no their toil brought joy there is no clear-cut policy in and helped to unite place designed to honour sports clear-cut policy the nation? Both are men and women who have served national icons as far in place to the nation meritoriously. The as I’m concerned! honour sports They added great nation only cheer them when they are still useful but turn value to our football men who its back on them when their caboth at club side and have served reers are over. The pain again is national level. There is that even until now there is no no gainsaying that the the nation Hall of Fame in Nigeria despite eyes of the world are meritoriously our advancement in sports. The on us, to either draw only exception was an attempt inspiration from the made by the late Air Commodore pronouncement to be Sampson Emeka Omerua, the erst- made by government and by extension while Sports Minister and one time the federation or alternately pour scorn chairman of the Nigeria Football As- on the nation that has grown to be resociation. The effort was frustrated garded as an ungrateful nation. the moment he left office. They forgot The tale of woes of unfulfilled promisthe fact these are part of the ancillary es and outright humiliation in the hands industries attached to sports capable of the federation they served meritoriof employing our youths. ously with their sweat and blood has left The litany of woes is lengthy and a sad taste in our mouth. The world is we are still counting. First was Sam anxiously waiting for a pronouncement Okwaraji, a qualified lawyer who had that will assuage the thirst of their mila Masters’ degree in international law lions of admirers all over the world who from the University of Rome. He col- still feel cheated over the manner their lapsed and died of congestive heart icons were treated by the federation. failure in the 77th minute of a World If I may hazard a guess, the best action Cup qualification match against An- to be taken by the Nigeria Football Federgola at the Lagos National Stadium in ation is to apologise to the memories of Surulere, on August 12, 1989. Twenty- these legends and pay their families all seven (27) Years after his demise, he outstanding bills owed them. Their outhas remained unsung. Apart from standing salaries, match bonuses and alsetting up the burst of his statue in lowances must be settled promptly with front of the Lagos National Stadium, interests. And not asking for too much, nothing tangible was done for the fam- all burial expenses should be borne by ily, particularly the aged mum, who the federation; and after then, befitting is still alive. No national monument national monuments that are well situwas named after him for reasons best ated should be named after them. known to our administrators. Of a truth, our national monuments I believe that considering the level of are not named after politician or highsacrifice the legendary player made for ranking government functionaries only. Nigeria, prior to his untimely death, his These national mobilizers and promotbones must be tumbling in his grave at ers of our national unity must be acthis moment with anger, because he had corded the same due to serve as motivalaboured in vain. The greatest pain of tion for others. them all is that two lines in the first stanThe time to appreciate our national za of our national anthem emphasizes heroes is now.

England beat Wales with last-minute winner D

aniel Sturridge’s injury-time goal was enough to give England victory; with four points, they are close to the second phase; with three points, Wales aren’t far off either. England started well, pinning Wales inside their box, but found it difficult to create chances

against a team sitting back and sitting deep. Raheem Sterling missed badly after seven minutes, guiding a finish wide, but England could not create any serious chances after that, moving the ball too slowly. Then, just before half-time, Wales won a free-kick 30 yards out and central.

Up stepped Gareth Bale, and his slammed a curler that Joe Hart ought to have saved but instead palmed into the corner. Roy Hodgson needed to make changes at the break and he did, bringing on Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy for Sterling and Harry Kane; he was rewarded when Vardy equalised, swivelling in the box to finish from close range when Ashley Williams’ head squirted the ball directly to him. Neither side created much thereafter, but England kept at it, and the perseverance of Sturridge and Dele Alli created a superbly taken winner.

Talent hunt: Rufai partners HotSports

Rooney (right) and Bale

Federer picks up momentum

oger Federer, playing his second event since returning from a back injury, says he is starting to get into a rhythm. The top seed fell to Dominic Thiem in the semifinals in Stuttgart, and is playing Halle this week. “The bar is naturally lower,” he said following his first-round win over Jan-Lennard Struff. “[J] ust because I need to first feel like I’m free with everything—my mind, my body, my game, whatever. So, there’s so many things to work through it.”

But having now played five matches on grass, the seven-time Wimbledon champion— and eight-time Halle champion—is starting to aim higher. “I’m getting there,” he said. “I’m happy that I’m getting more and more info every match I play. Now, I think it was clearly really good for me that I played Stuttgart ... Now I feel, after the first round [and] after having played last week, actually maybe something is really possible here.

Federer

x-Super Eagles’ living legend, Peter Rufai is seeking the partnership of HotSports Nigeria, a subsidiary of HS Media Group, in discovering and promoting hidden football talents in schools in order to help develop the game nationally. The renowned ex-goalkeeper nicknamed ‘Dodo Mayana’ was at the company’s corporate headquarters in Oregun, Lagos where he held a closed door meeting with the Group’s Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Taye Ige on how best to collaborate in discovering latent talents for Nigeria. Rufai, in conjunction with Mind Builders Schools in Oregun hold football clinics, where they encourage football participation in schools and skill development. “We had a fruitful discussion,” HotSports Nigeria Chairman, Mr. Taye Ige said as he emerged from the closed tete-a-tete. “He came to ask for our support for his project and the company has agreed to do that in furtherance of its social responsibility to the public and in the company’s belief in grassroots sports development.” In response, Rufai said: “We have always known that our belief in HotSports Nigeria is not misplaced. We have come to the right place and we were not disappointed.”

Buffon: Conte will be excellent for Chelsea

uventus captain Gigi Buffon says Italy coach Antonio Conte will be a success with Chelsea. The Italy goalkeeper knows Conte’s methods inside out as they won three titles together at Juventus before the manager took over the national team in 2014. “Conte is a big coach and I’m convinced he will be an excellent one at Chelsea,” said

Buffon. “A Conte team is strong in defence and works constantly, day to day. Conte is a coach with an idea very simple. For the players he makes it very clear. He wants to play without risk in the defensive line and to exploit the opportunities to score goals when they come. This appears easy but he always wants more. So to go where we want we need to do whatever the coach asks of us.”

On Marble

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

— Aristotle

Sanctity of Truth

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Pains of womanhood

hen you take a look at your daughter(s), what do you feel? Love, pride, plenty of affection, yes. All normal. As each day breaks and she grows from that little thing the nurses handed you after a long hard labour, to a petite girl, small adult (like my friend would say) and a young woman, do you feel apprehensive? What’s there to be apprehensive about? Plenty. Maybe it’s only me who is anxious. But each time I look at my daughter’s innocent eyes and she smiles those smiles full of love and trust, my heart can’t help but thud at the status of women in this society.

Here is a little girl, all adorable and lovely but going into a world that is harsh on women. You see the number of men who strip you naked with their eyes daily and fear for your girl. You think of all the indignities she might have to endure because she’s a female and you wonder what our claim to sophistication is all about. Unlike our sons, our daughters are coming into a society where they have to scream to be heard and run like hell to catch up with anything. They would have to work extra hard to attain anything or be recognized. Such is the sad society that refuses to accommodate women the way they should. Right from the start, it’s a girl who should stay in the kitchen with mummy while ‘Junior’ learns about how the remote control works with the TV. She’s the one to help mummy set the table while daddy and son busy themselves doing nothing anyone can see. Oh well, they argue about computer games and football game fixtures and coaches of the Premiership teams, etc. While your little girl is graduating from washing her panties to dresses, Junior’s CV only reads “holding the hose to wash daddy’s car.” And when it’s time to choose a career, the girl’s should finish the dishes and the boys’ their law school. Who said women can’t be doctors and the men nurses? Tell me who decreed that it is men who should be managing directors and the women their personal assistants. In the work place, the story gets worse. The personnel manager feels sorry for the young woman sitting in front of him because she read mechanical engineering. “I mean, she could have just read chemistry and go to teach so she could have time for her family” Tufia. As if men don’t have families along with their careers. It’s all right for men to be geologists, but how many oil companies want a woman on the rig. “Why, she’d ask for maternity leave and time to take her kids for immunization.” Pray, educate me on how more men would come into being if we stop going on maternity leave. When an unmarried young woman is discussing salary with her would-be employers and she’s talking in six-figures, official car and residence,

Man was made to suffer, woman to feel the pain

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the recruiting panel feels scandalized. What does she need so much money for? What indeed! So, it’s only men who should be seen behind the wheels of a Land Cruiser and Peugeot 607, ehn? No way, my daughter is going to drive a big car. And when she comes home in tears because the big boss says unless she ‘plays ball,’ she’d remain on the same salary scale for all time, what do you tell her? “It’s always like that. I went through that

too. You ‘ll get used to it.” Too bad but that’s the society we live in. True, there are now more female doctors and pharmacists etc, but ask yourself at what expense? Because a woman’s place is at home (no matter her qualification), even if she has a career, there are steps too bold for her to take. Her husband can apply for a UNICEF job and go abroad for two years while everybody (except me) would think she’s gone crazy to do the same.

PHOTO: www.hrw.org Who ‘ll take care of the kids? What if her husband impregnates the maid or marries a second wife while she’s gone? Rubbish, arrant nonsense and crude selfishness, all that. If the world won’t tumble if he goes on one-year fellowship abroad, it shouldn’t if she does the same. It’s all right to be a man and be single at 40 but if an unmarried woman of 35 gets angry because a careless driver crashed into her car, ‘she’s making so much noise because she’s frustrated.’ She can’t even protest an arbitrary rent hike without her landlord sneering ‘better go and marry’ as if her world must come to a stand still because she’d single. When a couple marries and after a year, there is no baby to show the in-laws, it’s because the woman is barren. Thank God, we now known there are barren men too. Men who do unproductive performance. I don’t know about you but I say all these are worth getting mad about. We celebrate the International Women’s Day and I think we should take stock and make our anger felt like, Lisa Jones said in Bulletproof Diva: “Who else, after all, has a stake in our visibility, our power and representation but ourselves and those children we are raising?”

Tell me who decreed that it is men who should be managing directors and the women their personal assistants Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: AYODELE OJO.