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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011
Alleged $35m laundering: Ibori’s trial may begin in November •Niger Delta group demands release
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Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), his wife Mrs.Omolara Olanipekun during the book presentation and 20th anniversary of call to the Inner Bar of Olanipekun, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday
•M.D Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Imoukhuede; Speaker House of Representatives, Waziri Aminu Tambora; Lady Veheoma Chukurudum, SSA to Anambra Governor on Liaison Matter at the event. PHOTOS: MOSEHIN MOSES
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Fresh labour unrest looms
A fresh labour crisis is looming as the Nigeria Labour Congress plans to resist any move to withdraw Federal Government’s subsidy on fuel. Already, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have declared that petroleum workers will commence strike on Monday. The union is embarking on the industrial action to protest the sale of oil wells by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). Also, the Presidency is weighing options on whether to deregulate the oil industry or simply strive to put the economy in a better shape to accommodate the after-effects of deregulation. Investigation by The Nation revealed that although state governors are in favour of withdrawal of fuel subsidy to get more cash to pay the new N18,000 minimum wage, Labour is opposed to it. The governors had in June urged President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw fuel subsidy. But a top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Withdrawal of subsidy was not part of the wage talks between Labour and the Federal Government. We had the agreement without any precondition. “The truth is that we will resist any move by the government to withdraw fuel subsidy. Our position is that the government cannot take back with the left hand what it has given with the right hand. “That was why we asked the Federal Government and state governors to go back to the drawing board and devise means of paying the new minimum wage. “Already, they are thinking of adjusting the revenue allocation
•Petroleum workers begin strike Monday •Labour vows to resist subsidy removal Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and John OFIKHENUA, Abuja formula. This is a preferable option to withdrawal of fuel subsidy. “If the economy cannot accommodate the new wage rate, we would not have agitated for it. “So, what we are saying is that we won’t accept withdrawal of fuel subsidy either now or next year. That is another battle we are going to fight with the government.” Responding to a question, another Labour source said: “The socio-economic situation of the country is bad and cannot accommodate total withdrawal of fuel subsidy. “According to the CBN, unemployment rate in the country has worsened from 13.1 per cent in 2000 to 19.7 per cent in 2009. “The apex bank also claimed that a survey in 2009 showed that 22 out of 36 states had unemployment rates of above 15 per cent. “With this grim picture, Labour won’t watch and allow the government to withdraw subsidy again. Findings however showed that the presidency is cautious in its plans to deregulate the petroleum sector. A presidency source said: “It is too early to assume wholesale that the government has concluded plans to withdraw subsidy. “In spite of the fact that the governors have made a case for the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, the government has only been consulting on options available to it. “Some stakeholders are de-
manding partial or gradual withdrawal of fuel subsidy instead of total withdrawal. “A few stakeholders, like the NLC, have rejected any form of withdrawal of subsidy. With these divergent views, it is obvious that fuel subsidy palaver is a ‘time-bomb’ issue which the government may not be inclined to go into in a hurry. “We also have another set of stakeholders who are saying that the government should grow the economy to a healthy level before withdrawing fuel subsidy. “The government is weighing the options on whether to sustain the present trend of phased withdrawal of subsidy or jettison it for a while. You may think that fuel subsidy is purely an economic matter, but for a country like ours, it could trigger many political challenges for the government. “That is why the government has not made any pronouncement even though the subsidy palaver is draining its revenue.” All relevant government officials contacted on the matter preferred to speak in confidence saying repeatedly ‘it is a delicate issue, the government is looking at options.’ According to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), the Federal Government subsidized petroleum products to the tune of N621.5 billion last year. The PPPRA pricing template for June, 2011 shows that a litre of petroleum product is subsidized with N81. The landing cost per litre of imported petrol, according to
the PPPRA, is N135.52, but the total amount per litre is N148.72 after the addition of distribution margins as follows: Retailers (N4.60k); transporters (N2.75k); dealers (N1.75); bridging fund plus Marine Transport Average rates (MTA) (N3.95k); and administrative charge (N15k). Petrol is sold at N65 per litre. Daily consumption is 35 million per litres. Kerosene is subsidized to the tune of N111.01k per litre. Daily consumption is eight million litres. The pump price is N50 per litre. It costs N161.01 per litre to get it to the filling station. Meanwhile, a nationwide fuel scarcity is in the pipeline, as the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers last night announced that it would proceed on a threeday warning strike on Monday. NUPENG’s President, Comrade Igwe Achesi, who disclosed this after its National Executive Meeting in Abuja, said the industrial action is predicated on workers’ protest against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Limited’s sale of oil wells. The strike, he added, is also induced by the struggle against unnecessary termination of workers’ appointments and the non- remission of pension dues to the workers who served for about 15 to 20 years. He said: “Most of the oil blocks have been sold. The fate of the workers cannot be ascertained. We started this struggle in 1992 when we realised that there was no pension and gratuity for the workers after putting in 15 to 20 years of service.”
HE trial of ex-Delta State governor, James Ibori over alleged laundering of about $35 million may begin in November. But the ex-governor is still kept in custody by the UK authorities pending the commencement of his trial. A group, Niger Delta Liberty Initiative, yesterday demanded the release of the former Delta State governor. Investigation showed that at the resumption of the hearing of Ibori’s case at the Southwark Crown Court on Friday, the ex-governor was absent because the court has not fixed a date for his trial. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Actually, the ex-governor did not come to the court, because he is still in custody. “What transpired at the court was mainly on the commencement date of the trial of Ibori. Although the counsel argued for and against, the trial may begin on November 14. “The hearing of the case was riddled with drama as pro and anti-Ibori supporters staged peaceful demonstrations at the court premises.” Ibori had appeared at the City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court on April 22, 2011 and next appeared at Southwark Crown Court on April 28, 2011 through video link. The ongoing trial of Ibori ended almost four years litigation over the matter. On August 2, 2007, an Application of Restraint was heard at Southwark Crown Court on Ibori’s assets worth $35 million. The application was successful and made under the Proceeds of Crime Act. It related to business and private finances. On October 1, 2007, the Application was reviewed at a further hearing at Southwark Crown Court and the Restraint was discharged. It was also learnt that a coalition of activists and professionals under the aegis of Niger Delta Liberty Initiative (NDLI) yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the premises of Southwark Crown
Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation Court, London, calling for the release of Chief James Ibori on humanitarian grounds. In an online statement, which was signed by Mr. Jaro Egbo, the group said the protest was with the permit of the Metropolitan Police. The statement, which was made available to the media by Ibori’s Special Assistant on Media, Tony Eluemunor, said: “The group believes that the recent hacking scandal involving Rupert Murdoch NewsCorp and the resignation of top police officials suggest that the British government Justice system may not be as perfect as it seems. “We therefore call on the British authorities to release Ibori on humanitarian ground to return home to Nigeria, as the trial is more or less based on political struggle and rivalry in Nigeria leadership. “We believe that the Nigerian government should learn from the Australian authorities on how to treat their nationals, as exemplified by the support extended to Murdoch in the hacking incident. “The Nigerian government should not lose sight of the territorial implication of hounding their nationals to foreign jurisdiction under the pretext of fighting corruption. “The Niger Delta Liberty Initiative (NDLI) will continue to make all necessary sacrifices and provide support within the sphere of the law to ensure that Chief James Ibori, who is a victim of highwire politics and conspiracy, is released and allowed to return to his home country, Nigeria, where he played and will continue to play a key role in the stability, peace and political evolution in the oil rich Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general. “We call on all well-meaning Nigerians across the globe to join the campaign for the release of James Ibori by the British authority on humanitarian grounds.”
Nnaji raises hope on regular power supply
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INISTER of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji has assured that Nigeria will soon experience uninterrupted power supply. The minister, who arrived Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu amid fanfare yesterday, said the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was already working towards achieving stable power supply in Nigeria. He, however, said that he could not immediately state whether the feat will be achieved this year or early next year. But he said the needed apparatus towards its actualisation were already being put in place. He urged Nigerians to exercise patience, promising that the target was realisable. Nnaji was on his way to a reception organised in his honour by his kinsmen at Umuode in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Enugu state. He said he was humbled by
Chris OJI, Enugu the people and the state for coming to give him a rousing reception, promising not to fail Nigerians. On the high expectation from Nigerians from his ministry, Nnaji said: “You can expect that we are going to work extremely hard and fast to deliver what Nigerians expect. Usually, the number one constraint is the Presidential will, and we are lucky that we have the Presidential will to move forward. So, with that you can expect that we will move very quickly to address the problems in the power sector. “We are already working towards uninterrupted power supply, and I believe it will not be in a distant future that we will have that. Very soon does not mean next year or the year after, but I can assure you that as fast as it could be possible, we will be working to ensure there is reliable power.”