Tuesday 14th November 2017

IPOB Threatens Umahi, Asks Buhari to Shelve S’East Visit Police beef up security, warn group Omololu Ogunmade in Abakaliki and Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu The leadership of the proscribed Indigenous

People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened to deal with the Ebonyi State governor Dave Umahi and his family, and advised President Muhammadu Buhari to

Ebonyi bans rallies, party logos

shelve his planned visit to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital today, threatening to unleash mayhem should the president and his team ignore the warning.

The group, in a statement yesterday by its media and publicity secretary Emma Powerful, said the visit if not shelved would lead to bloodshed, as members of

the group would go on the rampage.

Despite the threats, the Ebonyi Police Command yesterday warned the group and supporters of

political parties in the state against disrupting the president’s visit to the state.

Continued on page 8

Zimbabwe's Military Warns Mugabe, Threatens to Step In… Page 34 Tuesday 14 November, 2017 Vol 22. No 8244. Price: N250

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PDP Governors Fail to Agree on Consensus Chairman Vow to win Anambra guber poll Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu After a closed-door meeting that lasted for more than seven hours in Enugu,

governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sunday night failed to arrive at a consensus on

the party’s chairmanship position, preparatory to the December 9 convention of the party.

Though the meeting which

started at 5.30 p.m. and stretched till midnight had planned to possibly reduce the number of aspirants from eight to possibly two or

three, it failed to achieve the objective.

In the place of a consensus, the meeting presided over by the chairman of PDP

Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose extracted a commitment Continued on page 6

Buhari Moves to Appoint 8 New Ministers, Restructure Ministries Power, works and housing ministry may be split into three Aviation and marine transport may be hived off from transportation Tinubu, APC governors may get nominees Omololu Ogunmade In a move to keep to his promise to the chieftains and loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to appoint more ministers to his cabinet, President Muhammadu Buhari is considering a tentative proposal to restructure some of the ministries, appoint eight new ministers to his cabinet and

reshuffle the cabinet, THISDAY has learnt.

Presidency sources privy to the proposal informed THISDAY yesterday that the plan is to appoint eight new ministers who will all be politicians, to accommodate the yearnings of his party members including its national leader, Continued on page 8

SGF Visits Ekwueme in London Hospital… Page 9

ABDULRASAQ IS 90 TIMES LUCKY… Nigerian stateman, Alhaji AGF Abdulrasaq (SAN), cutting his 90th birthday cake with his wife, Alhaja Raliat, in Abuja… yesterday

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PAGE SIX

OPEC Likely to Extend Supply Cuts to Rebalance Market Raises forecast for 2018 demand Ejiofor Alike with agency report United Arab Emirates’ minister for energy Suhail al-Mazroui has stated that he expects the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC countries to extend global supply cuts at the November 30, 2017 meeting.

This is coming as OPEC in its November oil market report released yesterday, increased the forecast for 2018 demand for its crude by 360,000 barrels per day, from last month’s report to 33.42 million bpd.

But the tensions in the Middle East have raised the prospect of disruptions of crude oil supply, though the price of Brent was steady yesterday at $63 per barrel, close to its

two-year high.

Speaking yesterday at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition Conference (ADIPEC), alMazroui said his prediction was that OPEC would continue to do what it would take to rebalance the market.

He added that while he had not heard any OPEC members discussing the possibility of not extending the deal, the time and duration of an extension was still to be decided.

OPEC members were reportedly forming a consensus around extending by nine months their production cuts deal with other crude exporters.

An extension would prolong the agreement among OPEC, Russia and other oil-producing nations to keep 1.8 million

barrels a day off the market through the whole of next year.

The exporters reached the deal last December and had already extended the agreement once through March 2018.

Reuters reported last month, citing OPEC sources, that producers were leaning towards prolonging the agreement until the end of 2018, though the decision could be postponed until early next year depending on the market.

UAE’s energy minister said he saw no need for the decision to be delayed beyond the November 30 meeting in Vienna.

His Omani counterpart also voiced confidence there would be an agreement this month. “I don’t see the need to

delay the decision until March... We are not going to meet in that quarter unless it is extraordinary,� Mazroui said at an energy industry conference.

If there is a decision to extend the supply cut it will be until the end of 2018, said the Omani oil minister, Mohammed bin Hamad alRumhi, adding that he did not think producers would agree to deepen the curbs.

Mazroui, whose country next year holds the rotating OPEC presidency, said that while the UAE backed an extension, he could not say yet whether it would support maintaining the supply cut until the end of 2018.

In a related development, OPEC yesterday increased the

forecast for 2018 demand for its crude by 360,000 bpd, from last month’s report to 33.42 million bpd.

It also said industrialised countries’ September commercial oil inventories, a key marker OPEC uses to measure market balance, fell by 23.6 million barrels to 2.985 billion barrels.

Stocks were 154 million barrels above the five-year average, the excess that OPEC aims to eliminate.

OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo, speaking at the same event, said participants in the deal were committed to achieving market stability.

However, the Brent oil price was steady at close to two-year high yesterday, with support

from Middle East tensions and record long bets by fund managers balanced by rising U.S. production.

Benchmark Brent crude futures traded at $63.47 a barrel, up 14 per cent so far this month, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose to $56.68 per barrel.

Tensions in the Middle East have raised the prospect of disruptions, but it was unclear whether a strong earthquake that hit Iran and Iraq on Sunday had affected the region’s oil production.

Bahrain said at the weekend that an explosion that caused a fire at its main oil pipeline on Friday was caused by sabotage, linking the attack to Iran, which denied any role.

Nigeria is of age to conduct elections that will be acceptable at home and abroad, and we want to believe that we will take the day on the 18th of this month in the Anambra governorship election,� he said.

The governors had segmented the meeting, beginning with party leaders, the aspirants, and finally with the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi and National Secretary, Chief Ben Obi. Present at the meeting were Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Henry Sariake Dickson

(Bayelsa).

Others included Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), Darius Ishaku, (Taraba), the host, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Eric Kelechi Igwe.

The party’s chairmanship aspirants at the meeting were former Minister of Special Duties, Taoheed Adedoja, former Minister of Education, Tunde Adeniran, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Bode George and a former acting National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus.

Others included former

governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel, a former PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje and Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Party leaders present at the meeting were the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekeweremadu, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara.

presidential visit that must be devoid of party colouration.

This came as the state government also declared today a public holiday in commemoration of the president’s visit.

The declaration was announced by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Senator Emmanuel Uwen in Abakaliki.

Umahi’s ban on parties’ involvement in the visit was in reaction to the agitation by the state chapter of the APC to storm the state’s stadium where the president will be received, in order to welcome him with the party’s logo, brooms and placards.

Ebonyi is governed by the PDP. According to Umahi, displaying any party logos and symbols during the visit will amount to embarrassing the president, insisting that his coming to Ebonyi State today is a state visit for which parties must be neutral.

But the declaration provoked anger among members of the opposition APC which accused the governor of making further attempts to muzzle the opposition in the state.

Umahi said: “Nobody should come to the stadium with any party logos. We don’t want to embarrass the president. If we invite the president for a state visit and PDP rolls out their logo, it will be an embarrassment to Mr. President. “So it is a presidential visit, no party is coming to the stadium with logos or party slogans of anything. It is just a simple presidential visit. If they don’t understand they should go and find out what a presidential visit

is and what it entails.�

The governor described the president’s visit as significant for the state because both the president and his administration had provided incentives that he said had boosted the state’s programmes and policies in agriculture and solid minerals.

He also said the president who will commission some projects today will use the opportunity of the visit to examine if the assistance has been well deployed and whether Ebonyi has justified its creation 31 years ago. “Mr. President has helped us so much in the area of agriculture. At every opportunity I have had to talk, I have always commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, the Minister

P D P G OV E R N O R S FA I L TO AG R E E O N C O N S E N S U S C H A I R M A N from the aspirants to support whoever finally emerges as the party’s chairman at the convention.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, which also had in attendance notable party leaders and seven out of the eight chairmanship aspirants, Fayose said the atmosphere and team spirit that manifested in the meeting demonstrated the party’s resolve to take over power by 2019. “Our aspirants, PDP chairmanship aspirants, have agreed to work together, so that whosoever emerges as the chairman of the party will be supported by all of us.

“We met at the Enugu Government House to deliberate on our national convention and we took time off to meet with the chairmanship aspirants, believing that we want to have a convention that all parties in Nigeria will emulate; a convention that will represent the word democracy and serve as a template for other parties. “We have responsible people vying for the office of chairman of the PDP nationally and we are on one page and the page is the PDP first and PDP first. “And we are leaving Enugu today believing that the PDP will take over power by 2019,� he said.

Fayose further disclosed that the governors were looking forward to the party’s victory in the November 18 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, noting that the party expected nothing less than a credible, free and fair election. “We have equally agreed, believing we have all that it takes to take over Anambra and I believe that our people in Anambra, the Anambrarians have worked very hard, so they deserve victory. “We are using this opportunity to ask that the election must be credible, not only credible but seen to be credible. I want to believe that

I P O B T H R E AT E N S U M A H I , AS KS B U H A R I TO S H E LV E S ’ E AST V I S I T The state governor also placed a ban on the involvement of political parties in today’s state visit by the president, describing it as one that should be devoid of party colouration.

But while berating the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and governors of the South-east for sacrificing the Biafra agitation on the altar of selfish reasons, IPOB said nobody should hold it responsible for whatever happens in Ebonyi during the visit. “Bringing Buhari to insult the memory of those killed at Enugu, Nkpor, Igweocha, Aba, Onitsha and lastly Umuahia will not be tolerated by IPOB and every right thinking Biafran for that matter. “This is tantamount to an Israeli politician inviting Adolf Hitler to visit Jerusalem to mock the Jews he slaughtered in concentration camps during the holocaust. “Tuesday 14th November 2017 will be recorded in history as a very bloody day should Buhari attempt to land on Biafran soil.

We have remained passive and peaceful but it appears that the Hausa Fulani slave politicians in Igboland are hell bent on provoking us to become violent. “Whoever advised Ohaneze Ndigbo and Igbo governors to embark on this suicide mission does not wish them well,� the group stated.

IPOB claimed that having lost 91 of its members during the military exercise in the Southease, Operation Python Dance, it would be unthinkable for them to grant access to the same man

that ordered the exercise in the territory. “They are planning to welcome a man in the name Buhari, a name that is responsible for the worst war crimes and genocide in recent times against our people. “The only atrocity left, for the likes of Nnia Nwodo and Dave Umahi, is for Biafraland to be transformed into a giant estate of the Fulani caliphate, with small labour camps owned by their emirs, with Biafrans as their labouring slaves. “Buhari it should be noted, is also planning to visit Anambra State on Wednesday 15th November in order to put executive finishing touches to the APC rigging plot to install the caliphate’s latest young Igbo recruit Tony Nwoye. “This they hope will cement the ongoing humiliation and conquest of our people. God forbid! “We will die with him should he set his foot on the sacred land of Biafra. He will not go back alive. He is coming to mock us and to urinate on the graves of our 91 brethren that his Operation Python Dance killed in Abia State. “He is coming to show us that power belongs to the North and their slaves like Nnia Nwodo and Dave Umahi are in charge over their conquered territory and defeated people of Biafra. “He has come to tell us we are forever slaves of his Islamic caliphate. Buhari is only coming to confirm to us that he is our lord and master. We will not accept it. “He can lord it over Ohaneze

Ndigbo, Igbo governors and Abuja rent boys but never over we die-hard Biafrans. The governor that invited him will definitely pay a heavy price, he and his children. “All those who plotted this visit will pay dearly. When the time comes their Northern masters will not be around to save them. We see them coming but they will not see us when the time for vengeance comes. “Those who are hoping to welcome Buhari to Biafraland will suffer miserably. There will be no forgiveness. “We have tried for years to avoid bloodshed, but our enemies have finally provoked us beyond measure. We are going to perish together with this ‘Buhari’. It’s a promise,� the banned group threatened.

Police Warn Despite the threats the Ebonyi Police Command yesterday warned the proscribed group and supporters of political parties in the state against disrupting the president’s visit.

Ebonyi Commissioner of Police, Mr. Titus Lamorde gave the warning in an interview with reporters in Abakaliki.

He assured residents in the state that the command was well equipped to deal with all forms of security challenges before, during and after the president’s visit.

According to Lamorde, any individual or group of persons that foment trouble before, during and after the visit would be severely dealt with, and advised

residents in Ebonyi to conduct themselves properly. “I will not disclose the number of personnel we have drafted for security reasons, but I assure citizens that enough personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure a hitch-free visit. “The president’s visit is a welcome development and citizens should co-operate with the security agencies to make it a successful one,� he said.

He stated that his officers had been adequately trained to relate well with residents in the state during the visit and advised people to conduct their activities within the confines of the law. “We would not meddle into political issues as a security outfit, but the visit is developmentallyoriented because of the numerous projects the president would inaugurate. “My officers would not intimidate or harass individuals or groups, as the duty of ensuring a hitch-free event is a collective one,� he said.

Other than the threats by IPOB, tension between members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and All Progressives Congress (APC) has heightened ahead of the visit.

Ebonyi Bans Party Rallies In recognition of heightened tensions between the two major political parties, the state governor yesterday placed a ban on their involvement during today’s visit

by Buhari, describing it as a

Continued on page 8

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Ëœ ÍŻÍ˛Ëœ ͺ͸͚; Ëž T H I S D AY

STARTERS

Wizkid Beats Davido, Others to AFRIMA Top Honours Star Boy, Wizkid, was the biggest winner at the All Africa Music Awards held on Sunday night at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos.

The pop star clinched three major awards: Best West African Artiste Award, The Song of the Year Award and the Artiste of the Year Award, trumping the likes of Davido, Runtown, Tekno and others.

Wizkid’s win came shortly after Davido edged him out at the 2017 MTV EMA by winning the “Best African Act� on Saturday.

Wizkid’s big win has once again renewed his long-standing battle for supremacy with Davido.

In his acceptance speech, the Ojuelegba crooner thanked 2baba and DJ Jimmy Jatt for their contributions to the African music landscape, reported online news site Premium Times.

As expected, Wizkid arrived late and his entry sent the sold-out crowd into frenzy. While some jostled to take a selfie with him, others stood up to catch a glimpse of him. His bouncers had a hard time trying to prevent the crowd from mobbing him. This time, he did not rain down naira bills on his fans.

Nigerian acts Simi, M.I, Tiwa Savage, Ycee, Orezi, 2Baba all bagged awards.

Meanwhile, midway through her energetic performance at the award ceremony, singer, Seyi Shay, lost her balance, slipped and fell.

The singer picked herself up almost immediately and continued performing her hit song, Yolo Yolo.

She later recalled the incident by saying

Two-Minute BrieďŹ ng NEWS Bomb Scare at Anambra INEC,

Police, NSCDC Beef up Security There were rumours of a bomb scare at the Anambra headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the alleged discovery of a substance which looked like an‌ Page 9

EDITORIAL Death Of 26 Nigerian Women

Wizkid during his acceptance speech at the 2017 AFRIMA “the devil is a liar�. Her fall was the subject of discourse on the social media.

See the full list of winners below: Best Central African Act (Male) – Locko Best Central African Act (Female) – Montess Best East African Act (Male) – Eddy Kenzo Best East African Act (Female) – Nandy Best Southern Africa Act (Male) – Emtee Best West African Act (Male) – Wizkid Best West African Act (Female) – Tiwa Savage Best African Collaboration – Alikiba feat M.I – “AJE“ Best Artist in African Rock – Gilad Millo (Kenya) Best Artist or Group in African RnB & Soul – Alikiba feat. M.I – “AJE“

Best Artist or Group in African Contemporary: DJ Tunez feat. Wande Coal – “Iskaba“ Best Artist or Group in African Raggae & Dancehall – 2Baba – “Holy Holy�

Best Artist or Group in African Hip Hop – Ycee – “Juice“ Best Artist of Group in African Pop – Toofan Video of the Year – Orezi x Adasa Cookey – “Cooking Pot�

Best Female Artist in Inspirational Music: Asikey George African Songwriter of the Year – Simi Producer of the Year – DJ Coublon for Seyi Shay’s “Yolo Yolo“ Artist of the Year – Wizkid Song of the Year – Wizkid feat. Drake – “Come Closer�

The discovery by the Italian authorities of the bodies of 26 Nigerian girls reportedly murdered on the Mediterranean Sea has triggered a public outpouring of anger, and illuminated the horror of irregular migration.

Page 15

POLITICS State of PDP Chairmanship

Race Hope of a consensus candidate emerging as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party is fading quickly as each candidate intensifies efforts to clinch the party’s top job, writesTobi Soniyi Page 16

FEATURES Champions of Child Adoption Regardless of the misconception about child adoption in Nigeria, Ikenna Ekwerike explores the power of giving a child a loving home Page 18

B U H A R I M OV E S TO A P P O I N T 8 N E W M I N I ST E R S , R E ST R U CT U R E M I N I ST R I E S Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and at the same time position APC for the 2019 general elections.

In order to accommodate the eight new appointees to the cabinet, the plan is to get the president to split the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing into three ministries that will be manned by full ministers, and hived off the aviation and marine transport units from the Ministry of Transportation.

One minister will man Aviation and another may lead Marine Transportation.

A presidency source who spoke on the issue said the proposal that has been sent to the president provides for the appointment of eight new ministers, one representing each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and one from Lagos (who may be a nominee of Tinubu) and Kano State (who may be a nominee of Rabiu Kwankwaso).

Fashola is expected to retain Works and Road Transport, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau who is from Kano is expected to retain Ministry of Interior.

However, Police Affairs may be hived off from the Ministry of Interior.

The appointment of two more ministers from the two most populous states in the country is strategic and is aimed at ensuring that the appointees from Lagos

and Kano play crucial roles in delivering both states to the APC in 2019.

The source also revealed that with the split of the power and transportation ministries, Fashola would most likely be made responsible for the newly created Ministry of Works and Roads Infrastructure, an appointee from the North-east geopolitical zone will be appointed to man the Ministry of Housing while an appointee from either the North-central zone or the South-east will be handed the Ministry of Power.

In the case of the Ministry of Transportation, once it is split, the current minister, Rotimi Amaechi, will be appointed to man the Ministry of Rail Transportation while Hadi Sirika who is currently a Minister of State in the transportation ministry (aviation) will most likely be made a full Minister of Aviation.

Another appointee will be given the Ministry of Marine Transport after it is hived off from the transportation ministry.

All the new appointments, said the source, will be done with the consultation of state governors. “The proposal has been put together and sent to Mr. President for his final approval. It remains tentative for now, but if it meets the approval of the president,

the announcement will be made public before the end of the month and the names of the nominees will be sent to the Senate for confirmation,� the source volunteered.

He also disclosed that the proposal includes a cabinet reshuffle which could see the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu redeployed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a new minister appointed to replace him as minister of state while Buhari continues to hold on to the petroleum ministry portfolio as the full minister.

At the last meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC held last month in Abuja, Buhari had promised to appoint more ministers and members to the boards of federal parastatals.

The pledge was made to appease aggrieved members who had felt that they had been ditched after helping the party to win the 2015 elections.

He had said that the new appointees will be fit for purpose and will breathe new life into the administration.

Although Buhari has not yet publicly declared that he will run for a second term, the move is also targeted at empowering strong politicians who can deliver critical states during the 2019 elections.

I P O B T H R E AT E N S U M A H I , AS KS B U H A R I TO S H E LV E S ’ E AST V I S I T of Agriculture, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Solid Minerals. “They have tremendously helped us to revamp our agricultural programme and solid minerals in Ebonyi State. So I believe Mr. President will be coming to see how far we have fared with the assistance he gave to us. “Of course, he gave to other states but the Bible says that in the last day, men shall be unthankful. “We are not like those that are unthankful.

We have to say, ‘well Mr. President has helped us and so he is coming to see how much we have been able to manage the state we yearn for,’ and he will be able

to see the level of marginalisation we suffered before the creation of Ebonyi State. “He will compare side by side what we have been able to achieve and our agitation for this state’s creation, whether we have justified it or not. “A lot of people that were here before the state’s creation and even those that came a few years after have given endorsement for the creation of Ebonyi,� he added.

Buhari will today commission two giant fly-over bridges in Abakaliki, one of which is a 700-metre twin bridge over the Western Trans-Sahara Road linking Enugu and Ebonyi with Cameroon.

He will also commission another flyover named after a Second Republic senator, Offia Nwali, described as the first Nigerian to obtain a PhD in Computer and Analytical Studies.

The president will also commission a 14.5km federal road linking Abakaliki with Afikpo built by the state government.

He will also unveil the statue of the first civilian governor of Eastern Region, Francis Akanu Ibiam.

The president will leave Abakaliki tomorrow morning for Awka, Anambra State, where he will lead the grand finale of the APC rally ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

BUSINESS Kachikwu: NNPC Operations Not Yet Fully Transparent Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has said that reforms initiated by the federal government to clean up years of corrupt practices in the NNPC have not completely guaranteed that the state oil firm is now transparently run.

Page 21

PROPERTY Sterling Bank Finances

Medium Income Housing in Lagos Sterling Bank is providing financiall g partnership to a residential housing project being developed by the Lagos State Govt in collaboration with a private developer.

Page 28

INTERNATIONAL Zimbabwe’s Military Warns Mugabe, Threatens to Step In Zimbabwe’s army chief has warned those responsible for “purging� the country’s ruling Zanu-PF party to stop, or the military will step in.

Page 34

SPORTS Argentina Unleashes Aguero,

Dybala, Pavon on Nigeria Nigeria’s defensive resolve will be tested as Argentina intends to parade the strike force of Sergio Kun Aguero, Paulo Dybala and Cristian Pavón in today’s international friendly tie in Russia.

Page 39

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

9

NEWS

News Editor Davidson Iriekpen Email davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

Bomb Scare at Anambra INEC, Police, NSCDC Beef up Security David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka There were rumours of a bomb scare at the Anambra headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the alleged discovery of a substance which looked like an

improvised explosive device (IED).

A source who pleaded not to be quoted told THISDAY that the device was detected by men of the anti-bomb squad of the Nigeria Police Force who combed the entire compound Monday morning looking for the suspected device

Two Former Directors Bag 105 Years Prison Sentence for Payroll Contract Fraud A High Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced two former top officials in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to 105 years imprisonment for contract fraud and abuse of office The two men- Mohammed Dogonyaro Audu (also known as Abdullahi Dogonyaro Mohammed) and Yahaya Ayodeji, were arrested and tried in court by the EFCC. The breakdown of the jail sentences shows that Audu, who was convicted of the 10-count charge, will spend 70 years in prison while his co-traveller, Ayodeji, who was found culpable on five counts, will serve 35 years in jail.

The court presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu, found them guilty of a 10-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and complicity in the award of some contracts to the tune of N1billion to themselves.

The two former directors according to the prosecution, abused their offices by floating private companies which they used in cornering the N1 billion contracts emanating from the Economic Reforms and Governance Project, ERGP, and Government Integrated Financial Management Information

System, GIFMIS, domiciled in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

Both Audu and Ayodeji had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were arraigned on May 26, 2015, thereby setting the stage for their trial.

In the course of the trial, counsel to the EFCC, Cosmas Ugwu, presented three witnesses and tendered relevant documents against the suspects, which were all admitted in evidence. Delivering his judgment, Justice Halilu said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt adding that, as public servants, the convicts abused their offices.

“I am not expected to remove or add anything before me.

They (Audu and Ayodeji) took advantage of their offices and did what they did. For me, I do what my conscience and the law directs me to do,” the judge ruled.

He thereafter found Audu guilty on counts 1 to 10 and sentenced him to seven years on each count without an option of a fine. Ayodeji was found guilty on counts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9 and also sentenced to seven years on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently.

SGFVisits Ekwueme in London Hospital Omololu Ogunmade The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, has visited former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme in a London hospital to convey President Muhammadu Buhari’s goodwill message to him.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said upon an earlier approval by Buhari, Ekwueme was rushed to

the hospital in an air ambulance in what was described as a critical condition.

The SGF, according to Garba, who was in London before Ekwueme’s arrival, was received by his wife, Mrs. Helen Ekwueme on behalf of the Ekwueme family.

He said Mustapha told the Ekwueme’s family that the president and all Nigerians were praying for the speedy recovery of the elder statesman, saying he believed that the doctors were doing their best.

Two Killed in Fresh Attack in Plateau Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Two persons were ambushed and killed at Wereng village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau state by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herders in the early hours of Monday.

The victims, Christopher Dung and Bulus Dantoro, whose bodies were found with machete cuts were believed to have been ambushed by the assailants who killed them near Wereng village.

Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police command, Mr Terna Tyopev told newsmen on

phone that the DPO of Riyom has reported the case to him.

He said, “It was reported by one Davou Moses who went to our station in the area this morning at about 8.15am and reported that some suspected herdsmen ambushed, attacked and macheted to dead the two persons who were riding on a motorcycle.

“The names of the deceased are Chong Christopher, 28 and Bulus Dantoro, 35. At the scene of the attack, two staff suspected to belong to the herdsmen were recovered close to the corpses and investigations have begun.”

allegedly planted there.

Our source said, “It was early this morning that I was trying to use that road, when police condoned it off. We were told that they found a device that looked like a bomb and had to stop everyone so that they can diffuse the device.

THISDAY gathered that as a result of the development, security has been beefed up around the compound.

When THISDAY arrived the compound, hordes of security operatives were seen around the compound, while visitors were subjected to full identification before they were allowed inside.

The resident electoral commissioner (REC), Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, however, said there was nothing like that.

The state police public relations officer, Princess Nkeiruka Nwode,

THISDAY also gathered had told journalists that she was not aware of it, saying she stayed late into the night at INEC the previous day and was not privy to such information.

Asked why the influx of bomb disposal unit experts at the INEC office, Nwode said it was part of preparations for the Saturday governorship election.

The state police commissioner, CP Umar Garba could not react to the alleged bomb scare as he pleaded to call back when our correspondent made a phone call to him but did not.

He, however, accepted that a substance was picked outside the compound and could have been dropped by anyone, but that it was the duty of the police to verify and say so.

FACTS AND FIGURES

L-R; Representative of Lagos State Governor/Secretary to Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr.Godwin Emefiele; President, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo; and president/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Segun Ajibola, at the 2017 annual bankers’ dinner in Lagos yesterday Etop Ukutt

Omokri: Farida Waziri Has a History of Badmouthing Ex-Presidents Former media aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has berated former Chairperson of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, over alleged comment made by the latter that she was sacked as the commission boss “because of a particular case she was handling.”

Omokri, who noted that his attention was drawn to Waziri’s comment, in a statement issued yesterday, said: “It is understandable that when there is a new government in power, people would want to ingratiate themselves to the new administration and one of the easiest way to do this is by demonising the previous government.”

The former Jonathan’s aide stated that it is unfortunate that Waziri also said she received a call from Aso Rock over thie case which instructed her to drop her investigations, adding that she has history of badmouthing past leaders.

According to the statement,

“Nigerians will remember that Waziri was appointed as the chairperson of the EFCC by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in May 2008 under very controversial circumstances after the unceremonious removal of the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.

“It will be recalled that after she was appointed, she made some uncomplimentary remarks against former President Olusegun Obasanjo because he said ‘I know that the woman they brought in to replace Ribadu (Farida Waziri) was not the right person for that job’.

“In response to that statement, Waziri described Obasanjo as a man known for ‘speaking in a manner that betrays his status as an elder statesman’. She also accused President Obasanjo of ‘mischief’.

“Waziri made those comments to ingratiate herself to the then administration and her accusations against former President Obasanjo

were denied.”

Omokri further disclosed that Waziri also accused her predecessor, Ribadu, of being used by President Obasanjo “to push the aborted third term agenda, as she claimed to have been Ribadu’s instructor at the Police Academy. Again, her comments were found to be untrue and Ribadu released a statement then to that effect.”

He maintained that Waziri has a history of telling lies against former presidents in order to ingratiate herself to the serving president which he noted is an established fact and old habits die hard.

“Former President Jonathan never called Waziri from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa or any State House at any given time, neither did he ask her to drop or take up any investigation.

“Let it be known that there is no statute of limitations on corruption cases and if Waziri has any evidence that she was asked to drop any cases of corruption, she is challenged

to show proof of such.

“Jonathan fired Waziri for reasons he would choose not to disclose publicly for now, but Nigerians may want to remember that Nigeria continued to sink in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index during Waziri’s tenure at the EFCC. “Things got so bad at her last year at the EFCC (2011) that we moved from 134 in 2010 to 143 in 2011 which represented a backward movement of nine points. Which God fearing leader would leave a person responsible for such retrogression as the head of a sensitive institution as the EFCC?” Omokri alleged.

However, the ex-media aide disclosed after Waziri’s sack in 2011, Nigeria made her highest improvements in the annual Corruption Perception Index till date in 2014 when we moved eighth places from 144 to 136, “so in essence, the facts speak for themselves,” he added.

Senate Appeals Court’s Decision Setting Aside Ndume’s Suspension Alex Enumah in Abuja The Senate on Monday appealed against the judgement of Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court Abuja, which set aside the suspension of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, from the Senate.

Justice Quadri had in a judgment he delivered on the 10 of November 2017 set aside Ndume’s suspension on the grounds that the action of the upper legislature suspending the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District was illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

The judge, in addition, directed

the Senate and its President, to pay to the Ndume his outstanding salaries and allowances with immediate effect.

Not satisfied with the decision of the lower court, the Senate yesterday approached the Court of Appeal to unturn the judgment of the court.

Defendants in the suit who are

now appellants include the Senate President; the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria; and Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Chairman Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions).

They anchored their appeal on six grounds and sought three reliefs from the upper court.

10

T H I S D AY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017

11

T H I S D AY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017

13

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

NBC’S DIGITAL SWITCH OVER PUSH

Nigeria has made significant strides towards the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting, argues Michael Umoh

O

ne of the measureable achievements of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is the implementation of the nation’s switch from analogue to digital broadcasting, otherwise known as the Digital Switch Over (DSO), by the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as mandated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

As the Director General of the NBC, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, noted recently, Nigeria’s DSO process has become the most talked about in Africa, an initiative that was designed by Nigerians and currently being implemented by Nigerians.

Like most other seasoned and practicing communication engineers in the country, I can attest to the fact that the success of Nigeria’s DSO programme has made the NBC a reference point for several African nations currently contending with the teething stages of their own projects. The near miraculous success of the current management team at NBC in bringing the DSO back on track would be further appreciated if it is clarified that crass ineptitude and corruption had all but derailed the DSO process under the previous management at the commission, necessitating a major probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). All hopes seemed lost until President Buhari approved the appointment of the Kawu-led team at NBC in 2016.

Most communication engineers would readily attest to it that switching a huge country like Nigeria from analogue to digital broadcasting requires tremendous technical, financial and institutional commitment.

More so, the current management team at NBC came on board when the commission was contending with huge funding issues that were largely necessitated by the freezing of its bank accounts by the EFCC. However, drawing on the huge goodwill and total commitment of the president to the digital switch over, the NBC has since 2016 been granted access to funds duly appropriated and released for the DSO programme and has hit the ground running.

Industry experts agree that the reinvigorated NBC has now placed Nigeria on the world map as the nation with the fastest analogue to digital broadcasting transition record. The NBC has since carried out the DSO in Abuja, the nation’s capital – offering 30 local, regional and national channels to viewers in the city. This, of course is an upgrade from the 15 channels that the NBC offered in Jos, Plateau State, when it launched the pilot phase of the DSO in April 2016.

Following the successful launch of the Abuja switch over last December, NBC has commenced an aggressive launch across the country, beginning with one state from each of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The activation of the DSO is currently being accelerated in Kaduna in the Northwest; Gombe in the Northeast; Kwara in the North central; Osun in the Southwest; Delta in the South-south and Enugu in the Southeast.

Also, as at October 2017, the NBC and its partnering vendors had imported over 745, 480 Set-Top-Boxes (STBs) into the country. Of this number, over 700, 000 STB’s have been delivered. Records also show that over 500, 000 Set-Top-Boxes have been sold and activated.

Curiously, in spite of the best efforts of the NBC, several Nigerians and organisations have erroneously formed and are disseminating the opinion that June 17, 2017 is the date Nigeria ought to have achieved 100 per cent digital switch over. This, of course, is not true. However, even persons who ought to know better have begun criticising and lampooning the NBC for “missing� this so-called deadline. But as Kawu has repeatedly

THE NBC HAS CARRIED OUT THE DSO IN ABUJA, THE NATION’S CAPITAL – OFFERING 30 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CHANNELS TO VIEWERS IN THE CITY

told Nigerians, June 17, 2017, was merely earmarked as a benchmark date for the digital switchover in Nigeria and that the commission’s mission and vision remains constant: to switch off analogue completely when Nigeria achieves up to 95 per cent access to Free digital television content across the country.

Even then, experts insist that the delicate nature of the DSO, has always obliged countries to carefully manage the process to mitigate complications. Several instances abound where, owing to snags, some countries had to adjust their switch off dates. Again, the NBC has assured that one of the most feared complications in digital switchovers globally - the problem of trans-border signal interference from analogue transmitters would not occur in Nigeria given that our neighbouring countries have not achieved anything close to what Nigeria has been able to do so far. As a matter of fact, given my knowledge of the industry, I dare posit that none of the countries in the ECOWAS sub-region has a DSO process that matches what Nigeria currently has.

Hardworking Kawu has frequently assured that all Nigerians are entitled to access to information, irrespective of class, creed or location; and that the new technology of digital broadcasting is already enhancing access in a most revolutionary manner.

With the strides the NBC has achieved, it is expected that by the end of this year, at least half of the country would have access to free digital television content. The commission’s plan is to execute a phased implementation of six states, at a period. Once the six states currently in progress are fully switched over, the commission would choose another set of six states, reflecting the geo-political zones, for the next phase, until the entire country is completely covered.

Given that the DSO process usually poses huge financial, technical and logistical challenge, it is commendable that the current NBC management has adopted prudence as a watchword, especially in its procurement processes. On this score, it is a notorious fact that the NBC insists only on vendors and other supply chain partners that make rational, reasonable and affordable bids. Pursuant to this, the commission had stepped on formidable toes – fat cats who were poised to reap off the nation.

It is, therefore, not surprising that many of these rejected contractors have gone to town with all sorts of nefarious claims about the DSO. The most outlandish of course is the much trumpeted allegation that obsolete technology is being deployed for Nigeria’s DSO. Having trained and worked for over 18 years as a communication engineer, I can only dismiss this allegations as not just illiterate but laughable.

The truth of this matter is that communication technology changes frequently and this usually do not negate the essentials or fundamentals of the preceding technology.

I have, with all sense of responsibility and patriotism carried out a thorough appraisal of the technology thus far deployed for Nigeria’s DSO and I totally disagree with persons peddling the utter falsehood that they are obsolete. They are not. I believe it is about time Nigerians began rising above pecuniary and self-serving considerations and join efforts to rid this nation of engrained corruption in our procurement processes.

It is my candid view that the NBC under the much focused Kawu needs our collective support and encouragement as it rigorously and dexterously pursue the DSO efforts rather than the distractions and ranting of the very rich but extremely corrupt contractors and their cohorts.

Umoh, a communication engineer, wrote from Abuja

THE RIGHT PLACE TO START

Stakeholders meet in Uyo to shed light on opportunities that abound in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, writes Idang Alibi

O

ne of the key decisions taken at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of Wednesday, September 23 last year was an approval granted for the establishment of the National Council on Hydrocarbons (NCH) in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The idea is no doubt calculated to have a major and long lasting impact on the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. And it is hardly surprising that it is under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari that that idea was birthed. The president and his Minister of State, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, have been old hands in the oil and gas sector both domestically and internationally and both thoroughly understands its dynamics and therefore, the importance of having such a forum to help in the growth and development of that very critical sector in Nigeria, Like other councils in other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the NCH is meant to be a major public-private policy think-tank that will supply, in an advisory role, striking ideas, innovations, possible adaptations and suggestions for the smooth and more production operations of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its agencies to the overall benefit of its stakeholders and the country’s economy at large.

This platform availed the Ministry of Petroleum Resources by the federal government will be a sustainable one for the ventilation and distillation of ideas by stakeholders in the oil and gas

industry. The NCH will be convened on an annual basis, except when some emergency issues arise. The recommendations from the NCH shall assist the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to review, strengthen and or initiate robust policies for the oil and gas sector of the national economy.

Following the September 24, 2016 approval, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources took an immediate step to give effect to it. It held the inaugural meeting of the National Council on Hydrocarbons on Monday and Tuesday 21- 22 October, 2016 at the NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja with the theme Realising the Potential of Hydrocarbon in Nigeria. That was some historic first of some sorts scored by the ministry under the leadership of Buhari and Dr. Kachikwu.

From November 16 to November 20, the second in the series of the National Council on Hydrocarbons will be holding at the Ibom Tropicana Event Centre in Uyo, capital of Akwa-Ibom State. The theme of the Uyo meeting is “Seven Big Wins: Framework for Realising the Potential of Hydrocarbons in Nigeria�. It is an irony of some sorts that after depending heavily on hydrocarbons for much of our economic survival for nearly 60 odd years, we as a hydrocarbons endowed country still talk about the ‘potential’ of hydrocarbons as reflected in the theme of the first NCH and also in this second one. That is not an oversight or ignorance. It is the reality of our situation that the unrealised potential in our hydrocarbons endowment is still so huge

as if it has hardly been scratched. Take the gas sector as an example. Apart from a few cubic feet of our natural gas which have been exploited for foreign sale, natural gas has hardly been exploited for domestic use.

The need to quickly take advantage of what nature has gifted us before the opportunity is lost in a highly competitive and ever changing international environment is the reason the Uyo NCH is anchored on the Seven Big Wins, a set of well -designed seven short and medium term priority plans to grow the oil and gas industry.

The Seven Big Wins consists of the following: policy and regulation; business environment and investment drive; gas revolution; refineries and local production capacity; Niger Delta security and environment, transparency and efficiency and stakeholder management and international coordination.

The Uyo meeting is going to touch on all these in order to firmly establish a framework within which all the goals of the Seven Big Wins will be achieved as quickly as possible. Which is why in Uyo, deeply knowledgeable experts and practitioners in the oil and gas sector have been recruited to speak on a few critical areas.

Dr. Tim Okon, a guru in the fiscals aspect of petroleum, is scheduled to speak on the Fiscal Impact of Seven Big Wins on the Nigerian Economy; Mr. Gbite Adeniji, a lawyer and international gas expert who is currently the Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister of State

for Petroleum Resources, is expected to speak on Policy Regulations (The Journey So Far; Mr. David Sani, an in-house expert and Director (Gas) of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, will be speaking on Gas Infrastructure, Gas to Power and Gas Flare Commercialisation in which he is expected to dwell on efforts being aggressively made by the ministry to ensure the greater exploitation of our gas reserves and to convey flared natural gas to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)for the country’s vast energy needs; Mr. Charles Achodo, an expert on fragile societies, will be speaking to the gathering on Strategic Work Plan for Development of in the Niger Delta (2017-2019 and Community Pipelines Surveillance (Gains of Government-Stakeholder Engagement while Mallam Isa Baba, Director in-charge of the Oil Services department of the Ministry, will speak on Crude Oil: Fuel for Industrialisation.’’ With these eminent speakers and many more who will discuss the papers, the Uyo meet promises to be intellectually engaging as great light is expected to be shed on the opportunities that abound in the rich and vast terrain of the Nigerian oil and gas sector that could be taken advantage of by smart and quick-thinking businessmen and women for their benefit and that of the nation as a whole. Our hydrocarbons endowments need to be exploited to create more jobs and earn more revenue for the Nigerian kitty.

Alibi is the Director, Press, of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources

15

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EDITORIAL DEATH OF 26 NIGERIAN WOMEN

The drift abroad will expand in size and scope until the country puts the economy in order

T

he discovery by the Italian authorities of the bodies of 26 Nigerian girls reportedly murdered on the Mediterranean Sea has triggered a public outpouring of anger, and illuminated the horror of irregular migration.

Italian prosecutors were reportedly investigating the death of the victims, mostly teenagers, whose bodies were recovered at sea amid suspicions that they may have been sexually abused before being killed as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean.

In a belated statement, the federal government has described the tragedy as “a monumental loss and a sad moment for our country,â€? while the National Agency for the Prohibition of TrafďŹ cking in Persons (NAPTIP) has canvassed “a high level investigation by the United Nations into the incidentâ€?. But beyond the usual political statements, it is necessary for the authorities to put the tragedy in perspective. A combination of sustained negative economic growth and a demographic bulge has put the country in a very difďŹ cult and JOBLESSNESS AND potentially explosive situation.

FRUSTRATIONS For more than a ARE FUELLING THE decade, the economy DESPERATION TO LEAVE has been unable to THE COUNTRY AS create jobs to absorb AVAILABLE STATISTICS its growing army of PAINT A DIRE SITUATION graduates. JoblessOF MILLIONS OF NIGERIAN ness and frustrations YOUTHS ROAMING THE are evidently fuelling STREETS FOR WORK BUT the desperation to FINDING NONE leave the country as available statistics paint a dire situation of millions of Nigerian youths roaming the streets for work but ďŹ nding none. So, driven by economic desperation and sometimes by misinformation, hundreds of thousands of able bodied young men and women on a daily basis embark on perilous missions in search of opportunities that do not exist in those very societies. While only a small fraction eventually reach their destinations

Letters to the Editor

where they face huge disappointment and frustrations, majority of them usually perish on the way.

Statistics from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) revealed that about 75 per cent of the nearly 155,000 migrants and refugees who got to Europe by sea this year arrived in Italy. But the numbers who perished on the way were alarming.

According to some records, 10,000 Nigerians died on the treacherous Sahara desert –Libya –Mediterranean route in the month of May, 2017 alone. The accounts of some of the returnees were, to put it mildly, harrowing. Many who made it to Europe were forced into prostitution, used as mercenaries, deployed as household servants, factory workers, drug couriers and even as organ donors. Reports have also emerged of migrants regularly beaten to death, with torture and starvation the daily staple for those who survive.

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TASK FORCE AND TAXI DRIVERS IN ABUJA

MEMORIES FROM EFFURUN BARRACKS

S

weet reminisces came flooding back at me when I read about the army barracks at Effurun, near Warri recently, although I wished that the context of this recall of sweet memories was not about land ownerships disputes between the host community and the Nigerian Army.

When my father was transferred in 1983 to Minna, it was still called 20th Amphibious Battalion Barracks with that unique Post Office Code of P.M.B. 1114 that all primary and secondary school children somehow knew so easily in their hearts.

That was the barracks of my formative pre-teen and first-teen years, and now the memories are cascading down to my consciousness: my mother (late Mrs. Echinema Lucy Jonah) was the first to birth a baby there in 1979, just one week after my family’s arrival from the “Batcher� barracks located somewhere in the heart of Warri (the baby, my sister Inyanmu, died so tragically in 2013; she was 34 years old). That barracks was where a lot of my contemporaries and I experienced our first “self-contained� sweet-smelling apartments, fresh from the newest paintwork. I was one of just four altar boys at the battalion’s Catholic Church (re-named Pope John Paul II Parish, I think, because that pope’s 1982 visit to Nigeria generated a lot of excitement at this parish). I was baptised there on the first of June 1980. I completed my primary

ven so, the inux of the young and restless to Europe is rising as they pay little or no heed to the dangers on the way or the disappointment awaiting those able to land. Many of the migrants who are unemployed or pushed by outright poverty are deceived by stories of jobs, businesses and prosperity by people smugglers. Indeed, increasingly, the statistics suggest that human trafďŹ cking has become one of the thriving businesses after drug trafďŹ cking. The central Mediterranean route from the coast of Libya to Italy is reportedly the most travelled by Nigerians and other illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. In the last ďŹ ve months, more than 1000 stranded Nigerians have returned from Libya thanks the effort of the IOM. However, as we have argued in the past, many others will continue in the footsteps of the dead and the maimed if the prevailing misery and poverty persists. We live in a country where a signiďŹ cant number of the population is mired in poverty. Many able-bodied men and women are lying waste.

Therefore, while it makes sense to sensitise the youth to the dangers of the hazardous journey, it would be more productive for Nigeria to begin to put its economy in order.

school at the battalion’s Army Children School (A.C.S.).

Mr. Okoro, the headmaster, was immortalised in our own rendition of the “Thread and Needle� song. I recall Henry Dollor and Priestly Dollor, two brothers and my school mates, who were sons of an officer; I recall the unforgettable Inter-House Sports Competition held at the A.C.S. in 1981 (I was in Blue House, the Uzuazebe House); I recall that, as “barracks boys,� we were never scared of the dreaded Agbasa Cult (also called the Urhobo Headhunters) because our fathers had assured us that if any child or woman gets beheaded for the local voodoo customs “all hell would be let loose.� I recall our deep forays into the thick forest landholdings of the battalion to cut down palm- and coconut-trees for the sheer fun of it, to harvest cocoa pods, to harvest kola-nuts of different hues, to hunt rabbits, to “steal� from “Urhobo Papa� pineapple farms, to fish in shallow streams, to do wanderlust, to play at mock warfare battles, and so on. I recall my mother’s thriving provision store at the Mammy Market; I recall Sylvanus Aze, my sponsor at Baptism and First Holy Communion; I recall Mr. Samuel Ota, my form master at the A.C.S.; I recall the quiet mien of Ndidi Obonyano at the A.C.S. and it was a rude shock to be her classmate once again at the Federal University of Technology Minna.

Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna

T

he activities of the Ministerial Task Force against taxi drivers in Abuja are dehumanising and the Federal Capital Territory Administration under the leadership of Mohammed Bello should quickly do something before it is too late.

Recently, there was bedlam at Wuse Market in Abuja due to the incessant arrest of taxi drivers by the Ministerial Joint Task Force, constituted by the FCT minister, Mohammed Bello.

Before now, I have witnessed several times how the so-called task force arrested and tortured some drivers as if they were criminals. I have taken my time to watch with keen interest the activities of task force in Abuja and I have not seen the difference between them and armed robbers. The same way armed robbers shout and collect

cars from the drivers, the same way the Joint Task Force has been doing to the drivers.

Nevertheless, the fresh incident between the taxi drivers and the Abuja Task Force at Wuse Market where police arrested more than 10 taxi drivers and tagged them hoodlums is not true. Let me at this point applaud Mr. James Emmanuel of Wazobia Fm, 99.5 Abuja, popularly known as Expensive, for investigating the incident and letting the public know that the arrested taxi drivers are not criminals as claimed by the police. Thank God more than 20 human rights lawyers have agreed to stand and fight for the release of the arrested drivers.

However, the concerned authority must act fast by investigating the allegations against members of the Ministerial Joint Task Force.

Awunah, Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja

16

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017

POLITICS

Group Politics Editor Tobi Soniyi Email tobi.soniyi@thisdaylive.com 08033146139 SMS ONLY

EXECUTIVE BRIEFING

State of PDP Chairmanship Race Hope of a consensus candidate emerging as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party is fading quickly as each candidate intensifies efforts to clinch the party’s top job, writes Tobi Soniyi

Dokpesi

I

n politics, things can change so suddenly rendering the certain uncertain.

When the race for the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party opened, many thought it was going to be a walkover for some front-line candidates. So far, that is not the case.

None of the aspirants wants to step down for another because each believes he has got what it takes to lead the party that is posturing to return to power at the earlier possible time.

Last week, some of the candidates tried to shake off what their opponents are using against them. For instance, former Acting National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus had to issue a statement to state that he was not been pushed into the race by some godfathers.

Although he did not make reference to the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, many believed that Secondus was the candidate of the governor.

In politics, your asset may also become your liability. While it is crystal clear that without the support of Wike, Secondus’s stands no chance of becoming the party’s chairman, the opposite is also true. He dares not go out and boast that Wike is supporting him. If he does, he may end up alienating other delegates.

His campaign organisation, in a statement signed by Mr. Taiye Garrick, said that reports alleging clandestine moves by some powerful forces to impose Secondus as the national chairman of the PDP was false.

Garrick said “There is no iota of truth in the reports. Our candidate depends on endorsement and votes of delegates at the forthcoming national convention.

“We want Nigerians and members of the party to note that the position of national chairman was zoned to the southern region comprising of three zones and Secondus has every legitimate and legal rights to aspire for the office of national chairman.”

The statement said since Secondus launched his ambition for the position, “no member of Board of Trustees has openly endorsed him as some have done for some other candidates. We repeat that nobody is imposing anybody. There is no plot to impose Secondus on the PDP.” He stressed that “When some members of Board of Trustees openly endorsed some aspirants, the Secondus Campaign Organisation

Daniel

did not raise any eyebrow. Rather than waiting for any group endorsements, we have been campaigning day and night across the six zones, selling our redemption messages to PDP delegates.

“We urge all aspirants to get ready for the national convention and stop game of distractions. The delegates assembled will cast their votes for an aspirant of their choice in the full glare of the public. Nobody can impose any aspirant in a free and fair contest.

“We also want to affirm that Secondus remains the most qualified for the chairmanship going by his antecedents before and after the crisis that nearly killed the party.He is bold and pushful alongside with his great blueprint to return the PDP to power in 2019.”

Strange theories are also common in political circles. From nowhere, a theory emerged that another front-line candidate, Prof.Tunde Adeniran was being sponsored by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who as at press time was not a member of the party.

The theory is that if Adeniran becomes the party’s chairman, he will make it easy for the former vice president to get the party’s presidential ticket.

But realising the damage such theory could cause Adeniran, his Lagos State Support Group said that there was no iota of truth in the news making the rounds that Adeniran’s candidacy

If the candidate who campaigns most must win the election, both Dokpesi and Daniel must be winning.

More than any other candidates, they have visited more states

for national chairmanship of the party was at the behest of Atiku Abubakar.

The coordinator of the support group, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse said that such insinuation was not only illogical, but silly, adding that the days of imposition of candidates in the party was over.

He said: “Besides, Atiku is not yet a member of our party, so how could he impose any candidate?” he asked.

Pearse insisted that the December 9th national delegate convention would be free and fair as “we don’t have the State House anymore, so nobody is going to impose his prefer candidate from Aso Rock Villa.”

He also said that governors were no longer as powerful as they used to be, “so they cannot impose their will on the delegates”, he added.

He noted that it was imposition of candidate that led to the crisis in the PDP and that efforts were on to avoid the mistakes of the past.

He said: “Look at it. When former President (Goodluck) Jonathan insisted on Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the party broke. When Bode George imposed Jimi Agbaje on the party in Lagos state, it broke. When some governors brought in Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and imposed him on members, the party scattered. That is bane of imposition. Nothing like that is going to be allowed again. The will of the people must prevail this time around.”

For High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Chief Gbenga Daniel, the declaration by the national caretaker chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi that aspirants for the position of the national chairman of the party would not be dropped because they are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission must have come as a big relief.

Makarfi reportedly spoke while receiving Daniel and his campaign team. He also assured all candidates that the party would provide a level playing ground for all of them.

“I assure you that the PDP will provide a level playing field and it is our collective resolve that PDP will be the winner at the end of the day and not an individual. We are all one large family,” he said.

Before now, many have expressed the view that PDP would be better off with a chairman that suffers no encumbrance. Both Daniel

and Dokpesi are facing charges in different courts. They denied any wrong doing. They also viewed the charges against them as mere distraction.

If the candidate who campaigns most must win the election, both Dokpesi and Daniel must be winning. More than any other candidates, they have visited more states.

At press time, Daniel has taken his campaign to twelve states including Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Plateau, Niger and Kaduna states. Dokpesi is also determined to take his campaign to all the states before the convention.

Last week, he met with former-president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

While in Ogun State, Dokpesi said that anyone seeking to be national chairman of a political party must consult with the former president.

Although, Obasanjo had said that he was no longer interested in membership of any political parties, the PDP would be well advised to heed his advice.

Obasanjo said those who destroyed the PDP were still in it and that they would not leave until the running of the party was taken over by ”determined, selfless, upright, and honest people.”

“If we are just saying PDP has a crisis, which is self-made and that the Supreme Court had resolved the crisis for us, we are just deceiving ourselves.

“The Supreme Court has taken a right decision as an apex court should, but as a party, only that cannot help you to do it all.’’

He prayed for PDP to get its national convention right, saying the chairmanship of the party was very important.

“I had four PDP chairmen in eight years.

So, I know what it takes to have a good or bad chairman for a party,’’ While the PDP must be commended for allowing all the candidates to aspire to be chairman of the party, it can also not afford to allow just anyone to take over the party. This is because whoever emerges as the chairman will have a big impact on the party’s future.

PDP will for, obvious reasons, have to send a clear message to the All Progressives Congress with whoever emerges as its chairman.

17

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017

POLITICS

US Ambassador Raises the Stakes in Ekiti Guber Election The visit of the United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington to Ekiti State ahead of the 2018 governorship election, has further raised the stakes preparatory to the poll, writes Victor Ogunje

O

n July 14, 2018, the electorate in Ekiti State will again have the opportunity to elect a governor that will pilot their collective destiny till 2022.

The last time the state had similar opportunity was in 2014, when the then incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi lost to Mr Ayodele Fayose.

The Ekiti governorship election promises to be interesting for many reasons chief among which is the fact that Fayose remains the main opposition figure criticizing the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fayose has offered himself as the opposition voice and Nigerians are patiently waiting to see how the election will play and determine how popular the governor is.

Fayose emerged like a whirlwind in 2003 and swooped away Otunba Niyi Adebayo of the Alliance for Democracy(AD). The same way he came to dominate in 2014. The argument had been that , in those two elections, Fayose won because of reliance on the federal might, which some people believed he allegedly deployed to muzzle opposition to submission.

But the game will be different this time around. Fayose, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum belongs to the opposition. He has no power to influence the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and security agencies to subvert the will of the electorate.

He will have to depend on his support base to prove that he can win election.

The visit of the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington to Fayose to assess the situation ahead of the coming election underscores the priority the country and the international community are giving to the Ekiti elections. The political tussles, lasting over three and half years between former governor Fayemi and his predecessor, Segun Oni actually put Ekiti on the world map. The volatility of that political struggle leading to the conduct of two separate rerun elections further attracted so much attention to the state.

As a matter of fact, Ekiti was one of those few states where allegations of wide spread rigging were said to have taken place which made the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to tell the global community that the 2007 elections were fraught with electoral malfeasance that should not be experienced in an ideal democratic environment.

Taking cognizance of the past political events in Ekiti, the visit of Symington was significant.

It is already established that Fayose will be fighting two giants in the election, Buhari and Fayemi for daring to cross their political paths in the past and now.

When it comes to political comments, Ekiti governor is known for his brazen and caustic tongue and he had not spared Buhari in any of his contributions on any burning national issues. This has made him the number one enemy the president will be interested to crush.

The coming election presents a veritable opportunity to do so.

Again, Fayemi suffered humiliation in Fayose’s hands in 2014. He set a new record as the only incumbent to have been defeated in all the local governments by an opposition figure. Fayemi, who is now the Minister of Mines and Steel Development will be coming with a mindset either as a candidate of his party or the APC leader in Ekiti, which basically would be to take a pound of flesh in that election.

If his commitment to the Ondo State governorship election won by Rotimi Akeredolu was anything to go by, Fayemi will do all that is possible to get Fayose and his allied out of the state. But time will tell whether the Minister can muster such political strength in Ekiti to be able to subdue an incumbent, who had earlier conquered him as an opposition.

With the way Symington spoke, one could sense a palpable apprehension in him. He obvisouly knew something was wrong with the country’s electoral system, which needed concerted efforts to put right in the overall interest of the nation. He spoke as someone who had a full grasp of the nation’s electoral

Symington

Fayose

history and how unsecured the opposition was anytime election is about to be conducted.

In spite of this anxiety, the US Ambassador gave an assurance that his country will work with all stakeholders in order to ensure that July 14, 2018 gubernatorial election in the state is free, fair and credible. He used the opportunity to commend the governor on infrastructural development he had put in place in the state.

The ambassador, who visited Fayose alongside his aide, Mima Torres, emphasised his love for Nigerians’ patriotic zeal , saying: “ Nigeria, are proud to be Nigerians, when you ask them what they love most about their country, they would say it is our resilience, energy, diversity, unity and friendliness.”

The U.S envoy who told Fayose that his three years in office had been keenly observed by the U.S, said the infrastructural development strides of the governor were commendable.

“We are in Ekiti because we believe in Nigeria,

every state, every corner in Nigeria matters to us. We have seen what you have done in the last three years, it is very commendable.

“Our concern in U.S is that we want to see leaders who care about others and not themselves. We also understand that you have presidential ambition and wish to know your programmes for the country.”

Symington also urged Fayose to ensure support for Ekiti women who are interested in agriculture. He stressed the need for a free, fair and credible elections while promising that the U.S would ensure that subsequent elections in Nigeria, particularly in Anambra and Ekiti states were bereft of electoral heist like ballot snatching and stuffing as well as cases of over-voting that have been the hallmark of the nation’s electoral system.

Replyin, Fayose spoke as if he was loaded andhad been looking for opportunity to explode.

He reminded the U.S envoy of his letter which

described the June 21, 2014 governorship election that produced him as free, fair and credible and that that should be a template for 2015 general elections. He said in spite of US blunt comment, that the APC had come up with litany of theories to vitiate the election that brought him the second time. He made mention of a well circulated audio tape by Capt Sagir Koli, where he allegedly captured how the military rigged the poll. The governor said that aside from electoral crisis and corruption, the major problem retarding the growth of the country was poor attitude by the people and the insincerity of leaders, which he said could only be addressed holistically if the right leaders were allowed to emerge via unblemished elections that meet international standard.

He decried a situation where those claiming to be fighting corruption do so with a mindset, saying no country can overcome its economic crisis if opposition is being muzzled.

Fayose said despite many allegations and petitions against Fayemi, he was not investigated or charged to court because he is a chieftain of the ruling APC. He also decried the various intimidation, harassment and illegal detention of Ekiti government officials by agents of the federal government. He said: “Our greatest challenge is not corruption or electoral issue but insincerity of leaders. Those claiming to fight corruption are not sincere. Without justice, we can’t move forward. There must be equity in the way we do things. Being selective in the fight against corruption will not take us anywhere.”

On his bid for the presidency, Fayose said he was eminently qualified to rule the nation, He said: “I have the required experience to lead this country. I have worked with the presidents we have elected into office in this country and am able to manage the economy of my state despite lean resources.

“In the US and the UK they ask for your experience when seeking for a job not your paper qualifications. I have managed a poor economy in my state and that shows my ability to deliver.

“We are in firm control and the people are in our support. We just want to appeal to America and the international community to keep an eye on the poll. We don’t want INEC to come to our state with preloaded card readers or manipulate the process. We are sure torepeat the victory of 2014 when we won on all local government areas,” Fayose alleged that signs that the federal government was plotting to rig Ekiti election had started manifesting.

He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) recently detained two Ekiti officials for 14 days in a brazen manner, describing this as a desperate attempt to cow the opposition. “Recently, the EFCC detained my Accountant General and Commissioner for Finance over the allegation that they diverted the bailout funds which was fabricated.

“Was Ekiti the only state in Nigeria that took the bailout? So, you could see that they have a mindset and the international community must take interest in Nigeria’s elections”, he advised.

The United States has always taken interest in issue that borders on electoral matter in Nigeria. Prior to the 2015 general election, It put the country’s electoral umpire, INEC on its toes. During one of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s visits to the country, former President Barrack Obama told him in clear terms that nothing short of free and unblemished polls were expected from Nigeria.

Recently, when the Buhari’s government branded the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as terrorist group, the US rejected the federal government’s position.

An APC chieftain in Ekiti State, Dr Olusegun Osinkolu, described the US position as apt and imperative. He said the only way Ekiti could develop and be in peace was for people to elect their own leader.

“The best form of democracy is to allow the people choose who should govern them. No country can develop when people who have no acceptability are imposed on the electorate. I support the position canvassed by Ambassador Symington that Ekiti election should be a reflection of the wishes of the electorate”.

18

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

FEATURES

Acting Features Editor Charles Ajunwa Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

Champions of Child Adoption Regardless of the misconception about child adoption in Nigeria, Ikenna Ekwerike explores the power of giving a child a loving home

N

ot too many people know that the popular Nollywood celebrity, Joke Silva, spent the earliest part of her life in the orphanage. Yes! Mrs. Joke Jacobs, wife to another veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, experienced the power of adoption which Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of Nigeria’s Vice-President, described as the power of love in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Silva, both of blessed memory.

“I received love; I got the best of everything a daughter could ever wish for from her parents. People outside the immediate family could never tell that I was an adopted child.

The bonding between me and my mother was indescribable. My mother was the first person who taught me how to pray and whatever problem I brought to her she would always say, ‘Joke have you been on your knees? Oya take it to Daddy, take it to Baba God’.

“Even in their wills, there was no separation; my father protected me with his will.

He said ‘all my children, whether adopted or not…’ I cannot call my parents my adopted mother, my adopted father; they are mummy and daddy and my sisters and my brothers, my cousins, my uncles and my aunties they are family” Joke Silva reminisced as she shared her tale in celebration of her own parents who adopted her while she was still a baby with the passionate participants that converged on the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, on Saturday, 28 October, 2017, including wife of the Vice-President, Mrs. Osinbajo during the maiden annual conference of Heritage Adoption Support and Advocacy Group (HASAAG), with the theme: ‘The power of adoption’.

Joke Silva recalled how she would never tolerate anyone casting aspersions at her mother over her inability to produce her own biological children.

“I remember a cousin of mine, she was one of those whom my mother used to give whatever she wanted; I mean she was so supportive of her. And one day she sat at the balcony of her house and she was saying: ‘one of the reasons aunty Bimpe will never support you with anything is because ‘won okuku bi mo’ (because she didn’t give birth to a child of her own) and I got to hear about it. Believe me, I did a very unchristian thing: I dealt with

I received love; I got the best of everything a daughter could ever wish for from her parents. People outside the immediate family could never tell that I was an adopted child.

The bonding between me and my mother was indescribable… Even in their wills, there was no separation; my father protected me with his will

Wife of the Vice-President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo...campaigns for adoption

Joke Jacobs...telling her story at the conference

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, BOT Chairman, HASAAG...says adoption is an act of love

this girl, till today, she has never believed her eyes, I dealt with her,” she recounted.

But the questions that should bother every sane mind that hears the story of Joke Silva are: Would she have been

able to make this great impact on society, especially among the youths who look up to her as role model if she had not been adopted into a home and given undiluted parental attention and guidance? Again,

is it the case that that innocent child who finds himself or herself in the orphanage cannot be given the chance to realise his or her destiny in life?

Undoubtedly, it is these same set of

19

Ëž T H I S D AY TUESDAYËœ ÍŻÍ˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

FEATURES

A cross section of the HASAAG power of adoption conference planning committee team

questions that provoked the soul-searching sessions which eventually fired the first psychological shots that ignited the passion in the hearts of the founders of HASAAG with the vision to change the negative perception of adoption in the Nigerian society.

While statistics indicate that there are about 17.5 million abandoned children in Nigeria, there are fears that this figure will continue to rise since studies equally show that 24 per cent of girls in Lagos get pregnant before they are 18 and there is increasing rate of pregnancies among 11 year olds in Lagos too.

Ironically, many married couples in Nigeria are having infertility to contend with. Available data reveals that about 25 per cent of married couples in the country are burdened by infertility issues. In fact, there is 40 per cent increase in male infertility in Nigeria.

But, all hope is not lost; adoption, evidence proves, is the true panacea and melting pot for infertility and child abandonment.

This was the remarkably powerful message that echoed very loudly at the 1st annual conference of HASAAG. Sadly, the topic of adoption is one not too many people know too well and some individuals would prefer never to mention it at all. For many, adoption is trouble.

To such persons Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Chairman Board of Trustees, HASAAG, speaks: “Adoption is not trouble, it’s not stress; it’s not burdensome. It’s an act of love, an act of concern and an act of willingness to look after other people and help them transform their lives.�

He clarifies that adoption is not only for childless couples but a call everyone can actually respond to. “You already have your biological children but you can still take on one or two more children to help

and educate them. “Or maybe your children have left the house, they’ve now gone their own ways; in your middle to old age take on another one or two children; they don’t have to be new born babes, you can look after, send them to school and treat them like your own. It will simply transform life and change society,� he urged.

In this regard, one of the discussants at the conference, Mrs. Bridget Itsueli, a public speaker and marriage facilitator observed that recent increase in infertility among couples was making the issue of adoption even more urgent today.

She believed that the rise might not be unconnected with pollution of the environment, climate change, the new forms of electronic devices, the kinds of works that people now do, the kind of lifestyle people live, and clothes that people wear.

Itsueli challenged the predominant cultural

Adoption is not trouble, it’s not stress; it’s not burdensome. It’s an act of love, an act of concern and an act of willingness to look after other people and help them transform their lives

notion that maternity must be natural and invalidates adoption stressing that maternity and paternity were divine whereas human beings contribute to this by educating and guiding the child without undue consideration for who the child came from.

Thus, according to Mrs. Osinbajo, who was special guest of honour at the event, becoming a parent is not just through the biological birthing of children but also by adopting a child.

She vehemently condemned the negative social and cultural perceptions attached to the practice of adoption describing any damaging comments and stigma to the practice as a hate speech. “Do you raise your voice to speak out against the stigma attached to adoption?

Do you raise your voice against the hate speech because that’s what it is? Do you raise your voice against fear and uncertainty in the heart of those that are concerned?

It is a choice and I implore us to please choose to speak up,� she advocated.

She maintained that our collective humanity is questioned when individuals fail to care for the vulnerable and the abandoned children, adding that “the power of adoption is the power of love and we all love to be loved.�

Stories of child abandonment always bring tears to the eyes of childless couples. They evoke horror and leave goose pimples on the skin of everyone with active conscience.

Violence against children and various manners of child abuses are direct horrendous results of child abandonment.

Unfortunately, “abandonment is actually very common in Nigeria,� Mrs. Bami Obasanya, an adoption expert with 29 years UK experience said, “But people do relinquish their children as well. When they relinquish their children it means that they actually choose not to care for them,� she

concluded.

Consequently, Dr Wilfred Mamah, UNICEF representative in Nigeria who was also a discussant at the conference said that children who are removed from the protective environment of family need to be cared for through adoption which is a legal act globally.

He stated: “In international convention, article 21 of the UN convention on the rights of the child, provides for adoption.

The child right law of Lagos State makes adequate provision for adoption of children as a mechanism that they are given hope to realise their potential. If you expose children to violence, what will happen is that that violence will recycle and they will always become violent and become offenders.�

In the same vein, Mr. Oluwatoyin Kotun, who represented the Ministry of Youth and Social Welfare, Lagos State, assured that beyond the promotion of the culture of adoption, the state was passionate about ensuring that every child handed out for adoption met an environment that is conducive for growth.

He revealed that the adoption process in Lagos State was thorough but highly simplified. That notwithstanding, participants at the conference called for a more adoptive friendly process.

One of them, Engr. Olubukola Ojurongbe, proprietor of another foundation that supports orphanages, the needy and elderly said prospective adoptive parents complain that the procedure for adoption was cumbersome and the time it takes to release the child long. She appealed to the Lagos State Government to review the process.

Thus, Itsueli feared that if the process was not made more adoptive friendly it might drive adoption under the table to become human trafficking.

20

IMAGES

L-R: Secretary, The Body of Senior Advoctes of Nigeria (BOSAN), Mr. Seyi Sowemimo, SAN; Vice Chairman, Maiden Annual Dinner Committee, Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN and Committee Chairman, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN, during the news brieďŹ ng on the Maiden Annual Dinner of The Body of Senior Advoctes of Nigeria (BOSAN) held in Ikoyi, Lagos...recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

L-R: GOtv Ambassador, John Odafe (a.k.a Daddy Showkey) presenting a GOtv decoder to a lucky winner Olalekan Shitu and Public Relations Manager, GOtv Jennifer Ukoh, at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair, at Tafawa Balewa Square, LagosĂ–..recently

L-R: National Secretary, The Society of Occupational and Environmental Health Physcians of Nigeria (SOEHPON), Dr. Uche Enumah; National Vice President, Dr. EďŹƒem Abbah; National President, Dr. Okon Akiba; and Assistant Natioal Secretary, Dr. (Mrs) Chinonye Nwankwo, during the Society’s Annual Conference and AGM, themed as ‘Occupational Health for All’ in Lagos...recently YOMI AKINYELE

L-R; Group Managing Director/CEO, LAFAGE Africa, Mr. Michel Puchercos; and the Company Ă­s Chairman, Mr. Mobolaji Balogun; at the LAFAGE Africa Court-Ordered Meeting, held at Muson Centre Lagos...recentlly SUNDAY ADIGUN

L- R: Admiral Tunde Ogundele (Rtd); Aspirant for PDP Chairmanship , Chief Olabode George and PDP National Director of Organisation and Mobilization, Chief Fatona Adewale during the picking of Chairmanship form

by George at the Party Secretariat, wadata House in Abuja recently GODWIN OMOIGUI

L-R: Head, International Primary Markets, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Femi Onifade; General Counsel/Head, Regulation, NSE, Ms. Tinuade Awe; Managing Director, Prestige Assurance Plc, Dr. Balla Swamy; and Executive Director, Risk and Operations, Prestige Assurance, Mr. Sarbeswar Sahoo, at the facts behind the ďŹ gures by the Company at the Stock Exchange in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R;Managing Director, Sunseeds Feed Mills and Oil Mills Ltd, Mr Tarun Kr Das; Executive Director, Mr Rajeev Jain, Group Deputy Managing Director, Kewalram Chanrai Group, Elder Victor Eburajolo,; Group Executive Director, Mr Vaitheeswarn Viswanathan; Director (Projects), Mr Ninan John, and Senior Programmes Manager, G.K Chanrai Memorial Hospital, Zaria, Dr. Mohammed Khaliq at the commissioning of Sunseeds Feed Mills and Oil Mills Ltd factory at the Old Jos Road, Kaduna State...recently

A

14.11.2017

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

‘FEDERAL CHARACTER HAS DESTROYED MERIT IN NIGERIA’

Professor Fidelis Oditah QC SAN Profess

2/DASHBOARD

14.11.2017

Qualification as Aspirant, to Challenge Nomination/Selection of Candidate for Election PAGE 4

600 Nigerians on Death Row in East Asia PAGE 5

Justice Nweze on Constitutionality of Democratic Governance at Uniben Law Faculty’s 16th Memorial Lecture of Justice Idigbe PAGE 6

‘Technology Should be Every Lawyer’s Silent Partner’ PAGE 6

QUOTABLES A ‘ ctually, I am disturbed by the role played by the Attorney-General. He went on one technicality or the other, some minor case before a Magistrate, which was discharged. Looking at that irrelevant point, and overlooking the major issue of corruption of over two billion which this man was alleged to have filched away, or the fact that he was a wanted person by the EFCC, or the fact that Interpol had his name on the list....and then recommending something so offensive, that he is giving a bad name to this Administration.’

– Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption

The Unsatisfactory State of Our Justice System (Conclusion) PAGE 7

‘I really don't think Lawyers should be on that Panel at all (Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO)). I think there should be retired Judges and perhaps, users of the process.....I am not comfortable with the composition of the Panel, as it is now.’

– Funke Adekoya, SAN

COLUMNIST ADERINSOLA FAGBURE Aderinsola Fagbure is a keen writer having written her first article which was published by the junior section of a national daily, at the age of five. She is a graduate of Igbinedion University Okada and has just completed a Master’s degree in Corporate Law at the University College London. Her column, “In black and white” discusses the need for innovation on the Nigerian legal scene particularly in the fields of Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance and Energy Law.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE EDITOR JUDE IGBANOI DEPUTY EDITOR AKINWALE AKINTUNDE REPORTER TUNDE BUSARI GROUP HEAD OCHI OGBUAKU II ART DIRECTOR

/3

Taming the Herdsmen

G

Balance of Interests overnment must, as a matter of urgency, strike the right balance between the Fulani Cattle Herders and their need for grazing land for their livestock, and the lives and interests of the farmers and their farmlands, across the country. There needs to be a proper policy on grazing lands in Nigeria. There is a lot of land available for grazing in the country, but because of poor Government policy, they have not been effectively utilised. Possibly, the Grazing Reserve Law 1965, domesticated by the Northern Nigerian Government, which created an area mainly in the Northern part of Nigeria, exclusively for the Fulani Herdsmen to graze their cattle, should be revisited. A vast area of land spanning Sokoto, Bauchi, down to Ilorin, was demarcated for this purpose.

With the huge increase in population and development even in areas that may have been demarcated for grazing, land in the North becoming bare due to encroachment by the Sahara desert, it seems that there is a scarcity of grazing land. Well, maybe not really a scarcity, but the Federal and State Governments, need to come together to map out a coherent policy, with new areas running throughout the country, exclusively for grazing.

As long as alternative grazing land/reserves are not provided, we will continue to see the type of violent bloody clashes that we have been witnessing, between the agronomists and pastoralists, in various parts of the country.

It is unfair that, through no fault of theirs, because of Government’s failure to do the needful, it is farmers and their communities, that have been bearing the brunt of this problem, many of them paying the ultimate price, with their lives, since they are not armed like the Herdsmen, and have little or no protection.

They are more or less ‘sitting ducks’.

Or maybe Miyetti Allah should be proscribed like IPOB. After all, people cannot just go around killing, raping, looting, threatening, maiming and destroying other people’s property, all in the name of cattle grazing!

The fact that the Federal Government seems to be somewhat quiet and inactive, over such a serious crisis which seems to be escalating by the day, is rather worrying. Naturally, people in the South have started to ascribe tribal sentiments to the matter, concluding that because the President is Fulani, and many of the people in authority, especially those that head the law enforcement agencies, are of Northern extraction, they are allowing the Fulani Herdsmen to literally get away with murder!

Does it make any sense to graze your cattle anywhere, on another’s farmland, when it is their sole means of livelihood, just to be able to feed and fatten your cattle, in order to earn your own means of livelihood? I think not. Are the Cattle Herders and their livelihood, more important than that of the Farmers? No. Is it right for Cattle Herders, to forcefully enter a farmer’s land, kill or maim whoever they encounter on the land,

destroy the crops that the farmer has planted and has waited for months to harvest, so as to nurture their cattle? An emphatic No. The Riyom Massacre A week ago, in Riyom, Plateau State, 11 people were allegedly murdered and 4 others injured, by Fulani Herdsmen, on their way back from the market. The vehicle conveying the victims from the market, was riddled with bullets. One even wonders, if these so-called Herdsmen are really Herdsmen, or just Criminals and Boko Haram Terrorists, pretending to be Herdsmen.

As a child, one would see Herdsmen carrying only sticks, or at the worst, a bow and arrow kit hanging around their necks, on their backs. Today, they are armed with machine guns, weapons and ammunition.

Of course, the Chairman of Miyetti Allah (Cattle Breeders Association), Plateau State, Alhaji Nura Mohammed, vehemently denied the allegation that it was his members that killed the Plateau victims, stating that the unfortunate incident occurred probably as a result of an armed robbery attack and/ or criminal activities. However, Honourable Daniel Dem of the Plateau State House of Assembly, begged to differ, and stated in an interview, that the driver of the vehicle who had survived the attack and pretended to be dead, claimed that he saw some uniformed men and Fulani Herdsmen, and even heard them conversing in Fulani language, saying they should destroy the tyres of the vehicle.

The Riyom people, also insist that it was a reprisal attack, as the Fulani Herdsmen had vowed to take revenge on the Community, because one of their fellow Herdsmen had gone missing.

Grazing and Open Grazing According to Wikipedia, “Grazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore (plant eating animal), feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae.” Grazing is “to feed on growing grass and pasturage, as do cattle, sheep etc”.

Open grazing, is “where cattle roam freely regardless of land ownership”, grazing.

Open grazing as we practice it in Nigeria, is a crude, outdated, archaic practice, which was obviously used in the past when people did not know any better, and there were not many rules and regulations. Apart from it being totally unattractive to the naked eye, to see cows running around the streets and so on, especially in a metropolitan setting or ‘megacity’ like Lagos for example, the environment becomes filthy and fly infested, with cow dung lying all over the place, stinking; plus livestock running around the streets, can pose as a danger to motorists.

Unregulated grazing, such as what obtains in Nigeria, causes damage to soil, plants, streams and springs.

Unleashing of Terror It is unacceptable, that the Fulani Herdsmen unleash so much terror, so much so, that many farmers and communities are afraid of them, afraid of being murdered by them, and so they suffer in silence. Recently, in THE STATE v HARUNA USMAN, the

Chief Judge of Kogi State sentenced the accused person, a 17 year old Fulani Cattle Herder to death, for the murder (culpable homicide) by stabbing of one Happy David, punishable by Section 221 of the Penal Code.

The incident had occurred in July, 2015, on the farm of the deceased’s parents in Emiworo, Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

Usman had gone to graze his cattle on the farm, and the deceased warned him not to do so, because a chemical had been sprayed on the land, which could harm the cattle.

As the deceased turned around to leave, Usman attacked him from the back, stabbing him multiple times. Happy David died, as a result of the injuries that he sustained from Usman's attack. It seems that, the Herdsmen can be extremely vicious. Many in some of the South West areas where these Herdsmen have struck, like Oke Ogun, Agbonle, Saki, Irawo, Iganna, and so on, say that the Herdsmen believe that they can kill human beings, just so their cattle can be nourished. Those South West areas are Savannah areas, which are rich in grass.

The Fulani Herdsmen also raided the Ondo State farm of Chief Olu Falae, the former Secretary to the Federal Government, about four times to graze their cattle, thereby destroying Chief Falae’s crops.

Chief Falae, was also kidnapped by the Herdsmen in 2015. Some of the kidnappers were apprehended. However, on their last raid, Chief Falae called in the Police for protection. The Herdsmen opened fire on the Police, who ran for dear life. Nothing came out of this particular incident.

Recent Legislation: Ekiti State With the increasing problems with the Cattle Herders and Farmers, some States like Ekiti, Benue, and Taraba, went ahead to enact anti-open grazing laws. The Ekiti State Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing Law came into effect in 2016. In Ekiti State, it is an offence for Cattle Herders to graze their livestock outside the hours of 7am to 6pm, allow their cattle to graze on people’s farms or farmlands not allotted

by Government. Penalty for violating these rules, invites 6 months imprisonment with no option of fine. A Herdsman caught with firearms and weapons during grazing, shall be charged with Terrorism.

Benue State In Benue State, in the last 3 years or so, in Agatu Local Government Area alone, almost 4000 people have been killed in bloody clashes with the Herdsmen, while there has been a massive destruction of houses there as well.

The Benue State Open Grazing (Prohibition) and Establishment of Ranches Law 2017, came into effect on November 1st. The law prohibits open grazing. Cattle Herders in Benue State must henceforth, ranch their cattle. The Benue State law prescribes a 5 year jail term or a N1 million fine, for anyone that engages in open grazing within the State. It is also an offence for Cattle Herders in Benue State, to carry arms or move livestock within and across Benue State by foot. I applaud Governor Ortom for trying to protect his people, by taking

O N I K E P O B R A I T H WA I T E

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

"IT SEEMS THAT, THE HERDSMEN CAN BE EXTREMELY VICIOUS. MANY IN SOME OF THE SOUTH WEST AREAS WHERE THESE HERDSMEN HAVE STRUCK, LIKE OKE OGUN, AGBONLE, SAKI, IRAWO, IGANNA, AND SO ON, SAY THAT THE HERDSMEN BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN KILL HUMAN BEINGS, JUST SO THEIR CATTLE CAN BE NOURISHED" the bull by the horns.

Anambra Arrangement Anambra State, even though it does not have an anti-open grazing law, through a high powered Committee which included Fulani Herdsmen and the Sarkin Fulani, they came to an arrangement whereby, if any Cattle Herders go into farmland and destroy crops, such a person will be arrested, the damage assessed, and the violator will be made to pay compensation. Likewise, if a cow is killed, the community pays compensation.

Ranching Ranching is one solution to open grazing.

It is simply a particular area of land, used for grazing cattle or livestock for meat. Why can’t the Cattle Breeders Associations, acquire land in the designated areas? The Cattle Herders have made excuses, that they need more time to get acquainted with the new system, before the law can be implemented. That in Kenya, it took 5 years or so, to be able to implement the Ranching programme. I do not buy that argument. They should be given another 5 years to feed their cattle at no cost to them, by destroying other people’s farms while continuing with the killing and bloody clashes? I think not. After all, the public is not given their cattle or meat from their cattle, free of charge. We purchase them.

It may even be more healthy, for cattle to graze in designated areas, where less herbicides and chemicals are sprayed or not at all, on the grass, because the grass is meant for cattle feeding. Ranching prevents the spread of disease and the issue of conflicts amongst people.

In Nigeria, where Government is trying to promote the agricultural sector, especially for export, with less destruction of farmlands and crops, there will be increased agricultural output. In America, grass is even transported from grass growing areas, to other areas that require grass for their livestock. Why can we not do that here?

4/LAW REPORT

14.11.2017

Qualification as Aspirant, to Challenge Nomination/Selection of Candidate for Election

T Facts

he Appellant commenced this suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the Respondents, seeking amongst other reliefs, the nullification of the nomination of the 1st Respondent as the candidate of the 2nd Respondent in the 2015 Governorship election for Yobe State.

The Appellant alleged that the 1st Respondent gave false information, in his Form CF001 (Affidavit of Personal Particulars) submitted to the 3rd Respondent. Further, the Appellant alleged that the 1st Respondent was not eligible to contest the election because he had twice been elected into the office of the Governor. The Appellant claimed that being the only other aspirant for the position, he is entitled to take the place of the 1st Respondent.

The 1st and 2nd Respondents on the other hand, asserted that the Appellant did not submit his nomination forms as required by the 2nd Respondent’s guideline; and so, he could not participate in the screening for aspirants. Therefore, the Appellant was not an aspirant at the primary election. They countered the assertion that the 1st Respondent had been elected twice, and stated that he had only been elected as Governor of Yobe State once. They equally debunked the assertion that he gave contrary information about his age as shown on his birth certificate, and stated that the 1st Respondent’s School Leaving Testimonial was issued by the relevant authority long after he left school. The 1st and 2nd Respondents, filed a Preliminary Objection to the suit. The Court upheld the Preliminary Objection and struck out the suit for want of jurisdiction. The appeal to the Court of Appeal, was allowed in part. Still dissatisfied, the Appellant further appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The Supreme Court considered the following issues in its determination of the appeal: (i) Whether the Court of Appeal, was right to have held that the Appellant was not an aspirant in the 2nd Respondent’s primaries for the purpose of invoking the provisions of Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act (as amended); (ii) Whether the Court of Appeal, was right in holding that the Appellant has not established the allegation of forged documents and declaration regarding the 1st Respondent’s INEC Form CF001 bordering his certificate and date of birth. (iii) Whether the Court of Appeal, was right in holding that the 1st Respondent had not been elected into office as Governor of Yobe State twice in two previous elections, prior to the April, 2015 Governorship election.

Arguments Arguing the first issue, the Appellant contended that the Court of Appeal was wrong in holding that the he did not participate in the primary elections. He also argued that, the Court of Appeal did not consider the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court under Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, 2010 by which an aspirant can complain that any of the provisions of the Act or party guidelines, has not been complied with in the nomination of a candidate. He argued further that, the suit complained about breaches of the specific provisions of the Electoral Act, the Constitution of the 2nd Respondent and the 2014 Guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office.

He relied on Section 156 of the Electoral Act, which defines an aspirant and cited the case of UKACHUKWU v PDP (2014) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1435) Pg. 134. The Appellant concluded that, since there were no primaries and having demonstrated the steps taken in purchasing the necessary forms for nomination, he was an aspirant.

The 1st and 2nd Respondents argued that in order to be qualified to complain about the propriety of the conduct of a primary election, a member of the political party, must establish that he participated in the primary election. They also relied on the case of UKACHUKWU v PDP (supra), and urged the Court to hold that the Appellant did not participate in the primary election.

On its part, the 3rd Respondent submitted that having not participated in the primaries, the Appellant cannot avail himself of the benefit of Section 87 of the Electoral Act. It relied on the case of PDP v SYLVA & 2 ORS. (2012) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1316) 85.

On the second issue, the Appellant argued that the 1st Respondent presented a Testimonial (instead of a certificate), which he purported was issued to him on 22nd December, 1969,

by Borno State Government, when no State existed at that time as Borno State. The Appellant alleged that by so doing, the 1st Respondent had made false declaration in his Form CF001, and presented a forged certificate to the 3rd Respondent contrary to Section 31(5) of the Electoral Act and Section 182(1)(i) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. The Appellant also argued that, the 1st Respondent’s date of birth as indicated on his birth certificate and some other documents,

Hon. Sidi Dauda Bage, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 2nd Day of June, 2017 Before Their Lordships Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, CJN Musa Dattijo Muhammad Kudirat Olatokunbo Motonmori Kekere-Ekun Ejembi Eko Sidi Dauda Bage Justices, Supreme Court SC.758/2016 Between Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja ........ Appellant And 1. Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam 2. All Progressive Congress (APC) .......Respondents 3. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) .

Lead Judgement delivered by Hon. Sidi Dauda Bage, JSC

"....IN ORDER TO INVOKE THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 87(9) OF THE ELECTORAL ACT, THERE MUST BE COMPLAINT THAT THE PARTY’S GUIDELINES OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE ELECTORAL ACT, WERE NOT OBSERVED IN THE NOMINATION PROCESS, AND THE COMPLAINANT MUST HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION"

is different from his date of birth as indicated on the Certificate of Exemption issued by the National Youth Service Corps and another document. He urged the Court to hold that the 1st Respondent was not qualified to contest the Governorship election.

The 1st and 2nd Respondents argued that, the 1st Respondent did not state that Borno State was created in 1969. They argued that on the face of the Testimonial, nothing indicated that same was issued by Borno State, and there was no evidence that Yunusari Primary School, which the 1st Respondent stated that he attended, never existed. They further argued that by virtue of the Counter- Affidavit filed by the 1st Respondent, he was born on 15th September, 1956, and this was corroborated by evidence before the Court. The 3rd Respondent, likewise, submitted that, the Appellant failed to prove perjury and/or forgery against the 1st Respondent.

On the third issue, the Appellant contended that, the 1st Respondent contested as the running mate of late Senator Mamman Ali, and took oath of allegiance and office on 29th May, 2007. He continued to hold office as Governor from 2009 until his re-election in 2011, when he took a second oath of allegiance and office. The Appellant relied on the provisions of Sections 180(1)(a), 181(1), 182(1)(b), 185(1), 186 and 191 of the Constitution, as well as the case of MARWA v NYAKO & ORS (2012) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1296) Pg. 199 in submitting that having been elected into the office of Governor at two previous elections, the 1st Respondent was ineligible to contest as Governor of Yobe State.

In response, the 1st and 2nd Respondents argued that, the 1st Respondent was sworn in as Governor of Yobe State in 2009 by operation of Section 191(1) of the Constitution, upon the demise of the then Governor. They submitted that the 1st Respondent having not been elected and sworn in as Governor before 29th May, 2011, he had not held office as elected Governor of Yobe State on two previous occasions. Counsel for the 3rd Respondent relied on the case of OJUKWU v OBASANJO (2004) 12 NWLR (Pt. 886) in presenting similar arguments as the 1st and 2nd Respondents.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale On the first issue, the Court relied on its earlier decision in UKACHUKWU v PDP (supra) to hold that, in order to invoke the provisions of Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, there must be complaint that the party’s guidelines or the provisions of the Electoral Act, were not observed in the nomination process, and the complainant must have participated in the primary election. This provision falls into the category of closed rights. It does not capture (wrongful) exclusion, prevention or obstruction, orchestrated by or through the instrumentality of third parties or agencies. The evidence before the High Court, was that the Appellant was prevented from submitting his nomination forms; he therefore, did not participate in the primaries and he is unable to benefit from the provisions of Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

On the second issue, their Lordships held that to succeed in proving an allegation of forgery and false declaration, it is crucial to prove: (i) the existence of a document in writing; (ii) that the document was forged; (iii) that the forgery was by the person being accused; (iv) that the party who made it, knew that the document was false; and (v) the party alleged intended the forged document to be acted upon as genuine. The Court held that, the facts alleged by the Appellant are speculative. The Appellant did not prove that the 1st Respondent’s school was never in existence, and the evidence that he was born on 15th September, 1956, was unchallenged.

Deciding the third issue, it was held that the 1st Respondent became Governor by operation of Section 191(1) of the Constitution, upon the demise of the then Governor. The Court opined that Section 182(1)(b) of the Constitution, did not impact on when a tenure is spent out by operation of Section 191(1) of the Constitution. Therefore, the 1st Respondent was qualified to contest the Governorship election in 2015.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation: I.Y.C Maikyau (SAN) with T.R. Agbamu, T.A. Rapu, M. Abiodun, P.A. Joseph, A. Belgore, H.A. Matunji, P.C. Nwozor and N. Umar for the Appellant.

H. Fajimite with B. Olumo, A.A. Shehu, S.A. Yelwa, K.O. Lawal, A.O. Usman and S.A. Oke for the 1st and 2nd Respondents.

Alhassan A. Umar with O. Ikechukwu, G.A. Ismail, E. Agbaje, B. M. Abubakar and I. S. Mohammed for the 3rd Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited (Publishers of Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR))

14.11.2017

NEWS/5

EU ANTI CORRUPTION FORUM L-R: National Programme Manager, British Council, Mr. Danladi Plang, Justice Sedotan Ogunsanya, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami and Representative of State Controller of Prisons DCP, Onasanya Musili, during a stakeholder’s meeting founded by European Union on Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Forum at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Alausa Ikeja Photo: Kola Olasupo

LECTURE Vice Chairman, NBA Epe Branch, Mr. Ademola Koko (left) and Chiarman, NBA Epe Branch, Prince Sunday Abiodun during the Branch Law Week Lecture at Epe, recently

600 Nigerians on Death Row in East Asia Jude Igbanoi Growing concern has been expressed by rights activists, over the rising number of Nigerians who are awaiting execution in South-East Asian countries, for various offences.

In a media parley last week, on World Day Against the Use of the Death Penalty, the National Coordinator of Legal Assistance and Defence Project, Mr. Chino Obiagwu, said the Nigerian government hasn’t paid enough attention nor shown any reasonable interest, in the plight of Nigerians on death row in foreign countries.

He pointed out the startling number of Nigerians, who are facing the death penalty in foreign countries, most of which are for drugs related offences. South-East Asia alone, has over 600 Nigerians

who have been condemned to death, and are awaiting execution in various prisons.

Why this worrisome development deserves the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria, is the fact that most of the convicts never had the benefit of proper legal representation, and some didn’t have the benefits of being represented by lawyers in those countries. They were therefore, subjected to summary trials and convicted and sentenced to death, without as much as being given the benefit of legal counsel.

The theme of this year’s World Day Against the Use of the Death Penalty is “Poverty and the Death penalty”, and Mr. Obiagwu affirmed LEDAP’s position, that the abolition of death penalty in law and practice, should be the firm desire of the Nigerian Government, as death penalty is

cruel and inhumane treatment, which has no place in modern society. He contended that, the application of the death penalty is discriminatory in Nigeria, as it has become a punishment exclusive to the poor in society.

It on record that, LEDAP has continually fought legal battles with the Federal and State Governments, in its quest to ensure that fundamental rights of citizens are safe-guarded and the death penalty is abolished.

Currently LEDAP has legal actions in court, where it challenges the imposition of mandatory death sentences, and the proposal of the Federal and State Governments to execute death row inmates. LEDAP urged State Governors, not to sign any death warrants, as it constitutes State murder. With the high number of criminal

convictions overturned on appeal, continued execution is risky, as innocent people may be wrongfully killed.

LEDAP strongly believes that in its practical application, the death penalty is discriminatory, as there is hardly any rich or influential person in society, who is sentenced to death.

LEDAP contends that the reason for the discriminatory outlook, is due to the fact that the rich have the resources to settle the police or afford the best lawyers, who ensure that they are not convicted.

It is on record that in the past two years, LEDAP has secured acquittal for 18 death row inmates in Nigeria on appeal, lending credence to the unreliability of Nigeria’s criminal justice delivery system, on capital offences.

MAAN Holds 8th Practical Maritime Dispute Resolution Seminar The Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN) will hold its 8th Practical Maritime Dispute Resolution Seminar on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd November, 2017, at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, The Seminar is designed to provide participants, with deep insights regarding issues relevant to Arbitration and Dispute Resolution generally in the maritime sector. It will bring together, a wide range of interesting topics to be presented by leading practitioners in Maritime, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution.

The topics to be discussed include : Nigeria and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: An Appraisal; Ship Acquisition and Finance: A Critical Examination of

the Nigerian Perspective; Nigeria’s Admiralty Juri sdictionProcedureRules, 2011:ACriticalAppraisal; ShipBuildingandShipAcquisitionProcedures; Arbitration and the Choice of Law: An Overview; Third Party Funding in Arbitration; Recent Developments in the Legal Framework of Arbitration in Nigeria; and The Nigerian Blue Economy: Challenges & Opportunities.

The Speakers are: Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN , FCIArb; Mrs. Oritsematosan EdodoEmore; Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN; Mr. Bodunrin Adewole, FCIArb; Mr. Amos H. Kuje; Dr. Eno S. Emah; Mrs. Funmi Roberts, FCIArb; Mr. Tunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, FCIArb; Mr. Isaiah Bozimo, FCIArb; Ms. Funmi Folorunsho.

Alleged Breach of Peace: Widow Battles Late Husband’s Lawyer over Will Court Strikes Out claimed that shortly after the estate be shared equally between advances to me. I also told him Criminal Charge Against Akinwale Akintunde death of her husband on Janu- all the 12 successors. that since my husband, his According to her, the 1st client, was no more that his Onikoyi Prince, Others A widow, Mrs. Ebunoluwa ary 1, 2015, after several years Folasade Badejo, has dragged of suffering from a Stroke and Defendant, who is her late services to my late husband had her late husband’s lawyer, Mr. Babatunde Adeniyi Adejuwon before a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, over allegations of not properly executing her late husband’s Will.

The distraught widow, a qualified nurse and mother of four children, sued for herself and as Executor and Trustee of the Estate of her late husband, Mr. Johnson Badejo.

Joined as Defendants in the suit before Justice Morenike Obadina, are the tenants at the late husband’s properties at 29, Akinyemi Street, Aguda, Surulere, and 19, Turner Iradiri Street, Ajegunle, Lagos.

The second to fourth Defendants are, Mr. David Okwu, Mr. Bolaji Bello and Mr. Chukwuma Onyeka, who are tenants at the Aguda, Surulere property while fifth to eight Defendants are Ms. Edaefe Evie, Mr. Olize Isaiah, Mr. Elemike Richard and Mr. Dickson Maduike, who are tenants at the Ajegunle property.

In the suit No: LD/41P/2016 filed through her lawyer, Olanlokun Omolodun, the widow

Type 2 diabetes, her husband's Last Will and Testament dated April 14, 2015, was admitted to Probate and read to members of his family, at the Probate Registry of Lagos Division of the High Court.

According to Mrs. Badejo, her late husband in his Will, made special and specific provisions, for the maintenance of his properties and assets and the application of part of the monetary proceeds therefrom for the continued welfare and education of her children, all of whom he named, among other things.

She said the Will specifically provided in Clause 11, that all the tenants should pay their rents to his joint account with First Bank, until her last child, who is still in Secondary School graduates.

The Claimant said her deceased husband, further provided that the rent proceeds should be primarily applied for the education and maintenance of his dependents, who are herself and her four children, until when the youngest child (now 11 years old) turns 25, and thereafter, the income of the

husband’s lawyer sometime in April, 2015, visited her house ostensibly to relay some information to the tenants, and thereafter, saw her to further condole her on the death of her husband.

She added that, when the lawyer was leaving, he told her she must be lonely now, and offered to begin to take care of her now that the husband was no more.

“Sometime in April, 2015, the 1st Defendant visited my house ostensibly to relay some information to the tenants therein, after which he came to see me to further condole me on the death of my husband, according to him. When he was leaving he said I would be lonely, and he offered to begin to take care of me now that my husband was no more. When I asked what he meant, he replied that he wanted to date me and take care of me better than any young man could. At this point I was shocked and flatly rebuffed him, and warned him never to repeat such immoral and scandalous

ceased, and I would formally debrief him regarding my late husband’s estate.

“Sometime after the Will was read in April, 2015, at the Probate Registry of this court, after the 1st Defendant expedited the process for same at the instance of my step-children, the 1st Defendant, despite his instructions regarding my husband’s estate having terminated upon the demise of my husband and my oral notice to him, invited myself and my children to his office ostensibly for the purpose of advising us on how to proceed to obtain the grant of probate over the estate.

“Instead, when we got to his office, the 1st Defendant proceeded to unilaterally point out what he claimed were three bad clauses, clauses 11, 12 and 13 in the said Will which he prepared, and how those clauses are unworkable and needed to be changed. Specifically, he said the clause making my late

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Akinwale Akintunde

A Lagos Magistrate Court, has struck out an alleged breach of public peace charge preferred against an Onikoyi Prince, Tajudeen Onikoyi, and three others, by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

Magistrate A.F Adeeyo, struck out the three-count charge of breach of public peace, on the ground that the prosecution failed woefully to prove beyond every reasonable doubt, the allegation against the Defendants.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, had dragged Tajudeen Onikoyi, Idowu Johnson, Bolaji Onikoyi, and Abari Onikoyi, to court for the allegedly causing breach of peace, by disrupting workers at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos on March 18, 2012.

The charge against Prince Onikoyi and others, which has now been struck out reads: “That you Prince Tajudeen Onikoyi 'm', Idowu Johnson 'm', Bolaji Onikoyi 'm' and Abari

Onikoyi 'm' and others still at large, on the 18th March, 2012, at about 11am at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District and did conduct yourself in a manner to cause breach of peace by disrupting workers at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos and thereby committed an offence punishable and contrary to section 116 (1) and (D) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

“That you Prince Tajudeen Onikoyi 'm', Idowu Johnson 'm', Bolaji Onikoyi 'm' and Abari Onikoyi 'm' and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the Lagos Magisterial District did unlawfully damage the wall, fence and store value yet to be estimated, property of P.I Fafunwa Onikoyi, and thereby committed an offence punishable and contrary to Section 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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14.11.2017

Justice Nweze on Constitutionality of Democratic Governance at Uniben Law Faculty’s 16th Memorial Lecture of Justice Idigbe Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Chima Centus Nweze, has reiterated the need for adherence to true constitutionalism and democratic governance, saying it remains the only way to consolidate on the 1999 Constitution, even though it was not the popular view of the citizens that informed its propriety.

Justice Nweze who was the Guest Lecturer at the 16th Justice Idigbe Memorial Lecture held at the Akin Deko Main Auditorium, University of Benin with the theme: " Constitutional Adjudication For Democratic Consolidation In Nigeria: The Role of the Supreme Court", noted that he particularly appreciated the " Judicialisation of Politics", a situation where the 'societal decision-making’ becomes more judiciary-oriented.

The erudite jurist stated that, the dichotomy between the Nigerian jurists and scholars, has not helped to address the issues affecting Nigeria, noted that this difference can be due largely to geographical influence of interpretation of the law or its knowledge.

Justice Nweze who gave credit to Professor Smitney for evolving the "Judicalisation of Poltics", to describe the process which occurs when societal decision-making becomes more judiciary-oriented, that is, when the Judiciary more frequently asserts its relevance in moulding the shape of politics for the common good.

He further pointed out that, there should be a constitutional warrant for this assertive role for the Nigerian Judiciary in the contemporary constitutional adjudication.

"These views, find solid anchorage on the plethora of provisions of the 1999 Constitution. From the concept of these provisions, the Judiciary could rightly be viewed as the sentinel duly consecrated to guard the cherished principles of democracy enunciated in the Constitution.

"The implications of this guardianship role, are two-fold: the Constitution makes the Judiciary the' watch-dog of the other arms

of government, that is, its role is to keep each arm within the confines of its powers. This is an incident of the doctrine of supremacy of the Constitution, a revolutionary doctrine which is a feature of a written constitution only.

"It demands that the court's should void any exercise, which does not comply with the constitutionally-prescribed manner of its exercise. The other, and more cogent, implication of the guardianship role of the Judiciary, is that the Constitution, by the said investiture of guardianship, espouses a dynamic concept of the role of the Judiciary. Like its 1979 precursor, the 1999 Constitution concedes sovereignty to the people of Nigeria. Instructively, the Constitution concedes to the Judiciary, the eminent and most enviable position of arbiter between the government and the people", he asserted.

For instance, Justice Nweze said, unlike the Constitution of Nigeria between 1960-1963; 1979-1983, where in certain disputes, judges play Pontius Pilate where courts decline jurisdiction in certain matters invested with the doctrine of political question, the situation has changed with the present Constitution, that has espoused a new judicial attitude with the courts significantly altering this perception.

On Justice Chinweike Idigbe, he said the problem of the Nigerian Judiciary, is that it does not outsource the contributions of its eminent jurists because of the single fact that, the dominant discourse in comparative judicial and contemporary scholastic reasoning, was shaped by Anglo-American perspectives and Eurocentric viewpoints.

His words: "This entreaty stemmed from the developments in other jurisdictions. Law teachers and students, must be familiar with such names like Jeremy Bentham; John Austin; Lords Come, while in the case of Nigeria, those who have contributed substantially have not been heard much of.

"Who can tell me that, the contribution of Professor Ben Nwuabueze is not known all over the world? If you Google him, you will see

L-R: Justice Dotun Onibokun of Oyo State Judiciary, Guest Lecturer, 16th Justice Idigbe Memorial Lecture, Justice Chima Nweze, JSC, Former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Chief Charles Edosomwan, SAN, Prof. N.A. Inegbedion, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Benin; and Mrs. Angela Ezenwani, Attorney and Solicitor, International Law Centre, Lagos

his contributions on all the issues. Chances are that, if you go through international journals, you will see his contributions but they are not embedded in our constitutional development like the Anglo-Amerian viewpoints”, he stated To address this anomaly therefore, Justice Nweze is of the opinion that, the first thing is to undertake the preliminary assignment of ascertaining whether Justices, be it at the Appellate Court of the Supreme Court, are able to establish an exportable model like their counterparts elsewhere.

To do this, he said first step is to establish whether His Lordship, Chinweike Idigbe, JSC, was able to establish an "exportable model", and reasoning which is comparable to other forms of judicial reasoning that had dominated and shaped debates in the literature.

"Against this background, it would only suffice to erect an aperture, through which this distinguished audience could peep into

the invaluable store house of the judicial information contained in His Lordship (Justice Idigbe) judgements", Justice Nweze asserted.

He described the late Justice Idigbe, as someone who by all standards, has always won modesty, a very able judge, mentally vigorous, fair-minded, infinitely compassionate and a lovable human being, that should be emulated.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, paid tribute to the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who established the lecture series to celebrate Justice Idigbe.

Professor Orumwense who also thanked the University of Benin Faculty of Law for keeping the spirit, added that given the rich professional background of the guest lecturer, he has no doubt that he would not only sustain the standard but add to the standard already established.

Legal Personality of the Week Ezenwa Anumnu

‘Technology Should be Every Lawyer’s Silent Partner’ My name is Ezenwa Anumnu, I am the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch (Unity Bar). I am a practicing Christian, husband and father to three children. I have served in various leadership capacities in the past such as President, Rotary Club of Abuja (2014/15); President, Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International (FGBMFI), Central Executive Chapter; Council Member, Abuja Chamber of Commerce (ACCI) (2015-date). I am the Senior Partner of Joint Heirs Chambers in Abuja, with 18 years of cognate legal practice experience. I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1999, I hold Masters degree in Law from both the University of Jos, Plateau State and Lazaski University in Poland and currently a doctoral degree candidate in Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State.

Have you had any challenges in your career as a Lawyer, and if so, what were the main challenges?

Yes, I have. I am succeeding today because of the disappointments that I have experienced.

For instance, some of our pilot projects in the Unity Bar like the Young Lawyer Training & Employment Scheme (YoTES), which is a threshold of revolutionising legal practice for young lawyers, was borne out of the disappointments I had experienced as a young lawyer. Then it was so difficult for me to get an opportunity for pupillage or employment. I was turned down severally, and that experience birthed the need for this program, and here we are today, creating opportunities for lawyers by placing them in relevant organisations and law firms for a period of six months in the first instance, as a response to the yearly huge turnout of over 5,000 lawyers by the Nigerian Law School. The challenges I experienced, showed me how to develop and create opportunities for myself.

What was your worst day as a Lawyer?

we reached out to many HMOs and fortunately, got a great bargain from Hygeia HMO. To my mind, this is the most outstanding of our #7BigWins at the Branch. The LHIP excites me the most, as it touches directly at the lives of lawyers and guess what? We also secured the participation of the 1st set of 200 lawyers, all for free for one whole year, from the benevolent senior members of the profession that we will be revealing shortly. The program is scalable to every branch, nook and cranny of the country, wherever we have lawyers and it can be extended to family members and other dependents at the same flat rate as they have hospitals throughout the country. It is not only for lawyers in Abuja but lawyers everywhere and it goes with the hashtag, #lawyerslivesmatter!

Ezenwa Anumnu

October 2, 2017 or thereabout, when I read the AGM Communique of the 2017 Conference, and saw very highly placed lawyers in the service of the Bar, doctoring documents for self-serving purposes, while some colleagues looked the other way. It was a new low for me, and quite a disturbing one at that, as I am not sure I have ever been disappointed with my colleagues as I was that day, and I resolved to start taking my opinion and my stand very seriously, as those who ordinarily we should look up to, have once again failed us.

What was your most memorable experience as a Lawyer?

Same October 2017, precisely the 31st day, we received the first set of lawyers participating under the Lawyers Health Insurance Plan (LHIP) - a unique and bespoke collaboration between the NBA Abuja Branch and HYGEIA Health Management Organisation. At first, it seemed impossible, as we had so many obstacles, but

Who has been the most influential in your life?

Just like I learnt from my father, Chief Emmanuel Eze Anumnu, my personal relationship with God has been my sole source of sustenance in life and practice. However, in human terms, there is one person that has allowed himself to be used mightily by God in this respect, and that is my mentor, friend and confidant, Adesoji Adesugba. Prof is a Lawyer I accidentally met as a very young lawyer in practice, and he took keen interest in me, applied himself and invested in me.

Why did you become a Lawyer?

I have always sought the opportunity, to serve people in every segment of life. My being a lawyer today, is not unconnected with my desire to be of service.

What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in Law? Grow your roots! Growing your roots needs hard work, focus and persistence. You need to invest in yourself, and build your capacity.

Embrace Technology purposefully. Technology must be your silent partner. You must see every assignment given to you, as an opportunity to learn, improve upon what you already know, and most importantly, showcase yourself. This is key, because first you must be a very good lawyer for you. To excel, you need to be ready to learn the ropes of the trade at all cost. Hard work and determination, play a huge role in progress in practice. You must always have a willingness to apply yourself to what you have learnt, and develop an appraisal system for periodic reviews. Just like in every other business, starting up is the most critical time in practice. Every lawyer, must have the ability to weather the storm without compromising on standards or practice. A key element that we must develop, is what I call ‘staying power’ in practice.

If you had not become a Lawyer, what career would you have chosen?

I would have simply gone into business, as I am a transactions person. I am in charge of the MSMEs at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce (ACCI), where I help source for funding and build capacities for the micro, small and medium scale companies.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I will retire from active legal practice as it were, and focus on helping people be the best they can be. As Nelson Mandela said, there is no passion in settling for a life that is less than the one we are capable of living. Upon completing my PHD program, I will take up a part-time lecturing job, to impact on younger lives. I will also devote time to my primary assignment, that is, a Minister of the Gospel in the marketplace, as we are known in the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International circles where I currently serve as the Central Executive Chapter Vice President.

14.11.2017

SPECIAL REPORT/7

The Unsatisfactory State of Our Justice System (Conclusion) Proposed Presidential Directives on Administration of Justice In the concluding part of their series of write-ups, Olawale Fapohunda and Onikepo Braithwaite, propose 20 Presidential Directives on Reforms of the Administration of Justice System, for the consideration of President Muhammadu Buhari

I

n our previous write-ups, we suggested various legal, policy and administrative interventions, for managing the transformation of our justice system, with emphasis on the institutions that deliver criminal justice. We mapped out the specific steps that should be taken, and how the system might be made accountable to Nigerians.

In general, we have sought to respond to the frequently asked question, ‘Where do we start from’? Achieving the key performance indicators of the Buhari Administration – Anti- Corruption, Security and Economic Growth, requires an effective and efficient justice system.

It is therefore, appropriate to conclude our six –part write up on the state of our justice system, by restating a number of practical interventions for the consideration of the Presidency. We have couched these interventions as Presidential Directives. Our use of ‘Presidential Directives’ is deliberate. We firmly believe, that in matters of taking forward fundamental reforms in the administration of justice system, the buck stops with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Presidential Consultations Directive No.1: Direct the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to draft a National Policy on Administration of Justice. This must be done though a consultative and inclusive process. Justice sector reforms, stand a better chance of success, when the government has a clearly stated policy, setting out the official vision of the reform objectives, and committing government to specific reforms necessary to realise that vision. This is an important reference point, for any strategic approach to justice sector development.

Directive No. 2: Direct the Secretary to the Federal Government, to convene an Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the National Council of States on the ‘State of Administration of Justice in Nigeria’. Invitations should be extended to the Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Justice (and Parastatals), Heads of Nigeria Police, Prisons Service and Legal Service NGOs. Directive No.3: Direct the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to meet with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, to discuss modalities for the establishment of National Council for the Administration of Justice. The proposed Council will provide high-level policy making, implementation and oversight of interventions, in the Justice Sector. Its mandate will be to ensure a coordinated, efficient, effective and consultative approach in the administration of justice and reform of the justice system.

Judiciary and Judicial Reforms Directive No. 4: Direct the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to meet with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, to discuss practical aspects for inaugurating an Independent Judicial Benefits and Compensation Committee.

The Committee will undertake a com-

of Justice.

Directive No. 12: Direct the Secretary to the Federal Government, to appoint the National Human Rights Commission as Chief Visitor of Prisons, with a formal mandate to conduct inspections on a regular basis, respond to complaints, investigate deaths in custody, publish independent regular findings, and make appropriate recommendations to the President.

Directive No.13: Direct the Federal Ministry of Justice, In collaboration with State Governments, to undertake an audit of all prison facilities in Nigeria, with view to identifying persons who should not be in prison, for the consideration of the National Council of States.

President Muhammadu Buhari

prehensive review of salaries, allowances and benefits of all judicial officers in Nigeria, including lower court judges.

The Committee should be required to submit a report with its recommendations to the National Council of States, for deliberation and implementation.

Nigeria Police and Police Reform Directive No. 5: Direct the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Ministry of Justice, to draft a new Police bill consistent with the spirit of the 1999 Constitution. The new law should be aimed at facilitating human rights, gender equality, pro-poor policing, and enhancement of community policing. Further, the proposed law should emphasise transparency in the appointment of the Inspector General of Police, through a meritocratic and competitive process, with a fixed tenure of office.

Directive No. 6: Direct the Ministry of Interior, to review the reports of Presidential Committees on Police Reform from 1999, with a view to articulating their constructive recommendations into an actionable agenda for implementation of police reform.

Directive No. 7: Direct the Inspector General of Police to undertake an audit of manpower, vehicles, equipment, training institutions and other resources of the police force, with a view to identifying and prioritising specific areas of need for appropriate intervention.

Directive No. 8: Direct the Secretary to the Federal Government, to formally appoint the National Human Rights Commission as Nigeria’s independent police ombudsman, with strong authority

to receive complaints from the public on matters of police corruption including, abuse of power and extra- judicial killings.

Directive No. 9: Direct the National Orientation Agency, to convene a national dialogue on the desirability of State Police.

Nigeria Prisons Service & Prisons Reform Directive No. 10: Direct the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Interior, to review the Prisons Act, with a view to proposing amendments or reenactment, for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council. This is without prejudice to the several Prison Act Amendment bills in the National Assembly.

Directive No. 11: Direct the immediate removal of the Nigeria Prisons Service from the oversight of the Ministry of Interior, and placing it under the Ministry

"WE FIRMLY BELIEVE, THAT IN MATTERS OF TAKING FORWARD FUNDAMENTAL REFORMS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE BUCK STOPS WITH PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI"

Human Rights and Access To Justice Directive No.14: Direct the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to meet with the Legal Aid Council and the Nigerian Bar Association, with a view developing modalities for the engaging the legal profession in meeting the unmet needs of indigent Nigerians, for access to justice and legal representation.

Directive No. 15: Direct the immediate reconstitution of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, and examine the adequacy of its funding.

Directive No. 16: Direct the Minister of Defence, to appoint a Human Rights Adviser for the Nigerian Military. This is in response to allegations of rights violations during military operations Corruption in the Justice System Directive No.17: Direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the ICPC, to undertake an independent assessment of corruption in the administration of justice system. Evidence of corruption, and not just suspicions or popular belief, is required in order to effectively assess corruption and develop a framework of anti-corruption policies.

Directive No.18: Direct the Head of Service, to issue fresh guidelines on enforcing merit-based employments and appointments across the institutions in the justice sector.

Directive No. 19: Direct the Head of Service, to undertake an independent review of Salaries and working conditions across the justice sector, with a view to taking practical measures aimed at eliminating the necessity to supplement paltry income with bribes.

Directive No. 20: Direct the National Orientation Agency, to embark on public education, aimed at transforming societal attitudes towards the justice system. The insufficient dissemination of information to the public on how the justice system is organised and works, often leads to lost confidence and to an artificial spread of corruption.

Olawale Fapohunda, Managing Partner, Legal Resources Consortium, former Attorney-General of Ekiti State and Onikepo Braithwaite, Legal Practitioner, Editor of THISDAY Lawyer

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14.11.2017

‘Federal Character Has Destroyed Merit in Nigeria’ He belongs to a very rare breed of Nigerian lawyers, dead or alive, who have had the privilege of being called to the Inner Bar in England and Nigeria. Professor Fidelis Oditah QC, SAN, has been described by some as an enigma of sorts. He graduated with 1st Class Honours, both in his Law Degree from the University of Lagos (1984), and from the Nigerian Law School (1985). He was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship enabling him to study at the University of Oxford (Magdalen College 1986-89), where he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law (1987) and of Doctor of Philosophy(1989), completing his DPhil thesis in only two years. He was a Fellow and Tutor in Law at Merton College, Oxford and Travers Smith Braithwaite Lecturer in Corporate Finance Law at Oxford University from 1989 to 1997. He has been a visiting Professor at the Oxford University Faculty of Law since 2000. He was called to the English Bar in 1992, and by a dint of hard work, made it to the Inner Bar as Queen’s Counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The highly detribalised Nigerian, spoke with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on various issues, including his perception of the ongoing anti-corruption fight of the Buhari Administration, CBN’s BVN policy, former President Jonathan’s demand of N1b to testify in Olisa Metuh’s case, and his strong abhorrence of federal character, as enshrined in the Constitution

Professor Fidelis Oditah QC SAN PHOTOS: Kolawole Alli

T

he issue of Abdulrasheed Maina seems to be a blow to the fight against corruption. Do you agree?

If so, why? Mainagate and Babachirgate have raised a lot of doubts in the minds of many, as to the seriousness of the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari Administration. Many have questioned why Maina and Babachir have

not been prosecuted, especially in the face of damning evidence against Babachir, who was only just relieved of his appointment?

The former NIA boss, Ayo Oke, seems to be being treated differently, leading people to think that the anti-corruption crusade is selective. Are there any cogent legal reasons for the others not to be prosecuted, while Oke is?

Corruption in Nigeria is pervasive. It cannot be illustrated, by reference to a few instances, however infamous or notorious those instances

may be. Accordingly, I do not agree that the furore surrounding the dismissal, recall and re-dismissal of Abdulrasheed Maina is a blow to the fight against corruption. Rather, I see the furore, as further illustration of the discordant tunes being played in relation to the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

As an individual, I believe President Buhari is probably serious about the fight against corruption. However, with the best will in the world, President Buhari alone cannot fight the corruption pandemic in

Nigeria. He needs everyone’s buy-in into anti-corruption. Sadly, he has had neither the cooperation of his fellow members of the Ruling class nor of Nigerians.

Prosecution is a function of investigation, evaluation of evidence and legal and factual analysis. It is not based simply on the fact that a person is removed from office. For example, I was surprised a few years ago when I discovered that there was no crime of official corruption in the Penal Code that is applicable in the North, whereas, there

14.11.2017 is such an offence in all the Criminal laws of the Southern States. How can you fight corruption, without an offence of “official corruption” in the Penal Code? That is shocking. But given that lacuna, it is possible for the same conduct to constitute an offence in the South, but not in the North!

Besides, Ayo Oke’s case appears to be based on money laundering, whereas, Babachir’s is not. There could therefore, be valid legal reasons for the apparent difference in the treatment of the two individuals. But I do not know all the facts, and I cannot say categorically whether or not, first, the two individuals are being treated differently and, secondly, if they are, whether there are valid grounds for the supposed difference in the treatment. From what I read in the press, Mr Maina appears to have been charged with some offences and is therefore, being treated in a similar way to Ayo Oke..

Having said that, in a deeply divided country, it is easy to explain the supposed and apparent differences along the well known ethnic, geographic and religious fault lines that have marred post independence Nigeria. We should be cautious, before we take refuge in such superficial explanations.

How would you rate the Government’s fight against corruption over the past year? Do you believe that having a Committee to monitor corruption cases, will make any difference to the fight?

Do you think that Hon Justice Salami had cogent enough reasons to decline his appointment as Chairman of the Corruption Cases Monitoring Committee?

I rate the Government’s anti-corruption rhetoric very high indeed, but sadly the evidence of the Government’s effort to prevent corruption, does not match its rhetoric. This is hardly surprising. Many of President Buhari’s comrades with whom he exercises his executive powers, do not share his anti corruption vision. Many are hungry and/or greedy, and a good number have no verifiable sources of their apparently ostentatious and wasteful lifestyles. To use a Nigerian colloquialism, “anywhere belle face, na him be front”! Governor Fayose became infamous for “stomach infrastructure”, but he was merely the messenger. We all know the message.

In addition, the fight against corruption, depends upon successful prosecution of those found wanting and the expeditious disposal of corruption prosecutions by the courts.

Funding of the anti corruption infrastructure (Police, EFCC, the prosecuting counsel and the courts), is often abysmal. The fight against corruption, is also affected by the pervasive and continued erosion of core national values in Nigeria, and the unbridled obsession with money and ill gotten gains. It is also affected by our very weak, inefficient and corrupt institutions – the investigators, prosecutors and the courts. President Buhari cannot be blamed for a dysfunctional, inefficient and corrupt court system. As a result of these factors, corruption investigations often leave much to be desired, being often shoddy, superficial and very limited. The prosecution is often amateurish, whereas, the standard of proof required by law is proof beyond reasonable doubt – a high standard. There is a disheartening disconnect between what the prosecuting authorities feed the public with, and the reality in the court room. A person can only be convicted on the basis of

"MANY OF PRESIDENT BUHARI’S COMRADES WITH WHOM HE EXERCISES HIS EXECUTIVE POWERS, DO NOT SHARE HIS ANTI-CORRUPTION VISION. MANY ARE HUNGRY AND/OR GREEDY, AND A GOOD NUMBER, HAVE NO VERIFIABLE SOURCES OF THEIR APPARENTLY OSTENTATIOUS AND WASTEFUL LIFESTYLES"

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credible evidence painstakingly assembled and pieced together, and not on the basis of sensational, selective and salacious newspaper headlines and reports. In short, we have simply not invested the political, judicial and prosecutorial capital, necessary for a successful anti corruption fight. We are simply pandering to the public outcry for scapegoats, and sacrificing detailed and thorough investigation and prosecution, on the altar of sensational, selective and salacious headlines. That is a doomed strategy. It is not surprising that it hasn’t worked.

The government’s prosecution policy is anything but consistent, thereby encouraging the suspicion that there are sacred cows that cannot be prosecuted, or that particular ethnic groups are favoured or unfairly vilified and prosecuted. None of this, should surprise us. If our schools are not doing well, and our ministries are not doing well, and our hospitals are not doing well, and our infrastructure – transport, water and power – is not doing well, why should we expect our fight against corruption to do well? Besides, we have shown a disappointing inability, to enforce our civil and criminal laws. How could our anti corruption fight be any different?

In contrast, in many countries, eg the UK, criminal investigations are thorough and detailed and not announced prematurely for short term political and other supposed gains; prosecutors are very deliberate and thorough, and the quality of the evidence often presented to the courts is high and compelling, inducing even the most confident corrupt person or money launderer on occasion, to plead guilty in order to receive a reduced sentence.

As for monitoring of corruption cases, based on the details of how it is supposed to operate that I read in the press, it is impossible to see how it could possibly make any difference to the fight against corruption. I understand that, the monitoring, is supposed to involve committee members attending court during corruption trials. Having regard to the composition of the monitoring committee, it is very likely that the trial Judge would recognise the august visitors in his/her court, and behave properly. Moreover, no one has ever suggested that, corruption is practiced in the open court. At best, the monitoring committee is further evidence of our lazy and superficial approach, to serious issues and, in this context, to the fight against crime.

Justice Salami had no choice, but to decline chairmanship of the monitoring committee.

A number of the members of the Nigerian Bar Association put on the committee, were counsel in Alhaji Wamako’s infamous Sokoto Gubernatorial election defence a few years ago, which directly led to the wrongful and unlawful termination of Ayo Salami’s judicial career.

What advice do you have for Government to make the fight against corruption more effective? Is there really a panacea to corruption in Nigeria?

"BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN, THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE RANK OF SAN"

We need observance of rule of law, strong and independent institutions (Police, EFCC, Ministries of Justice, Courts and Prisons), absence of political interference, adequate funding, and meritocracy, in order successfully to fight corruption. At the moment, we are doing little more than paying lip service to the fight against corruption. We cannot disdain merit, and expect a successful fight against corruption. We cannot refuse to enforce our laws, and expect a successful fight against corruption. We cannot weaken and impoverish our institutions, and have a successful fight against corruption. Strong and independent institutions, lead to a successful fight against corruption. A key ingredient in building strong and independent institutions, is a return to meritocracy. A situation where recruitment and promotion into the public service of the Federation or a State, are based on lobbying, nepotism and cronyism, rather than on merit, can never augur well for the fight against corruption. Nepotism, cronyism and disdain for merit, are inimical to any sensible fight against corruption.

Has the South East Zone been marginalised? How should Nigeria go about restructuring constitutionally and otherwise? For example, the South East have complained that the other zones have more States than it does; The constitutional procedure to create a new State, makes it almost impossible to do so. What is the way forward?

I do not know enough about what is going on in the South East, or what appointments have been made by President Buhari from the South East, or what the South East representation is in the Federal Public Service, in order to conclude that the region has been marginalised. I do not believe the politics of States creation by itself, is sufficient to conclude that the South East has been marginalised. I certainly do not believe that we should create more states. If anything, we should consolidate the States, in order to reduce them to a more manageable number, and reduce the cost and other burdens of governance. That is not going to happen, under the current political and democratic arrangements. We cannot preach one Nigeria, and at the same time, insist on the further fragmentation of Nigeria through the creation of additional States, that would simply be economically unviable and a further drain on virtually non-existent public resources. I dislike Federal Character, but it is enshrined

in our Constitution. In my view, we have destroyed our country and turned merit on its head, whilst taking refuge inappropriately in Federal Character.

Restructuring is the buzz word at the moment, but it means different things to different people. What I would like to see, is a rebalancing of the distribution of power and resources between the federating units and the central government. The Federating States, cannot go cap in hand monthly to the Federal Government, for their paltry share of FAAC money. We cannot ask them to raise their internally generated revenues, when the Constitution has taken a significant part of their ability to generate revenue. The States have got to have some control over the resources in their States, and pay an agreed percentage for the defence and administration of the centre. I believe the Republican Constitution of 1963, largely got the allocation of power and resources between the federating states and the central government right.

It seems that with the proscription of IPOB, the agitations for Restructuring have somewhat cooled down. Do you agree?

IPOB, was largely the result of the failure of political leadership in the South East. How could an unknown Kanu, wake up and in a few months dominate South East politics?

He simply tapped into the disenchantment of the gullible and unemployed youths, in the South East. No doubt, there is palpable disaffection in the polity, and in particular, in the South East, caused by the pauperisation of the masses by the leadership and the failure to give the masses the dividends of democracy, but IPOB is not the solution.

I do not agree, that the clamour for restructuring has somewhat cooled down with the proscription of IPOB. IPOB, is not relevant, to the redistribution of power and resources in Nigeria. And from what I see and read in the press, the clamour has intensified rather than cooled down.

There has been an outcry against the NGO Bill which is now at the Committee stage in the House of Representatives. Do you have any objection to the Bill or do you believe that it will do more good than harm to governance of NGO’s in Nigeria?

Some even see the proposed legislation as a direct attack on Christianity. What is your opinion?

I believe there is a general need for sensible regulation of the voluntary sector, but I do not see the current controversial NGO Bill as the solution. It seeks to go from one extreme of zero regulation, to another extreme of draconian regulation. The solution, lies somewhere between these two ends of the pendulum. However, it is unhelpful to evaluate the Bill on the basis of our religious fault lines.

Many lawyers have complained that the Senate has been overreaching itself, by going outside the purview of its constitutional mandate with some of its actions, like summoning all manner of public officers before it, especially those like Professor Itse Sagay who make utterances that do not sit well with them.

Are they acting beyond their legislative duties, the Senate almost constituting itself as a quasi-judicial body. Or Can the Senate do this?

To a very small extent, the National Assembly (and not just the Senate), from time to time, dabbles into areas that have been allocated to the Executive by our Constitution.

It is wrong to do so. However, I do not believe that the exercise of the National Assembly’s oversight powers, can be described as “overreaching itself”. The National Assembly has the power under section 88 of our Constitution, to investigate the conduct of any person who has responsibility for the administration or execution of laws enacted by the National Assembly, for the purpose of exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste. As Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof Sagay is certainly a person charged with responsibility for administering or executing anti corruption laws enacted by the National Assembly. He may also be paid from the public purse. So long as the purpose of being summoned to the National Assembly, is to assist with law-making or to expose corruption, inefficiency or waste, the Senate would seem to be acting well within its investigative and oversight powers. If, on the other hand, the purpose of summoning CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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‘FEDERAL CHARACTER HAS DESTROYED MERIT IN NIGERIA’

Prof Sagay, is to gag and stifle him, or to show unhappiness with his views, that would be an abuse of the oversight and investigative powers of the Senate.

Does the Central Bank have the legal right to implement its new BVN policy?

The answer is plainly Yes, it has. The CBN Act, gives the CBN the power to make regulations for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the CBN Act. The BVN Regulations appear to have been made pursuant to that power. However, like all delegated legislation, the BVN Regulations must comply with the Constitution, and other limits to secondary legislation.

If the CBN has the power to make regulations, it must have power to implement the regulations, but again the implementation must comply with the Constitution and other relevant procedural and substantive laws.

The Inner Bar has in the last few years been facing serious criticisms, with aspersions being cast on the integrity of some members. Some are even facing trial in various courts on allegations of corruption. How, in your view, can sanity be brought into the Inner Bar, to restore the dignity that the rank confers?

Criticism is not a bad thing. To cast justifiable aspersions on the integrity of some members of the Inner Bar, is entirely appropriate. There can be little doubt, that some lawyers lack integrity. Prosecution, however, is not conviction, and we should not convict anyone in the court of public opinion.

Having said that, it is a matter of serious concern, that disaffection with some senior members, has reached the level of serious criminal allegations being made against them. In a sense, the travails of the Inner Bar, reflect the travails of our nation. There is so much deplorable indiscipline, impunity and lack of integrity.

How can sanity be restored? First, merit

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

and not Federal Character, should be the sole overarching criterion for elevation to the Inner Bar. Secondly, we cannot appoint SANs, based simply on ticking the boxes, as we currently do. The selection appears to based largely on the number of trials and appeals handled by an applicant, rather than the quality of his/her performance. This obsession with form rather than substance, can lead to very surprising outcomes and erode public confidence in the rank of SAN. Finally, discipline and dignity must be restored to the Inner Bar, by sanctioning erring members. The impunity and indiscipline that some SANs are said to exhibit reflect the indiscipline and impunity that characterise Nigeria. SANs are not from Mars. They are part and parcel of the dysfunctional Nigerian society and susceptible to its weaknesses and excesses.

Since 2006, there have been calls for the outright abolition of the rank of SAN, and various reasons have been adduced for the calls, including the undue privileges attached to the rank and compromising the standards. Even in the UK where you are also a silk, some have called for the abolition of the rank of Queen’s Counsel. To what extent would you say some of these calls are justified, and what amendments would you suggest for the requirements for the award of silk in Nigeria?

Based on what I have seen, there is no justification for the abolition of the rank of SAN. From time to time, people have called for the abolition of the rank of SAN in Nigeria and of the Queen’s Counsel in the UK. But we must defend people’s freedom to express disaffection with the conduct of SANs, and even to call for the abolition of the rank.

The right to express a contrary view is an aspect of freedom of expression which is a constitutionally guaranteed right in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom.

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan,

requested N1b as travel expenses to enable him come to court to testify in Olisa Metuh’s trial. Although Jonathan has lost his constitutional immunity, what is the propriety of calling a former President, to appear as witness in a trial bordering on some acts which he may have been remotely connected with while in office? Would that not amount to vindictiveness or persecution?

Former President Jonathan is a competent and compellable witness in Olise Metuh’s criminal trial, and like any witness, it is his legal and civic duty to assist the court in its fact finding exercise. I do not believe that Dr Jonathan or any Nigerian, is above the law. The only thing that is supreme in Nigeria, is our Constitution, not any particular individual.

A witness, is entitled to reasonable travel and other expenses of his attendance to give evidence in court. He cannot ask for a ransom! The determination of what constitutes reasonable attendance expenses, is for the trial Judge and not for the witness or his counsel. The call by Dr Jonathan’s lawyer for the payment of N1b to meet Dr Jonathan’s expenses of attendance as a witness, is abusive and unfortunate. It shows his very limited understanding of Dr Jonathan’s legal and civic duty as a witness, and typifies the indiscipline and impunity that some senior lawyers exhibit, which brings both the rank of SAN and the legal profession into disrepute, and erodes public confidence in the administration of our criminal justice.

More fundamentally, it is wrong for a former President, to refuse to assist the court in an important criminal trial, by shamelessly asking for wholly unreasonable expenses.

It is another example of gross indiscipline, arrogance and impunity.

Many over the years, have expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that in Eng-

"MORE FUNDAMENTALLY, IT IS WRONG FOR A FORMER PRESIDENT, TO REFUSE TO ASSIST THE COURT IN AN IMPORTANT CRIMINAL TRIAL, BY SHAMELESSLY ASKING FOR WHOLLY UNREASONABLE EXPENSES. IT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GROSS INDISCIPLINE, ARROGANCE AND IMPUNITY"

land, most Nigerian lawyers are hardly admitted to the English Bar and that a majority of them end up as Solicitors. Is this true? If so, as a Nigerian who has attained the highest rank at the English Bar, how can this trend be reversed?

I am not aware of the dissatisfaction and it is certainly not true that Nigerian qualified lawyers are not admitted to the English Bar. On the contrary, I know that Nigerian qualified lawyers are routinely admitted to the English Bar. I am an example. There are many others. I also know that it is easier for a Nigerian qualified lawyer to be admitted into the English Bar by taking and passing the Aptitude Test, than it is for an English Barrister of Nigerian descent, to be admitted to the Nigerian Bar.

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IN BLACK AND WHITE ADERINSOLA FAGBURE

afagbure@yahoo.com

Fashion - The Profitable Model

A

s the date for the Lagos Fashion Week draws closer, what comes to many minds, is the size 6 models on the runway, colourful makeup, high heeled shoes, haute couture dresses, and clicks of photographers trying to capture the latest trends in fashion. People often forget that fashion is more than this, fashion is business. As our local designers begin to climb international stages, it becomes more important now than ever before, to understand the law and business of fashion. According to Mrs. Funmi Ladipo-Ajila, the current President of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, the nation’s fashion industry is a gold mine and it is capable of attracting investors if well structured.

Yes, there is the legal side to doing fashion business. With Forbes naming Louis Vuitton as the 20th most valuable brand and the world’s most valuable luxury brand, fashion is indeed big business. The Fashion House boasts of profit margins north of 30%. A friend and I, were discussing how prominent brands were having a run for their money with respect to their designs, due to unhealthy competition. We brainstormed about how much of fashion had become copy and paste, and whether many of the creatives were actually running well structured businesses. We spoke about how Gucci has decided to sue Forever 21, over the alleged infringement of their trademark stripes.

Role of a Fashion Lawyer This conversation brought us to highlighting the roles of a fashion lawyer, and the need for creatives in this industry, to understand the importance of professional managers and consultants.

Basically, a goggle search brought to the fore the fact that fashion law, is an emerging legal specialty that encompasses the issues surrounding the life of a garment, from conception to brand protection. These experts, advice clients on legal issues facing the fashion, textile, apparel, luxury, footwear, jewellery and cosmetics industries. These run the gamut from licensing, merchandising, distribution and franchising agreements, to intellectual property, employment and labor relation issues. They include safety, sustainability and consumer protection issues, and various aspects of corporate, real estate, tax and business law, also come into play. Though a

niche field, fashion law encompasses a number of other aspects of law.

Particularly interesting, is the international law aspect, which is relevant now, more than ever before.

With a large percentage of the clothes being worn today, coming essentially from China and India, it becomes important to understand international trademark laws, contracts and customs regulations. In a situation where the fashion designer contracts with another party who does not reside within the same jurisdiction as he or she does, to carry out any of the processes involved in the production of fashion articles, where a dispute arises there could be a bit of controversy on which jurisdictional rules will apply in a court action. As a result of the differences in legal development across jurisdictions, there could be a lacuna in one country’s rules over specific provisions in that of another.

Sometime in 2007, Primark, Asda and Tesco, were accused of breaching international labour standards in Bangladesh, where many of their garments are produced. Many of the biggest fashion brands, are guilty of double standards when it comes to salaries and wages, across the supply chain. Research reveals that employees in Bangladesh earn 7% of a UK living

wage - even taking into account the cheaper cost of living. This compares with 9% of a UK living wage earned by the average garment worker in India, 11% in China and Vietnam.

Infernos at factories, because of poor construction, worsened by overcrowding, are also not uncommon in the Asian production centres. There is an ongoing clamour for legislation, to make UK firms enforce ethical labour standards and improved work conditions, throughout their supply chains.

To every fashion brand, there is the creative side with includes production and there is the distribution and marketing angle. The persons behind these two sectors, must work together towards ensuring sustainable business practices. This means that, structures and reporting lines, must be clearly established within fashion houses.

Importantly, every business including those in the textile industry, must be incorporated, and have a legal structure. Included in this structure, is the need to draft tailor made contracts. Employment contracts must be well articulated to ensure compliance with labour law. American Apparel, has learnt several lessons in this regard, having been fined more than once for related breaches. Agreements with fabric vendors and manufactur-

COURT STRIKES OUT CRIMINAL CHARGE AGAINST ONIKOYI PRINCE, OTHERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 “That you Prince Tajudeen Onikoyi 'm', Idowu Johnson 'm', Bolaji Onikoyi 'm' and Abari Onikoyi 'm' and others still at large, on the 7th May, 2012 at about 2.00pm at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, did conspire together to commit felony to wit: threatening of life and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

But ruling on the no case submission filed by the Defendants' lawyer, Magistrate Adeeyo, held that "in our criminal justice system, without any exception, the onus and duty is on the prosecution through out, to establish and prove the guilt of the Defendant beyond reasonable doubt, and this burden never shifts.

“It is not essential for the Prosecution to prove its case with absolute certainty, but the ingredients of the offence (s) charged, must be proved as required by law and to the satisfaction of the court.

“There was no clear and distinct evidence, which weapon each Defendant carried to damage the alleged fence on the land. No evidence was also led, on who amongst the four Defendants, damaged the fence of the land and with which of the weapons allegedly brought on the land.

“PW1 gave evidence that Oba Onikoyi sent a photographer to the land to take photographs, but no photograph was tendered by the Prosecution, to show the extent of the

alleged damage on the fence.

“The Prosecution has woefully failed to show that, any of the four Defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace in a public place.

“Having reviewed each of the 3 counts, I hold that the Defendants' submission of No Case Submission succeeds, as the three count charge against the four Defendants, cannot be sustained with the evidence before the court.

“Consequently, the four defendants, Prince Tajudeen Onikoyi, Idowu Johnson, Bolaji Onikoyi and Abari Onikoyi, are hereby discharged and acquitted on counts 1, 2 and 3.”

"YES, THERE IS THE LEGAL SIDE TO DOING FASHION BUSINESS. WITH FORBES NAMING LOUIS VUITTON AS THE 20TH MOST VALUABLE BRAND AND THE WORLD’S MOST VALUABLE LUXURY BRAND, FASHION IS INDEED BIG BUSINESS"

ers, retail store cum showroom owners, property agents, models, model agencies, and photographers, publishing houses, advertising concerns, media practitioners, fashion influencers and clients, must be documented. Fashion promoters need to ensure that their processes are documented, in order to finance their creative ideas. The abstract nature of business could pose a challenge to financiers. A viable intellectual property rights system, can actually aid in attracting financiers and investors.

Fortunately, some financial institutions, have given into financing projects in the fashion industry. I must commend the efforts of Bank of Industry in this regard.

In general, the world of fashion is evolving, and lawyers cannot afford to be left out of this evolution. As fashion cuts across London, Paris, Milan, New York and even Lagos, the lawyers in this field, cannot afford to ignore the legalese in these hubs. Players in this field, must also see themselves as businessmen, and therefore, must be prepared to run accountable businesses and engage the services of professional advisers.

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The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), held its Maiden Annual Dinner on Saturday, November 11, 2017, at the Grand African Ballroom, Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Here are some of the eminent personalities who graced the photos: Kolawole Alli occasion....

L-R: Femi Falana, SAN, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Vice Chairman, BOSAN Maiden Dinner Committee, Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN, Chairman, BOSAN Maiden Dinner Committee, Mr. Damian Dodo, SAN, Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN and Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN

Representative of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, JSC (left) and former Nigeria High Commissioner to UK, Dr. Christopher Kolade, Keynote Speaker

L-R: Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, First Female SAN, Chief Folake Solanke and Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN

L-R: Hon Justice John Inyang Okoro, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, NBA President, Mr. A. B. Mahmoud, SAN and his wife, Acting Chief Judge of Kano, Justice Patricia Mahmoud

Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN and her husband, AVM Adekoya

L-R: BOSAN Treasurer, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN, Mrs. Vera Chiwunba and Mrs. Fagbohungbe

Mr. Layi Babatunde, SAN, HJon. Justce K.B. Akaahs,JSC, Mrs. Layi Babatunde and Mr. Osaro Eghobamien, SAN

L-R: Former NBAPresident, Chief Thompson Okpoko, SAN, former Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN and Hon. Justce K.B. Akaahs, JSC

Hon. Justice Paul Adamu Galinje, JSC (left) and Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, JSC

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Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN and Ms Funke Aboyade, SAN

L-R: Mrs. Priscilla Oditah, Mr. Dele Belgore, SAN, Editor, THISDAY Lawyer, Mrs. Onikepo Braithwaite, Mr Toyin Pinherio, SAN and Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN

Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN (left) and Chief Gani Adetola-Kaseem, SAN

L-R: Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, his wife, Mrs. Olanipekun and Dr. Christopher Kolade

Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN (left) and Mr. Tola Oshobi, SAN

L-R: Mr. Seni Adio, SAN, Mr. Uche Val Obi, SAN and his wife, Mrs. Ella Obi

L-R: Mr. Tunde Busari, SAN, his wife, Mrs. Yemisi Busari and Mr. Ade Adedeji, SAN

Mr. RaďŹ u Lawal-Rabana, SAN and his wife, Mrs. Nella Andem Rabana, SAN

L-R: Mr. Wale Adesokan, SAN, Mr. Ayodele Akintunde, SAN and his wife, Mrs Toyin Akintunde

L-R: Mr. Kunle Ogunba, SAN, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, Chief N.O.O. Oke, SAN and Chief Fashanu Afolabi, SAN

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L-R: Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN, Mrs. Nella Andem-Rabana, SAN, Mrs. Bola Akinjide, SAN, Mrs. Olabisi Soyebo, SAN, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, Ms Funke Aboyade, SAN, Mrs. Dorothy Ufot, SAN and Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN

L-R: Justice Sybil Nwaka, Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Seri Solebo

L-R: Mr. Louis Mbanefo, SAN, Mr. George Uwechue, SAN, Chief Efe Akpofure, SAN and Representative of Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Roli Harriman

L-R: Mr. Solomon Asemota, SAN, Hon. Justice Abdu Aboki, JCA and Chief Charles Edosomwan, SAN

L-R: Mr. Umeh Kalu, SAN, Mr. Ndukwe Nnawuchi, SAN and Mr. Ken Njemanze, SAN

Mr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN (left) and Mr. Ken Njemanze, SAN

L-R: Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN and Mr. Abiodun Jeleel Owonikoko, SAN

L-R: Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, Chief Arthur Obi Okafor, SAN and Mr. Jay Jay G. Ezeuko, SAN

Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN and his wife, Mrs. Ayorinde

Professor Fabian Ajogwu, SAN and his wife, Mrs. Ajogwu

Mr. Olumide Sofowora, SAN and his wife, Mrs.Sofowora

14.11.2017

THE LIGHTER SIDE/15

LEGAL HUMOUR

We Hold Your Brief JUDE IGBANOI jude.igbanoi@thisdaylive.com

Dear Counsel, I have been reading your column and I am most impressed with the legal advice given. Could you please advice me on this? On Monday, September 20, 2017 at 6.20pm while I was at my office in Ikoyi, I received an SMS alert that the sum of N37, 100 had been debited from my account being N37, 000 withdrawal via an ATM at Ikorodu, and a commission of N100.00 for the withdrawal of same.

I immediately contacted an Accounts Officer at the Bank, who promised to stop further withdrawals from my account through ATM, and requested that I formally inform them, which I did the next day. After one and a half weeks, the Bank replied that they are not liable for the unauthorised debit, while they are yet to receive the camera footage from the point of withdrawal at Ikorodu.

Do I have a case?

Mr. P. O. Ijiekhuemen Lagos.

Dear Ijiekhuemen, This has become a fairly common occurrence in recent times, and ATM fraud is on the sharp increase in Nigeria. This explains why the recent innovation recently introduced in the banking sector, of a more

secured ATM card with advance security features.

However, whether or not you have a case against the Bank, would depend on the outcome of a thorough investigation, and the analysis of the video footage recorded at the point of withdrawal.

There is a mutual duty of care by both the Bank and its customers, to ensure that all transactions are secure and safe. This is why Banks have consistently warned customers, that they must not be careless with their ATM cards, to avoid being defrauded by card thieves. If after investigation, the Bank is found to have breached the duty of care it owes you as a customer, it is bound to refund your money.

My advice therefore, is that you write to the Headquarters of the Bank with this complaint, and if you get the same response as you got from your branch, then you may have to contact your lawyer for further advice. You may want to consider the cost and time implications, in suing over a transaction of N37,100.

You must also bear in mind that, if you carelessly left your ATM card lying around and it was stolen and used to access your account, you may not be able to maintain an action against the Bank.

After her conviction for murder in the second degree, the District Attorney, during her sentencing hearing said, "Mrs. Packard -- after you put the arsenic in the stew and served it to your husband, didn't you feel even a little remorse for what you were doing?" "I did," she said calmly. "And when was that?" quipped the D.A. "When he asked for seconds!" came the reply.

After his motion to suppress evidence was denied by the court, the angered attorney spoke up, "Your Lordship," he said, "what would you do if I called you a stupid, degenerate, old fool." The Judge, now also angered, replied, "I would hold you in contempt of court and seek to have you suspended from practicing before this court again!" "What if I only thought it?" asked the attorney. "In that case, there is nothing I could do, you have the right to think whatever you want." "Oh, I see. Then, if it pleases the court, let the record reflect, that I 'think' you're a stupid, degenerate, old fool." ˾˾˾ A certain lawyer was quite wealthy and had a summer house in the country where he retreated for several weeks every year. Each summer, the lawyer would invite a different friend of his (no, that's not the punch line) to spend a week or two at this home, which happened to be in a backwoods. On one particular occasion, he invited a Czechoslovakian friend to stay with him. The friend, eager to get a freebee off of the lawyer, agreed. They had a splendid time in the country -- rising early and living in the great outdoors. Early one morning, the lawyer and his Czechoslovakian companion went out to pick berries for their morning breakfast. As they went around the berry patch, gathering blueberries and raspberries in tremendous quantities, along came two huge Bears -- a large male and a smaller female. The lawyer, seeing the two bears and sensing danger, immediately dashed for cover. His friend, however, being ignorant of nature, was not so lucky. The male bear charged the paralysed Czechoslovakian, then swallowed him whole. The lawyer, instilled with fright, rushed back to his car and sped into town to get the local sheriff. The sheriff, upon hearing the lawyer's unsettling story, grabbed his rifle and dashed back to the berry patch with the lawyer following closely behind. Sure enough, the two bears were still there.

"He's in THAT one!", cried the lawyer, pointing to the large male bear, all the while visions of lawsuits from his friend's family lagged in the back of his mind. He just had to save his friend.

The sheriff looked at the two bears, and without batting an eye, levelled his rifle, took careful aim, and SHOT THE FEMALE. "What did you do that for!", exclaimed the lawyer, "I said he was in the other one!" "Exactly," replied the sheriff, "Would you believe a lawyer who told you the Czech was in the male?" ˾˾˾ What's the difference between a lawyer and a catfish? One is a slimy, bottom dwelling, scum sucker. The other is a fish.

WIDOW BATTLES LATE HUSBAND’S LAWYER OVER WILL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 husband and my eldest son the signatories to the rent account opened by my late husband, needed to be changed to include one of the children of my late husband by an earlier marriage, as my eldest son was now the sole signatory. And also that clause 13 which delayed the equal sharing of the rent proceeds between all beneficiaries until our last child turns 25, would work hardship against the other beneficiaries who desire immediate access to the proceeds from rent.

“At the meeting attended by myself, my children and a young lawyer friend, Anslam, the 1st Defendant, in the presence of my children, subjected me to intense verbal abuse, falsely accused me of dealing improperly with my late husband’s estate, and also of planning to alienate assets of the estate without reference to my co-executor and other beneficiaries, and demanded that I handover the title documents to the two properties of my late husband and threatened me with all manner of consequences, should I refuse. According to him, there was no need for any of my children to continue their education up to university level, and I should be content with their current levels of education.

“After angrily departing the 1st Defendant's office before he finished speaking, it became clear that the 1st Defendant had an agenda to, using the 3 clauses of the said Will, start instigating some of my late husband’s children by his first wife against me, with a view to hijacking and taking control of these assets of the estate and applying the proceeds in ways not provided for under my late husband’s Will, and which conduct would starve myself and my children of the funds needed for our maintenance and their continued education.

“To forestall this possibility, I proceeded to the bank having custody of the title documents, to instruct them not to release same to anyone but to the named trustees together. However, on getting to the bank, I was informed that the Central Bank of Nigeria had directed all banks to desist from the practice of accepting title documents from customers for safe keeping, and that they were to return forthwith all such documents in their custody to the customers who own them. According to the bank, my presence there was fortuitous, as they had tried to contact me to come get the documents to no avail, and the title documents to both properties of my late husband were returned to me.

“When I also attended the First Bank branch to inquire if dividend warrants of my late husband’s shares were available for collection sometime in February, 2016, I was informed that the 1st Defendant had informed the bank to suspend all said payments till the grant of Probate, as I was attempting to deal unlawfully with the assets of the estate. The bank used to pay about N150, 000 dividend yearly for my husband’s shareholding. At the said

bank, I was informed that the 1st Defendant had attended the branch, to instruct them not to honour any cheque written on the rent account until further notice from himself, and disbursements had been made repeatedly from same to pay the tuition of our children and that since my late husband as co-signatory was no more, the remaining signatory, my eldest son, could not continue to operate the account.

“On May 11, 2015 and October 22, 2015, the 7 children of my late husband by an earlier marriage (my step-children), caused to be addressed to me two solicitor’s letters, making all sorts of spurious and potentially defamatory allegations against me and demands of myself which allegations and demands were never made in the lifetime of my husband, whom they alleged I cohabited with immorally without being married to him, as well as having him bring up children I had for other men, amongst other things. It became clear that the 1st Defendant had succeeded in instigating my step-children against me, owing to my refusal to become his mistress”, Mrs. Badejo claimed.

According to her, in order to continue to starve her of finances, Mr. Adejuwon on October 23, 2015, without any instruction in that regard, wrote letters to 2nd to 8th Defendants, tenants of the two properties of the estate, directing them not to further pay rent into the usual rent account.

The widow said as a result of the 1st Defendant's letter, the tenants failed and refused to pay their rents when same became due, adding that their failure to pay these rents, has made it impossible for the trustees to open a common account for the estate of her late husband, as specified in his Will.

The Claimant said that, in an effort to obtain succour and relief from the oppressive conduct of the 1st Defendant, she approached the Lagos State Office of Public Defender on October 26, 2015, for assistance and the Centre summoned both parties. Adding that, after listening to both sides, the 1st Defendant was blamed for his action, and was advised not only to desist from his act of gross professional misconduct, but take steps to reverse them.

Till date, according to the widow, the 1st Defendant has refused to heed to the counsel of the Office of the Public Defender. Instead, he subsequently, caused to be inscribed on the walls of both premises, two signs stating that This House is not for Sale, thereby, falsely imputing on her, an intention to fraudulently sell the houses.

The widow is therefore, asking the court to declare that the actions of her late husband’s lawyer regarding the estate, are unlawful, as they derogate from his Last Will and Testament regarding his estate.

She is also praying the court to give an order, directing the 1st Defendant to cease and desist, from all the actions she has complained about.

Amongst others, she also wants the court to award the sum of N7,555,500 as damages, and being the rents that would have been paid by the 2nd to 8th defendants on the 2 properties of the estate, and sum borrowed by her for the upkeep of her children.

She is seeking an order, directing the 2nd to 8th defendants, to vacate and peacefully deliver possession of the premises occupied by them to her.

She is further seeking an order, directing 2nd to 8th defendants to in the alternative, pay all mesne profit in the sum of N5,380,000 due on the premises occupied by them since the expiration of their tenancies, before departing the premises occupied by them.

In his defence, the 1st Defendant said that, there was no truth to the allegations by the widow, that he made advances towards her after the death of her husband.

Mr. Adejuwon said he could not have done that, because the deceased was his father’s friend, and how would he have approached the wife of his father’s friend for such a thing.

According to him, in the process of collating documents for the Probate, he went to one of the banks being operated by the deceased before he died, and discovered that money were still being drawn from the accounts after the demise of Mr. Johnso Badejo, adding that his findings revealed that the widow and her eldest son, have continued to operate the account without letting the bank know that the real owner had passed.

He said as a lawyer, he advised the widow to desist from operating that account as such amounted to an unlawful act, but instead of taking it in good faith, she saw his advice as a way to starve her of money, and then she came up with the allegation that it was because she refused his advances, that he was acting against her.

The 1st Defendant said it is in his best interest that things are properly put in place, so that the beneficiaries of the late man’s estate can enjoy it. Adding that, he also advised the widow not to be in a hurry to appropriate all the assets to herself, because the deceased has other children too.

He said he did not know how his legal advice to the widow, to the effect that things should be done properly, could now turn around to mean that he wanted to have an amorous relationship with her.

According to Mr. Adejuwon, based on this development, Andrew who is the co-executor of the Will, instructed me as the lawyer to write the tenants to stop paying their rents into the account, and I wrote the letter to the tenants to that effect pending when the issue surrounding the account is resolved.

The lawyer said that the only mistake he would admit he made, was to act on the instruction of the co-executor instead of taking his hands off their matter. Meanwhile, Justice Obadina has fixed December 13, for the hearing of the matter.

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14.11.2017

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Quick Takes NIPCO Restates Commitment to CSR NIPCO Plc has restated its commitment to host community development as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, especially in the realms of education development through facility upgrade and co -curricular activities in primary schools in Lagos State The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Sanjay Teotia disclosed this in his address at the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board [SUBEB] Sports Festival / Merit Award for primary school pupils and teachers in Apapa sponsored by the company . “We see our interventions in education and sports as a social investment which will pay off greatly in the standards of education and sports development in the LGA in particular and the state in general�, he said.

Teotia, who was represented by the Chief Corporate Affairs Manager (CCAM) of the company, Mr Lawal Taofeek at the twin event which attracted large turnout of pupils and teachers, said the sponsorship was in line with the organisation’s long standing cordial relationship with the community.

Egypt’s New Refinery Starts Up Soon

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

L-R: President- Elect, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mr. Andrew Ejayeriese; Managing Director/CEO, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Terraz; Chairman, Energia Nigeria Ltd, Mr. George Osahon; Keynote Speaker, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah; and President, NAPE, Mr. Abiodun Adesanya, at the NAPE 2017 pre-conference workshop in Lagos ‌ recently ETOP UKUTT

Kachikwu: NNPC Operations Not Yet Fully Transparent CSOs accuse IOCs of oil theft Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has said that reforms initiated by the federal government to clean up years of corrupt practices in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have not completely guaranteed that the state oil firm is now transparently run.

This is coming as a group of civil society organisations (CSOs) operating in Nigeria’s extractive industry has accused the international oil companies (IOCs) of complicity in the huge

ENERGY theft of crude oil recorded in the country.

Kachikwu explained that there are still a lot of works to be done to completely transform the corporation and make it accountable and its operations transparent to all Nigerians.

The minister stated this in the October edition of the monthly podcast he released to intimate Nigerians on the status of the country’s oil and gas industry. This edition was recently released in Abuja by his office and he stated in it that the

government had though made some efforts in repositioning the NNPC. “We delivered an open NNPC, we basically opened up our books, we published and tried to be as transparent as we can, but a lot of works still needs to be done there, but for the first time we delivered the kind of NNPC that has never been the sort of NNPC that you used to know,� said Kachikwu, on the results the government had recorded in the last one year.

In a related development, a group of civil society organ-

isations (CSOs) operating in Nigeria’s extractive industry have claimed that IOCs in the Niger Delta cannot be totally absolved of the huge theft of crude oil recorded in the country.

They said IOCs had been found culpable of stealing oil from Nigeria, and that oil theft cannot be limited to illegal refining in the Niger Delta.

Rising from a recent workshop on improving CSOs’ engagements in Nigeria’s extractive sectors which they Continued on page 22

Construction Industry Players Seek Refund of N36bn Excess Withholding Tax Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Operators in the construction industry under the aegis of Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) have appealed to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to work out modalities that will guarantee a seamless refund of excess Withholding Tax (WHT) and Value Added Tax( VAT) to the industry.

FOCI stated that over N36 billion WHT credit notes belonging to its members are pending with the FIRS. The President of FOCI,

ENERGY Nasiru Dantata made the appeal over the weekend when he led his team on a courtesy visit to FIRS Executive Chairman, Mr. Tunde Fowler.

He stated that the pending WHT credit notes have constrained FOCI members from applying for tax settlement.

The body therefore appealed to FIRS to work out modalities that will guarantee a hitch- free refund of excess WHT and VAT in the construction industry According to the FOCI President, the current economic

situation in the construction industry does not support any increase in Withholding tax rate.

FOCI drew the attention of FIRS Chairman to inconsistency in WTH rate, adding that it was initially fixed at 5 per cent, thereafter reviewed down to 3.5 per cent, then 2.5 per cent, noting that this had made planning for business difficult. “An issue that is bothering us is the rate of withholding tax. Sometimes ago the 5 per cent was reduced to 3.5 per cent and later reverted to 5 per cent. Like you know, the industry is suffering from a lot

of delayed payment from both federal and state governments. “This is not new and it has nothing to do with this office. As you are aware, cash position of our companies is greatly affected by the rate of withholding. Our prayer today is, if you can commission a committee to look into this issue within the industry. “Perhaps, the first time this decision was made, may the window is still large, a lot of people took the advantage to go for 2.5% for federal Continued on page 22

Egyptian Refining Co.’s new $3.7 billion processing plant will begin operations in September and save the government some $300 million a year by reducing the country’s reliance on imported fuel, its chairman said.

Ahmed Heikal, who is also chairman of investment company Qalaa Holding, a 19 per cent shareholder in the project, said construction of the refinery will be completed in June, with operations to begin in September. The Cairo facility will ramp up output to 98 percent of capacity by the end of 2018.

Egypt, which currently imports much of the refined products it needs for heating, transportation and power generation, is investing billions of dollars to increase capacity and reduce its dependence on international supply. The ERC refinery is part of that effort, though it has experienced repeated delays.

The most populous Arab nation has struggled to revive its economy since the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak scared off foreign investors and tourists. The government floated the currency a year ago to end a crippling shortage of dollars that had made it increasingly expensive to import basic goods such as wheat and fuel.

Kenya Offers Revenue to Communities Kenya’s government has proposed in a draft bill to give 30 per cent of prospective oil revenue to the community where the resource was discovered, climbing down from its earlier proposal to cap the amount.

Tullow Oil discovered commercially viable quantities of crude in the far northern county of Turkana in 2012. Full production of the oil, estimated at 750 million barrels, is expected in 2021.

The government had earlier said the revenue would be capped at 22 billion shillings ($213 million) for the local county government and 3 billion shillings for the community, citing concerns about absorption capacity of the funds.

The proposal had angered local officials and the governor of Turkana, Josphat Nanok, traded harsh words with President Uhuru Kenyatta over the issue when Kenyatta visited Turkana in March.

Nanok wanted the government to give 20 percent of the revenue to the local authority and 10 percent to the local community.

“As important as the World Bank ranking, it is not ranking per se, but it is making it easier for people to do business�

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah

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BUSINESSWORLD KACHIKWU: NNPC OPERATIONS NOT YET FULLY TRANSPARENT

held in Enugu, the CSOs led by Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria, also stated that it was difficult to achieve transparent contracting processes in the country’s extractive sectors.

They said in a communique signed by the National Coordinator of PWYP Nigeria, Mr. Peter Egbule, that: “It is difficult to achieve contract transparency in the extractive sector in Nigeria. Although, there are legal frameworks that regulate contracts in the industry, however, they are not always complied with.�

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PLAYERS SEEK REFUND OF N36BN EXCESS WITHHOLDING TAX

projects or state projects. I think if companies are going for refunds, I think there is reason to look at the rate,� he said.

Dantata told the FIRS Chairman that the economic downturn occasioned by recession adversely affected the profit margin in the industry, leading to a lower corporate income tax assessments.

He also unveiled other problems confronting FOCI, especially with regards to tax laws and their impact on construction firms.

The delay in paying completed construction projects mostly by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government, he noted, was weighing down on construction industry, adding that “both Withholding tax and VAT are deducted at source by clients who are mostly the MDAs. “Credit note issuance continues to be a challenge.

In our industry where over N36 billion pending with FIRS as Withholding tax credit note not yet collected and hence cannot be applied for tax settlement, there is need for a definite procedural paper from FIRS to MDAs on issuance and collection of credit Notes , giving details of time frame. A mechanism should also be put in place by FIRS where defaults could easily be reported and addressed�.

NEWS

Buhari Vows to Make Agric Major Revenue Earner Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa President Muhammadu Buhari at the weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, vowed to see through his administration’s agenda to diversify the Nigerian economy away from its current mono status.

He said it was no longer viable for the country to depend on a sole product to pull out of its present stage of development , noting that his vision to make agriculture the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy remains on course.

In a brief video, where he made the comments at the 21st Farmer’s Day celebration, under the aegis of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company’s (NAOC) Green River Project, Buhari lauded Nigerian farmers for rising to the occasion, noting that they remained critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s economic growth. “Since oil seems to be the cash cow of the Nigerian economy, we have no option but to return agriculture as our mainstay. “ I wish you happy celebration and a productive planting season ahead. We need to return to old times, diversifying our economy can no longer be something we pay lip service to�, the President said in the short message.

Also represented during the event, which saw the unveiling of an expansive and NAOC/GRP farm, following a memorandum of understanding (MOU) the company signed with farmers during the event last year, were Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Rochas Okorocha of Imo and the Bayelsa

Governor, Seriake Dickson, who was represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd).

In his comments, Dickson said that the only route to achieving prosperity in Nigeria was self-reliance driven by agriculture and not total dependence on oil and gas. ‘’With this, I state that there is no other way to go in this country today. The only route to prosperity and self-reliance is farming. ‘’These actions by Agip, not only to get our farmers empowered but also trained

are commendable. They have assisted in training and also empowering our young and old men as well as women who were once focused on oil as the only source of living�, he said.

Chairman of NAOC, Umberto Carrara, in his address, lauded Buhari for sending in goodwill messages in the last two editions of the programme, noting that the company will continue to support food security in the country. “It is my pleasure to note that the little seed we sowed 30

years ago, by establishing the NAOC JV Green River Project has grown and producing good fruits as evidenced here. The impacts in the communities have been impressive�, he said.

The Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, NAOC, Massimo Insulla, said the annual Farmers’ Day was set aside by the company and its joint venture partners to celebrate the achievements of farmers over the last planting season.

He said the celebration themed ‘GRP: Actively lead-

ing the a future of the Niger Delta’, was the second in a row being hosted in Bayelsa, noting that the cooperation between farmers and Agip had been a source of employment and improvement of standard of living for various communities.

Aside the new farm, Insulla said that Agip was collaborating with the university of Port Harcourt for extension services and other major Nigerian academic institutions to integrate agric as an alternative to oil theft, pipeline vandalism and bunkering.

FOR EFFICIENTTRANSPORT SYSTEM

L-R: A former Managing Director, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Kingsley Usor; Executive Secretary/CEO, NSC, Hassan Bello and His Excellency Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Executive Governor Kebbi State, at a breakfast meeting on the ďŹ nancing of transport infrastructure inland dry ports and truck transit parks organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council under the auspices of the Ministry of Transportation in Lagos‌recently

STOAN Kicks against Approval for New Tank Farm in Apapa The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup has decried reports that the federal government has granted approval for an oil company to open a new tank farm on Creek Road, Apapa.

Haastrup described the reported approval as ill-timed and ill-advised.

A recent report indicated that the tank farm, which is under construction, has the capacity to hold up to 50 million litres of petroleum products, and would attract about 800 additional trucks per day into the already

congested Apapa area.

According to the STOAN Chairman, “It is unheard of that anyone will conceive the idea of setting up a tank farm in Apapa at this time. Government should review this approval so that the problem facing the port community and residents of Apapa is not compounded.�

She said in addition to bad roads and the absence of truck parks; the preponderance of tank farms and oil depots has largely contributed to “the menacing gridlock in Apapa�.

According to the STOAN Chair, “There is an over-

concentration of oil tank farms in Apapa, which is an area predominantly designed for port operations. There is now a situation where we have proliferation of oil tank farms without regards for the safety and logistics implication. “Government needs to consider relocating even the existing tank farms out of Apapa and discontinue approval for new ones. “Tank farms should normally be located several miles away from the city and from the port area for safety reasons.�

Haastrup also called for more

efficient traffic management system in Apapa to enhance the movement of vehicles while ongoing construction work lasts. “There is a need to open up the inner roads to allow for free flow of traffic. We also need efficient traffic control measures to allow for free movement of trucks. At present, several cargoes are trapped in the port because of the bad road and the truck queues on the road,� she said.

In September 2017, the Lagos State House of Assembly called on the Federal Government to relocate tank farms from Apapa

as a way out of the current gridlock in the area.

A member representing Apapa Constituency 1, Mojisola Miranda, who raised the issue under matter of urgent public importance during plenary, said the activities of tank farm operators in Apapa were not only affecting traffic in the area, but also negatively affect free flow of traffic in other parts of the state.

In April this year, the Lagos State government said it had initiated talks with the federal government on how to relocate oil tank farms from Apapa.

NLPGA Wants Investors to Harness $10bn LPG Investment Opportunities Ejiofor Alike Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Linda Eroke (Labour) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) Ejiofor Alike (Energy) James Emejo (Nation’s Capital) Obinna Chima (Money Mkt) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Cap Mkt)

The Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) has stated that over $10 billion of investments would be generated if 50 per cent of the current kerosene and firewood users in the country switch to cooking gas by 2019 and urged investors and operators in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) market in the country, to tap into the investment opportunities to be unlocked by the national LPG policy of the federal government.

The NLPGA made this call during its annual CEOs’ Breakfast Meeting held recently in Lagos, where LPG producers, marketers, IFC, UBA, Sterling

Bank and other stakeholders brainstormed on the investment opportunities that are expected to be catalysed by the national LPG policy. NLPGA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Joseph Eromosele explained in his opening remarks that the overall goal of the LPG policy was to promote the wider use of LPG in domestic, power generation, autogas and industries while increasing national consumption to five million metric tonnes in five years.

According to him, over $10 billion would be generated if 50 per cent of the current kerosene and firewood users in the country switch to cooking gas by 2019. This, he added, offered

huge investment opportunities for LPG players. “Only five per cent of the Nigerian population utilises LPG for cooking while 56% depends on firewood and 27 per cent on kerosene. Over 30 million households and more than 100 million Nigerians depend on firewood as a source of energy for cooking but this has come with collateral damage to human health, environment (deforestation) and the economy.

With the LPG policy, we will be able to drive broader penetration of LPG into homes, especially the low-income households in rural areas. Over $10 billion will be generated for the economy from the switch of 50 per cent

kerosene and firewood users by 2019. Estimated 500,000 – 1,000,000 jobs will be created in the LPG value chain within the next two years with the planned Kerosene to LPG switching programme,� he explained. The Deputy President of NLPGA, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu said the policy also seeks to use LPG to displace LPFO and diesel as popular fuel among industrial users while deepening applications in agriculture and commercial establishments. “The policy will also promote the use of LPG for off and on grid power generation. It will provide the environment for the use of LPG in the automotive industry with a target conversion

of 10 per cent of the country’s vehicle population. These are investment opportunities for industry stakeholders,� he added. In a similar vein, the Programme Manager, National LPG Expansion Implementation Plan (Office of the VicePresident), Mr. Dayo Adeshina, noted that 18 states in northern Nigeria are currently suffering from desertification and deforestation because several millions of the citizens rely on firewood for cooking.

Adeshina warned that states in the southern part of the country could soon start experiencing deforestation, if the situation in the north remained unchanged.

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Tackling Nigeria-specific Risks in Oil and Gas Industry Operating risks peculiar to Nigeria’s environment have continued to drive the costs of oil and gas projects in the country above the global benchmark. Ejiofor Alike reports Despite the efforts of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the oil and gas-producing companies to drive down the costs of projects in Nigeria, the industry operators have continued to be challenged by cost premium, which falls outside their direct sphere of influence.

The cost premium, which is dictated by Nigeria-specific drivers, according to the operators, represents costs above the global benchmark.

A study conducted by the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) identified these cost drivers to include insecurity, overregulation and bureaucracy; and absence of infrastructure.

Indeed, insecurity, especially in the oilproducing Niger Delta region, posed the greatest threat to the survival of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, inflating the costs of projects beyond global average.

The Executive Director in charge of Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Adjogbe Samuel told THISDAY in a recent interview that apart from pipeline vandalism, insecurity had also killed industries in the Niger Delta. “In those days when we graduated from the university, you would not say that you were looking for a job if you had not had the opportunity of coming to Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout in Port Harcourt because there were chains of industries along that layout. Let us go back to Warri in Delta State where I come from. Enere too was a popular area. From the beginning to the end of Enere road, there were chains of oil services companies. But today, those places are like desert. Nobody exists in those areas anymore,� Samuel explained.

Samuel said the Niger Delta was like a lawless area, stressing that the narratives have to be changed as the Niger Delta has gotten enough technical skills to survive. “But perhaps, what is missing is the sub-skills – the skill to recognise that if you assault me, you can be prosecuted and jailed; the skill for us to recognise that if you go and burst a pipeline - it is not an agitation but economic sabotage. So, our own value system and attitude should change,� he added.

Oil industry perspectives To the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) insecurity in the Niger Delta has created a Nigeria-specific cost premium for the petroleum sector, with operating costs and projects costs significantly higher than in other countries by as much as 100 per cent.

In a report titled “Nigeria Cost Premium and Drivers: Petroleum Sector,� the oil and gas producers stated that they spend five times more on security than their global peers, with over $500 million spent in 2016 on security services such as escort vessels, convoys and guards.

According to the operating companies, they also rely on costly transportation options for personnel and goods, such as helicopter transport and aviation as a result of the insecurity of Nigeria’s waterways.

The producing companies identified a cost premium of between 15 per cent and 65 per cent for operating costs, and 35 per cent and 100 per cent for costs of projects.

OPTS also identified insecurity, overregulation and bureaucracy, as well as inadequate infrastructure as the major divers of costs in Nigeria.

The report noted that security environment in the country has remained volatile, particularly in the Niger Delta, adding that security challenges result in cost premium for the oil and gas sector, affecting both operational and project costs. “Operational costs are impacted by incessant militant attacks and sabotage, illegal bunkering,

Nigeria’s $3.6bn Egina FPSO in Samsung’s Goeje Yard, South Korea piracy, kidnapping and armed robbery. In June 2016, production dropped to its lowest level in 20 years following a series of attacks on petroleum producing assets, including the Forcados pipeline, Escravos 24-inch gas pipeline, and Qua Iboe export line,� the report explained.

The report further stated that when security incidents occur, unforeseen costs and losses are incurred.

The oil and gas producers cited such unforeseen costs and losses to include; unplanned expenditure for emergency repairs arising from attacks and vandalism, as well as deferral of production and loss of income for the government and the operators as a result of disruption of operations.

To the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), insecurity in the Niger Delta has created a NigeriaspeciďŹ c cost premium for the petroleum sector, with operating costs and projects costs signiďŹ cantly higher than in other countries by as much as 100 per cent

On average, the report said about 400,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day was deferred in 2016 as a result of security challenges.

The report also noted that preventive costs to safeguard lives and property in Nigeria are significant, adding that Nigeria’s oil and gas operators spend five times more on security than their global peers.

According to the report, over $500 million was spent on security services in 2016, while huge amount was also spent on costly transportation options for personnel and goods, such as helicopter transport and aviation as a result of the insecurity of the waterways.

On the issue of overregulation and bureaucracy, the operators argued that Nigeria’s regulatory environment is fragmented, with duplicated agencies, overlapping regulations and overregulation, culminating in excessive bureaucracy.

The report stated that excessive bureaucracy results in increased costs for both the government and the operators.

The operators identified the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Ministry of Environment, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) as overlapping agencies with jurisdiction over the same aspects of the oil and gas industry operations.

The report also cited multiplicity of tariffs, levies and fees as some of the costs drivers.

According to the operators, the contracting cycle in Nigeria is about 36 months while it is only six or eight months in Angola, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Indonesia.

The Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor, who is also Chairman of OPTS, said in a recent OPTS event in Lagos that the challenging fiscal regime, security and environmental circumstances had continued to hamper investments. “As complex and difficult as the Nigerian business environment may be described, there are opportunities for improvement and opportunities for growth. That is what we see in OPTS. Working with governments at all levels, we have the responsibility to get the right policies for our people and for the country,� Okunbor added.

Chief Executive Officer of Waltersmith, Mr.

Abdulrazaq Isa had argued that the country needed a competitive fiscal regime to attract investments, adding that the reform in the industry has protracted for too long, thus leading to dearth of investments for 10 years.

According to him, the country needs to conclude the reform to stay competitive, adding that Nigeria still needs oil to get out of oil.

Isa charged the government to make the environment attractive as capital only goes to where it is welcome.

While charging the federal government to incentivise the operators to make investments, Isa argued that “squeezing the golden goose for more eggs will lead to its dearth.�

Also speaking at the recent OPTS event in Lagos, the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo identified security and environment, funding issues, high technical costs and obsolete legislations, as some of the major challenges and noted that the federal government is addressing these challenges.

To address these Nigeria-specific risks, which have pushed cost of projects in the country above the global benchmark, the producing companies have recommended government-led initiatives, supported by the operators.

The oil and gas producers noted that addressing the issues of insecurity, overregulation and bureaucracy, as well as inadequate infrastructure would improve business climate in the country and increase its global competitiveness.

According to the operators, this will help attract the investment required to boost oil and gas production, and increase government’s revenue.

To the NDDC director in charge of projects, the Niger Delta of his dream is a Niger Delta that is working like Lagos. “I challenge the governors of Niger Delta to make deliberate efforts and formulate laws and policies that will enhance peace in the region. That is the Niger Delta of my dream.

The environment that we have has different business opportunities but because of the insecurity in the area, nobody is harnessing those opportunities, rather people are running away on daily basis. Here in Port Harcourt, some people are selling their houses and relocating. My friend has placed his own premises on sale for the past one year for N40 million but nobody has shown interest on the property,� Samuel added.

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I am a Product of Local Content, Says Chairman, Mobil Producing Nigeria Ejiofor Alike The Chairman and Managing Director of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mr. Paul McGrath has said that it was the local content policies put in place to nurture and empower the local people when oil was discovered in the United Kingdom’s North Sea in the mid-70’s that made him to become a leader in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking at the recent 7th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, McGrath said ExxonMobil would continue to deepen the Nigerian content in the industry.

McGrath stated that the company has a total workforce of 2, 800 and 96 per cent of them are Nigerians with 40 per cent from Akwa Ibom State.

According to him, the company incorporates Nigerian Content development into its businesses and projects and is working collaboratively with all stakeholders to implement the scheme.

He further stated that Nigerian Content is integrated into ExxonMobil systems and processes, while the company has also adopted a systematic approach to secure sustainable long-term benefits “I am very passionate about local content because standing

before you today, is an example of local content. When I grew up in the working class city in Glasgow, Scotland, I am first generation. In the United Kingdom in the mid-70’s, oil and gas was discovered in the North Sea and if you look back in the history of my country, there was no industry. It had to be developed from the scratch and the people needed to be nurtured, and needed to be empowered and brought along. So, if it wasn’t for those particular principles that were enshrined in my country at that time, I won’t be standing before you this afternoon,� McGrath explained.

He explained that the company produces 600,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), accounting for 30 per cent of Nigerian output from 70 discovered fields and 108 offshore platforms.

He listed the other assets of the company to include two Offshore natural gas liquids (NGL) Extraction Plants, five Export Terminals, including Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT), Yoho Floating, Storage, & Offloading (FSO) vessel, Bonny River Terminal (BRT) and Erha and Usan Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) Vessels Speaking further on the company’s efforts on capacity development, McGrath stated that the company established the

Eket Technical Training Centre, where 90 per cent of the over 700 graduates are employed

by NNPC/MPN joint venture with City & Guilds Full Tech Certification obtained.

On the development of local R&D capacity, he added that local contractors have been trained in integrated field studies/seismic processing He said the company had also signed engineering service agreements with DeltaAfrik and NETCO for the development of in-country engineering capabilities McGrath said ExxonMobil had also contributed in the University Assistance/Partner-

ing Program (UAP/UPP) by enhancing Geoscience skills in 17 Nigerian Universities, equipping Geoscience workrooms (equipment and software), and training over 50 lecturers, which commenced in 2007 with over N1.45 billion spent.

He disclosed that the company’s postgraduate scholarships have gulped over N1billion, while over 300 internship positions are provided annually and Nigerian workforce developed through global work assignments.

In the area of development of in-country fabrication capacity, he said the company was instrumental to the fabrication

of 5, 641 metric tonnes of FPSO sub-structure/subsea production structures at Nigerdock and Aveon Yards and 39MT of sacrificial anodes in-country

by METEC, for the Erha North Phase 2 (ENP2) Project.

For the Satellite Fields Development 1 & 2 Projects, he said three wellhead platforms were fully engineered in-country by Nigerdock & Dorman Long/ Grinaker (SFD1), with $12 million funding provided by the company for expansion of Aveon Offshore, Nigerdock, and Dorman Long Engineering (Lagos) fabrication yards According to him, the company also provided support to

De Grills Integrated Services Ltd. to build fabrication yard capability.

To enhance in-country line pipe manufacturing capacity, he said the company was the first to work with SCC Pipe Mill, Abuja and has pgraded facilities to manufacture Madein-Nigeria Line Pipes and had also procured 30km Double Submerged Arc Weld Helical (DSAWH) line pipes.

Mobil has also facilitated local companies access to funding through ExxonMobil Contractor Finance Scheme (EMCFS) in collaboration with 12 Nigerian banks with $113 million accessed so far.

Revamped Forcados Terminal Reduces NNPC’s Trading Deficit Chineme Okafor in Abuja A monthly report of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed that the state-run oil firm reduced its operational deficit for the month of August to N5.7 billion from N11.9 billion it recorded in July, following the resumption of operations at the Forcados export terminal which was down and out of operations for a very long time.

During the time the export terminal was out of operation, the NNPC stated that it was losing a lot of revenue that should have accrued to it, and that this was affecting its operations and books of accounts.

However, in its August monthly operations and financial reports which it released on Sunday in Abuja, the corporation stated that despite the resumption of operations at the Forcados and its contributions to its finances, the fact that its refineries in Kaduna and Port Harcourt were down during the period also affected its financials negatively, hence the deficit in its books.

It said: “The 25th publication recorded deficit of N5.74 billion which is relatively lower than the previous month’s deficit of N11.87 billion. This represents 53.10 per cent or N6.14 billion improvement compared to the last month’s performance. “This improved performance is mainly due to revamping of Forcados export terminal which enhances NPDC’s performance despite the low performance of the

downstream value chain due to high crude oil inventory and the shutdowns of KRPC and PHRC during the period as a result of several maintenance interventions. Other drags to this month performance includes shut down of TransNiger pipeline and production shut-in to Que Iboe terminal and Bonga terminal.� On group operating revenue for the months of July 2017 and August 2017, the NNPC said they were N269.30 billion and N265.10 billion respectively. “These represent 73.23 per cent and 72.09 per cent respectively of monthly budget. Similarly, operating expenditure for the same periods were N281.18 billion and N270.84 billion respectively, which also represents 88.38 per cent and 85.27 per cent of budget for the months respectively,� the report noted.

On the operations of its Direct-Sales-Direct-Purchases (DSDP) crude oil program within the period, the corporation said: “In July 2017, NNPC allocated 79.71 per cent of domestic crude oil to Direct Sale-Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement to ensure petroleum products availability. So far, the arrangement guarantees products stability and creates room for savings.

The DSDP arrangement is constantly being reviewed to ensure value is delivered to the corporation and Nigeria as envisaged/promised.�

It said the total export sale of crude oil worth $433.39 million was recorded in August, adding that this performance was 3.37 per cent lower than the previous month.

BRAINSTORMING ON CLEANER FUEL

L-R: Programme Manager, National LPG Expansion Implementation Plan, OďŹƒce of the Vice-President, Mr. Dayo Adeshina; Deputy President, Nigerian LiqueďŹ ed Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA), Mr. Nuhu Yakubu; Managing Director, Ultimate Gas, Mr. Auwalu Ilu; Admin. Assistant, NLPGA, Mrs. Omolara Lawal; and Managing Director, Chimons Gas, Mr. Baylon Duru, during NLPGA’s Annual CEOs’ Breakfast Meeting in Lagos ...recently

APM Terminals Commits to Firm Makes First Investment in Nigeria’s Off-Grid Energy Green Port Environment Ejiofor Alike The Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Martin Jacob has said that the company is committed to the development of a green port environment and sustainability.

Jacob said this recently during a tree planting exercise at the terminal in Apapa, Lagos as part of the company’s 2017 Go Green campaign.

He said: “APM Terminals is proud to be participating in the Go Green campaign.

Go Green is an awareness building program started by the Global Ports Group (GPG), an association of port and terminal operators, collaborating on key Environmental, Health, Safety and Security topics. “This year, the GPG’s Environment Group has been focused on a number of activities and technologies to drive the reduction of CO2 emission from terminal operations, particularly through alternative fuels, renewable power generation, and hybrid and electric container handling equipment.�

APM Terminals teamed up with other leading container terminal and port operators to launch the Go Green initiative in 2015.

It is the first ever joint industry initiative to promote environmental awareness and make a sustainable difference in the communities in which the leading port companies operate. “This is the right thing to do for the environment, for the communities we operate in, and our employees.

Working together, we can address the critical issues facing the environment such as pollution, climate variations, carbon footprint and global warming; and act as a catalyst for global change,�

APM Terminals stated at the launch of the initiative in 2015.

Jacob said the annual Go Green campaign represents APM Terminals’ effort to create a sustainable and friendly environment within the ports. “We take our environmental friendliness and sustainability very seriously, which is why we participate in Go Green activities every year,� he said.

Also speaking at the event, Head, Health and Safety APM Terminals Nigeria, Arun Kalam said the Go Green campaign is an annual event to create awareness on the importance of a green environment for sustainability.

All On, an independent impact investing company, has made its first set of transactions aimed at facilitating increased access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy sources for low income households, SME’s, and communities.

Supported with funding from Royal Dutch Shell, All On works with partners to increase access to commercial energy products and services for under-served and un-served off-grid energy markets in Nigeria, with a special focus on the Niger Delta. “This initial set of transactions demonstrates our commitment to utilising a market-based approach to making a sustainable impact in the off-grid energy sector in partnership with global and local market leaders,� said the Chief Executive Officer of All On, Dr. Wiebe Boer. “It is just the beginning of our investments towards improving access to energy in Nigeria for the tens of millions of off-grid households and SMEs across the country,� he added.

The initial investments include an equity investment in Lumos Global BV, the fastest growing “distributed utility� in West Africa, and a grant to renowned Nigerian tech ideation

incubator, Co-Creation Hub, to launch a challenge to engage Nigeria’s technology innovation ecosystem in the access to energy space.

All On has also entered into a grant agreement with Solar Nigeria, a UK Aid-funded project implemented by Adam Smith International, for the receipt of grant funding to further de-risk investments made by All On in the Solar Home System (SHS) space. The firm is also currently in the latter stages of negotiations for an equity and debt investment in Green Village Enterprises (GVE), the award-winning indigenous mini grid operator in Nigeria headquartered in Port Harcourt.

Commenting on the proposed investment, Managing Director of GVE, Ifeanyi Orajaka, said: “We at GVE are excited about this relationship with All On. An investment from a world-class organisation such as All On further validates our position as one of the leading and most innovative indigenous clean energy solutions providers in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are very optimistic and look forward to achieving our medium-term target of impacting two per cent of Nigeria’s 180 Million population through this partnership.�

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Gulabi: Our Output is Still Minimal Relative to Demand Managing Director of Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company, Zubeyir Gulabi, a Turkish born investor spoke on the company’s investment in Akwa Ibom State, saying it is a turning point in the nation’s industrial space. Jonathan Eze brings the excerpts: JSM is finally here. Many had doubted the posibility of having this hugeinvestment in Nigeria since all efforts to have a successful syringe manufacturing company in the past failed. How did this become a reality?

The dream started in May 2015 when Governor Udom Emmanuel’s industrialisation movement was discovered not to have any iota of political connotation, but inundated with clear cut direction, good laid down policies and purpose.

The sincerity of intent by the governor at that early stage of hisadministration, inaddition to his flood stream of working experience in the global world, made it possible for our Chairman, Mr. Onur Kumral, to assemble investors with the promise of investing in Akwa Ibom State. When our team finalised discussions with the governor, we were certain that we had a conducive environment for our investments including suitable land, security and lack of bureaucratic hurdles. In 2016, we laid the foundation of the Syringe Factory and on September 23rd, which incidentally coincided with the state anniversary, we were able to commission the project in a record 11 months.

The commissioning was done by His Excellency, the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

This investment is a multi-million dollar investment. How were you able to source the required capital investment for this project?

Yes, this is indeed a sizable investment. Mr. Kumral has been in Akwa Ibom State for over four years now and he fell in love with Akwa Ibom people and the state. An investment decision does not rely solely on having the required capital. There are banks all over the world ready to roll out resources to fund investments. In Turkey for instance, banks are pleading for investors to come and get funds to invest. So finding the required capital wasn’t an issue. The crux of our concerns were if the state was safe enough, if it had investor friendly business policies, if the raw materials were available, if we could be connected to the power grid easily, and of course, if the market was there. Firstly, we concluded that the market was there, there was a sizeable demand for syringes in Nigeria, which was being met with low quality imported products.

We also observed that the country is blessed with well-educated individuals, engineers, technicians and knowledgeable administrators who can drive our investment effectively without much supervision. Safety wasn’t even an issue.

So we made the final decision and founded Jubilee Syringe. We are very pleased with our investment and the assurance is that more investments will be brought into the country.

Was there any doubt in your minds that things may not go well at some point in the course of realising this investment; maybe for political reasons?

No, not at all! Maybe the confidence and the assurance that kept driving us was the personality of the Governor. We were met with open arms from the moment we arrived.

At the state level, His Excellency has been a great supporter of industrialisation, and at the federal level, the government is sincere about encouraging investments to provide employment for Nigerians. Every conversation that we’ve had with the state government and the Ministry of Health ended on a positive note.

Clearly, all the parties realised that Nigeria needs to increase its domestic production; it depends too much on imports. But I should also state that our vision is not limited to Nigeria.

We are the largest syringe factory in Africa and our vision is to fulfill the needs of all African countries. If you look at neighboring countries like Cameroon, Ghana, Congo etc., almost all of them buy syringes from Europe and at exorbitant costs. We are able to produce syringes at a fraction of the

Gulabi cost the product is sold in these countries, and at the same international quality standards.

We are a Nigerian company but we strictly adhere to international quality standards. So we have no reason but to believe that Nigeria can produce and export syringes first, and then other medical consumables in the future.

Tell us some of the challenges you faced during this process?

Sure, there were challenges; logistic problems for example. We were looking at the port closest to us so we could bring our raw materials into the state easily. Land transport is and will be problematic for the foreseeable future. Secondly, the challenge was the availability of medical grade raw materials, we never want to be associated with any substandard raw material. We want to be known for producing high quality products. Many people outside Africa believe the continent cannot make a difference in the world of manufacturing. We are determined to prove them wrong. Availability of medical grade raw materials are scarce, but we have been in discussions with other manufacturers to have medical grade materials made available to us. Human capital has been no problem.

There are highly educated people here who are willing to work. Every challenge that we faced we have always had the full support of the governor and the federal government. All hands are on deck to make Nigeria Africa’s medical hub.

During the commissioning of JSM, the Vice President said that the investment was a very smart one. Can you expatiate on this?

I believe what his Excellency was referring to was that our factory was addressing an important gap in the medical consumable sector, in a strategic location, at an opportune time.

We are trying to make Akwa Ibom State, and by extension Nigeria, a medical hub in Africa.

His Excellency, the Vice President honored us by coming to commission this project.

Your production start-up capacity is pegged at 350 - 400 million syringes annually, surpassing South Africa’s 93 million annual production.

Why the huge difference in your production

Kayalioglu line?

There are no official figures for Nigerian syringe demand but there are estimates of 1.5-2.0 billion of syringe demand per annum. So our production capacity is not a huge number if you consider the overall demand. This doesn’t of course take into account demand outside of Nigeria as we discussed. When you take that into account as well as our capacity is minimal. This is why when we were setting up the factory, we planned the space for double the existing capacity. We believe it will not be long before we have to make that decision.

You said the location of the raw materials is just an hour drive from the location of the factory. What is your take on the quality of raw materials found in Nigeria?

Actually, the quality is still not at the standards that we hold ourselves to. As a result, we import most of our raw materials from abroad at least for the time being. We are still in talks with certain companies to have them produce medical grade raw materials. We know that this does not require huge capital investments.

The 12 Nigerians, mostly engineers that were sent to Turkey, Istanbul, for training by JSM were seen during the commissioning operating different machines and explaining the operations to guests. Would you say the purpose at which they were sent for the training has been achieved?

Absolutely! The purpose has been achieved and even more because they have become the future of industrialisation in not just Akwa Ibom but Nigeria. We’ve had Korean, Turkish and European engineers training our engineers and they were surprised at the speed in which the Nigerian trainees were advancing in their training.

Tell us where you got machines used for the production of the syringe from?

We made sure we purchased the most technologically advanced machines when setting up the factory. Plastic Injection Machines were purchased from Austria, packaging, serigraphy and assembly machines were bought from South Korea, and we purchased

other machines from Turkey and Italy. The resulting product is as clear as glass. This is the standard; highest quality!

Is JSM an investment of the Akwa Ibom State Government or a joint investment between the State Government and some private investors or a 100% private investment?

I am sure you heard Governor Emmanuel clearing the air on this on the day of the commissioning. Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company is a 100% private investment and initiative.

How ready is JSM for the market, talking about distributorship?

We have had sales people touring the country for the past two months and taking pre-orders from distributors. The Nigerian market is driven by distributors, there are very few direct sales to the hospitals. We have already established relationships with the largest and most reputable distributors in the country. When conducting our due diligence, we have made sure they have the necessary facilities, vehicles and sales people. So we are well prepared domestically. In terms of the export market, we are currently looking into export permits for neighboring countries. We’re also conducting market studies in each of the countries to understand their market dynamics. Our priority is the Nigerian market but we are also looking at how we can export our products.

In terms of employment, how far have you gone?

Our full capacity will be around 300 direct employments, but we currently have approximately hundred people. As you know Nigerian employment policy is that any foreign investment must employ at least 70% Nigerians. We have gone above and beyond that and implemented a policy of 90% minimum Nigerians to be employed in JSM. Most of these employees will be from the community around the factory and from Akwa Ibom State.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Sterling Bank Finances Medium Income Housing in Lagos Sterling Bank is providing financial partnership to a residential housing project being developed by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with a private developer. Bennett Oghifo reports

T

he housing project, known as Sterling Court Development, is a Pubic Private Partnership development with Lagos State Government under Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area. The housing project, being built in financial partnership with Sterling Bank Plc, is designed to address the acute housing shortage being experienced in the nation, particularly in Lagos State with a population that grows geometrically, said officials of the bank.

According to the Group Head, non-interest banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Dr. Bashir Oshodi, “the bank’s involvement as the first client and financiers of the development is therefore borne out of Sterling Bank’s culture of community engagement and promotion of a sustainable society by enriching lives.”

Sterling Court, conceptualised by the concessionaires in 2009, is a residential development with site location at Ajelogo Housing Scheme, Alapere, Lagos. It consists of contemporary designed apartment building, modern terraces and duplexes, aimed at meeting accommodation needs of medium income families.

Sterling Bank Plc is the project’s financial partner and also its first client, he said, “Sterling Bank is a full service national commercial bank and high quality financial service provider committed to enhancing stakeholders’ value.”

Oshodi, a specialist in development economics, banking and finance and integral research methodologies, said; “apart from my personal goal, which is to use integral development approach to drive poverty reduction strategies especially in developing countries, Sterling Bank has strong passion for excellence and no doubt, the project

Prototype of Sterling Court estate, Lagos

will be of immense benefit to medium income families with satisfactory facilities provided at very moderate cost.”

The project’s scope includes construction of 40 blocks of 320 units, starting with 26 blocks of 116 units as first phase in the year 2017.

The construction methodology involves both mechanical and traditional approach where different foundation types would be employed to ensure structural stability of the superstructure.

These are; cellular raft foundation, conventional raft and pad foundation, according to the company’s officials.

The Estate has been designed to provide energy for self-sustainability, adequate parking spaces, 24hrs security, excellent road network, and good central sewage disposal system.

The Developer, OKB & Associates Limited is a progressive real estate development company, which vision is driven by an energetic team with sole aim of providing one-stop construction solution to its clientele across the world with Nigeria as the foundation, said the Chief Executive Officer, OKB & Associates, Mr. Owolabi Kola-Balogun.

He said Sterling Court intends to create a world adaptable to urban commercialisation, where clients live life in style and learn to embrace life’s true pleasures within their budget range. “Population growth in metropolitan Lagos,” Kola-Balogun said, “has assumed a geometrical proportion while the provision of urban infrastructure and housing to meet this demand is not at commensurate level.”

This, according to him, has resulted in acute shortage of housing to the teeming population with Lagos alone, according to statistics available, accounting for about 5 million deficit, which represents 31% of the estimated national housing deficit of 18 million.

“This figure is growing at an exponential rate and therefore, the urgent need to provide affordable mass housing to help cushion the effect on the demand for housing.”

The Project Manager, Arc. Taiwo Adeleke of Triarch Projects and Services Limited; a household name in property development and management consultancy, stated that his team and financiers of the development; Sterling Bank Plc, share a strong desire, which is to transform the landscape with effective presence in Nigeria, Africa and internationally by transmuting concepts and ideas into substantial realities.

The design of the first phase consists of three prototype buildings to enrich proposed home-owners with variety of options. These prototypes are; 8 blocks of apartment building with a total of 64 flats.

Each apartments provides accommodations of three bedrooms en-suite with spacious living room, fitted kitchen and maids room to service every flat; 8 blocks of terrace buildings with a total of 32 apartments, each apartments provides accommodations of three bedrooms en-suite with spacious living room , fitted kitchen, family lounge and maids room; and 10 Blocks of duplexes with a total of 20 apartments; each apartments provides accommodations of 3 bedrooms en-suite with spacious living room, fitted kitchen, family lounge maids room and a dedicated compound.

Social Housing in Nigeria Wole Aboderin Housing is one of the basic needs of man borne out of his desire for security, privacy and protection from negative impacts of the environment.

From the view point of built environment, housing plays an important role in the enhancement of human health, social and economic welfare of the society. In the social life of every Nigerian, home ownership boosts one’s status in the society (Nubi, 2008). Inspite of numerous efforts by successive Nigerian governments and even the private sector to tackle housing challenges in the country, the residential housing problems seem to escalate beyond solution.

Housing problems in Nigeria are further amplified by difficulty of access to land, out of reach home ownership systems; continued increase in private rents amongst others. Social housing has thus been described as the only genuine means of providing affordable accommodation for the populace.

Social housing is an umbrella term used to refer to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organisations, or by a combination of the two, usually with the aim of making it affordable. Social housing may

also be referred to as a public housing which may be a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, be it Central, State or Local Government Authority.

When you talk about social housing for the masses, the words that come to mind are cheap, affordable, non-profit driven, mass produced houses that could be occupied by low income earners, who may wish to save towards eventually buying such houses over time.

Generally, social housing deals with housing solutions that are priced and financed in a way that ensures low-income occupants could satisfy their other basic needs.

Even though the scarcity of affordable housing affects all segments of society, it is notably low-income earners who are most affected. The Nigerian urban housing market primarily targets high income earners and thus leaves large parts of the Nigerian population excluded from formal housing provision. In general, low-income households face a number of barriers such as weak individual purchasing power; lack of access to housing finance; unavailable complementary goods, such as land and infrastructure; and insufficient housing supply required to meet the actual demand of the urban poor.

The concept of social housing…

According to Van Dyk (1995), the term “social housing” is often used to refer to assisted housing owned by the government, non-profit and cooperative housing organisations. Social housing in this context is described by the Productivity Commission (Tunstall, Lupton et al. 2011) as ‘below-market rental housing for people on low incomes and for those with special needs. It is highly subsidized, and rent is determined by tenant income (generally set at 25 or 30 % of household income)’ (Yates, 2013). Alexandra (2008) further described social housing as all forms of housing developed under various government subsidy programs in both private and public sectors.

The creation and provision of social housing is towards ensuring housing affordability. Affordable housing is therefore defined as housing which costs no more than 30 percent of the income of the occupant household. This is the generally accepted definition of housing affordability.

Social housing delivery is therefore housing delivery that not only provide good quality and affordable housing, but allocates it benefit equitably between the rich and the poor. Regenerates the environment rather than destroying it. Also, it empowers the poor to have access to decent

homes at affordable cost rather than mitigating or excluding them. In sum, it can be described as housing delivery system which gives priority to the disadvantaged groups, enlarging their housing choice and opportunities and given them a say in decisions that affect their housing needs and lives (Agbola and Alabi, 2000). In other words, it is a strategy that is pro-poor and pro-environment.

Types of social housing…

There are various types of social housing which includes: Social Rental Housing; Affordable Rental Housing; Intermediate Tenures and Shared ownership.

Social Rented Housing…

In the developed countries, social rented homes are owned by either local authorities or registered providers of affordable housing (RP’s). These organisations charge a rent which is set by government guidelines through the national rent regime.

These rents are typically quite low and are generally affordable to many people. Occupants either earn a low wage or household income and tend to receive assistance from housing benefit. The amount of housing benefit or lo-

Broll Takes Platinum Sponsorship of Annual West Africa Real Estate Summit Award-winning and leading commercial property services company, Broll Nigeria, a subsidiary of Broll Property Group is the Platinum Sponsor of the third annual West Africa Property Investment (WAPI) Summit 2017. The summit will be held for the first time in Nigeria from November 28 – 29 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island in Lagos. Aptly themed: Changing the West African Narrative, delegates will discuss and share insights on the challenges facing investors and occupiers in the region. Topics such as unlocking capital markets, growth of retail as seen in the development of new shopping centres, student housing as well as property and land valuations among other will be talked about.

Broll CEO, Bolaji Edu said: “The property

markets in West Africa keep expanding and investors see opportunities in what is by global standards still an immature and emerging market.

“Conferences such as this one enable topical and relevant issues to be discussed thus helping to improve the transparency, professionalism and knowledge base of investors, developers and occupiers and Broll is proud to be the Platinum Sponsor for the third year running.”

He explains that the summit provides a platform for industry experts, property professionalism and thought leaders to discuss key issues relating to real estate investments in West Africa.

“The economic improvement and stability in the forex market has brought improved

confidence from corporates looking to take up new space and investors/developers. “There is confidence that the recent fall in rental levels may have begun to bottom-out,” said Edu. Broll Nigeria representatives who will speak at the summit include CEO: Bolaji Edu, Gavin Cox: Head of Retail Management and Retail Leasing and Nnenna Alintah: Head of Occupier Services. According to Alintah, “Corporate real estate services strategy is key to any property investment business and it requires paying attention to every detail before decisions are made. “We are currently working on an occupier service snapshot report on West Africa and this will be launched and discussed at the summit.”

Gavin Cox: Head of Retail Management and

Retail Leasing, Broll Nigeria says: “One of the issues we intend to highlight at the summit is the investors’ choice of either high street or shopping centre retail. “Some experts believe that high street retail has more visibility when compared to being located within a mall.”

In general, Cox notes that the retail sector in Nigeria is facing tough times, as a result, international retailers wanting to enter the country have since adopted a ‘wait and see’ approach in light of the prevailing market conditions.

Cox and his panellists will uncover some of the trends in the retail sector in addition to a discussion on mall versus high street.Broll Nigeria will launch the Retail Report at the summit.

29

T H I S D AY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017

ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2017 N I G E R I A C I V I L S O C I E T Y S I T U AT I O N R O O M

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Will Be On Ground To Receive Reports And Provide Accurate, Unbiased Analysis Of The Anambra State Governorship Election Holding On Saturday, 18th November 2017.

Please Forward Your Reports, Incidents and Observations on the Anambra State Governorship election on 18th November 2017 to the Situation Room situationroomnigeria

situationroomng

#ANAMBRASR2017

09032999919 09095050505

#ANAMBRADECIDES

www.situationroom.placng.org

30

T H I S D AY ˞ ˜ NOVEMEBER 14, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Ighodalo Highlights Investment Opportunities in Edo State Nume Ekeghe The Chairman of the just concluded Edo Investment Summit, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, has described Edo State as Nigeria’s best secret in driving growth and development in a post-oil economy.

Ighodalo, who is also the Chairman of Sterling Bank, made this known at the maiden edition of the Edo Investment Summit in Benin.

He explained that with its geographical location, natural endowments, dedication and commitment to drive privatesector investments, the southsouth state had the capacity to create massive employment and become a sub-national economic hub.

Ighodalo, while delivering his address said: “The Edo state government has convened this gathering of global, national and state leaders from the government, business and civil society to unveil and showcase Nigeria’s best kept

secret, and Nigeria’s best kept secret is Edo State, and to reset the vision of the state in a post-oil economy, a vision of prosperous, productive and peaceful Edo State that rises to its full economic potential as a vibrant engine of growth within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “In conceptualising our agenda for the summit, Edo State has engaged in a deep and rigorous assessment of factors and drivers of its future, which we will over the next few days deliberate on and then we will all together agree on the focus strategies and actions that will make Edo State the investors’ preferred choice. “Our goal at this investment summit is simple. We will identify the factor endowments that give Edo the competitive and comparative advantage.

We will explore and examine what we must do to create the factor conditions to maximise these endowments and we will commit to the actions that make

Edo State the most competitive sub-national investment environment in Nigeria.�

Besides, he said the report and recommendations from the summit, tagged: ‘Alaghodaro 2017’ and with the theme: “Envisioning the Future,� would provide a framework for the Edo strategic action plan going forward.

He noted that a lot of work had already been done in conceptualising and providing structures and appropriate incentives, which had led to the increase in investments and interest in the state.

Ighodalo, however, stressed that there was still “so much work to be done� based on the state’s current economic ranking.

These, he said, included being ranked 16th out of the 36 states on budget size, eighth for solid mineral production, 19th for domestic debt profile, third among the 36 states on external debt profile and fifth for internal revenue generation.

Ighodalo

MARKET INDICATORS

CBN Pumps in Fresh $195m The Central Bank of Nigeria has continued its sustenance of its foreign exchange (forex) liquidity by injecting another $195 million into the interbank forex market, even as the naira maintains its strength.

The $195 million intervention was made yesterday.

Figures released by the bank showed that it offered the total sum of $100 million to the wholesale segment, while the small and medium enterprises

(SMEs) segment received the sum of $50 million. The invisibles segment comprising tuition, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) received $45 million.

The Bank’s acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said that the intervention was in line with the CBN’s continual determination to ensure forex liquidity and satisfy

legitimate demand.

Okorafor assured that the Bank would continue to intervene in the nation’s forex market in order to sustain the liquidity in the market and guarantee the international value of the naira.

Meanwhile, the naira exchanged at an average of N363/$1 in the Bureau De Change segment of the market yesterday, maintaining its stability in the forex market.

FCMB Promotes 537 Staff The FCMB Group Plc yesterday announced that it recently promoted 537 staff.

The financial institution explained that the promotion exercise was part of the Group’s tradition of rewarding and motivating employees for higher productivity. According to a statement, the promotion exercise was significant because it came at a time when there were challenges in the Nigerian business environment with its attendant ripple effects on the industry.

Speaking on the promotion, the Divisional Head, Corporate Services of FCMB, Felicia Obozuwa, said the decision to elevate the staff was in line

with the organisation’s bestplace-to-work philosophy geared towards identifying, inspiring and rewarding excellence.

According to her, “It is just one of our ways of rewarding productivity, and employees who have brought huge levels of innovation, and those influential in the development of new products and solutions which provide speed and convenience to our customers. “At FCMB, we value the contributions of our employees, and the recent promotions are aimed at motivating employees and creating new avenues for career growth within the institution.�

While commending the beneficiaries of the promotion

for their contributions to the giant strides being recorded by FCMB, she reiterated the commitment of the institution to build a brand that would enhance the career and welfare of employees.

Recently, FCMB Group acquired Legacy Pension Managers Limited by increasing its initial 22 per cent stake to 88.2 per cent in the company, which was one of the leading pension fund administrators in Nigeria.

The development, which made FCMB Group the largest shareholder in Legacy Pension Managers, was another major milestone in the Group’s strategic vision to build a truly diversified financial services Group of African origin.

Flour Millers Support Wheat Farmers The Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) has donated 2,000 units of plantable seeds in 50kg bags for distribution to farmers in wheat producing states of Nigeria.

This, according to a statement was the first part of the association’s two-phase support programme to wheat farmers.

It explained that under phase two, FMAN has placed overseas orders for some multi-crop threshers which would be distributed to farmers in February 2018, for the next harvest season.

Speaking at the presentation to the Wheat Farmers Association

of Nigeria (WFAN) in Kano, the Chairman of FMAN, Mr. John G. Coumantaros, was quoted as saying the association was in the forefront of championing the production of wheat in Nigeria.

In his address read by the Vice Chairman of FMAN, Mr. Olanrewaju Jaiyeola, he recalled that under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between FMAN and WFAN, signed in the office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development last year, the flour millers had given an undertaking to purchase all the available wheat grains that meet specifications

set out in the MoU. This had continued for two seasons and was expected to continue in the coming season.

Coumantaros noted that the presentation was a follow up to a similar action which took place in Kano in November last year. According to him, as a good corporate citizen and in demonstration of its great support to wheat farmers, FMAN donated 2,500 units of 3-inch water pumps and 2,500 units of plantable seeds in 50kg bags with total financial outlay of N150 million were presented at the occasion.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2017 Broad Money (M2)

21,851,454.31

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,890,813.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,523,239.91

---- Demand Deposits

8,367,573.19

-- Quasi Money

11,960,641.22

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,732,990.89

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,118,463.42

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,821,446.81

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,824,226.22

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,834,536.74

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

--3,010,310.52

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

21,997,220.59

--Other Assets Net

--14,702,983.39

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,486,804.65

--Currency in Circulation

1,868,735.07

--Banks Reserves

3,268,266.17 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

August 2017

Inter-Bank Call Rate

22.63

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

13.35

Savings Deposit Rate

4.08

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.86

3 Months Deposit Rate

10.14

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.51

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.40

Prime Lending rate

17.69

Maximum Lending Rate

31.20 Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2017

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $61.91 a barrel on Friday, compared with $61.70 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

31

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

MARKET NEWS

Meristem Facilitates N27bn Investment in Dangote Cement Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie The value of trading soared to N30.023 billion invested in 336.335 million shares in 3,778 deals, up from the N2.646 billion invested in 175.276 million shares last Friday.

However, the boost in value of trading came from N27 billion staked on about 128.992 million shares of Dangote Cement Plc

by foreign investors yesterday.

THISDAY checks showed that the investors, who are from Dubai, invested in Dangote Cement at an agreed price of N210 per share. The purchase price was a discount on the N229.01 opening price of stock for the day. But the shares rose 3.93 per cent to close at N238 per share, thereby contributing to the positive close recorded by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)

All-Share Index (ASI). The index appreciated by 0.52 per cent to be at 37,312.28. Ex-Dangote Cement, the market would have declined by 1.0 per cent.

Meanwhile, market operators said the foreign investment in Dangote Cement yesterday was facilitated by Meristem Securities Limited and this transaction is coming three months after some foreign investors similarly bought 2.3 per cent stake in

Dangote Cement Plc for N86.1 billion. That sale involved 416 million shares.

Two other foreign investors had bought into Dangote Cement Plc in 2013 and 2014.

In 2013, South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation (PIC) bought 1.5 per cent for $289.3 million. Similarly, in 2014, Sovereign fund Investment Corp of Dubai (ICD) acquired 1.4 per cent for $300 million.

Last August when the N86.1 billion invested in Dangote Cement, a leading stockbroker and Managing Director of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri had said it was good development for both the company and the Nigerian economy. “As you are aware, Dangote Cement is a multinational entity.

It is capable of eliciting global interest. New foreign invest-

ment can be viewed from the perspective that the company is performing very well and that the Nigerian economy is providing it with necessary enabling environment,� he said.

Dangote Cement has been rewarding shareholders with regular dividends. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the company recorded a profit after tax of N187 billion and a dividend of N8.50 per share.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF 13/11/2017

˜ ͯͲ˜ ͺ͸͹͵ ˾ T H I S D AY

32

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report: Tuesday, November 14, 2017 dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚŽǁŶ ϵϱďƉƐ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

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Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

dŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŽŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; ^/Ϳ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϱй ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϯϳ͕ϯϭϮ͘Ϯϴ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ŝŵƉůLJŝŶŐ Ă zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ϯϴ͘ϴй͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Eϲϲ͘ϱďŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ůŝƐƚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ EϭϮ͘ϵƚŶ͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϵйͿ͖ ĞdžͲ E' D͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ůŽƐƚ ϭ͘Ϭй͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ǀĞŝŶ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϵϭ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϭϬϯϰ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϯϯϲ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ EϯϬ͘ϬďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚŝƐ ƐƵƌŐĞ ǁĂƐ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĂďůĞ ƚŽ Ă ĐƌŽƐƐ ĚĞĂů ŽĨ ϭϮϴ͘ϱŵ ƐŚĂƌĞƐ ŽĨ E' D Ăƚ EϮϭϬͬƐŚĂƌĞ͘ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ /ŶĚĞdž >ĞĂĚƐ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ /ŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌ͕ ƵƉ Ϯ͘ϭй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϵйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ͕ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ Ϭ͘ϵй ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ &KZd ;нϴ͘ϴйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂƌLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ /ŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϲй ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŬĞĚ ƉƌŽĮƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ 'h Z Edz ;Ͳϯ͘ϬйͿ͕ h ;Ͳϭ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ǀĞŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ůŽǁĞƌ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;Ͳϯ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ h^dK zE ;Ͳϰ͘ϲйͿ͘ DĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞĂĚƚŚ dƵƌŶƐ EĞŐĂƟǀĞ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞƌƐͬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐͿ ƌĞƚƌĞĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϲdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϭdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͘ dŚĞ ĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƚŽƉ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ &KZd ;нϴ͘ϴйͿ͕ K<KDhK/> ;нϰ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ E D ;нϰ͘ϰйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ /> ^/E' ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ͕ s ZdKE ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ s/d &K D ;Ͳ ϰ͘ϳйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ tŚŝůĞ ǁĞ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌ Ͳ E' D͕ ǁĞ ƌĞͲŝƚĞƌĂƚĞ ŽƵƌ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƚĞƌŵ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ ŐůŽďĂů Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ͘

ŽŵƉĂŶLJ /Ŷ &ŽĐƵƐ͗ KŬŽŵƵ Kŝů WĂůŵ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ WůĐ

KŬŽŵƵ Kŝů WĂůŵ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ;͞KŬŽŵƵ͟ Žƌ ͞ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ͟Ϳ ǁĂƐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ϭϵϳϲ ĂƐ Ă &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƉŝůŽƚ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƚĞ Žŝů ƉĂůŵ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͘ LJ ϭϵϵϬ͕ KŬŽŵƵ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ƉƌŝǀĂƟnjĞĚ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dĞĐŚŶŝĐĂů ŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ ŽŶ WƌŝǀĂƟƐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ;d W Ϳ ĂĐƟŶŐ ŽŶ ďĞŚĂůĨ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͘ ^ŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞŶ͕ KŬŽŵƵ ŚĂƐ ŐƌŽǁŶ ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĂŐƌŝͲďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĮƌŵƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ůŝƐƚĞĚ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ /Ŷ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϮϬϭϳ͕ KŬŽŵƵ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ ŝƚƐ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ĂƐ 'ƌŽƐƐ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ŐƌĞǁ ĨƌŽŵ EϭϬ͘ϵďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϲ ƚŽ Eϭϲ͘ϲďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŶŐ Ă ϱϮ͘Ϭй ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ zͲ ŽͲz͘ dŚŝƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ůŽĐĂů ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐƚĞĚ ƐĂůĞƐ ďLJ ϱϭ͘ϲй zͲŽͲz ;ĨƌŽŵ Eϵ͘ϰϱďŶ ƚŽ Eϭϰ͘ϰďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳͿ͘ /Ŷ ƚƵƌŶ͕ ĐŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƐĂůĞƐ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϵϳ͘Ϭй zͲŽͲz ;ĨƌŽŵ Eϭ͘ϯďŶ ƚŽ EϮ͘ϱďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳͿ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽŶ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ƉƌŽĮƚ ǁĂƐ ŽīƐĞƚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ ƚŽƉůŝŶĞ͘ dŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ Ă Ϯϳ͘Ϯй zͲŽͲz ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ŝŶ ŶĞƚ ĮŶĂŶĐĞ ĐŽƐƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŵƉĂĐƚĞĚ ŽŶ ƉƌŽĮƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ W d ĐĂŵĞ ŝŶ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ Ăƚ Eϲ͘ϰďŶ͕ ƵƉ ϱϯ͘ϭй zͲŽͲz͘

^ŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ KŬŽŵƵ͛Ɛ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ŚĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďĞĞŶ ŶĞƵƚƌĂů͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ŚĂƐ Ă zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ϲϵ͘ϯй͘ tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͛Ɛ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŝnjĞĂďůĞ ůŽĐĂů ƐƵƉƉůLJ ĚĞĮĐŝƚ ŝŶ Žŝů ƉĂůŵ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ͘ Ɛ ƐƵĐŚ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƚĞƌŵ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ĞŶũŽLJ ĨĂǀŽƌĂďůĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƌŽďƵƐƚ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ŝƚƐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ͘

Afrinvest Securities Limited

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,486.37

-0.95%

48.6%

48.6%

20.3%

6.5%

6.8x

0.8x

4.2%

11.5%

41.69

-3.0%

22.7%

68.8%

68.8%

26.0%

4.3%

8.7x

2.1x

4.9%

11.5%

2

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

138.98

-3.4%

9.9%

-6.1%

-6.1%

18.9%

8.6%

34.2x

6.2x

2.6%

2.9%

3

Zenith Bank PLC

24.84

-0.6%

13.1%

68.4%

68.4%

21.7%

3.2%

4.9x

1.0x

8.1%

20.4%

4

Dangote Cement PLC

6.1%

238.00

3.9%

6.7%

36.8%

36.8%

30.4%

15.7%

16.4x

4.7x

3.6%

0.0%

6.9%

59.3%

59.3%

78.4%

19.0%

33.6x

22.2x

0.8%

3.0%

4.4%

68.8%

68.8%

15.1%

2.0%

4.0x

0.6x

6.6%

25.1% 23.9%

5

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,290.00

6

Access Bank PLC

9.91

0.0%

7

United Bank for Africa PLC

9.55

-1.5%

5.4%

112.2%

112.2%

17.2%

2.2%

4.2x

0.7x

7.9%

8

FBN Holdings Plc

7.20

-0.4%

4.7%

114.9%

114.9%

2.6%

0.3%

11.7x

0.4x

2.8%

8.5%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

17.00

0.0%

3.0%

65.4%

65.4%

-14.6%

-1.3%

0.6x

3.6%

-20.4%

10

Lafarge Africa PLC

7.8x

1.9%

51.45

0.0%

2.0%

32.8%

32.7%

47.1%

9.8%

495.00

0.0%

1.8%

30.3%

30.3%

-12.4%

-6.7%

5.0x

0.6x

20.1%

11

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

40.00

0.0%

1.5%

25.7%

25.7%

50.3%

8.4%

24.6x

9.4x

0.2%

4.1%

13

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

42.50

0.0%

3.0%

183.3%

183.3%

28.7%

3.4%

9.8x

2.6x

1.4%

10.2%

14

Guinness Nigeria PLC

102.01

0.0%

1.4%

29.8%

29.8%

4.5%

1.4%

71.8x

3.6x

0.6%

1.4%

5.99

0.0%

-21.1%

1.3%

27.4%

27.4%

40.7%

4.2%

2.7x

0.6x

47.97

8.8%

0.5%

-43.2%

-43.2%

44.3%

3.7%

12.1x

5.4x

32.6%

12.0%

8.8x

2.4x

15

Oando PLC

16

Forte Oil PLC

17

11 PLC

165.00

0.0%

0.4%

-40.9%

-40.9%

18

Total Nigeria PLC

230.00

0.0%

0.6%

-23.1%

-23.1%

37.3%

7.4%

8.6x

3.0x

2.6%

11.7%

19

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

67.99

4.6%

1.1%

69.3%

69.3%

37.4%

25.9%

9.1x

3.0x

2.2%

11.0%

20

UAC of Nigeria PLC

19.10

0.0%

0.7%

15.8%

15.8%

6.3%

2.2%

12.3x

0.8x

5.1%

8.2%

21

Conoil PLC

28.00

0.0%

0.4%

-25.3%

-25.3%

12.8%

3.5%

8.1x

1.1x

11.1%

12.3%

22

Fidelity Bank PLC

1.65

-1.8%

0.9%

96.4%

96.4%

8.0%

1.1%

1.4x

0.2x

8.5%

69.5%

23

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

15.16

-0.6%

1.1%

148.1%

148.1%

23.8%

10.3%

5.9x

2.6x

3.3%

16.9%

24

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

34.00

0.0%

0.8%

83.9%

83.9%

10.4%

2.6%

8.6x

0.9x

2.9%

11.7%

25

Custodian and Allied Insurance

3.72

-4.6%

0.4%

-4.4%

-4.4%

18.9%

7.6%

3.9x

0.7x

7.5%

26

7 UP Bottling Co PLC

88.00

0.0%

0.3%

-31.8%

-31.8%

-56.7%

-13.9%

27

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

29.33

37.0%

0.0%

0.3%

-24.0%

-24.0%

-12.2%

-1.2%

0.9%

0.4%

4.5%

4.5%

0.9%

0.1%

13.5x

0.1x

19.6%

4.1%

5.6x

1.0x

8.3% 4.8%

4.3x

11.4%

25.7% -19.1%

1.5x

-7.8%

28

FCMB Group Plc

1.15

29

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.40

-0.7%

0.6%

60.9%

60.9%

30

Diamond Bank PLC

1.15

-0.9%

0.4%

30.7%

30.7%

2.5%

0.3%

4.6x

0.1x

31

Presco PLC

66.00

0.0%

0.5%

64.6%

64.6%

53.3%

31.5%

3.3x

1.1x

2.3%

30.7%

32

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

23.00

0.0%

0.5%

58.6%

58.6%

11.5%

5.8%

19.7x

2.2x

2.2%

5.1%

33

International Brew eries PLC

49.55

-0.9%

0.7%

167.8%

167.8%

24.6%

7.4%

51.9x

11.8x

34

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

12.31

-0.2%

0.3%

19.6%

19.6%

4.5%

1.6%

35.1x

2.1x

2.8%

35

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.15

0.0%

0.3%

28.8%

28.9%

5.6%

1.2%

7.9x

0.4x

12.7%

36

Chemical and Allied Products P

34.00

0.0%

0.2%

6.3%

6.3%

84.3%

38.5%

14.8x

10.4x

37

Sterling Bank PLC

1.04

0.0%

0.3%

36.8%

36.8%

6.1%

0.6%

5.5x

0.3x

38

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

21.6%

1.9%

6.5%

0.3%

60.3%

60.3%

61.2%

23.6%

5.2x

1.9x

1.2%

0.1%

25.7%

25.7%

11.9%

3.9%

10.5x

1.2x

2.4%

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0.1%

39.4%

39.4%

9.6%

4.4%

8.1x

0.7x

40

Continental Reinsurance PLC

1.38

T o p 10 G a ine r s P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg % -0.4%

47.97

8.8%

FB NH

77.6

67.99

4.6%

F ID ELIT YB K

15.9

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1.41

4.4%

D IA M ON D B N K

14.3

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238.00

3.9%

GUIN N ESS

9.9

0.0%

A IIC O

0.55

3.8%

C ILEA SIN G

9.1

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A GLEVEN T

0.57

3.6%

T R A N SC OR P

6.8

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UP L

2.94

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GUA R A N T Y

6.2

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LA WUN ION

0.65

1.6%

Z EN IT H B A N K

5.1

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LIVEST OC K

0.90

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GLA XOSM IT H

5.1

1.0%

M A YB A KER

2.89

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SOVR EN IN S

5.0

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T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

C ILEA SIN G

1.59

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GUIN N ESS

1009.6

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C A VER T ON

1.60

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FB NH

554.9

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T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

VIT A F OA M

2.81

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GUA R A N T Y

261.3

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H ON YF LOUR

2.02

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IN T B R EW

215.0

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LEA R N A F R C A

1.03

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ST A N B IC

186.7

C UST OD YIN S

3.72

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GLA XOSM IT H

129.1

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LIN KA SSUR E

0.65

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Z EN IT H B A N K

127.3

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C ON T IN SUR E

9.5%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

OKOM UOIL

D A N GC EM

19.1%

12.4%

FO

N EM

6.7% 18.3%

1.0%

AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

7.4% 17.9%

0.0%

39

T ic k er

8.7%

25.25 2.10

GUA R A N T Y

(RC 603 315)

Price Change YTD

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

NB

Previous Current Price Weighting Change

1

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Current Price

1.38

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85.6

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138.98

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D A N GC EM

84.5

3.9%

41.69

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UB A

43.0

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Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Omotola Abimbola | oabimbola@afrinvest.com

33

˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017

MARKET NEWS

SEC Decries Low Response to Electronic Dividend Initiative Goddy Egene The Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gawarzo yesterday decried the low level of investors’ enrolment to the electronic -dividend platform in the last three months.

Gwarzo stated this at the third quarter post-Capital Market Committee (CMC) news conference held in Lagos, disclosing the commission had realised slow pace in terms of

implementation of the e-dividend initiative.

He therefore urged investors to embrace the policy to reduce the spate of unclaimed dividend in the market, insisting that the December 31, 2017 deadline for the discontinuation of physical dividend warrants remain sacrosanct.

According to him, any investor that fails as enroll for e-dividend as from January 1, 2018, would pay the sum of N150 for registration.

“In the last three or four months,

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

there has not been appreciable increase in terms of number of enrolment, that is why we felt there is a need for us to have a conversation with the registrars and bankers. The registrars agreed to the discussion, we expect in the next two or three months to see a significant improvement in terms of enrolment. To leverage on that and to be able to optimise the support we have received, SEC has also been in the vanguard of public enlightenment,” Gwarzo said.

Also speaking, Head, Vertical

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 10-Nov-2017, unless otherwise stated.

Markets Group, Mr. Samuel Oluyemi, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), said that a total of 50,819 e-dividend mandate registration in August and 59,204 in September.

He said that the figure dropped to 37,153 in October against the targeted figure of 50, 000 registration monthly.

He stated that the drop in the e-dividend called for collaboration among key stakeholders at driving SEC awareness campaign initiative.

“The free registration window

is ending December 31, 2017 and our expectation at NIBSS is to have 50,000 registration every month”, he said.

Oluyemi stated that NIBSS dedication to the initiative was irreversible, adding that, 136 stockbrokers had been connected to the portal as well as 16 registrars.

“What we have done with e-dividend portal is to ascribe each quoted companies to their registrars. When an investors pick a form, the companies managed by those registrars are listed under

them. The beauty of what we have put in place now is to ensure that stockbrokers begin to play a critical role in the e-dividend mandate registration of investors,” Oluyemi said.

Meanwhile, commenting on the market performance, Gwarzo said that the last quarter was good, attributing the growth to significant improvement in the market activities.

“Generally, the market in the last quarter has done quite well and we expect the momentum to be maintained,” he said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 178.71 179.85 40.89% Nigeria International Debt Fund 234.14 235.40 10.81% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.82 0.83 16.69% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 78.65% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.94% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 17.97 18.51 45.52% ARM Discovery Fund 375.11 386.42 30.62% ARM Ethical Fund 26.31 27.10 17.76% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.74% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 151.67 152.73 44.20% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.13% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 19.04% Paramount Equity Fund 11.57 11.87 23.63% Women's Investment Fund 94.94 97.47 12.28% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.18% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronation.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.70% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.00 1.01 0.47% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.03 1.56% FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,110.05 1,111.18 9.58% FBN Heritage Fund 147.70 148.96 32.48% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.61% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $110.77 $111.98 7.81% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $110.17 $111.38 7.97% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 157.83 160.14 40.19% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.39 1.41 48.98% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.93 2.93 14.10% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,933.72 2,974.73 33.43% Coral Income Fund 2,414.27 2,414.27 15.84% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.71% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.69% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.08 2.11 23.85%

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 113.49 113.49 16.97% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.16 1.18 17.37% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,038.61 1,038.61 10.25% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.28 13.39 37.44% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 18.82% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.21 1.23 21.36% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.87 10.93 4.58% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.70% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 126.51 128.52 24.73% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.41 1.41 13.27% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,207.87 2,221.26 20.60% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 173.00 173.00 12.37% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.98 1.00 28.57% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 215.31 215.31 15.21% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 171.77 173.99 32.30% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.78% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,547.99 9,660.46 25.92% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.05 1.05 5.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.33 1.32 18.01% United Capital Bond Fund 1.51 1.51 23.32% United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.91 35.65% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.80% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.70 12.89 30.63% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.34 13.49 21.73% Zenith Income Fund 18.79 18.79 13.62%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 131.62

1.01% 6.17%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

107.33 138.78 107.10

109.35 141.79 109.12

28.09% 40.29% 41.34%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.57 8.82 17.21 20.10 140.64

4.61 8.90 17.31 20.30 142.64

65.00% 25.32% 45.37% 25.86% 10.90%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017 Ëž T H I S D AY

34

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Zimbabweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Military Warns Mugabe,Threatens to Step In Zimbabweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s army chief has warned those responsible for â&#x20AC;&#x153;purgingâ&#x20AC;? the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling Zanu-PF party to stop, or the military will step in.

The rare intervention comes just a week after President Robert Mugabe sacked his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa.

General Constantino Chiwenga, who appeared at a news conference with another 90 senior army officers, did not refer to anyone by name.

Mr Mnangagwa, once seen as a successor to Mr Mugabe, has fled into exile.

Mr Mugabeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife Grace, who

is now the favourite to succeed her husband, referred to Mr Mnangagwa as a snake which â&#x20AC;&#x153;must be hit on the headâ&#x20AC;?.

Mr Mnangagwa, nicknamed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;crocodileâ&#x20AC;? because of his perceived shrewdness, has rebuked Mr Mugabe, sayingZanu-PFisâ&#x20AC;&#x153;notpersonalproperty for you and your wife to do as you pleaseâ&#x20AC;?.

Speakingatthearmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sheadquarters, General Chiwenga said the removal of people who were involved in the independence struggle, like Mr Mnangagwa, would not be tolerated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The current purging, which is

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clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background, must stop forthwith,â&#x20AC;? he told those gathered for the news conference. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We must remind those behind the current

treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in.â&#x20AC;?

Mr Mnangagwa previously served as defence and state

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politicians, saying it had led to â&#x20AC;&#x153;no meaningful development in the country for the past five yearsâ&#x20AC;?.

The crisis, he concluded, meant Zimbabwe was struggling with â&#x20AC;&#x153;cash shortages and rising commodity pricesâ&#x20AC;?.

France Mourns Paris AttackVictims,TwoYears on France marked two years Monday since its worst ever terror attacks, releasing colourful balloons into the sky to remember the 130 people killed on a Friday night out in Paris, AFP reports.

President Emmanuel Macron laid wreaths at the six locations where gunmen and suicide bombers struck on November 13, 2015, targeting the national stadium as well as bars, restaurants and the Bataclan

concert hall.

Two members of Eagles of Death Metal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Californian band who were on stage at the Bataclan when the carnage began â&#x20AC;&#x201C; performed a surprise mini-concert near the venue where 90 people were massacred.

Lead singer Jesse Hughes was visibly moved as he handed white roses to families of the victims after singing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Save a Prayerâ&#x20AC;?, the song the band had just finished playing

when the gunfire began. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is difficult to not to remember the people who were taken from us like our friend Nick Alexander (the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s merchandise manager) and so many others,â&#x20AC;? Hughes told reporters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We watched people give their lives for their friends and we were able to bear witness to that,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a burden of responsibility to make certain that

everyone knows that is the kind of love that exists in this world.â&#x20AC;?

Macron and his wife Brigitte joined relatives of the victims as they released dozens of multi-coloured balloons in honour of the dead. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been back inside,â&#x20AC;? said a Bataclan survivor who gave his name only as Patrice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to come, for all the victims -- those who did not come out alive, and all the injured.â&#x20AC;?

Iran-Iraq Border Earthquake Is Deadliest of 2017 A huge rescue effort is under way after a powerful earthquake struck Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mountainous border with Iraq, killing more than 400 people and injuring more than 7,000, according to BBC. Teams are looking for survivors trapped in the rubble of collapsed

buildings.

The quake is the deadliest in the world this year.

Most people who died were in western Iran â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in Sarpol-e-Zahab, a town 15km (10 miles) from the border, and other parts of Kermanshah province.

security minister.

Mrs Mugabe, meanwhile, has the support of the younger â&#x20AC;&#x153;Generation 40â&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;G40â&#x20AC;? group of Zimbabwe politicians.

General Chiwenga also hit out at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;squabblingâ&#x20AC;? between

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Running water and electricity cut out in some cities, and after buildings collapsed people were forced to spend hours outdoors in parks or streets in cold weather. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need shelter,â&#x20AC;? a man in Sarpol-e Zahab told state TV.

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The townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main hospital was severely damaged, leaving it struggling to treat hundreds of wounded, state TV reported.

A woman and her baby were pulled alive from rubble in the town, Iranian media said.

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017

35

36

T H I S D AY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017 Ëž T H I S D AY

37

NEWSEXTRA

Nigeria Recovers $65m Electricity Debt from Niger, Benin Chineme Okafor in Abuja Nigeria has made some significant progress in its attempt to recover millions of dollars owed its electricity industry by two of her West African neighbours-Benin and Niger Republics- for electricity supplied to them, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has disclosed.

Fashola, stated yesterday at the 21st edition of the monthly power sector operators in Asaba, Delta State that the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET) has recovered $64.6 million out of about $115.91 million owed operators in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power market by both countries.

He noted that disbursements of the recovered funds to beneficiaries by the NBET would shortly commence, and that eligible beneficiaries would get paid their monies in this regards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To those of you businessmen, I have good news for you. We have recovered payments from power that we sold to Benin and Niger Republics, people wonder why we sell power to them but it is a product of treaties and agreements and they also help our own economy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, we have a total of $64.630,055.00 million, that had been recovered, and NBET will work out the modalities for its distribution and hopefully by next month you should be able to report that you have received

alert,â&#x20AC;? Fashola said in his opening remarks at the meeting.

The recovery of parts of the electricity debt owed by both countries followed a meeting with the CommunautĂŠ Ă&#x2030;lectrique du BĂŠnin (CEB), an international electricity firm co-owned by the governments of BĂŠnin and Togo, and NIGELEC of Niger Republic, in which Nigeria requested them to pay up their outstanding debts to her electricity market.

Also, in that meeting, the federal government stated that it wanted CEB and NIGELEC to settle the outstanding bills to enable the electricity companies maintain their supply obligation to them Similarly, NBET in August disclosed in this regards that during the international customers owed Nigeria about $115.91 million, with the CEB of Benin Republic reportedly owing $101.46 million while NIGELEC of Niger Republic owed $14.45 million. Under an international treaty, Nigeria supplies power to the two countries through the NBET and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Similarly, Fashola, in his report of progress, said the sector has made since he took over as minister, claimed that critics of the government were finding it difficult to accept the level of progress the sector has recorded so far.

The minister claimed that a lot of power projects have been completed and inaugurated by the government to boost electricity

supply across the country, adding that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) which used to be termed the weakest link in the sector has also upgraded its capacity and would continue to do that with lots of projects lined up for completion.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, not even your worst critics can deny that his experience is improving, even if he may be reluctant to acknowledge it, which is his prerogative. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our work is not driven by a quest for acknowledgment, it is driven by our belief in our own collective abilities to change what we do not accept. We remind ourselves that we are not immune from what we do, if we make it work as we intend to do, it will also serve us. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thank well-meaning Nigerians who are gracious to acknowledge that their experience has improved and who ask us to do more. Your honesty inspires us to continue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The progress we have made this year is as a result of the hard work that all of us here have put in, it is also due to the fact that we have had peace in the oil and gas producing areas of the country, and that has led to improvements in gas supplies and essentially more output from the gas power stations.

It also means that for the first time in a long time, the gas and hydro stations combined together, it has not happened in a long time, but this time, we had a fair balance.

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38

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Buhari Sad over State of Education, Backs Kaduna Reforms Minister: N1tn required to Revamp education annually Omololu Ogunmade President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday lamented the drastic fall in Nigeria’s educational standard, describing the inability of teachers to pass elementary examinations which they ought to set for their pupils as a monumental tragedy.

Buhari, who made this remark while declaring open an education summit in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, recalled how dutiful, competent, and committed teachers were in his days as a schoolboy

and bemoaned non-availability of such qualities in schools today.

The president was actually referring to the height of decay in the nation’s education as exposed by recent moves by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai to salvage the education sector of his state by conducting examinations for teachers on elementary subjects which they failed woefully.

Most of the answers provided to such elementary questions by the teachers had no meaning as thousands of them could not even

APC to Rejig Plan for National Convention Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set in motion plans to reorder all activities leading to the next national convention of the party.

As a result of the party’s inability to hold its previously scheduled non-elective convention which has dragged on for so long, the leadership has decided to draw up fresh timetable for both state congresses and other programmes that were needed to be carried out before now.

THISDAY gathered that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting held last week has mandated the National Working Committee (NWC) to set up a committee that would draw a new programme of activities for the party.

A top member of the party said the new schedule of activities is being planned to align with the 2019 election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tenure of the present NWC led by Chief John Odigie Oyegun is expected to end June 13 next year.

It was learnt that new arrangement would now push the non-elective national convention of the part forward till next early next year.

Speaking to journalists last

weekend on what the party is doing about its mini convention, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said though no date has been fixed for the nonelective convention, the party has asked the committee to go ahead and fix dates for all outstanding activities of the party before the main elective convention.

“Like I said after the NEC meeting because we were unable to hold the convention at the scheduled time and you are all aware that we earlier scheduled to hold, our mini convention in July but we were not able to do that for one reason or the other.

“That means that all the programmes that the party has would have to dovetail into one another. We have the party’s state congresses coming up, we have the mini convention and the elective convention coming up that must happen by the first half of next year.

“So it is important we synchronise all the activities and that is why a committee has been set up by the NEC just a couple of people being asked to sit together and harmonise all the various activities of the party starting with the mini convention and the various congresses across the states and local government areas which will now culminate with the national convention.

Guber Poll: I’m the Only Candidate Qualified to Lead Anambra Aright, Says Obiano David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, last Sunday night said he was the only one among the top contenders for the state governorship election candidates that was truly qualified to lead the state through the right path of growth.

Obiano spoke during the governorship debate organised for five most prominent candidates of political parties for the election

by Channels Television.

The governor said in his three and half years as governor of the state, he has grown its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) considerably, while also paying salaries and building infrastructure.

He listed security as one of his major achievements, while also calling on the people of the state to vote him for a second term in office to consolidate on his achievements.

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the United Progressives Party(UPP), Mr. Oseloka Obaze and Chief Osita

Chidoka respectively, insisted that the state under the watch of the governor had broken and needed to be fixed urgently.

Chidoka said he would deploy knowledge, vision and accountability to ensure that the state is put back on track, while insisting that Anambra as a leading state in Igbo land needs a governor that can champion the agitation by the youths in the Southeast and address it to quell restiveness.

Chief Godwin Ezeemo of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) said using his S.H.A.P.E.E manifesto which means: Security, Health, Agriculture, Power, Environment and Empowerment, he would make Anambra a state to envy.

For the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Tony Nwoye, he stated that with empowerment of young and jobless people in the state he would put the agitations to rest in the state, saying he have the capacity to do so, having been championing the cause of youths from his days in the university.

re-write correctly words which appeared on the question sheets let alone answering the questions.

Against this background, Kaduna State Government is set to dismiss over 20,000 of 33,000 teachers who sat for the examinations in its quest to salvage the state’s education.

Miffed by the development, Buhari challenged the summit to come up with recommendations aimed at refining the state of Nigeria’s education, saying doing so is one of the most important plans of his administration.

He said: “Having been an orphan, I still feel that whatever I did in life so far was built by boarding school. For nine years,i was in boarding school, three in primary and six in secondary school.. In those days, teachers treat their students or children like their own children. If you did well, they would tell you,

you did well. If you didn’t do well, they never spared the rod.

“When I finished my secondary school, I didn’t work for a day. I refused to work for a day, I left home, I refused to work in the local government, and then I joined the Army. And the Army of that time we went through all, we went through up-to the civil war. And then, I listened to one of the Nigerians I respect. He said after his training here in Nigeria and the United States, he went to his alma matta, his primary school to see what he could contribute.

“I won’t mention his name but when he went, he couldn’t differentiate between the students, the children and the teachers. And what El-Rufai is trying to do now is exactly what that man told me about 10 years ago. It is a very serious situation when teachers cannot pass their exams that they are supposed to teach the children

to pass. It is a very tragic situation we are in and this our gathering together to me is one of the most important in this administration.”

The president who further attributed the woes bedeviling Nigeria’s education to what he described as historical abuses and mindless impunity, enumerated other crises plaguing the nation’s education sector to include estimated 13.2 million pupils dropping out of school, high level illiteracy in the society, recruitment of incompetent teachers, infrastructural decay and insufficient learning materials.

According to him, the trend of events had necessitated the convocation of such summit, which he said must re-direct the drifting state of the nation’s education by evolving strategies meant to boost primary and secondary education in the country.

He listed other approaches to

be adopted for the redemption of the state of education to include: training of teachers, facilitating access to higher education and eliminating factors that can stop Nigeria from attaining its economic potentials among the comity of nations.

“The problem is no longer a secret that the quality of education in Nigeria requires greater attention and improvement.

That our country is facing numerous challenges in education and all other sectors as a result of historical abuses, mindless impunity and corruption is not news to anyone.

“With an estimated 13.2 million children out of school, high illiteracy level, infrastructural deficit and decay, unqualified teachers, and inadequate instructional materials, to mention some of the challenges, we can clearly see the effect of decades of neglect that the education sector has suffered.

WELCOME TO EKO ATLANTIC CITY

L-R: British Deputy High Commissioner, Laure Beaufils; UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, John Howell MP; Development Director, South Energyx Nigeria Limited and Developers, Eko Atlantic City Pierre Edde; and Head of Trade, Nigeria, UK Dept for International Trade, Ben Ainsley, during a site tour by John Howell to Eko Atlantic City, in Lagos……yesterday Kola Olasupo

Nigeria, Other African Nations Owe Airlines N366bn, Says IATA Chinedu Eze with agency report The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the total amount of revenues owed to international carriers by some African countries have risen to N366 billion ($1.2 billion).

This was disclosed by IATA’s Vice President for Africa, Raphale Kuuchi at the on-going aviation conference in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.

According to Reuters, out of the total amount, Nigeria which initially owed international carriers about N183 billion ($600 million) has as at last month liquidated the debt to N67.40 billion ($221 million).

The debts were revenues earned by global airlines in various African countries but were blocked by the government because of the economic crunch, which affected many countries in the continent from 2015. This affected the earnings of most of the commodity exporting countries and even resulted in foreign exchange crisis in some countries.

According to Kucchi, the global commodities price crash that began in 2014 hit economies across Africa hard, particularly big resource exporters such as Angola and Nigeria; so low oil and mineral prices reduced government revenue and caused chronic dollar shortages and immense pressure on local

currencies.

He noted that the fiscal slump prevented the government from allowing foreign airlines to repatriate their dollar profits in full.

“To do business effectively, airlines must be able to reliably repatriate their revenues. And that’s not the case in nine African countries: Angola, Algeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan and Zimbabwe,” Kucchi said.

A senior official of IATA in Africa, Adefunke Adeyemi also explained that out of the total of $1.2 billion, Angola has blocked the largest amount, $500 million, while Sudan has held up $200 million.

Nigeria started offsetting its debts

to the airlines from late 2016 and does not owe some of the airlines after the October payment.

The economic crises, which gave rise to a historical recession, forced some foreign airlines to stop their services to Nigeria, while many of them cut back their operations by reducing frequencies and changing their operational aircraft to smaller ones.

Iberia and United Airlines left Nigeria early 2016 due to the economic recession while Emirates which cut back its 21 weekly operations to seven has announced it would resume its flights to Abuja and additional flights to Lagos from its hub in Dubai this December.

Woman Seeks Justice asVigilante Group Kills Son Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City A60-year old woman named Helen Odiazor has cried out for justice over the killing of her son, Melody, the same night her husband died.

Already, State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has waded into the matter by inviting the Divisional Police Officer of Saint Saviour Police Station and the vigilante group that allegedly killed Melody.

Late Melody, an apprentice tipper driver was said to have been shot by some vigilante group at Tipper Garage along Saint Saviour road at about 9pm when he was returning home after being informed about his father’s death.

He was said to have been shot alongside two other boys and their bodies were displayed at the St Saviour Police Station.

His mother, Helen, who was in tears said it was painful for her to lose her husband and her son the

same time.

Helen said her husband died in a hospital on November 8 while she was informed about her son’s death at about 4am the following day.

She stated that her son was on his way home on hearing the death of his father when he was shot by Vigilante Men in St Saviour.

The widow insisted that her son was not an armed robber.

Sister to the deceased, Rachel, said policemen told the family that their brother was not dead but being

treated for gunshot injuries.

Shesaidthepolicerefusedtodisclose the hospital or take the family to the hospital where they said her brother was being treated for gunshot injuries.

“They (Police) said there were three of them that were shot that night. Police said one died instantly, my brother was seriously injured while one is in custody.”

Commenting later on the incident, CP Kokumo said he has invited all parties to a meeting for proper briefing.

T H I S D AY Ëž TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017

39

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

I N T E R N AT I O N A L F R I E N D LY

Argentina Unleashes Aguero, Dybala, Pavon on Nigeria Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defensive resolve will be tested as Argentina intends to parade the strike force of Sergio Kun Aguero, Paulo Dybala and Cristian PavĂłn in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international friendly tie in Russia.

The match will be played at a warm temperature of 16 degrees in Krasnodar, a city located about 1,300 kilometres to the south of Moscow.

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has hinted his desire to sustain the South American nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superiority over their African adversaries by opting for an all-out attacking formation.

The two-time World Cup winners are a shade ahead of Nigeria on the balance of previous meetings as they have five wins relative to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sole victory.

Dybala and Pavon, according to El- Clarin, the Buenos Airesbased newspaper, are the only changes Sampaoli is contemplating for the friendly, and from the team that beat Russia 1-0 on Saturday, after Lionel Messi pulled out to join Barcelona.

Messi, a recurrent thorn in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flesh in the previous engagements, will not play through the Eagles defence today, having been excused from

international duty by Sampaoli.

The coach felt the inspirational forward and Argentina captain, deserved a break from international match load.

In his absence will be Boca striker, Pavon, who has earned the adulation of Messi for his impressive performance against Russia.

The 21- year- old played a key role in a play that set up Agueroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal against Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

It is also expected that Agustín Marchesín will be handed his debut in the goal ahead of Sergio Romero and Nahuel Guzman, who was on duty in the match against Singapore.

The Argentina likely starting XI in the match to kick off at 5.30 pm Nigerian time would be Marchesín; Javier Mascherano, Germån Pezzella, Otamendi; Banega, Kranevitter, Giovanni Lo Celso; Dybala; Pavón, Agßero and à ngel Di María.

The Krasnodar stadium has a capacity for 34,291 spectators.

The stadium was one of the venue proposed by the Russian federation for the next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Cup before it was dropped.

However, it was used as venue for two friendlies by Russia against Costa Rica and Cote dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire.

Nigeria Versus Argentina in Numbers Of the footballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super powers, the eight countries that have won the World Cup, Argentina is the team Nigeria has met most. Tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clash in Krasnodar in Russia will be the eighth time both countries will meet. Five of the previous matches were competitive and Nigeria escaping defeat only once. Sports Village Square here points out some interesting facts around the clash. r 8IFO "SHFOUJOB BOE /JHFSJB Ă STU DMBTIFE PO +VOF BU 'PYCPSPVHI 4UBEJVN JO UIF 64" JU QSPEVDFE B NJMFTUPOF HPBM PG UIø HPBM JO UIF 8PSME $VQ IJTUPSZ 5IBU XBT UIF FRVBMJTJOH HPBM CZ "SHFOUJOB T $MBVEJP $BOJHHJB XIJDI CSPVHIU TDPSF MJOF UP BGUFS /JHFSJB IBE TIPU BIFBE UISPVHI 4BNTPO 4JBTJB "SHFOUJOB FWFOUVBMMZ XPO UIF NBUDI UISPVHI BOPUIFS HPBM CZ $BOJHHJB r "SHFOUJOB T XPSME GBNPVT %JFHP .BSBEPOB FBSOFE UIF MBTU PG IJT DBQT JO B NBUDI BHBJOTU /JHFSJB BU UIF 8PSME $VQ 64" r /JHFSJB BOE "SHFOUJOB IBWF DPNQFUFE BU BMM MFWFMT PG NFO T GPPUCBMM m 6OEFS JO 6OEFS JO 6OEFS JO BOE (SBEF " MFWFM JO BOE r 5IF NBUDI JO 3VTTJB UPEBZ XJMM CF UIF UIJSE GSJFOEMZ FODPVOUFS CFUXFFO CPUI DPVOUSJFT &BDI XJOOJOH POF BQJFDF 5IF ,SBTOPEBS FODPVOUFS XJMM UIFSFGPSF CF B TPSU PG UJF CSFBLFS 5IF PUIFS GSJFOEMZ NBUDIFT XFSF UIF EFGFBU PG "SHFOUJOB JO "CVKB PO +VOF BOE "SHFOUJOB T EFGFBU PG /JHFSJB JO %IBLB #BOHMBEFTI PO 4FQUFNCFS r 3FTVMUT PG NBUDIFT JOWPMWJOH "SHFOUJOB BOE /JHFSJB PGUFO FOE XJUI UIF PEE HPBM JO JO BOE BT XFMM BT JO 5IF POMZ FYDFQUJPOT

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Aguero

Mikel

Italy Misses World Cup for the First Time Since 1958 Buffon retires as Sweden qualifies for Russia 2018 ahead of the Azzurri Four-time champions Italy failed to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1958 after a play-off defeat against Sweden.

It means the Azzurri will not be present in the competition for only the second time in their history having declined to play at the inaugural tournament in 1930.

Midfielder Jakob Johanssonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deflected strike in the first leg was the difference as the second leg at Milanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s San Siro stadium last night ended goalless.

Sweden sat back on their advantage and, despite the hosts enjoying 75 per cent possession, they failed to find the breakthrough - Italyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best chance saw goalkeeper Robin

Olsen palm away substitute Stephan El Shaarawyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thumping late volley.

Striker Ciro Immobile missed a number of chances and his low effort in the first half was cleared off the line by centre-back Andreas Granqvist.

The result sees Jan Anderssonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sweden side reach the World Cup for the first time since 2006, when they were in the same group as England.

While Italy dominated the second leg and had 20 shots at goal, their exertions radiated a growing sense of desperation.

Gian Piero Venturaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side were unable to carve open a resolute Swedish defence which

sat deep and often had a line of six defenders camped in their box, heading away each cross and set-piece into the box.

In all, the Swedes made a total of 56 clearances between them, plus 19 interceptions.

Both sides could have been awarded penalties: first Ludwig Augustinsson brought down Marco Parolo with a clumsy challenge while Manchester Unitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Matteo Darmian and Juventus veteran Andrea Barzagli were fortunate to escape with handballs for Italy.

Lazio striker Immobile, who has 14 club goals this season, hit the side-netting from a tight angle early on and struck a first-time

shot wide from close range in the second half.

Many of the Italy players fell to the ground at the full-time whistle, with strikers Andrea Belotti and Immobile reduced to tears, as the Swedes ran off to enthusiastically celebrate their qualification for next summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tournament in Russia.

TODAY Argentina Vs Nigeria (5:30pm) Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Faso Vs Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Verde Senegal Vs Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Africa Ireland Vs Denmark Russia Vs Spain Germany Vs France England Vs Brazil Portugal Vs USA

NGF Praises Kwara Govt, Sterling Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Investment in Golf The President of the Nigeria Golf Federation, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has commended the effort of the government of Kwara State in developing the game of golf.

He also praised the sponsors, Sterling Bank Plc, for putting in so much to boost the standard of golf in Nigeria.

Oyinlola said at the closing round of the Kwara Open that, â&#x20AC;&#x153; I like to refer to His Excellency (Gov Abdufattah Ahmed) as a late starter in golf but I must say he has done very well in contributing to the development of the game.â&#x20AC;?

He said that the game would reach far more people than it presently is, if more investment in the mode of Kwaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s model is adopted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The winner of the Professional round, Sunday Olapade was a boy that stumbled on the game by virtue of the MicCom golf facility that was build in Ada, Engineer Tunde Ponnle; where he lived. Today heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ranked number two in Nigeria and he beat the best players to pick the professionalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winning purse,â&#x20AC;? the

golf federation boss noted, adding that Kwara State was toeing the same path for its youths with events like this.

An elated Governor Ahmed also said he was happy with the honour given to him as the Vice-president at the Kwara Open.

He praised the organisers and

sponsors, Sterling Bank.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sunday Olapade, winner of the professional round said his victory was a dream come true and he has a lot of people to thank for it. He won the lion share of N5m purse at the Open shooting a brilliant 277, eleven under par over 72 holes at the

Ilorin Golf Club.

Some of the dignitaries that graced the occasion include; the Senior Regional Manager Sterling Bank, Ademola Adeyemi, the Director of PGA of Nigerian, Mr. Samson Lawal and the Captain Ilorin Golf Club, Olayiwola Abdulmalik.

SOUTHERN SUN IN LAKOWEâ&#x20AC;Ś L-R: Deputy Manager, Southern Sun Ikoyi, CliďŹ&#x20AC; Shiridzinodya; Overall winner, Ladies Category, Toyin Martins; General Manager, Southern Sun Ikoyi, Mark Loxley; and 2nd Place winner Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s category, Winston Strassoil; at the closing ceremony of the 6th Annual Southern Sun Ikoyi Golf Tournament held at Lakowe Golf Resort in Lagosâ&#x20AC;Śrecently

Tuesday November 14, 2017

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Price: N250

MISSILE PDP to Lai Mohammed “If you make a statement and people doubt you, all you need to do is to present the facts and people will know you are speaking the truth. But if indeed you have been telling lies, it is also the responsibility of Nigerians to come out boldly and bring it to the knowledge of everybody. So, you cannot blame anybody for that. You cannot hold anybody responsible for your lies.” – Opposition People’s Democratic Party urging Information Minister, Lai Mohammed to stop blaming the party for his “liar” appellation.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

The Worst of Times, the Best of Times

“I

just love this country, I won’t lie” “What have you seen again that has suddenly turned you into a gushing patriot?”

“I mean, just look around, in spite of everything, Nigerians always give you an opportunity to laugh.”

“And if I may ask…”

“Did you read the report on what the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris said about the allegations against him by Senator Isa Misau?”

“What did he say? I didn’t find that funny at all.”

“He started by informing the Senate that he is free to have romantic affairs with any female police officer of his choice, fair or dark-skinned, plus-sized or lepacious, short or tall, heavy or flat chested, Oshodi Oke or Oshodi Isale, landcruiser or Volkswagen…”

“The man didn’t say all that.”

“You don’t get the picture. He said as a Muslim he is in fact entitled to four wives, and so, it goes to no point at all, when Senator Misau accuses him of having affairs with two police women- Amina and Esther.”

“Imagine the Inspector General of Police boasting about his right to marry four women, and that makes headline news.”

“You can’t blame him for the headline news.

You should blame journalists. He has a right to defend himself. In fact, he gave Senator Misau a Technical Knock Out, when he reminded him that Misau’s own parents met each other as police officers. His father, a retired AIG, married his mother a Police Inspector when they were both in service. And let’s be fair to IGP Idris. He has a sense of balance in his private life: Amina and Esther, a Muslim and a Christian.”

“I really don’t find this whole thing funny at all. Instead of addressing the substance of Senator Misau’s allegations, what everyone is interested in is the right of police officers to marry their female colleagues or have affairs with them, and I guess vice versa. And by the way, didn’t the police PRO deny all of this?”

“He didn’t deny anything. The man issued a meaningless statement. He said the IGP did not say that he is free to romance policewomen, but that there is no law that stops a police officer from marrying another police officer. What exactly is the PRO saying? Is he from one of those Kaduna State schools?”

“I think you can now see why the Nigeria Police has been branded the worst in the world. This kind of conversation can only take place in Nigeria.”

“It happens in other parts of the world too. In any case, that is not why one foreign group declared the Nigeria Police the worst in the world. The group talked about Capacity, Process, Legitimacy and Outcomes.”

“Break it down. So, in which of those categories is the Nigeria Police Force the best in the world?”

“We have performed very well in international peace-keeping operations!”

“Come to think of it, I wonder who wrote that on behalf of the Police Headquarters. Does anybody help to vet Police press statements at all?”

“Don’t be too hard on our policemen. We have fine police officers.”

“Like those ones that resorted to street-fighting in Port Harcourt, with one gang fighting for the

Police IG, Idris Ibrahim Minister of Transportation, and the other gang defending the Governor of the State over whose convoy has the right of way.”

“That was shameful. But you can’t blame the police. Blame Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi.

Instead of dragging the police into their matter, Wike and Amaechi should have settled the matter man-to-man, get down from their vehicles and use their fists. Unless they do that, there may be no peace in Port Harcourt.”

“You are recommending physical combat?”

“Yes, the way they are going. A heavyweight combat: It is called two-fighting. In any case, the Governor has immunity. He is free to fight.”

“But you see, when the international community sees Nigerian policemen getting involved in partisan politics or carrying bags for the wives of politicians, nobody needs to do any special investigation. They will just conclude that this must be the worst police in the world.”

“Don’t mind those ones. They should leave our Police for us, oh. They may not be very good at home, but they are winning international medals.

That is ca-pa-city!”

“I see you keep defending the Police. Just find a way of advising the Inspector General of Police to focus more on important matters. He runs the risk of being remembered as a romantic Police IG of the Amina and Esther fame! For Heaven’s sake the PRO should have just denied that the IGP ever made a statement and leave it there.”

“You want to teach the Police how to start telling lies?”

“Okay. I just hope that some day in the future, some retired policewomen will not come forward to talk about how some of their former bosses used to harass them for romantic affairs!”

“That cannot happen in this country. Is this America?”

“Nigerian women must stand up for their rights” “You like to speak grammar. Go and ask those Nollywood actresses who stood up recently to say some actors have harassed them in the past.

The way people burst out in laughter hen? The two girls were called names and asked to shut up. Here na Hollywood? Most of the people who condemned them are even their female colleagues.

Don’t-come-and-spoil-business, you-these-small-girls!”

“We still have a long way to go. That is why

there is so much rape and domestic violence.”

“Come and be going. Don’t come and be defending slay queens and waka-pass actresses here. Some girls will go to night vigils and the Bar Beach to pray for the anointing of a rich, handsome, ATM husband, some of them even go on instagram to say I like sex, I don’t wear pant, they go church pay tithe sef…but when any man calls them, they say they are being harassed. Er ber-gi.”

“Your mind set is tragic.”

“My friend, don’t criticize me. If you are looking for people to criticize, try the Federal Government and the Nigerian military. In case you have not heard, they have just taken a decision to stop the admission of female regular combatant cadets into the Nigeria Defence Academy.”

“That is preposterous. It is impossible.”

“Yes. Go and tell them.”

“Those girls, the Jonathan Queens, have proven to be worthy of military service as combatants.

Some of them are now in military schools overseas for further training. And according to the NDA, many of them won prizes and even out-performed the boys as cadets. Is this about politics?”

“No. It is about Queens. What I hear is that some very powerful Muslim leaders in the North do not consider them Queens. I hear they say if the programme is not aborted, a day may well come when a woman will become a Service Chief in Nigeria and that in due course, you could have women leading Nigerian troops and giving orders to men.”

“And what is wrong with that?”

“I don’t know. But some people are saying how can women leave the kitchen and za ozza room, and will now go to the battlefield to fight war.”

“Women have always been involved in war as combatants, even in traditional communities.

Queen Amina of Zazzau. Princess Moremi of Ife. If the issue is religion, Libya and Algeria are Muslim countries but they have women Generals, all over the world there are women who are actively involved in combat duties.”

“I think may be the Armed Forces Council does not want the kind of situation they have in the Nigeria Police where male officers will be distracted because they are free to have romantic affairs with their female colleagues. But I know one soldier. I ‘ll tell him I have a friend who would like to come and give the Armed Forces Council a history lecture on the role of women as military combatants.”

“The policy must be resisted. They must not implement it. Even in Saudi Arabia, women are now being granted more rights. So what would happen to the female combatants who are already in service in the Nigerian military?”

“They can be re-deployed to non-combat duties in the kitchen and za ozza room, fa!”

“That will be a violation of their Constitutional right under Section 42. We will go to court!.”

“You better don’t give yourself hypertension.

Be like me; whenever something happens laugh it off. It is the only way left to survive in this country. What have we not seen in recent times?

Even two of Nigeria’s airports are rated among the worst in the world.”

“Which ones?”

“Port Harcourt and Murtala Muhammed

International in Lagos” “Some of these labels are exaggerated and untrue.

But if you are writing a report on Nigeria, and you arrive at the main airport in Lagos, and you see the airport authorities using buckets to collect rain water from a leaking roof in the arrival hall, and you look and actually see a collapsed roof, dangling electrical fittings, rats on the roof, smelling toilets, and corrupt officials, do you need to do any further research? Nigeria itself is rated the worst country to live in the world.”

“Our problem is maintenance culture and the implementation of policies.”

“I hope the Budget for 2018 will be implemented.”

“Yes, if there is no delay in passing the bill and no delay in signing it into law. That is where the problem lies, and nobody this time around should start talking about constituency projects.”

“You can’t rule that out, especially now that oil price is rising. If you know how some people have been jubilating. Increase in oil prices means more money.”

“Not necessarily. There are other variables.”

“You think so?”

“Look, I don’t want to worry my head about money that other people will spend. But we just need to tell some of these state Governors too to get their priorities right. With all the things we said about the erection of statues, you know that guy in Imo state still went ahead and erected another statue for President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson of Liberia. He waved the people of Imo state away as hating haters and wailing wailers and asked them to shove it up…”

“These Governors! Just look at the one in Kano state for example. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is advertising as one of the major achievements of his administration, the empowerment of 5, 200 tea hawkers. He gathered Mai-Shayi, Mai-tea hawkers from 44 local governments and distributed to them cartons of beverage, milk, tea, crates of eggs, sugar, cups, baskets and promised each person a take-off grant of N40, 000. Big ceremony.

Big achievement.”

“The man must like tea a lot. Mai-Shayi Governor. But softly, softly, you know he is now our in-law in Oyo state. His daughter will soon come and teach the Constituted Authority and the people of Oyo State how to drink and enjoy tea better than Abula and Gbegiri.”

“You are joking. Oyo-state-people-will-neverabandon-Amala! By the way, what is this story about the Niger Delta Development Commission Board and Senator Emmanuel Paulker?”

“Nothing to it. It is just politics. You know all eyes in the Niger Delta are on the NDDC. Even the Governors are interested in what goes on there. The Solicitor General of the Federation has offered a sound legal opinion. The present Board is entitled to its term of four years, not the remainder of a previous Board that was dissolved.”

“Looks like Bayelsa state is in a hurry to grab the NDDC” “If e be you nko. The moment the President announced that various Boards will be reconstituted, I knew there will be serious lobby and desperation.”

“And blackmail and mischief… It is the worst of times.”

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